Debt collector horror stories

Bankrate.com ^ | 08-04-03

[John123]

I hope you have an open mind and I hope I don't offend you when I say that after reading your reply you probably have committed several landlording mistakes. Most landlords make mistakes and it makes the job much tougher than it should. I can recommend several books that can help you out. Freepmail me if you are interested.

[Straight Vermonter]

that can't be right

It is right. That is why rents are exorbitantly high. A 2 bedroom in a "well used" building is more than $1000. It also causes problems for young people trying to rent for the first time. Landlords are running credit reports before renting and young people who have no credit are unable to get an apartment. I'd rather have a unit empty than rent to someone with bad/no credit.

As to doing a tag line look right below the box you type your reply in. It says "Tag line (optional, printed after your name on post):"

[FreedomNotSafety]

LOL! I do the same thing except I add 3% to give them 2%. I have learned you must find out how they pay before you give them a quotation.

[bk1000]

"Anyone here in business will understand that many people are truly scum and have no intention of paying for the services rendered on their behalf"

One person I know cannot be satisfied with a purchase, whether it be goods or services. Every customer service call turns into some kind of evil corporate conspiracy. She will spend countless hours defending her position until the
person on the other end usually gives in and adds freebies
on top. Another person I know, a court reporter, will
almost starve waiting on lawyers to pay for depositions
they ordered. Three out of five lawyers she bills will wait until the day
before you sue them to pay. Deadbeats come in all packaging.

[Threepwood]

I used to Repo lease vehicles with my Dad.Lots of big fancy cars, parked at very modest homes. I took dozens of them, and don't feel particularly bad about it. Every person who is behind on their credit should go see the creditor and tell them things aren't working. Odds are, they'll take the goods back or offer you some kind of new arrangement. If I took your car because you didn't want to address a problem, boo hoo.

That said, I have spoken to phone 3rd party collectors that needed a good punch in the throat. The little couple that lived next to my brother were a prefect case. He was a house painter and she was receptionist or something. They were behind on their mastercard, and really not in a position to deal with it. Inevitably, they started getting calls. I'm not sure there was one thing the jerk that had their file didn't accuse them of being or doing. Abusive, dishonest, and threatening, just a grade-A pr-ck.

Eventually, I has a word with him and pointed out that all of their debt was unsecured and how much easier their lives would be if they went bankrupt. Then we discussed the finer points of Canadian credit laws, pointing out that he could not garnish either of their wages because they didn't make enough income and had children to support. *Then* I pointed out exactly how unlikely it was for the courts to rule against an attractive, struggling couple in favor of his company. Further, they would get legal aid and the collection agency would have to pay their lawyer. Sounded to me like a jerk with a grudge could make getting the two grand they owed a three to five grand proposition.

All this eroded the tough-guy thing pretty quick, and nicer people started calling. They drew up a proposal, got a debt loan and hopefully aren't in debt anymore (doubtful, I've never seen worse financial skills). It's very easy to slap people around when they don't know the rules to the game. Moral? Know the rules of the lending game, what kind of debt you have, or don't take credit. If you do end up in debt, remember that it will not get better by itself. Get help sooner, not later.

[John123]

It is right. That is why rents are exorbitantly high. A 2 bedroom in a "well used" building is more than $1000. It also causes problems for young people trying to rent for the first time. Landlords are running credit reports before renting and young people who have no credit are unable to get an apartment. I'd rather have a unit empty than rent to someone with bad/no credit. As to doing a tag line look right below the box you type your reply in. It says "Tag line (optional, printed after your name on post):"

Boy, leave it to the government to tell an industry how to run a business. There needs to be a balance between unscrupulous landlords and crappy tenants. Otherwise, you get a unfair situation which creates high rents due to low supply of rental units like you have.

[Old Professer]

What's the solution? Tell these people its ok to screw creditors and not pay what you owe?

You could try getting a job that will let you sleep at night.

[chris1]

I sleep very well at night knowing that I am helping hard working plumbers and painters and other blue collar workers not get screwed out of their hard worked labor by some dead beat with no intention to pay the bill, or even part of it.