For the most part, the people I've spoken with have been pretty decent. I had yet another conversation with a Citi rep yesterday - Citi calls on average 20 times a day. This was a woman whom I've spoken with many times and she's pretty cordial. The two accounts with them are actually only in my DH's name, but since I won't let anyone talk to him, she's happy enough to speak with me.
She did inform me that one account is close to 6 months delinquent, and an additional payment of XX would allow her to hold onto our accounts. I assume she means they will either sue or charge off at the 6 month mark, but since we make a partial payment every month, I'll be interested to see if they do either.
Having recently learned about the two laws noted above, I asked her to adjust their number of calls to be in compliance, and to not use the auto dialer as they are calling my cell. Despite my friendly tone, she suddenly lost it! She went from warm & fuzzy to rabid in a heartbeat. Informed me that since I am not the account holder, they don't have to take my word for it that the number is a cell, and I have no right to request a fewer number of calls... Huh?
She then demanded to talk to my DH, as he is the only one that they can talk to. Hmmm.Since I have an 'end call' button on my phone, I went ahead and used it,
but this was a really good reminder to me. These people are not our friends, counselors, or advisors. Their job is to find and use any emotion they can in order to influence us to pay more than we can afford. They may start off friendly and sympathetic, but if at any point they feel that yelling, insulting us, or playing on our guilt will be more effective, that's what they will do. So, here's to the "mute" setting on Citi's ringtone and holding tough on not letting creditors set our financial priorites.