Indebted and depressed
I have a debt of $5,300. It may not seem like much, but it leaves me disturbed during the day and keeps me up at night. Each day I wake up to answer phone calls from creditors, asking for their money to be paid immediately. The threatening phone calls and text messages make me anxious and restless. Every day. I have tried several sources to get this paid off (bank, family, friends) but to no avail. My birthday is in 3 days and I am awfully depressed. I wish I could make this disappear. I just want to know how.
@sincerePal8023 it does seem much specially when there's no avail to pay it off :( I'm sorry you're feeling so stressed with it and valid to feel awful even on your birthday.. the threatening calls sound scary :/ I really hope things get better for you soon 💕
@sincerePal8023 A few things you should know:
- Depending on what state you live in, you might be able to tell the collectors to stop calling you all the time. In quite a few states that is considered a form of harassment; generally speaking harassment is illegal in every state. The specifics vary, so check your state laws! In some states debt collectors are forbidden to call you more than once a day, or during certain hours (usually in the evening), or more than so many times per week. Debt collection agencies love it when they find a debtor that doesn't know the law. Do your research, man. Your state gov has to have a website with at least one section for state laws by now.
- When you have to pay off a debt, the key is to pay a piece of it regularly. It doesn't really matter how much you pay per month as long as you do it every month. If all you can spare is $40 a month, then do $40 a month. Anyone demanding that you pay off the principal right now is being unrealistic & obnoxious. How many people do you know with $6,000 in cash sitting around? S***, I don't have that much sitting around & never have. Plus if you did have that kind of money then you wouldn't have a debt problem to begin with! Try to figure out what you can afford to pay after rent, food, etc. If it's 30 bucks then tell the collector that the next time you talk to him/her. If (s)he is unreasonable & won't listen & demands you pay everything off right now, hang up.
- If the situation is truly serious, then you might want to consider declaring bankruptcy. Hopefully it's not that bad but if it is, then do what you have to. (I'm assuming the debt is declarable. If this is college debt then unfortunately, you cannot have it removed by bankruptcy)
Good luck.
@sincerePal8023
I've gone through that. Can you stop answering the phone? turn off the ringer. They can't make you answer the phone.
Can you small payments to a lawyer? This is what I did. I searched for a lawyer in Florida. Pick a florida lawyer because they have easy laws that protect their clients. It doesn't matter if you don't live in Florida. I didn't. I made an agreement with the lawyer to make small payments to her, and in return, she took all the calls from my creditors. It was illegal for my creditors to talk to me anymore. At that point, all I had to say was that I had a lawyer and they could call my lawyer. I'd give them the lawyer's name and number. It saved my sanity at the time.
Excellent idea.
...wish I'd thought of that! Anyone who's carrying a debt load should read it.
@sincerePal8023
Don't know what services u have where u are but we have a service specifically for people in financial difficulty, and I know other countries so too. Try look into it cuz financial worries are extremely difficult to cope with. I'm imagining you can't see a way out right now but there is always a way so I hope u find it
@sincerePal8023
Might it be better even to confront the situation rather then run with fear. Maybe just tell them u don't have it but want to pay it so are willing to discuss a plan on how to?
Thank you everyone, these are some great ideas. I'm truly grateful for the support
@sincerePal8023
Keep us updated so we know how your getting on and hopefully we'll hear u breaking free of all🤞 good luck
