Maxed Out - Documentary on Credit in America

Ok then that comment from me is withdrawn completely on that particular post.

I've actually had 2 assassination attempts on my job when I worked in Emergency Medical Services. The first was a call I was dispatched to where the patient victim of pedestrian vs pickup truck, on purpose as a result of a verbal argument. When we arrived to treat the patient the assailant was waiting in the tree line near the residence with a 30-06 rifle, the first shot went into the ambulance not 2 inches from my head leaving me with some hearing damage.

The second was where a mentally disturbed patient had called 911 for chest pains however when we arrived on scene he was waiting behind the door of the 2nd story porch entrance with a 12. gauge and my partner and I had to dive off the porch to keep from getting shot. We both got pretty bruised up from the fall.

Thank God you are ok, JC!! I,too, have had my life threaten on my job, pretty much on a daily basis :lol: I contract with the Department of Corrections, and if they don't follow their guidelines to come to counseling, I have to testify in court, which they aren't too fond of!!..karen

I had one come to my office and tell me he would kill me if I testified, and I said, you better start shooting, because you just broke another biggie by threatening me :lol: Good thing I sound tough, since I am barely over 5 feet :lol:

imadebtcollector - "Go ahead and take things out of context - read the whole blog and you might have a better understanding of the job. I have people threatening to kill me and then they show up at work.... does this happen at your job?"

Nope. Never.

From imadebtcollector's blog - "And I never get the satisfaction of seeing the sheriff roll in on the workplace or see the look on the dude's face after we clean out his checking account. Lots of strokin' but I never get the happy ending. Maybe I should switch to the legal department."

"If only I could leave the messages I really want to leave. Starting with "Hey you, you *ucking dumbass, man up and pick up the receiver and tell me all about how *hitty your life is. You ****-*ss sack of scum-sucking *hit. Give me the reams of excuses you've been telling yourself for the last eighteen months. Maybe, if you hear the words come out of your mouth instead of just having them float around inside your skull with all your other delusional thoughts, you'll realize that your life is *hit." And maybe.... that would be a teeny, tiny maybe, you might pull yourself together enough to get up from the lazyboy and start thinking about getting a job. You remember, that place where people gp and perform work for money so that they can pay for stuff they want to buy."

Isn't it a fact that any money paid on those debts goes to you and the company you work for? And not to the original debtor? So, in essence, your bile is directed at the debtor for your personal profit. True?

[color=Red]****Adult term removed - Jason[/color]

"Isn't it a fact that any money paid on those debts goes to you and the company you work for? And not to the original debtor? So, in essence, your bile is directed at the debtor for your personal profit. True?"

What's your point?


"Everyone has their limits - one way I deal with the stress is to write about it."

If you dont like the blog DONT READ IT!

[quote=imadebtcollector]And the individual that had his checking account emptied....he had the available resources, the collector had been working with him for a while. It was a $12k credit card and the settlement offer was $7k. The individual had open accessible credit, a current home mortgage, was gainfully employed and had an excellent credit score.[/quote]

OK... Lemme see if I got this right. He had an excellent credit score, right? If he had an excellent credit score, it's likely because your company's tradeline was not showing. So... DOLA was AT LEAST 7.5 years past, right? That's old enough to be out of statute almost everywhere, BTW, so don't tell me you had a judgement. So... What, exactly, gives you the legal right to empty this man's checking account?

[quote=imadebtcollector]He laughed at the collector and said the classic "Do what you need to do" and hung up.[/quote]

Pretty much the same thing I told Resurgent a few months ago. So what? Around here, if collectors get out of line, they get kicked in the teeth like any other cur. They want to be treated like humans, they'll act the part.

[quote=imadebtcollector]This wasn't a matter of kicking someone when they were down.[/quote]

You're right, it wasn't. This was an altogether different matter entirely. Bank fraud springs to mind. So does fraud by wire. Even simple grand theft could apply, depeding on the amount and jurisdiction. BTW, those first two are FEDERAL felonies, so at least the jail is posh.

Takeaway: You, sir, are one of two things. A criminal, or an aspiring fiction author. Which is it? Inquiring minds want to know.

To imadebtcollector.....you need to find another line of work. If the industry that you worked in did a better job of policing itself and not breaking Federal debt collection laws...you may not be exposed to such hostility from consumers. Not condoning death threats or any of that...but you have to consider that the type of job you have has been abused by a lot of people that either can't or won't get legitimate work any place else. Too many of them are allowed to work out their issues on the public, by way of making terror filled phone calls to people's homes and places of employment. No one is arguing that folks should pay their debts...if they are capable of doing so, but the thuggish ways that debt collectors go about their business is atrocious.

I wonder if our fourm/site here will somehow offer this Maxed out in America for those who might miss it on TV and cannot record it?

"Just wanted to reiterate that the entire movie can been seen at Google video. Search for Maxed Out and there it is. A really good film."

@Lukeskywalker - I cannot post the link, but maybe someone else can.

Unclewulf, I don't understand your post...

"OK... Lemme see if I got this right. He had an excellent credit score, right? If he had an excellent credit score, it's likely because your company's tradeline was not showing. So... DOLA was AT LEAST 7.5 years past, right? That's old enough to be out of statute almost everywhere, BTW, so don't tell me you had a judgement. So... What, exactly, gives you the legal right to empty this man's checking account?" ???
Lots of people with good credit have negatives on their credit report - me included. And Meircats... both sides need policing...

And Unclewulf, I have never looked at a credit report that doesnt have my companys name listed in the inquiry section.

What is DOLA?

Just watched "Maxed Out", and am hopping mad! why won't our own government protect us...Uh Oh...well in other words, we should be protecting ourselves. Afterall, are "we the people" not the government of these United States? according to the Constitution, we are the government. What a totally radical concept! I suppose George Bush and all of his cronies either forgot that fact, or have conveniently overlooked it.If the founding fathers were here, they would label the vast majority of the folks that sit in the seats of power in Washington, traitors.
They have betrayed the ideals of which the nation was founded upon. "It belongs to us, let's take it back."

bossy Karen I contract with the Department of Corrections, and if they don't follow their guidelines to come to counseling, I have to testify in court, which they aren't too fond of!!..karen
I am so glad you found another job after you were laid off!
As for "Maxed out" I am so glad this topic is getting a revival has been topic of discussion on this forum for over a year that I am aware of

Bossy Karen -------------- Way to go and I am so happy for you !~!!!!!!!
are you working for department of corrections again ?:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
I am so glad you got your job back !!!!!!!!!!!!you are so nice and helpful here I have been praying for you and my prayers have been answered :D :D :D
I am so happy you got your job back in the field that you have so much experience in :D :D :D
way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

imadebtcollector, whom do you work for?

By the way, here is the link for Maxed Out -
active link removed per TOS - Uncle Wulf

??
Oh, I rather think that you do. You understood it at least well enough to sidestep it by fastening onto everything else I said, while ignoring the question. Please, don't be disingenuous.
Since you apparently have trouble understanding a simple question when it's mixed in with other words n'stuff, I'll ask it again. All by itself.
[quote=unclewulf]So... What, exactly, gives you the legal right to empty this man's checking account?[/quote]??????????
I, and the rest of this board, are waiting for an answer to this.

??????????
If you know anything about credit reports, then you know that an inquiry and a negative tradeline are two entirely different things. As for all these supposed inquiries, who is your company? Feel free to PM me with the information, if you'd rather not make it public on the board.
??????????
You're kidding, right?I thought you were a highly trained, professional collector. DOLA = Date of Last Activity. This is a key element of a credit report, and bears directly on your work.
Now, answer my question.
[quote=unclewulf]So... What, exactly, gives you the legal right to empty this man's checking account?[/quote]

I was never once asked to reveal what company I worked for when I was in collections and I wouldn't suggest anyone do that ever no matter what your profession is.

DOLA- to be honest I didn't know what this meant for a second there and it wouldn't suprise me if anyone would ask. Not everone uses abrviated words because people normally don't go around talking at the office water cooler talking in l33t.

Dont need to yell...

The person in question verbally agreed with the documention... siad the debt was his and then said he was refusing to pay. He was given a number of options including a payment schedule. If someone owed you money and you had a contarct with this person then you too could do the same thing. I did it to someone that wrote me a bad check for a car I sold them.

As for tradelines, only the owner of the debt can report, not the company servicing the account.

Im here to get a better understanding of what its like on the other end of the phone... and also present some good information.

Why are you banging my up?

does it rally matter what company I work for?

didnt realize wasnt logged in... no, Im not going to tell you the name of my company. Why is that your business?

My interest in your company is purely personal curiosity. If you'd rather not say, that's fine. Like I said, I was just curious.

As for banging you up... Say what? I haven't begun to bang on you. I'm keeping this as civil as possible, under the circumstances.

You gloated in your blog about an illegal action: To wit, emptying a person's checking account without his authorization. And then you tried to rationalize it by saying that the guy has available credit, a good score, etc.

Now, answer my question.

[quote=unclewulf]So... What, exactly, gives you the legal right to empty this man's checking account?[/quote]

And yes, I saw your post as guest here:
[quote=Guest]The person in question verbally agreed with the documention... siad the debt was his and then said he was refusing to pay. He was given a number of options including a payment schedule. If someone owed you money and you had a contarct with this person then you too could do the same thing. I did it to someone that wrote me a bad check for a car I sold them.[/quote]

If someone owed me money, refused to pay, and I had a contract with them [it's happened a few times, BTW] I'd let the courts take care of it. That's what courts are for. What I wouldn't do is take without authorization. That's theft.

I don't do illegal things - I don't want to get sued.

The courts did take care of it.... this was done through legal means....I cant got and get money out of your checking account and you cant go into mine. That is what the legal system is for. And as for the blog, read the whole thing or dont read it at all.

"guest"---Yes, I am still working with DOC, just not with the agency I used to work for. I never really did quit, I did pro-bono work and interventions for some time, before I started private practice. I still have to testify and all the thing I used to, but now I can work when, or if I want to.

Why don't you join us, I see that you have been here for quite a while, we would love to have you..karen

[quote=FYI]DOLA- to be honest I didn't know what this meant for a second there and it wouldn't suprise me if anyone would ask. Not everone uses abrviated words because people normally don't go around talking at the office water cooler talking in l33t.[/quote]

It's not l33t, FYI. It's an acronym commonly used on this site, which is where I picked it up.

[quote=imadebtcollector]I don't do illegal things - I don't want to get sued.[/quote]

That's a relief.

[quote=imadebtcollector]The courts did take care of it.... this was done through legal means....I cant got and get money out of your checking account and you cant go into mine. That is what the legal system is for.[/quote]

In which case, I'm sure you can answer my question.

[quote=unclewulf]So... What, exactly, gives you the legal right to empty this man's checking account?[/quote]

Heck, it's not like I'm asking you to disclose any personal information here.

[quote=imadebtcollector]And as for the blog, read the whole thing or dont read it at all.[/quote]

That's where we have a problem. You see, I did read the entire blog. All three pages of it. If the matter I'm inquiring about was an isolated incident, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

imadebtcollector talks a lot, but says nothing. The posts seem to be attempts to justify and excuse debt collector behaviours and attitudes. I'm afraid that as far as sympathy or empathy...imadebtcollector won't find too much of it here.

I'm with you, meircats. Interesting how the smallest guys think they're all that with a telephone, right? Used to call it short-guy syndrome back in the day...what would they do if you were face-to-face?

It is still called that KS my brother-in-law has that disorder (lol)

Funny how I can't get an answer to a simple question.....

I read some of the blog also, skimmed through most of it, as it seem fairly redundant to me. Unprofessional also comes to mind, poor punctuation, poor grammar, etc.
The use of such offensive language is no way to capture an audience's attention. Definitely written by someone who has a limited amount of education in the art of writing. A Wordsmith you are not. Perhaps you might consider writing in the form of treatise. Just sayin'. :D

What's my legal right to "empty" someone's checking account? I answered that already... I don't have a right but the client does. And that right was validated by acquiring a judgement and having the debt paid. If you don't like the reality of that, then get the laws changed.

How could you possibly think I am looking for sympathy? I don't care whether you agree with me or not. Any advice Ive given is that - advice - and I bet if I posted as guest you'd have no problem accepting it and saying thank you. Take it or leave it. I have been nothing but respectful on this board.

I'm not justifying anyones behavior - especially my own. I describe the job... I have good days and bad days. Instead of taking my frustrations out over the phone which solves nothing, I chose to spend five minutes taking it out on a keyboard. Ive spent hours on the phone not making money but instead listening to people that needed someone to listen. And Ive given lots of financial advise and counseling - probably to lots of folks on this site since Ive been referring people to it for a couple years now. Ive settled accounts for way below client parameters. Why would I short my commission? Because I wanted to do whatever I could for the person on the other end of the phone. Someone who was doing their best to get their life back together - maybe after an illness or a divorce or death of a spouse. Do I get frustrated? Yes, listening to all kinds of excuses... someone telling me all about how crappy their life is and how its not their fault.

Do I care about your opinion of me? Not so much.

Wow, for someone who doesn't care what people think here, you sure visit an awful lot, yes? I also read the blog and aside from telling you that yes, spellcheck is a good thing, it seems like you got an awful lot of enjoyment over people's financial woes. And a whole lot of your colleagues in the phone-terrorism world feel the same way. I think that's what I object to the most in that document. I know that you understand that you don't have a legal right to someone's checking account, but reading between the lines, the phrase "na na na na NA na..." sure stuck out at me. How would YOU feel if Phone Terrorists Are Us suddenly closed, you were out of a job and BAM, YOUR checking account is emptied. Not so funny when the shoe is on the other foot, right?

Lets try to clean this up.... the guy had a valid outstanding debt, he stated it was his, said he wasn't going to pay it even though he had the ability to pay, then said "do what you need to do". He had the opportunity to save himself $5000. The money was removed legally from his checking account. Its called natural consequences.... as you all know - and resent --- collectors have a lot of control over what happens to your account that hes looking at on his computer screen.... thumb your nose at him and hell give you a beatdown. Work with the collector and the collector will work with you. Screaming into the phone or blowing airhorns gets you sent straight to the legal department. Id rather work with someone that wants to take care of the problem instead of prolonging it.

I dont post here because I care what you think, I am here to get a better understanding of what its like to be on the other side.... its glaringly obvious that collectors arent welcome - especially by the moderators... even though the person that is probably best equipped to give advice is a collector.

It's interesting that you say that collectors aren't welcome, especially by the moderators--because two of our moderators HAVE worked as collectors! Bet you didn't know that, did you? And no, I'm not going to tell you which ones. I'll let you figure that out for yourself. So that's one statement blown out of the water...
And natural consequences? The only way you could legally get that money removed was through a judgement, which takes longer than the clicking of a few computer keys at Phone Terrorists Are Us. And the only person who can grant a judgement is a judge, not you, Mr. Collector. So it seems like you don't have as much power as you think you do! Statement two blown out of the water.
And please, please, PLEASE, let me tell you, the apostrophe can be your friend. What were your English grades like in school?

The little finger on my right hand doesnt work too well.

Judgements....the company got a judgement.... and it doesnt take as long as you think. You can do it in less than seven days. The collector walked over to the legal department, told them the deal and they took care of it.

And collectors do have a lot of control over what happens to an account....Ive buried accounts so the legal department wouldnt take them. Ive taken rediculously low payments... how many collectors do you know that accept $10/month? Ive sat on accounts for months knowing that if I didnt hide the account it would be sold or routed to another collector that would beat the person up.

Yes,I already know that at least one of the moderators was a collector... so I should change my wording to Im not welcome here.

7 Days?? Come on. The debtor has to be served at least 30 days before the court date!! What state are you in, Stalingrad?? Where did you get that information from? If your company tried to pull that, any judge would toss it out, just because of improper serving of the debtor. You DO get 30 days before a court date, so 7 days is a complete fallacy, my friend. I am glad that you have taken small payments--but I still think you are getting a little too much enjoyment out of bullying people on the phone--and that is why I have a problem with collectors in general. And for your information, my sister was a collections supervisor who finally had to get out when it was getting to her.

Where do you get the impression that Im a telephone tuff guy?

Not trying to dog pile on you imadebtcollector but with the seven day comment I was curious, in every state and district in the US their rules for civil procedure give the defendant between 20-30 days to respond to the summons/civil complaint from the date of service. How does your legal dept. do it in seven?

Im guessing this had something to do with it....

http://caveatemptorblog.com/2007/05/08/pocket-service-and-pre-judgment-garnishment/

So it is a law strictly for the state of MN, interesting. Thank you for the answer, at any rate however this thread began with the original topic of the documentary "Maxed Out" and it has degenerated severely to the point where it is almost an open flame war.

I think this discussion should be closed before it escalates any further so I am locking this thread.