Well that did not take long, 8 days since...

[wantout]

First missed payment on a CC....

Got home tonight, 3 calls this afternoon...no messages were left....

Defaulting on another CC later this month.....

Hope to file by October....

[eddiep]

That is a big step! That was the wierdest feeling, not sending out the check for the first time! take the phone off the hook.

[wantout]

That is a big step! That was the wierdest feeling, not sending out the check for the first time! take the phone off the hook.

Yes it was a awkward thing to do...the hardest was admitting to myself I dropped the ball and could no longer make the payments in which the interest rate had increased to over 30%...

[wantout]

They called again, I answered, since I was home, guy was polite, he said the calls will continue, I said hey, you do what you got to do, have a nice evening....

[thereshope]

The calls will continue whether you answer or not.

[wantout]

The calls will continue whether you answer or not.

I am well aware of that.....thats part of life in the BK lane....

[SandyShores]

I'm in the same boat. After 34 years of perfect credit I had to make the same decision to stop paying credit cards. Citibank started calling me 6 days after I stopped paying. I have found it best just to talk with them. So far, except for two of them, they have been nice and understanding. I have to go BK no ifs, ands, or buts in 6 months so we will see if by day 100 they are still so nice.

Good Luck!

SandyShores

[wantout]

I'm in the same boat. After 34 years of perfect credit I had to make the same decision to stop paying credit cards. Citibank started calling me 6 days after I stopped paying. I have found it best just to talk with them. So far, except for two of them, they have been nice and understanding. I have to go BK no ifs, ands, or buts in 6 months so we will see if by day 100 they are still so nice.

Good Luck!

SandyShores

I hope to file by October to get it over with, but I had a small emergency come up and the money I was going to use to pay my attorney, is going towards that, sucks but this has to be taken care of.

The guy that called yesterday wanted a payment but I told him, aint going to happen, maybe next month, then he wanted to confirm my address, standard stuff I guess.

[SandyShores]

I hope to file by October to get it over with, but I had a small emergency come up and the money I was going to use to pay my attorney, is going towards that, sucks but this has to be taken care of.

The guy that called yesterday wanted a payment but I told him, aint going to happen, maybe next month, then he wanted to confirm my address, standard stuff I guess.

I was also going to file in Oct-90 days after my last charge but decided to wait until Jan as I got about $10,000 in cash advances (7 or 8 different cards) last January and want an entire year to go by on that one. Should have stopped robbing Peter to pay Paul but no I just dug in deeper. Smartest move I made was to stop deluding myself into thinking I didn't need to declare bankruptcy and stop the madness. I have been on a cash basis since June and like everyone said have enough money now that I am not paying credit cards to at least pay the mortgage and meet my essential needs.

Dealing on a cash basis teaches you to be more resourceful. Case in point. In March my hot water tank started acting up on me. The pilot light wouldn't stay lit. Oh, it would relight but once it re-heated the pilot light would go out again nine chances out of ten. Anyway, I did research on the net and found that our county, through it's Community Action Partnership program would, if I qualified, replace my hot water tank for free-and I did and they did. It took me four months to get it done but it saved me a $1,000. I also qualified for a new refrigerator (mine is 25 years old), a microwave, patio sliding door replacement, and a kitchen stove. Still waiting on those. Each qualified applicant gets up to $6,500 worth or stuff/services which can also include a central air conditioner or furnace. They draw down on three separate programs: LIHEAP (federal DOE program), SoCal's EMA program (refrigerator), and SoCalGas DAP (for hot water tank repair/replacement.) Prior to that I would have just charged it.

I also applied to HEAP through the same Community Action Partnership program and got a $244 credit on my electric bill under their non-emergency low-income utility payment program. I can make that last almost a year if I am prudent.

So not having much money can almost work in your favor, if you can swallow your pride and don't mind spending lots of time spinning your wheels and can document your needs.

SandyShores

[Bell30656]

Keep in mind that if you don't answer the phone calls they can begin to call your work, your references, your family members, actually just about anyone "attempting to locate" you.

If you do elect to answer calls keep a few simple rules in mind; First, YOU are in control not them. They want something from you, you want nothing from them. Second, make no promises. Third, don't bother trying to explain your situation to them. It is none of their business.

My standard phone conversations did not fit the training manuals that the collectors use. You want to rattle them a bit? Right after they tell you that all calls may be monitored... Tell them:

All calls to this number are monitored for compliance with the FDCPA as well as applicable state and federal laws. Staying on the line after this warning indicates that the caller understands that anything they say could be held against them individually or collectively in a court. Recordings can be used for entertainment purposes and may be posted on websites. Continuing the phone call indicates agreement with these terms regardless of protests to the contrary.

You will hear either a click followed by a dial tone or a bunch of protests that you can't record the call. At which time you thank them for agreeing to the terms and ask them to identify his or herself by name, company name and state that they are incorporated out of. After all they did ask you to verify your last four, right? Only fair they should prove who they are.

Basically, it is important to take control and not get rattled. These debt collectors especially JDBs are adept at trying to back you into a corner. While you did breach your agreement, go back on your word and welch on a deal... So what. They are in a risk business. This one turned out to be a bad risk.

[wantout]

Keep in mind that if you don't answer the phone calls they can begin to call your work, your references, your family members, actually just about anyone "attempting to locate" you.

If you do elect to answer calls keep a few simple rules in mind; First, YOU are in control not them. They want something from you, you want nothing from them. Second, make no promises. Third, don't bother trying to explain your situation to them. It is none of their business.

My standard phone conversations did not fit the training manuals that the collectors use. You want to rattle them a bit? Right after they tell you that all calls may be monitored... Tell them:

All calls to this number are monitored for compliance with the FDCPA as well as applicable state and federal laws. Staying on the line after this warning indicates that the caller understands that anything they say could be held against them individually or collectively in a court. Recordings can be used for entertainment purposes and may be posted on websites. Continuing the phone call indicates agreement with these terms regardless of protests to the contrary.

You will hear either a click followed by a dial tone or a bunch of protests that you can't record the call. At which time you thank them for agreeing to the terms and ask them to identify his or herself by name, company name and state that they are incorporated out of. After all they did ask you to verify your last four, right? Only fair they should prove who they are.

Basically, it is important to take control and not get rattled. These debt collectors especially JDBs are adept at trying to back you into a corner. While you did breach your agreement, go back on your word and welch on a deal... So what. They are in a risk business. This one turned out to be a bad risk.

I dont rattle to easy, so I am not to concerned about that part.

[catleg]

You want to rattle them? Ask what is their real name (not their "stage name").
Collectors like strippers and prostitutes don't use their real names. (They're so proud of their work).

[splinter]

Sandy, how hard was it to qualify for those programs? I live in Los Angeles County and they might have some programs out here. I was just wondering, if they had income requirements and what they require for verification. Thanks!

[SandyShores]

Here is the link to LIHEAP's and HEAP's income guideline.

http://www.csd.ca.gov/Programs/EnergyIncomeGuidelines.aspx

LIHEAP is a federal program and they will replace the big ticket items that the gas company and SoCalElectric won't. That would be your furnace and central air along with doors and windows. HEAP is also a federal program that will credit either your electric bill or gas bill, your choice, a one time annual credit for non-emergency utility help. They also do emergency grants too but you have to have received notice of utility shut-off.

SoCalEdison's program is called Energy Management Program. They are giving me a 19' refrigerator. Rule of thumb is it has to have manufactured before 1994. But don't quote me. Mine is 24 years old so I had no problems. Here is their link. You can deal directly with them.

http://www.sce.com/residential/income-qualified/ema/ema-program-agencies-contractors.htm

SoCalGasCompany's program to fix or replace hot water tanks called DAP (Direct Assistance Program). Here is their link and they go through the county. http://www.socalgas.com/residential/assistance/dap/

As for the intake process it was easy. They send an outreach specialist to your home who will take your application, depending on your city, for all four programs. I had to have something to prove home ownership (a deed/a property tax bill/or proof of homeowner's insurance) as they will only give a central air/replace furnace to homeowners, (but you can be a renter for all the other services), copies of latest utility bills, proof of income for the past month, your driver's license or state i.d. if you don't drive, and I think my social security card. That was it. No 1040s or W2s although I had those ready just in case. FYI:If you get SSI, Tanif, or Food Stamps you automatically qualify but will still have to produce the documents listed for your intake worker. Make copies of everything for them ahead of time. They give priority to low income people who are sixty or older, families with children, etc.

Most cities in California provide services through a Community Action Partnership program and they are set up to coordinate all of the low income energy assistance programs from LIHEAP to DAP that I outlined above.

Hope this helps. I also get reduced rates for utilities (except water) and phone. Gas/Electric is called CARE and phone LifeLine. They take your word for it. No income docs needed. Just request an application and send it in.

SandyShores

[SandyShores]

You want to rattle them? Ask what is their real name (not their "stage name").
Collectors like strippers and prostitutes don't use their real names. (They're so proud of their work).

I know! Good analogy. LOL!

I told one of the more manipulative beeatches that, if you expect me to be open and honest, then you have to stop lying to me first. Whad-up wid dat! Know what I'm saying. Let's start by you telling me your real name and explaining why you found it necessary to imply you were a friend or acquaintance when I answered the phone. Did ya think I wouldn't talk wid ya or sumthin.' Know what I'm sayin.'

Check out this Youtube video where a debtor calls a collection center and talks to them like they talk to a debtor. Short but to the point and very funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh94WxyAwpA

Youtube has a video of a call center someone made on the down-low, can't find it now, and from the looks of things all they do all day is eat junk food washed down by thirsty-two ouncers.

SandyShores