ABC's 20/20 story on Debt Collectors tonite

[poorme]

10 pm EST, ABC is doing a story on debt collectors and the sleazy tricks they use, if anyone is interested (or available!)

[niteflytes]

I'm interested...thanks!

[BK'd-Betty]

I couldn't bring myself to watch it - I've had a belly full of that - enough to last a lifetime!

[lrprn]

I just finished watching the program, and thought it was very good. Along with debt collectors, a family teetering on the edge of bankruptcy because of overspending was profiled as well. The credit card companies were criticized openly for providing too-easy credit to people that can't afford it throughout the broadcast. The one group that wasn't included were those who are pushed over the financial edge due to reasons beyond their control - illness, divorce, job loss, etc. Overall, it was a balanced, interesting presentation on the precarious financial state of many Americans.

[poorme]

Yes, makes me more determined than ever to NOT go back there again. On the teaser they did on the early news, there was mention that the government is beginning to crack down harder on the collection violators - complaints are at an all-time high. It was good to see that one former bill collector who was humbled to his senses when he 'demanded' to speak to a lady - and her sister explained that she was dead - having died in the WTC disaster. He's now in a new line of work unrelated to credit collections.

[GoingDown]

I set up my vcr to record it, but we had a short power outage before it came on, and I wasn't around to reset the vcr, so I missed it

I've heard that there is a movie coming out with a similar theme called "Maxed Out". I will try to see it.

[ChainSmokin]

[GoingDown]

Thanks for the heads up poorme!

With the time they had to work with, I thought they did a good job. The family of 7 living off 35k was interesting / educational.

They gave a piece of advice I wasn’t sure about, perhaps someone here can clarify. They said not to close credit card accounts on your own, they said just to cut up the cards and not use them. Does anyone know the logic to this and does it apply to folks in a BK situation?

On my credit reports, TU shows 8 open accounts, EX shows 2, and Eq shows only 1.

It's way too early for me to start any clean up, but for future reference.

Thanks

Open accounts in good standing will remain on your credit report indefinitely, giving you a longer positive credit history, helping to increase your score. And if the balance is zero on an open account, your utilization of credit will be low, which looks better on your credit, too.

[ChainSmokin]

Thanks goingdown! I won't sweat any of the zeros.

[SinkingFast]

When they said that on there, Hubby looked at me with a quizzed expression on his face.

I said "Yep! Old accts show a longer, positive credit history. The older the positive accts, the higher your score goes."

I saw the show and thought it was pretty good over all. I do wish they had told people NOT to talk to Collections Agents.

I guess we got lucky that none of our accts were turned over to a company like that Apex where the guy threatened the Lady's life.

[lrprn]

They gave a piece of advice I wasn’t sure about, perhaps someone here can clarify. They said not to close credit card accounts on your own, they said just to cut up the cards and not use them. Does anyone know the logic to this and does it apply to folks in a BK situation?

I believe the idea is that the credit score looks at the difference between your available credit and what you're using. Shut down accounts, and your total available credit shrinks, making your balances loom larger, which typically hurts your score. Of course, this is before filing bankruptcy.