...by the way, I guess I should introduce myself.
I am actually a former debt collector. I had been in the industry for almost 10 years. My career in the debt industry ended this week. I have been very sick, and I was hospitalized (again) and while I was in the hospital, they fired me. Debt collecting stinks. It is a thankless job. Trust me...every person you talk to on the phone is not evil. They most likely have someone breathing down their neck to "get the money." It really is stressful, especially for someone like me, who understands both sides of the story.