I beat the system today. But at a price.

To make a long story short, I filed bankruptcy last year and some loans did not get settled with the credit union, that I did not know about, where I make my car payments. It came up after the fact and my lawyer advised me to just keep making the car payments anyway and they'd have no reason to make trouble. So I have.

To my utter shock and amazement I got a nasty call this week from them that they have been trying to repo my car and can't find it, and they presume it is locked in my garage. Well, yes, I said, I park it in my garage. And why would you do that? I am making the car payments??? WTF????

It was because of the other loans that didn't get settled, apparently, and they "cross collateralized" them with the car, so that is their basis for repossessing my car?? These loans are far below the payments on the car anyway!

He verbally beat me over the head, across the back, over my ass, and body slammed me to death during this phone call. I said I would work something out with them. He insisted this was HIS/THEIR car, and I should open the garage and let the guy sitting outside my house in the garage to take the car and let them decide what it's worth, and THEN, work something out.

NO! WTF? I've been making the payments, and I was floored by this treatment, and by the idea that if my car had been sitting in the driveway on a couple given occasions over the past couple months, they would have just taken it! I would have been totally handicapped and devastated without a car!

I finally said I wanted some time to think about this and call him back. He YELLED at me that this was HIS CAR, and I was not entitled to time to think! OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR! Fuck that. I said I would have to talk to my attorney first. (I won't break the law but I won't be railroaded either!) So he switched to WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO CALL ME BACK?? WHEN? WHEN? WHEN?

GOD that guy was pushy!!!!

I spoke to the attorney who handled my bankruptcy last year within 2 hours. He said they could "cross collateralize" like that. Well, that was news to me! (Why the hell wasn't this settle before??) Anyway, he said I had an option, which was to file a Chapter 13, and reorganize my debts. That way they would be forced to work it out with me, like I requested. But, it was an aggressive option, and had to be done quickly, and before they knew what hit them.

So today, 2 days later, I filed Chapter 13. They called the Credit Union today, or will on Monday, to inform them. In the meantime, my car is locked safely in the garage for the weekend, just in case. They can't touch me after that.

I beat the bear! But it comes at a price. There will be complications. I'll deal with that as it comes.

But it's nice to be on the other side of the 8 ball for a change! Thank GOD my car has been in the garage every time they came to repo that baby! How many times did they try this? I've been making the payments on it - it's MY CAR!

FUCKERS!

I was so rattled after that call I was afraid to run errands or do anything for fear they's be behind me and the car would be gone after I went to pay for gas or something. Gave me such a stomach upset!

And why wouldn't they rather take my payments anyway? I am so damned mad! Still. But I beat them!

Welcome to Bush's Amerika. It's a jungle out there!

I beat the bear today!

that credit collection agencies are run by thugs and the mob. Helps explain their tactics.

They're both run by the Repuke Financial Industry under Dimbo.

That explains their attitude and tacticts.

It does take a "special" kind of personality to make the cold calls like they do...being convinced that you are superior in every way is an advantage.

Although they were aparently within the bounds of the law trying to come after your car, they were on your property and could be removed by the police, and they were verbally abusive to you over the phone, which is not legal.

But good job showing them who's in charge!

open. Sometimes I forget to close the garage door when I get into the house.

I don't forget anymore! The last 2 days I park it in the garage and race in the house to hit the button to close it even if I'm going to leave again 15 minutes later!

Sounds like this bastard is crazy.

In hindsight I can see how he pounded and worked me constantly in how it was my duty to deliver him HIS car.

After I finally told told him I wanted to talk to my attorney first, then his rhetoric totally switched to when are you going to call me back. And he wanted a definite minute. I wouldn't commit and just said I'd talk to the attorney today or tomorrow, but couldn't guarantee when I'd get an answer and get back to him.

He hasn't called me back. He didn't even leave me a number! I was so rattled I didn't think to ask for one!

I couldn't find a tow truck sitting outside my house after I hung up either. It must have been sitting down the street.

That's an awful situation!

I knew the suckers wouldn't be waiting for me after midnight.

What a life. :(

Be VERY, very careful...always make sure you're not be tailed, no matter what time it is.

I still want to bitch about this. I can't sleep!

Maybe you need a better lawyer. The least you can expect is one that is on your side. Keep the car in the garage and call the lawyer if anyone tries to hassle you. They have no right to do that. I would consult another lawyer, though I know this is tough. This makes no sense to me.:shrug:

Debt = Slavery

You are a slave to the car dealership, or whoever gave you the loan. How much do you owe any way? My advice (actually Dave Ramsey's advice) would be to sell that sucker, get whatever you can for it, buy yourself a $2000 box with a good engine, and pay off as much debt as possible.

If she's happy with what she has, what other choice is there than to keep it and deal with the consequences?:shrug:

GREAT idea.

Although she might not be able to legally sell it, if she can't lay claim to it.

If she gets one chance where she KNOWS that she has legal ownership of the car, she should sell it IMMEDIATELY, to some family member, before they counter her somehow.

Bush is just a corporate whore. As are most mainstream politicians. :cry:

This is seemingly the world people want, yet they(1) bitch about it when they get maltreated.


(1) I don't mean you personally, not in the slightest. You're a Dem/progressive/liberal/left-of-center. You know better. Only those close to the center and right-of-center like the status quo. What's happening to you is just part of the status quo. The status quo of a heavily broken system. One that's trillions of times higher in debt than you.