Those nasty little Collections calls....

I've really got to hand it to my creditors! I have never known such tenacity, such perserverance, and just downright dogged determination!! The first call of the day usually comes in around 8:04 am, and the calls continue until 8:59 pm. They certainly play by the rules!! God love 'em!

Of course, I never answer any of these calls. I simply let them continue to ring. (I keep my phone in my pocket and set on vibrate, so hey, the more calls the merrier!!) When a call is missed or ignored, my phone automatically records the incoming phone number in my "Missed Calls" log. I simply dial that number back & listen to their recorded answering equipment announce to me, "Thanks for calling Chase Financial" ...or ..."Thanks for calling Discover Card". Then I simply add their name to the number in my 'saved' list & know who to ignore in the future!

It's become a regular game now....me dodging their calls; and them trying to come up with more creative ways to reach me! I think my favorite, so far, has been text messaging! They're sending me messages to please contact them immediately concerning my account. LOL....do they REALLY think I'm gonna call them back???

When texting didn't work, I began receiving calls from "UNKNOWN". They leave me voice mail messages regarding the $300 I've just won....to claim my "prize", I simply need to contact them for further instructions. ARE YOU SERIOUS?? First of all, I know....beyond any doubt...that I couldn't possibly have WON anything...let alone, MONEY, since I haven't entered any contest, of any kind, in over ten years!! But I'm sure the guy who thought up this little gimmick probably had a little somethin' extra in his paycheck that week! I guess maybe the good people of PAKISTAN and INDIA are not aware that we have Caller ID??? AIN'T TECHNOLOGY WONDERFUL??? Yep, I'm thinking it's probably the best invention since the dishwasher!

And just so you'll know that I'm not simply dodging my financial obligations, you must understand that after nearly 20 mos. of consecutive unemployment, SOMETHING had to give!! ESPECIALLY when the unemployment benefits ran out several months back! I've cashed out my 401K and all that money is now gone. I've cashed in all the Certificates of Deposit I had with the bank....all that money is gone. Without ANY means of income, I found it necessary to contract with a 'debt settlement' organization and I am set up to begin making payments to THEM....providing of course, that I EVER FIND GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT EVER AGAIN!!! It was they (the debt settlement people) who informed me that, since THEY are now handling my debts, I did NOT have to speak with my creditors. In fact, they expressly advised against VERBAL communication & said that ANY & ALL correspondence should be in writing. All of my creditors were notified by certified mail that my unpaid balances are now in the hands of the debt settlement folks.

So, you see......I find this whole collection calls fiasco immensely entertaining!!