Apparently I don't "sound" like I'm on welfare!
Printed From: CanadaStudentDebt.ca
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Forum Name: Dealing with Abusive Collection Agencies
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URL: https://www.canadastudentdebt.ca/forum_posts.asp?TID=4341
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Topic: Apparently I don't "sound" like I'm on welfare!
Posted By: moneytalks
Subject: Apparently I don't "sound" like I'm on welfare!
Date Posted: 06/July/2007 at 9:52am
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I don't know if I should be flattered or insulted... Today I got a message on my answering machine from a collection agency. (I set up a separate Vonage phone line just for bill collectors, so when that line rings, I know it's about a debt and nothing else). I returned the call, here's how it went: ME: Hello, can I have extension XX please? CA: Oh, that's Mrs.XXXX and she's left for the weekend already. Maybe I can help you, what's your phone number? ME: It's XXX-XXX-XXXX (I felt like saying, don't you have call display)? CA: You're Mr. XXXX? ME: Yes, that's right. CA: You have a $137 debt to ABC Company, what are you going to do about it? ME: Oh, I've also got a student loan in collections with you for about $5000. CA: Oh yes, so you do. That's a lot of money. ME: $137 is a lot of money? CA: NO! $5000 is. What do you plan on doing about this? ME: I'm not able to do anything at the moment as I'm on welfare. My monthly income doesn't even cover my basic essential expenses, so I'm afraid it won't be possible to make any payments on those debts right now. CA: Tsk! You don't sound like someone on welfare! I'll let Mrs. XXXX and you can deal with her. CLICK. (he hung up on me). I called back... ME: I'm sorry, we seem to have been disconnected. You were saying I don't "sound" like someone on welfare? CA: Yeah, you sound like too intelligent of a guy to be on welfare! ME: (not knowing whether to be flattered or insulted as he suspected I was lying to him, which I was NOT) I just got laid off and didn't qualify for EI, so welfare was my last option. There's a new class of people: the educated poor. CA: OK, I'll make a note of that (I can hear him typing away). ME: Thank you, have a good weekend! (and I hung up). Can you imagine that??? Whateva!  Next time I'll put on my fake Brooklyn New York accent "yeeah, I'm cwallin about my stoodent loans... I aint done nuthin wRhong I'm just anotha flunkie on welf-feah livin in da praw-jects! Pahdon me while I go get me a cwahfee oah maybe sumthin strawn-gah, like a beah." (no offense to anyone from Brooklyn - I just love different accents). ------------- Money may not create happiness, but lack of money can make you miserable. |