Ok, right now, I am about 3 days late on a credit card bill, due to a hiccup in our finances & my hours being cut at work. I should have the money by next week & be all caught up, and hours are more plentiful as back-to-school season kicks off. Though of course that doesn't stop the creditor from calling.
I get a call from them just a few minutes ago. Here is the conversation. I think this is the most dense bill collector I have ever dealt with in my life, and I have only dealt with them once before about 7 years ago, when I got laid off and had to play catch-up for 6 months.
Me:
CreditCard Company Rep: CCR
CCR: We noticed that you are a few days late on your bill. Is there any reason why you are late?
Me: Yes, I know I am late. My hours at work have been cut and due to some unexpected expenses, it will be at least a few weeks until we can come up with anything. My husband and I are really tight right now, especially with gas prices. It takes $70 just to fill up one of our cars, and we have two that we use regularly.
CCR: Is there an estimate if or when your hours will go back up?
Me: Well being it is back-to-school season, we should be fairly busy, but that won't guarantee me more hours. They are restructuring corporate and store management which will free up payroll a bit, but until that is completed (by the end of the month), I can't give you an accurate timeframe, but we are doing what we can to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. I have two young kids, and it would cost too much in daycare to put them in it, and I would have to find a job that pays $17+/hour minimum just to afford childcare plus the added fuel & maintenence costs of me commuting daily. My last FT job I only made $12.50/hour. Use common sense and do the probability of my landing a job making $17 when my experience may get me $15 at most, and in this job market, good luck, Chuck.
CCR: Well, are there any other income earners in the house besides yourself?
Me: (a little confused) Uh, yeah, my husband, who is the breadwinner.
CCR: Can't he help you out with the bills?
Me: .... (short silence) Uh... did you not just hear what I said when I said we can barely afford to fill our cars up? When I said that, I didn't mean "we" as in myself and some random tree squirrel in the yard. "We" means my husband and I. Together.
CCR: So he can't help you or won't help you?
Me: (asking myself if she's entirely serious about her questions)..... Did you not just hear me tell you that I am married?
CCR: I am trying to get you to answer a question that you refuse to answer---
Me: (cutting her off) No, you asked me the same question rephrased as if I never answered the first one or as if you never listened to the answer clearly enough in the first place. I said I was married, yes? Then I said WE, as in my husband and I, don't have enough money right now. What on earth could you possibly derive from that, that he somehow has more money coming in? I don't know what your definition of marriage is, or what planet you are from, but MOST married couples in this country pool their income and expenses. Even if we did do our finances separate, as my husband, do you REALLY think he would let my credit go to Hell and not help me out if I needed it?
CCR: So, you refuse to answer my question then?
Me: I just did. You weren't listening. Again.
CCR: Well since we could not come to a payment arrangement, I have to get you to my supervisor...
Me: Fine, whatever.
At that point I had to hang up though, cuz the kids were starting to fight.
I get a call from them just a few minutes ago. Here is the conversation. I think this is the most dense bill collector I have ever dealt with in my life, and I have only dealt with them once before about 7 years ago, when I got laid off and had to play catch-up for 6 months.
Me:
CreditCard Company Rep: CCR
CCR: We noticed that you are a few days late on your bill. Is there any reason why you are late?
Me: Yes, I know I am late. My hours at work have been cut and due to some unexpected expenses, it will be at least a few weeks until we can come up with anything. My husband and I are really tight right now, especially with gas prices. It takes $70 just to fill up one of our cars, and we have two that we use regularly.
CCR: Is there an estimate if or when your hours will go back up?
Me: Well being it is back-to-school season, we should be fairly busy, but that won't guarantee me more hours. They are restructuring corporate and store management which will free up payroll a bit, but until that is completed (by the end of the month), I can't give you an accurate timeframe, but we are doing what we can to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. I have two young kids, and it would cost too much in daycare to put them in it, and I would have to find a job that pays $17+/hour minimum just to afford childcare plus the added fuel & maintenence costs of me commuting daily. My last FT job I only made $12.50/hour. Use common sense and do the probability of my landing a job making $17 when my experience may get me $15 at most, and in this job market, good luck, Chuck.
CCR: Well, are there any other income earners in the house besides yourself?
Me: (a little confused) Uh, yeah, my husband, who is the breadwinner.
CCR: Can't he help you out with the bills?
Me: .... (short silence) Uh... did you not just hear what I said when I said we can barely afford to fill our cars up? When I said that, I didn't mean "we" as in myself and some random tree squirrel in the yard. "We" means my husband and I. Together.
CCR: So he can't help you or won't help you?
Me: (asking myself if she's entirely serious about her questions)..... Did you not just hear me tell you that I am married?
CCR: I am trying to get you to answer a question that you refuse to answer---
Me: (cutting her off) No, you asked me the same question rephrased as if I never answered the first one or as if you never listened to the answer clearly enough in the first place. I said I was married, yes? Then I said WE, as in my husband and I, don't have enough money right now. What on earth could you possibly derive from that, that he somehow has more money coming in? I don't know what your definition of marriage is, or what planet you are from, but MOST married couples in this country pool their income and expenses. Even if we did do our finances separate, as my husband, do you REALLY think he would let my credit go to Hell and not help me out if I needed it?
CCR: So, you refuse to answer my question then?
Me: I just did. You weren't listening. Again.
CCR: Well since we could not come to a payment arrangement, I have to get you to my supervisor...
Me: Fine, whatever.
At that point I had to hang up though, cuz the kids were starting to fight.
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