Help-Im going to lose my baby!!

This can't be real.

Please, I ask to not right things like this is fake. This is for REAL!! Please join me in getting them shut down.

What does Fullerton pawn shops have to do with you losing your child? I'm sorry, but this seems more like a vendetta against them. You have a gambling problem based on what you have said, therefore, you need to seek help for yourself, so that your child and yourself may have a better life.

As far as your payday loan, we can assist you with advice on how to deal with them, but please list the following information so we can help you.
-Names of each pdl company.
-Whether they are store front or Internet
-How much you borrowed.
-How much you paid so far.
-The state in which you reside.

If you are sincere, then there is a lot more going on than just loan sharking. You need to speak to the authorities on several issues. You state that your baby is the most important thing right now. If so, she needs immediate help. We can't provide that for you on this board. Please speak with the authorities in your locale. Once that is done perhaps we can help you with the loan store. Good luck.

Personal attacks are not allowed in this forum, please refer to TOS for more details.

~JCEMT

My last post wasn't aimed at you LLW1995. I didn't see your post. I have spoken to the authorities. The problem is this is a town of about 3000. The sheriff and the loan shark are friens. Thats how it works around here.
This gambling seems worse than crack and the pawn shop is enabling it.

LaTonia, you didn't exactly state the type of help you needed. We are a site that is dedicated to helping people get out of debt, and we have offered to assist you in that area. :)

I understand the dilemma. I too live in a town which is small, 2000 residents and I do understand the mechanics of that scenario. I also understand and appreciate the frustration and fear you have. However, there must be a COUNTY Social Services Unit that could help you. There also must be a STATE Social Services. That's what they are set up for. I know, I worked for Social Services for years. There are issues going on that must be addressed but first and foremost you need to keep your baby safe. Call them, explain what has happened. You need to go OUTSIDE the confines of your immediate town/village. Yes, as shazzers said, there apparently is an issue that is enabling you to try and recover the funds you desperately need to live. You can't throw good money after bad. Everyone does things that they don't want to do and we also do things which we are not proud of. You need to swallow that pride and seek the help you need to get back on the right track. And again, once you get safe, provide us with the info that Shazzers asked for and we can help you with the loan situation. But please, please, get the services you need to get to that point. In the meantime, could you provide us with the State you live in? Who you borrowed from, how much you paid?

Thanks LLW. That gave me a lot of inspiration.

I borrowed over $1,000. He tells me he'll knock off $50 each time i pay him a "special visit". I now owe him around $450.

ok. This is going to get ugly, I know it.

I'm not going to lock it now, in the off chance it may be real. I am, however, going to watch it. If I see anymore references to "special visits" I will lock it. So..LaTonia, if this is fake, your fun will soon end. If it's real, I am sorry.

I am assuming that the riverboat is a legal gambling establishment? If that is the case, I think you need to do more than provide him with a "special visit" to get rid of that debt. What he is doing is WRONG and IMMORAL. Please call Social Services for help.

I completely agree with llw you need to go to social services for help. They are there to help you and make sure your baby is safe. Then I think you should go to the authorities. What you say is happening is very wrong and very illegal. I am sure the authorities would also be able to help you. Have you tried going to them at all? You have to do something so this will stop and you can make sure you and your baby is safe. You also need to consider getting help for your gambling. I'm sure social services could also get you in touch with some help in your area that could help you with the gambling problem. I wish you and your baby the best of luck.


Johnita

Thanks fins. . .I too am hoping that help can be found for this situation. It's all about being safe and finding help. The loan thing is important to address but there are priorities which need addressing first. The internet is a funny thing but I am all for giving the benefit of the doubt in the beginning. I would hate to see someone turned away without giving help if it is truly needed. Best of luck from me as well.

Thanks for all the help. Usually I go there on Mondays to get an advance. When I go to Fullerton tommorrow I am going to tell them a thing or to. Thanks to everyone for the courage.

LaTonia -

Please tell us what state you live in, and the general area. This will allow us to provide more help.

Ok, if this is indeed real, there are several issues here. First, the legal limit for a PDL in California is $300, so if this person is loaning you $1000 at a storefront, that's the first law that's being broken. Second, "special visits" are not recognized as a way to pay off a loan in California. What you need to do is call the Dept of Corporations on this storefront ASAP and REPORT them. They will be shut down. I am a resident of Northern California and know this for a fact.
And lastly, we can't help you with your gambling problem, but I do suggest possibly going into rehab or looking into a 12-step program? Good luck to you if this is real--and if it's not on the level, I will be the first mod to lock this thread.

I have been following this since it first started this morning and am a little skeptical on believing that this is true.

I hope for the sake of the child & mother, it's a fabricated story. If not, I hope to God you will seek help.

ks. . could it be that the poster is in another State? I know that she said that there is a population of about 3000. I thought Fullerton was larger than that. Correct me if I am wrong.

I too am very skeptical but I do believe in giving the benefit of the doubt and if it is indeed true LaTonia needs to get to the authorities asap and get something done. This sort of thing should not be allowed to happen and she needs to make sure she takes actions that protect her child. She also needs to get serious help for her gambling addiction. LaTonia you said you were worried that your child's father would take her from you. Assuming this story is completely true, even if the illegal operation is shut down you still need to get help for your gambling addiction. Shutting someone who is obviously doing criminal activity (assuming what you say is true), will not change the fact that you have a gambling addiction. Someone with an addiction even if you take away the place you're getting your funds from without getting the proper treatment for an addiction the person will find alternative ways to fund the source of their addiction. With that said if you don't get treatment for your addiction there is still a chance the child's father could seek custody and most likely win depending of course on the father's character and ability to take care of the child. I really hope for your child's sake you will get the help you need to overcome your addiction and also see that the establishment that is loaning you money is shut down if they're doing what you say they are.


Johnita

I'm still waiting for an answer to what state the OP is located in.

Sorry All. I am from IL.

So, LaTonia - after all the advice offered here so far, what is your plan now?

I also live in a small town and it seems that certain kinds of corruption in small towns is more lethal than it appears in the big towns, because everybody knows each other or are connected to each other in some form or fashion. LaTonia should look into possibly relocating and getting help from gamblers anonyomous if possible. If you are unable to get your finances together to do so, go to your local Social Services office to get help. I would also contact a Rape Crisis hotline and speak to a counselor about your situation.
This guy may not be holding a gun to your head to make you sleep with him, but he is still forcing you to do something that you do not want to do.

meircats. . .you are so right about small towns. I had said earlier that I, too, live in a small village and everyone knowing each other is a double edge sword. Every one is connected somehow and that can set up the situation both good and bad. That is why I suggested she seek out help with a county or state authority. Hopefully we will hear good news soon.

Please get some help for your family! You might need to call the state police on this person.

LaTonia - what are your plans, with all the advice we have already given?

Hopefully she will go to the authorities and contact Social Services for the help she needs.

I agree with you llw she really should go to the authorities and get this business shut down and she also should go to social services to make sure herself and her baby are protected. I think she also needs to seek out help for her gambling addiction so she can give her baby and herself a better life.


Johnita

I hope that she does get some professional help for her addiction and for her baby.

Can she go to Social Services and to a Women's shelter? If your babies father is a good and decent man, maybe he'd help out until you can get your life together. You need to think of what's best for the baby first. Go to a church, usually they will help in a crisis, or at least help make sure the baby has diapers and formula.

Can't you got to a woman's shelter for help? If the babies father is a good man, maybe he or his family would help out until you can get your life together.
Also, a lot of churches will help with things like diapers and formula, etc. You can put the baby in the Foster system until you can prove you have your problems
corrected. I have a lot of friends who are Foster Parents and they keep children while parents are getting their lives back on track.

Isn't Fullerton a subburb of Chicago? Not that it matters, but I hope that LaTonia seeks help for her baby, that is the number one priority.

Nice to see you kolodin! I was wondering how you are doing? Any updates? Yes, Fullerton is in Illinois.

Sorry but I dont believe this is real......

I'm beginning to think you might be right tweety. So far she has said nothing back when asked what she's going to do now that we've all given her advice on what to do. I just always like to give the benefit of the doubt with something like that on the chance that it could be real and someone could really need the help. I hope if on the off chance it's real that she does get help for herself and her baby. Nothing like that should be allowed to happen.


Johnita

The store she is talking about does exist in Illinois and its owner has been convicted of a misdemeanor for shady business dealings. The city of Chicago would not renew their license back in 2004 for that reason but they continue to do business in other counties. It is still a difficult thing to swallow though! She has not been back to respond to the last couple questions!

This is EXACTLY why I have asked the OP...twice...to tell us what her plans are now that we've given her advice and invested time in her situation.

I was not trying to be mean or hateful, but we have seen this happen before - we get stories that are almost believable, but kind of riding on the edge of too incredible to be true.

No response. She was pretty much johnny-on-the-spot about responding before, but today is Monday, the day she was supposed to go and "tell them a thing or two"...

For the child's sake, I really hope it's NOT true. I'll leave it at that.

I am with you SueBee

I just want to say that it isn't rare for people to post, keep up with it for a day or so, then forget about it.

look into help for gambling problems should be a help line depending on what state you live in

Fullerton, Illinois is south of Bloomington basically in the middle of the state. Near there is a large lake name Lake Clinton. I found no listings for riverboat gambling anywhere near this place.

When I respond to a post, I don't expect anything in return. I offer advice, posters can take it or leave it. I don't feel that a few moments of my time require anyone to let me know what they are doing with the information I offer. Personally, I would rather take a few moments, offer to help and know that I have done my part. Whatever her reason for not responding to a post or two is just that, her reason. I do hope though that if she legitimately needs the help she is seeking, she finds it. No questions asked, no response required.

I pray that she get some help for herself and her child. If she has a problem only she can ask for it no one can do it for her. Sometimes it will take someone to hit rock bottom in order to realize that they need help.

I am confused...This person is asking for help for her baby or for herself? I see that she said that she is afraid of losing her baby, but my question is, would the baby be better off with the dad until she gets this situation straight? As a parent, if your child is truly your number one priority, then their safety is number one as well and if you can't provide that safety and someone else can, then that may be the best place for for the baby. If she is going and, I am guessing providing "services" to people for money...then that is prostitution, right? I am not judging or condeming anyone, but don't you have to really want to get out of a situation before you can get out of it? isn't it easy enough to say don't go and borrow the money? If she is having to "do favors" in order to pay for her gambling problem, then I would think that is endangering the baby and I think that the dad has a good case to get the child, provided he is a "good dad". I'm sorry, I just know that there are so many people out there that want a baby so badly and then you see people that God has blessed with this special little gift and they are throwing it away. Again, I am not judging...just concerned for this little child. Am I being judgemental or condeming? I don't mean to be and forgive me if it sounds that way. Please. I am just so worried over this little baby that I don't even know. The thought of a child going without food or diapers just puts me in dispair. I would be willing to donate food, clothes or diapers to this child. Not money, because I am not going to be an enabler to help with the gambling problem. But I don't believe the child should suffer for their parent's decisions.

If this sad, sad story truly is real, I wish the best for her and the baby. She may not have access to the internet consistently, she may be visiting a library or friend's house to get on the internet and can't get on to answer questions... especially with the situation the way it is... who knows she might have hocked the computer to get outta town.

There is nothing worse than being in an abusive situation and not knowing where to go or what to do. I can relate to the small town situation, I grew up in one, and most problem issues (domestic violence, child abuse, gambling or other addictions) have a bittersweet ending. You can feel scathed in the town of everyone knows what your issues are and it's a rarity that you find someone to help you. Most people have the "My name is Bennett and I ain't in it" attitude because they don't want to come off as meddling or put harm into there lives.

If this lender is as shady as LaTonia says he is, its common that he probably has the townfolk wrapped around his finger and most people are afraid to step up to him or assist someone who needs help.

I definitely agree with the previous posts, especially if she wants to keep her child and receive help for her addictions.

~Seek Help outside of your town - Even in other state, there are quite a few domestic violence places that will assist with moving out of the state, especially if it's life-threatening

~Get A Protection/Peace Order - Once you have help from an Abuse center (House of Ruth, Illinois Domestic Violence Help Line- 877-863-6338, WitnessJustice [dot]org) they will show you how to get a peace/protection order

~Get Into Addiction Counseling - All kinds of addictions can eventually get you into more trouble than its worth. As you can see, your relationship with your daughter is affected, your relationship with people around you is affected and your general view of who you are as a person is affected. Remember you are NOT alone in this, you are NOT the only person with an addiction and Gamblers Anonymous will help.

~Get Ra pe/Forced-Prostitution Counseling There are many other women put into predicaments where the men they are around force them into certain situations to make them feel that giving them **** or forcing them to pay debts through**** is the only way out. You are better than that and stronger than that, believe you are. Women are precious and no one can take that away!

~Go To The Authorities - Once again, once you have FIRST established safety, stability and security for your daughter and yourself ... then you can start the road to make sure that this doesn't or isn't happening to someone else. Tell the state authorities what they are doing and give them ALL the information you have on this guy. If it's not you, it will be some other helpless girl and that saddens me when people feel they can just take advantage with any repercussions.

~Most of ALL: HEAL - If you believe in God.. pray, read your book of choice, go to church/mosque/temple/mass or what have you and seek services from them. Many places have assistance for women coming out of awful and desperate situations. Continue through counseling and continue your support system. Even if it's just updating a few lonely strangers on the internet who have concern for yours and others situations.



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

let's just pray that this is a false post. If not, let's just pray that someone helps her and that she doesn't get caught up in this situation even more than she already is. I know that what she is doing is concidered illegal and she needs to make sure she doesn't get in legal trouble along with financial. I know that there are programs out there like AFDC/TANFF and Food stamps and WIC that can help with food and such for her baby. I hope she exhausts all efforts to protect that blessing that God has given her.