Bill Collectors ...Debt...Blood Suckers

It's not a proud moment when you get a phone call from bill collectors...stomach churns...shame builds...degrading, dehumanizing, embarrassing. Yes, I am more than aware that I owe the money, and I freely admit that...I own up to it as best as one person can...as gut wrenching as it is. What is even more disturbing to me is this all is the domino effect of the last couple years of my marriage and the abuse that took place....the end result and fear that keep so many people victims frozen in place in abusive situations; economic need.

So this morning when I got the call from a collection agency that shows up on my caller id as "Kellar King" 904-672-1814... I did my absolute best to remain calm. I tell them my situation...unemployed mom of 2, divorced, receiving unemployment benefits, no child support due to ex in prison for the crime he committed against the children and I. I know as the words come out my mouth it sounds like an excuse...but it is what it is.

They tell me they will garnish my wages....I ask how when there are no wages to garnish. They tell me they will garnish unemployment....which I remind them that when income falls at or under the poverty line income is not garnished.

Then I get the "ask family"...yes, that tried and true bill collecting method....I inform them that my parents are dead. Then "ask friends" is what I get in return....I inform them of the community i live in, a rural community where there are no jobs....over 50 percent of students receive free or reduced meals at school because of the high poverty in our area.

Then I listen to comments such as "oh you're so pathetic, your story is, your little pathetic life," and all I can think at that moment is..."yup, pretty much."

Unemployment keeps my children under a roof right now...it pays the electricity, the heat, and the phone bill. All of which are needed for survival when you live where we live. It's a catch 22...if I don't pay my phone bill, we become even more isolated...unable to call and look for employment, and yes it's true, the phone bill also allows for my internet connection which I utilize for finding employment, and attempting to make money when I can by writing and selling on eBay any possessions I have....which lately hasn't paid off in months. Damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

Thankfully this blog is free of charge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I tell Ms. Holden ( a name I only found out later when I had to call them back), that I can send them a $10.00 payment in an attempt to pay - her response, "Go buy your children peanut butter and jelly with the ten dollars," and then click! She hung up on me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I call back the number on my caller id. Again request where I can send my $10.00 payment, and once again Ms. Holden comments about that peanut butter and jelly. I stress I am making an attempt to pay, and to please provide an address.....I get put on hold....a young man gets on the phone and provides the Jacksonville, Florida address...and then he tells me 10 dollars is not enough to stop action, that they will garnish wages.....and again I remind them about that poverty line thing.....

The sad thing is, I know I am not alone with the pit in my stomach I am now feeling...

There are a lot of good people like me in similar situations....people who never intended to end up this way and where the stress just feeds more dysfunction in families...depression, abuse, addictions, and even sometimes for those that see no hope at all...suicide.

Poverty in today's world has a different face than it did back in the Great Depression. The dust bowl can be found on the information highway...beggars looking for help no longer line our street corners, they post on internet sites that in all essence are taking advantage of them, blood sucker sites that feed off of other's despair.

Google "need money", and see what is top of the list - millionairehelp.org - is what I came up with. The tag line is "beg millionaires for money" - Yup, for a small fee to this site you can post your nightmare....your shame....maybe even your last ditch effort of hope. Just follow the link at the top of the page "start to beg now" - according to the site "it's as easy as 1, 2, 3"

Now I am sure that some of the submissions I read are people trying to scam others....but in the mix I am also pretty sure there are real people, with real nightmare of situations trying to hold on to a glimmer of hope.......hope being provided for a small fee..ironic thing is the fee they ask for is $10.00...gee, maybe the people should just use it for peanut butter and jelly, because after all the collectors don't want that 10 bucks...they'd rather insult you.

This site is one of many out there....what has become of our society???

Yup, poverty may have a different face, but hunger will always feel the same and cause people to do things they may have never thought they would.

Well, I just needed to vent that out before I continue on with my job search.....are you paying attention Ms. Holden???? If I find one soon...you'll have something to garnish! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

______
A little update on this post...

after some research on this company I found the following forums...if you are ever contacted by them be warned....

http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/forums/about7892-13.html


more updates...........

I called the Jacksonville area BBB -

Tell them about this company and the phone call this morning. According to their records, they do not have such a company listed in their files. She told me she would start a file on them.

I call back the company in an attempt to see if they do business under another name. I was told no that they do business under Kellar King and Associates @ 1636 Shadowood Lane in Jacksonville - their main number being 866-655-5560

Next will be a call to the state licensing facility to see if this is correct....

anyway...I was told that they marked my account as a refusal to pay...I said how can they do that when I attempted to pay - I was told $10.00 was a ridiculous amount, that's why....

I guess green is only green when they see it as such too?!?!

anyway....no one needs to submit to the treatment that these blood suckers (my personal opinion) dish.

Bill collection agencies buy debt at pennies on the dollar.....modern day carpet baggers.....