Financial Peace University - Week 5

I forgot to tell you that we did the next lesson of FPU on Friday.

This lesson was so darn funny. Yet sad. really. The things that bill collectors will stoop to never ceases to amaze me. And the fact that people are so afraid to stand up to them and just pay them what they ask, is even more frightening.

Two bill collector horror stories:
I got a call from a woman claiming that I owed a debt to my old bank. I knew that I didn't, but called the bank anyway. Confirmed that I didn't, and they suggested that I call the phone company and block the number. The calls are coming to my cell phone and can't be blocked. T-mobile suggested that I call the police. I called the police in my town.

The woman called back and I told her that I had called the police and that if she called again, they would get involved. So that is when the letters started. I ended up having to call the police in the town that the letter came from. The officer I talked to went to the address, which turned out to be a house, not a business. All contact has stopped completely. In a few months, I will pull a credit report just to make sure that they don't try to report something.

Horror story #2:
My dad died in 1989. My parents had some kind of insurance on their credit cards that paid off the balance in full upon the death of one of the card holders. In 2000 my mom got a call from a collection agency demanding that she pay the balance. She didn't want to fight with the woman(!!) so started to pay it. After a few payments, I ended up stepping in and speaking to the woman and explaining that the debt was not owed and that if she tried to collect they would be sued. My mom ended up having to involve the Ohio State Attorney General's office. Sheesh!

1. Super Savers - Done!
2. Relating with Money - Done!
3. Cash Flow Planning - Done!
4. Dumping Debt - Done!
5. Credit Sharks in Suits - Done!
6. Buyer Beware
7. Clause and Effect
8. That's not Good Enough!
9. Of Mice and Mutual Funds
10. From Fruition to Tuition
11. Working in Your Strengths
12. Real Estates and Mortgages
13. The Great Misunderstanding