Bill collectors get tough

They are starting to really harass people... If they don't have the money how is harassment going to make them pay any faster? Yes you can say people charged more then what they can afforded.. On the other hand you also can say "millions" have lost jobs, you can say "millions" have had hours cut... Do to bead economics (thank you Washington) Don't make the debt collectors seem all innocent here because they are just as guilty for loaning the money to people who may have been a credit risk as well..

 

There is certainly no innocence on the part of folks lending money! Shoot, it is their greed that has to a very large extent fueled the current crisis.

Sure, way too many consumers have been irresponsible with there budget (or lack thereof,) but they have been bombarded day and night by Madison Avenue giving them the idea that "you CAN afford it." "Just DO it." "You are WORTH it." "You OWE it to yourself."

You have the car salesmen coming up with "creative financing" you have the mortgage lending companies coming up with "alternative credit sources," you have sales people in just about every line, that are lying about either their product, or the customer's ability to pay back the loan.

 

Why is it always someone else's fault? The lenders, the advertisers, the car salesman telling you what you can afford to spend (in his opinion)...

I can understand medical expenses... but for the most part, I'm going to have to disagree here, Big Don. The people who spend beyond their means and fail to save for that "rainy day" are responsible. We've become such gullible people... listening to "the experts" and not thinking for ourselves. And THAT scares me.

 

I think you misunderstood me here Ducks. I'm not saying that the folks who got themselves into debt are not at fault. Of COURSE they are. After all, THEY are the ones who decided to take on the credit.

OTOH, one heck of a lot of them could not for see the loss of employment that was coming at them like a freight train. Nor could they see the tremendous inflation that was just around the corner. After all, most of the folks who are in trouble here, are not exactly rocket scientists, or brain surgeons.

So while it IS their basic responsibility to not get in over their heads, the folks who are "selling it" are NOT blame free.

 

Actually, I do understand what you're explaining, Don. I guess my opinions are formed by being raised by depression-era parents... of listening to my parents talk about how it was "back then"... and of having a father whose trade became obsolete shortly before he hit retirement age, and then only to learn that his union -- including his pension -- was bankrupt.

There were valuable lessons to be learned from their experiences, and I guess I was lucky to have parents who taught me how quickly circumstances in life can change.