Maxed Out - Documentary on Credit in America

It's a great movie that everybody ought to watch. Glad to hear it's running on cable... The more exposure, the better. For my part, I bought and donated two copies to local public libraries here.

Also, for anybody with a NetFlix account... Maxed Out is available there as well. Both mailed DVD and Instant View.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762117/

I will have to check this one out. Thanks for the tip!

I understand what you are saying but as far as the pirate comment, Why is Charles Manson in prison? He never killed anyone BUT he talked people to kill for him. So debt collectors are just as guilty. Am I right?

Charlie Manson is in the joint because he's a sociopathic wack-job with all manner of delusions, and no respect for the lives of others.

Waitadamnminnutehere!!! I just described a lot of collectors, too.....

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder if any of the collectors who lurk here have any comments on this documentary.

I totally agree with you Uncle...just look at his crazy eyes :twisted: ...he just gives me the creeps just looking at him on tv I can't imagine sitting on the parole board, which is what I used to do (staff person only not an actual member).....I certainly hope they keep him cuffed during his reviews and hearings.

[quote=munchkin130]I wonder if any of the collectors who lurk here have any comments on this documentary.[/quote]

Interesting thought... Anybody? We know you're out there.

I could not find that documentary on showtime and looked for it everywhere on showtime..what category would it be listed under?

Public Library? Good idea UncleWulf!

I was planning to go to the library tomorrow, so I'll check to see if they have it. If they do, it's something I'll be watching this coming week. If not, might be something I could donate once I finally get a job.

Thanks for the great idea!

[quote=ladybug]I could not find that documentary on showtime and looked for it everywhere on showtime..what category would it be listed under?[/quote]

TV schedule for Maxed Out

[quote=UnemployedRon]Public Library? Good idea UncleWulf!

I was planning to go to the library tomorrow, so I'll check to see if they have it. If they do, it's something I'll be watching this coming week. If not, might be something I could donate once I finally get a job.

Thanks for the great idea![/quote]

See there? Us geezers come up with a winner, every now and again. Looks like the JAX library system has several copies of the book, but I didn't find any listings for the movie. You can search the card file online here.

Thanks, Wulf!!

Is that East Coast or West Coast time?? I will tape it for sure.

KS, I have absolutely no idea what time zone that applies to. Try tvguide.com. I don't even have cable here. Don't want it.

I just watched it and it really opened my eyes up...I especially hated those pompus a$$holes with their smirks on their faces :twisted: ..isn't funny how MBNA had it's connection to Bush and how Suzie Orman has an affiliation with FICO,...I like Suzie Orman and she does give very good advice.

I felt very bad for those women who lost their loved ones from suicide what is our country coming to, I know that opens up another can of worms...but I am just furious over how our government does certain things :twisted: .

Hey if anyone finds an online version of this show..let me know. I don't get the pay channels on my cable and I don't have netflix..I would dearly love to watch this video!

Mornin' GB -

Some other options for ya...

Check your local public library. You might turn up the DVD, or at least the book.

Prowl around in your local video-rental places. Our little hole-in-the-wall video store has a copy. I wouldn't have expected it, but I saw it in there the other day.

Last, but not least, NetFlix has a two week free trial offer.

search google video for Maxed Out. it's there, i can't post the link.

Is it my imagination or in that maxed out program didn't that attorney say there were special files for federal judge's and such so that their credit reports are 100% accurate or am I dreaming? :roll:

You aren't dreaming, Ladybug. Unfortunately.

Yup you heard it 100% right!!! Certain people get certain benefits. (Gosh is that surprising in the good ol' USA) :lol:

CHARLES MANSON IS NOT A PERSON,HE IS NOT A MONSTER EITHER,HE IS THE DEVIL.

I'M SORRY BECAUSE I CHANGE THE PAGE 1 FOR 2.
UNCLEWULF IS RIGHT CHARLES MANSON HAVE NO RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE.HE IS A DEVIL WALKING THE EARTH UNTIL TODAY.

I FORGET HE IS IN THE CAGE IN USA AND HE IS A CELEBRITY EITHER.
MAYBE HE BAD SPIRIT WALKS IN THE NIGHT GIVEN ORDERS TO KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE AROUND THE EARTH.

PLEASE I WANT TO READ ALL YOUR GREAT POSTS ABOUT THIS DOCUMENTARY ABOUT CREDIT.

Tania, have you seen Maxed Out?

I set my DVR--and one night, my power went out. The next night, my cable went out! Now before you think God doesn't want me to watch this documentary, I've got it set to tape AGAIN. And the third time WILL be the charm....

Gremlins?......

UNCLEWULF I DIDNT SEE "MAXED OUT "AND I THINK THIS DOCUMENTARY HAVE TO BE VERY INTERESTING UNCLEWULF.

You can see the entire movie on "google".

I found it interesting that MBNA wrote the "new bankruptcy laws" that went into effect in 2005. Also that Pres. Bush has received large donations from MBNA. BTW this movie can be seen in its entirety on google.

I find it interesting that none of the collectors who lurk here with the specific intention of degrading consumers with their snide comments have nothing to say.

Imagine that!

Let's remind them of this documentary the next time they stick their negative nose in our business.

Amen Munchkin.. :lol:

Well, I finally saw it and I'm glad I did. I admit, I couldn't watch the segments about the suicides, as I relate too strongly to this--and really can see how debt can drive you to this point. I would've loved to have seen a segment on payday loans. The media is not even hitting this problem yet, and it just has to. But overall, a very enjoyable documentary.

I have heard of the film and I believe you can see snippets of it on YouTube. As for the debt collector who compares his job to that of being a pirate, that is a good analogy. Pirates were not dashing, heroic, swashbucklung heroes. Pirates in reality were greedy and lecherous, and gained their fortunes through theft and murder. Hey, I guess that modern day debt collectors aren't too far from the mark...You think?

Maxes Out is OK --- kind of biased in a Michael Moore sort of way. I believe its screening on Showtime may 29 and June 7, and is maybe available from Netflix. Films, including documentaries are entertainment first, otherwise they'd never have an audience.... so theres lots of drama and conflict... which may or may not give a skewed view of the credit and collections industry in the US. So try to watch objectively..

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.

"Maxed Out examines an industry that thrives on making people fail, then pursues them relentlessly to death's door. The film features a shocking interview with Bob and Chris????????two idealistic entrepreneurs from Minneapolis whose "People First Recoveries" is buying bad debt all over the country in the hopes of huge profits. They're going to make "People First" a big success by being shockingly duplicitous. To get psyched up, Chris and Bob imagine themselves as "debt pirates", wrestlers and professional football players. The personal information at their disposal and the ways in which they are allowed to use it????????calling people's neighbors and relatives to humiliate them into paying, for example????????are nothing short of terrifying for us, fun for them."

The information available to collectors is no different than the information you provide creditors when you agree to borrow money. Money is a stressful topic for almost everyone and I understand why they topic is frequently avoided. Unfortunately, not responding to letters and phone calls only makes the matter worse. Collectors call relatives and neighbors as a last resort - and they wouldn't do it if it didn't get callbacks. My advice - deal with the situation before it gets to that point... getting back on topic: Maxed Out is an interesting and entertaining film but very biased. Credit at one time was a tool available to a very chosen few in this country. Now, its available to all - but with little knowledge and skill to use the tool, a lot of damage can occur. And what makes you think collections is a "fun" job? Those two guys in Maxed Out are obviously managers - They're not on the phone all day listening to the stories of people's lives.

The majority of collectors out there are no different than you or I - they've gone through their own hard times and maybe to put food on the table they went into collections. I'm going to hammer this home again and again: Collectors are positioned to help you - and maybe save you some money in the long run. If you are willing to state your case and prove you can't afford more than $20/month many of them will take it. There are lots of different flavors of collectors out there. Some never take payments, some only want lump sums, some assume you are lying to them.... but if you never pick up the phone you're probably gonna get sued. If anybody wants a straight-up, objective answer I can give it. I'm not here to fight with anyone -
www.imadebtcollector.blogspot.com

It has been my personal experience that collectors call relatives to flush you out even after making initial contact with you! I just settle a suit with one who called my father in law repeatedly to try to intimidate me indirectly! It cost them the amount of the debt and my lawyers fees to avoid trial! This was not the first one to do this either!

Your right Frogpatch, some of them do use the tools at their disposal abusively.

From imadebtcollector's blog -

"Wait, I forgot about the guy who stopped by the cube farm last week. Mucho mad. Apparently he thought we were joking when we said we were going to persue legal means to collect on his delinquent credit card if he didn't wanna make payments. And then he saw the goose eggs for his checking account balance. Cleaned the *ucker out. heh heh heh. I know I shouldn't laugh but it's hard not to when a consumer is so thick-headed. Chances are, this dude had many an opportunity to deal with this account - and save himself a bigass headache... but he chose to do things the hard way.
So. The receptionist got to inagurate the freshly installed panic button and have the dude hauled off by the po-leece. Sweet.
It's just no fun if it's not *ucked up."

What a nice person. :roll:

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?

And unfortunately this particular situation proves a point... when a collector says they are going to send something to the legal department and follow through with suit don't assume they are joking. Being proactive early on when something goes delinquent or appears to be fradulent is better than ignoring it.

The blog is a no-holds-barred look at the inside of the collection idustry. If you don't like it, don't read it.

I will with hold comments until I read said blog,but those comments referenced are not nice.

Very unprofessional in my opinion.I do completely understand the two opposing points of view,but this blog is telling me they are being kicked once they are down.Just my two cents.

Another thing I find very unprofessional is putting peoples real names in public.

Is the real names comment directed at the blog? The blog doesn't have any names in it. 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. He laughed at the collector and said the classic "Do what you need to do" and hung up. This wasn't a matter of kicking someone when they were down. Collections is very obviously a personality game. If you don't like the person on the phone you're not going to pay them - sometimes to your detriment. I am an incredibly sympathetic person but not willing to be a doormat - which is unfortunately what some of my calls are looking for. Everyone has their limits - one way I deal with the stress is to write about it.

I speak of Eric Bogosian that is on your blog.If this is not a real name,then I withdraw my comment on that post.

Eric Bogosian is the author of "pounding nails in the floor with my forehead". He's also an actor and screenwriter.