what makes these credit card companies think...

Just a side note here, in my state you can tell them not to call you anymore that all business must take place by mail and they MUST comply within 8 weeks. I would check the laws in your state.

Personally I am absolutely livid that unwanted people are calling (and now also texting). My problem happens to be with telemarketers. We are on the "no call" list, but non-profits are not bound by this.

We had donated to the Make-A-Wish foundation for years. About 13 years ago when they made their annual call I told them that funds were tight that year and to send me the information by mail, if things got better I would concider donating that year. Several months later I got a letter on orange stationary stating THIRD AND FINAL NOTIFICATION and that they were going to turn me into a collection service. I was absolutely LIVID, I called and asked how they expected to enforce a possible DONATION. The woman appologized and said she'd remove me from their list and asked if I knew any eligable candidates for their service. I was so angry that I have never donated to their cause again. I wonder how many people panicked and donated money they really didn't have because of those letters.

Although I think it's now (or will be) illegal, one reason many people got into debt is because, while they were young, they went to college, where credit card companies encouraged new students to sign up. Many people, when they're that young and new to being on their own, don't know how easily credit cards can put you in debt, and they don't understand how credit card companies lure you in with things like a great interest rate, only to have those interest rates suddenly rise.

We are a culture of greedy and lazy vultures.
Excessive and high fees and interest rates (the terms of which can be changed by the creditor at any time after entering into the credit contract, and which has recently taken place...as if getting government bailout money was not enough) are the what more and more companies are doing.
The new American way: making money by doing nothing..making money from money.

Echoes said:
And making money off of sick people, too.

Sigh... add me to this list.

After a nervous breakdown last year, I've been unable to work full-time. I do some contract work from home, but it's just enough to get by.

I'm also 'blessed' with an impulsive spending habit that has put me into more debt than I want to admit. Well, the past few months have been tight and I've gotten behind on payments. :-(

My credit card company has been calling for about a week, and I've been avoiding their calls. Today I decided I'd better take the reins and call them. So they told me they were looking for a payment of $400, which I don't have. I told them I could pay $125 today. The guy says, the minimum we can accept is $210. I said, I don't have $210, but I have $125 - do you want it? He says, no we can't accept it and says they'll have to send it to collection if I don't pay.

So, I told him it's pretty difficult to send money I don't have... that if he wanted the $125, I'd be happy to send it via online payment today. He again said no, so I told him to go ahead and send my account to collection. I said, You're going to do what you've got to do and I'm going to do what I've got to do.

What else can you say? If they call back, I won't answer, but now I'm so upset. :-(

Life sucks.

MHH

How about recording what you said here on paper, in diary fashion, so you will have a record of sorts, and then sending them the $125. It might help.