Re: Do Collectors ever take a holiday?
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Posted by SunKissedBeach
(67.69.203.243) on December 24, 2003 at 18:03:03:
I work for a collection agency and I have to put in a 40 hour work week just like anyone else. Most of the people from my department hated having to call debtors on Christmas eve. We are not all heartless, cruel, mean spirited people like you think we are. We are people with families, mortgages, rent payments and car payments. We have children, grandchildren, and lead real lives just as you all do.
I am not the enemy, if you want to blame someone blame the credit card industry for making credit to available for people to acquire. Be angry for laws that enable creditors to charge astronomical interest, over the limit, late and annual fees.
Be angry at yourselves for not reading through your credit card agreements. Be angry for signing them when you had the knowledge that if you can't pay the consequences will be great but still you still signed.
Be angry at the economy/government/society for job lay offs and high cost of housing, low incomes and poor health care.
But don't be angry at me because I am just trying to make a living just like anyone else. I work as a debt collector because it is a job that pays my bills and puts food on the table.
I read this forum a lot quietly in the background not bothering anyone. I don't do this as a troll, or as someone trying to gather information to use against people like most of you think.
I actually started reading this forum a couple of years ago when I helped my husband clean up his own credit report and negotiate settlements with his creditors from old debts from his first marriage.
I have never stopped reading, I just stopped posting because often I felt intimidated by some people on this forum.
I am offended by the name calling, stereotyping and just plain meanness of a lot of the people on here. If you ever received a call from me you would see that I treat people with dignity and respect. I have received numerous calls and letters from people that were touched by my kindness and compassion and empathy towards their financial situations.
I have helped a lot of people, the ones that can't pay because they are old, on disability and have no income at all, I purposely keep their files in my chain so they are not called by anyone in the office and for as long as I will be doing this job there files will stay with me.
Not every debt collector is pond scum, a dirt bag and the most miserable person in the world.
Yes there are horrible people in my office, I am offended by them on a daily basis. I don't break the FDCPA laws, when I make my collections. Yes, a ton do every day..but not all of us. I have a group of friends in my office that all share the same compassion, and respect for people. I work this job not because I wanted to be a debt collector but because there were no other options for me at all. Try moving to a country/city that uses French as their first language and if you don't speak it you are not allowed to work period. Not even as a grocery bagger or a street cleaner or a retail store salesperson. I work full time as a collection agent because I don't need the French language to do the job.
If you met me you would find me to be a friendly, outgoing person someone educated, well spoken and excited about life, my family and my three dogs, cat and my cockatiel bird. I took my lemons and made lemonade. Merry Christmas, God bless and I hope you all have a prosperous New Year.
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