We were fine until My Husband lost his job

[RockaFowler]

I heard that so many times over the years, but I never thought it would happen to me.

My husband has been out of work now for 19 months. He has filled out over 3000 applications. Last week was the best week ever, though. He went on his first interview in over 19 months (heck in over 15 years since he was at his last job for the past 15 years). He has been asked back for a 2nd interview (keep your fingers crossed) and should know by the end of the week if he has the job. Also, he had another interview on Sunday.

Anyway, the whole time he has been unemployed, we have gone through our savings, his 401K and our sanity. We're only paying for the necessities right now. That doesn't include credit cards (which we were prior to this). So I recieve a call from a debt collector here at work yesterday (how surprising they use a "561" area code instead of the natural "800" numbers even though they aren't calling from the West Palm Beach area). I tell her my sob story how we can't afford the bill and she says "well you're still working". Well yeah biatch, but I do have to pay for my mortgage, food, electric, phone first. Everything else is secondary right now. I understand they want their money, but jeez louise show a little compassion.

And yes we were fine until March 2010. That was the month everything changed in my life. And I am the 99%

[peace13]

1. Love and energy to you and...

best wishes that your husband gets this job. Don't let the calls get you down.

[RockaFowler]

2. Thanks peace

:hug:

[david_vincent]

3. I have no idea who you are, but my thoughts will be with you

I have two family members who have been unemployed long term. My brother-in-law has been unemployed for over two years (bachelor's degree, UMass) and with no prospects at all.


on edit: FINGERS CROSSED !!!

[RockaFowler]

5. Thanks David

:hug:

And good luck to your family as well

My husband has worked his whole life. It's so sad to see him so dejected after reject letters.

[Birdiesmom]

4. I pray for you to receive every break you can...

...and for your love for each other to carry you through.

We are employed, and so grateful, but one injury, sickness or bad break could change that. And we, too, know what it means to have debt collectors who lack both compassion and scruples breathing down our necks.

I hope things get better soon for you.

[RockaFowler]

7. Thanks Birdiesmom

:hug:

And welcome to DU

I hope things get better soon, too :)

[joeybee12]

6. I'm sorry to hear that...good vibes so things get better soon

:grouphug:

[RockaFowler]

8. Thanks Joey

:hug:

Hug right back at ya man :)

[Ex Lurker]

9. To be blunt, compassion isn't their job. They're trying to browbeat you into paying

and they're not interested in explanations, except as a hook to get you to agree to send them something. You're not obligated to talk to them and you shouldn't. Just tell them "we'll pay when and IF we can," and hang up.

[a kennedy]

10. D*mn RocaFowler.....

Positive vibes and good luck wishes for your husband. :hug:

[RockaFowler]

12. Thanks kennedy

:hug: back at ya

[PA Democrat]

11. Sending positive vibes your way.

Also, the link below has some sample letters you can send to debt collectors to limit how and when they contact you. For example, you can request that all contact be made by mail.


http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/help/debt-collection-sample-letters-6000.php

:hug:

[RockaFowler]

13. Thanks for the info

:hug:

[nichomachus]

14. I have a friend who's about to lose his job

He's a hard worker, a real go getter and very successful at everything he's ever done. He works in sales. Last year he took a job with a large company that is fucked up beyond belief, but he plugged along.

He was recently out for four months recovering from two surgeries -- the second because there were complications from the first. When he returned to work recently, he was informed that his boss had taken all of his largest accounts away from him, leaving him with just nickel and dime accounts. However, his sales goals will stay the same.

This means he won't meet goal and that will give them a reason to fire him. He's frantic. He's been beating the bushes looking for a new job, but there's very little in his field, which is specialized, and a lot of competition for what is there.

Meanwhile, he's still working, but waiting for the axe to fall. They told him they want to fly to headquarters next week -- and he's not looking forward to that.

He's married to a guy who's a foreign national and is here on a student visa. So his partner can't work.

[Leftist Agitator]

28. If his leave was FMLA leave...

Stripping him of his largest accounts could be construed as illegal retaliation for exercising his rights under FMLA. Tell him to contact an attorney.

[Condem]

15. Fuck. Sorry to hear that, Rocka.

I'm rubbing the head of my tiny Abe Lincoln good luck statue so he get's that job. Hang in there!

[RockaFowler]

16. Thanks Condem

:hug:

It's so hard out there for all of us. To have people belittle what we are going through (ahem Herman Cain) is really disgusting.

[Condem]

24. A friend of ours who tailgates with us lost his job in May.

He and his wife refuse to join us because they're too embarrassed. Have a kid who just started his freshman year at Creighton. 20 years in the business and he can't find shit. Just bad.

[Warpy]

17. Send the vultures a dollar a month until he's working again

and then stay in bare survival mode (it's hard to break out of, anyway) until the bastard is paid off and then send it back to them in little pieces with the last check.

Unfortunately, you've learned the lesson I did back in the 70s: income might be sporadic but debt is constant and they don't care if you're eating or have a roof over your head, they want to be paid first.

BTW, dunning you at work is against the rules. Turn them in.

[RockaFowler]

19. It's not like they don't have my home number

They call me there all the time. I do like your idea of $1 per month :)

[Shandris]

18. Keep a whistle and wait for the 'Youre still working' line.

Alright, maybe not be that cruel, but sometimes the heartlessness of these places makes it seem like a viable option.

Hang in there, and here's my best hopes for your husband and his interview. :grouphug:

[RockaFowler]

20. Thanks Shandris

:hug: back at ya

[City Lights]

21. My heart goes out to you and your husband.

:grouphug:

I hope his second interview goes well and he is hired soon! Peace to you and yours. Sending good vibes your way...

[RockaFowler]

22. Thanks City Lights

:hug:

It has been a hard year and a half

[madrchsod]

23. know how you feel and.....

never answer a phone number you don`t know. plus you can google numbers you don`t know

[RockaFowler]

25. I hate the sneakiness

Look I know they aren't from around here. You can't fool me. Plus it was my work phone. It looked like it was one of AEs from the number given (looked like a cell phone)

[jtrockville]

26. They called you at work? Check your state's consumer protection laws.

You may have recourse RockaFowler. This article is about a man who fought back against the strong-arm tactics of debt collectors. It's a good (albeit long) read:
http://www.dallasobserver.com/2010-01-21/news/better-off-deadbeat-craig-cunningham-has-a-simple-solution-for-getting-bill-collectors-off-his-back-he-sues-them/

[coalition_unwilling]

27. The collection agent who upbraided you is a working class class

traitor and needs to be called such. That's right, she's a traitor to the working class. You've got to put that rhetoric out there and know that it will sink in and worm its way into the traitor's consciousness.

[Odin2005]

29. (((GOOD VIBES)))

:hug:

[Shagbark Hickory]

30. I'm pretty sure if you tell them not to call you again, they can't.

I vaguely remember that from an Suze Orman so I can't guarantee accuracy.

I see that you're in florida and I know that it's hard (always was) to find a job down there but now it's practically impossible and people are leaving in droves to find work. I know the weather is nice but if you can pick up and move to a really cold place, Bismark is supposedly booming and people are moving there from all over to get jobs in all sorts of fields. I realize that moving does take a lot of money though and I did also hear this on the teevee as well so I can't guarantee how accurate that is either.

[Divine Discontent]

31. 3000? oh my word.... God bless, and good vibes your way!

Get it here now, or one of a million other designs! http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128659602907896843?rf=238107662556833486eping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128659602907896843?rf=238107662556833486

[glowing]

32. Wish on one day, all of the Occupiers would hold up signs for

a Jubilee all across the nation. We need some major debt forgiveness.

[Zax2me]

33. Lost my 10 year job today.

If one family/friend says it's Obamas fault I'm going to explode.
Other than that - help me!!!!!
I'm actually in the 'WTF' stunned stage.
Just, damn.