What should I do???

[Alicnwondrln]

Sorry, but I think this is so funny........in a sad way. Here is a person who is in denial (or was) about his debt. Has taken a few vacations and gosh knows, what else instead of paying HIS debt. NOW that he is facing trouble, he wants advice and sympathy BUT doesn't want to give up that vacation! Several posters are enabling his irresponsible behavior. He needs to "learn his lesson" the hard way...........make sacrifices and suffer a little and show some responsibility.....THAT'S how you really learn a lesson. You sound so very "spoiled". You want "things" but don't want to sacrifice for them or pay for them.

When are you planning on growing up?

while all opinions are vauled
i think this is alittle mean
asking someone when they plan on grwoing up?
perosnal attacks arent allowed

 

[Jon99]

I have a lawncare/landscape business and substitute teach in the winter, my wife is a school teacher, so neither one of us will be losing income...

 

[luvmy2sams]

You owe the debts...pay them off. Even if it's a bit per month...if you owe...pay it off and don't abuse the system.

Excellent advice you've received here, OP. Work with the credit card company/collection agency to negotiate repayment of what you owe. Lots of us did stupid things when we were kids, but I can't even imagine ignoring an 11K debt. The important thing is to own up and take responsibility for the debt you incurred.

I agree with those who don't see the harm in going on your vacation. What good would cancelling a trip funded by your mother do? However, if you're going to be out of pocket even $1, I don't think it's the best idea given your current situation.

Good luck in your decision. Hope you do the responsible thing.

 

[ducklite]

Jon-

Is it possible that your wife can borrow against her pension to make an offer to Citibank? Some times having cash in hand is the best way to resolve issues like this.

Anne

 

[Aidensmom]

Sorry, but I think this is so funny........in a sad way. Here is a person who is in denial (or was) about his debt. Has taken a few vacations and gosh knows, what else instead of paying HIS debt. NOW that he is facing trouble, he wants advice and sympathy BUT doesn't want to give up that vacation! Several posters are enabling his irresponsible behavior. He needs to "learn his lesson" the hard way...........make sacrifices and suffer a little and show some responsibility.....THAT'S how you really learn a lesson. You sound so very "spoiled". You want "things" but don't want to sacrifice for them or pay for them.

When are you planning on growing up?

Um, he's asking advice on handling this debt, I think he has "learned his lesson". You don't have to "suffer" to learn something. If you did, we'd have all sat there in school having our hands smacked by rulers while we were memorizing our multiplication tables. I think if it takes him an extra 2 months to pay off his debt because he chooses to go on vacation, it's not going to harm anyone. People with financial problems need rest and relaxation too, and if someone has been generous enough to provide him with a means to do that, I don't think that indicates irresponsibility.

 

[LindaR]

The OP came to a public board to ask advice. For every person who chooses to NOT pay his/her bills, others make up the difference. Interest rates, fees, etc cover those losses. Example: when people shoplift, honest people make up the loss thru higher costs.

There seems to be NO REASON for him to not pay HIS debt. He was given several ideas that all involved sacrifice. He does not want to sacrifice. Wants to have his cake and eat it, too.

Sounds harsh because that's exactly how I feel. Perhaps some kind, sympathetic souls would like to start a collection to pay HIS debt and perhaps if there is a little extra left over, he can have some nice dinners while at WDW................

 

[Aidensmom]

The OP came to a public board to ask advice. For every person who chooses to NOT pay his/her bills, others make up the difference. Interest rates, fees, etc cover those losses. Example: when people shoplift, honest people make up the loss thru higher costs.

There seems to be NO REASON for him to not pay HIS debt. He was given several ideas that all involved sacrifice. He does not want to sacrifice. Wants to have his cake and eat it, too.

Sounds harsh because that's exactly how I feel. Perhaps some kind, sympathetic souls would like to start a collection to pay HIS debt and perhaps if there is a little extra left over, he can have some nice dinners while at WDW................

Ok, I guess I missed something. Where did he say he wasn't going to pay his debt?

 

[septbride2002]

As someone who works in the banking industry here is the advice I am going to give you.

1) Contact Citibank IMMEDIATELY! Find out if there is any amount you can pay now towards the debt in good faith that you will continue to pay the rest. Work out a payment plan. Citibank does not want to have to come and collect your items - they are to big to be interested in that. But they will do it if you give them no other choice.

2) Great job on paying off your truck and other various loans. However you do realize that this one Citibank card is going to ruin your credit? You now need to concentrate all of your available funds towards the Citicard. As a business owner it is not a good idea to have bad credit.

3) Once you work out a payment plan- pay more to it. Citibank is not going to go away.

4) You could go to a credit advisor if you can't work out a payment plan to Citibank. Or you could also file bankruptcy. I don't really reccommend either since they are black marks on your credit. Again it doens't look good for a business owner to file bankruptcy.

5) We all rack up debt in the college years. I know I've done it as well so I completely understand where you are coming from. The best thing to do is own up to your mistakes and pay it off.

Go on your trip - but if you don't think you can keep it to a $1000 then cancel it. No sense in going into even more debt. Also tell yourself now that any tax return you receive is going to go towards that $11,000. Make no other plans for the money.

There seems to be an awful lot of judgemental people on this thread. I don't think you meant to get this kind of backlash, but some people take it personal when others didn't do as well in life as they did. I say ignore those people and concentrate on what you can do.

~Amanda

 

[Toby'sFriend]

personally, I would call my Mom and explain that I love her dearly and appreciate the gift of the Disney trip --- but honestly I'm in a bit of debt and I was hoping she wouldn't mind if I could use the money toward paying off my credit card instead.....

Moms as a general rule love to hear about their offspring learning to delay gratification and developing financial responsibility.

I can't think of a single one I know that would be offended by such a request.

 

[jenny2]

Yikes, I think there are some people this morning who haven't had their coffee yet! Or else they've never gotten in financial trouble and don't understand the stress it causes.

The only recommendation I can give you is check out CreditBoards. Lots of good advice.

Good Luck! This isn't the end of the world - people get in and out of financial trouble all the time for various reasons. It doesn't make you a bad person.

 

[sixcats]

Have you and your wife considered tutoring to bring in extra funds? My niece makes some nice extra income doing this after the school day ends.

 

[simpilotswife]

What I can't figure out is why a 37 yr old man has his mother paying for his vacations.

When did you graduate from college and how old is this debt if you ran it up in college?

I usually don't jump into these threads but give me (and Citibank) a break. You've taken vacations over the last few years. Hell just moving to the All-Stars during some of those vacations would probably have helped pay down some of that debt.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I would ask your mom to postpone the vacation until after your debt it paid. It would then be your reward for doing a good job. The sooner the debt it gone the sooner the vacation happens.

 

[AllyandJack]

I used to do creditor's rights litigation - and we represented Citibank occasionally. Call the lawyer before the hearing. If you don't show up and don't call, they will file a motion to default you and they will issue a judgment against you. Even if you have nothing now, those judgments are good for a long time (20 years in MA).

I've attached bank accounts. I've attached property. I've garnished wages. In MA, I didn't have to give notice to appear in court to attach the bank account. I went in ex parte. It can get ugly really fast before you know what's happened.

Most of the time, we were willing to work out a payment plan. It depended on the debtor. Obviously, Citibank has to approve it, but they generally went with our suggestions.

Trust me....call the lawyers. Talk to them. You might still have to appear in court since a lot of times we had the judge order the payment plan instead of just making it informal.

Good luck. I'm not making judgments since I met some wonderful debtors who just ended up in a bad situation. It doesn't benefit you in any way to run from this. A judgment will be issued and it just gets worse from there.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

not to hijack this thread
but HI JENNY2!!!!!

whats up !!

 

[jenny2]

What I can't figure out is why a 37 yr old man has his mother paying for his vacations.

When did you graduate from college and how old is this debt if you ran it up in college?

I usually don't jump into these threads but give me (and Citibank) a break. You've taken vacations over the last few years. Hell just moving to the All-Stars during some of those vacations would probably have helped pay down some of that debt.

You know, I also don't usually jump into threads like this for this EXACT reason. He posted looking for advice, and your post doesn't offer ANY... so why post? You're just attacking him. If you read his post you'd see that he doesn't "have his mother paying for his vacations" - he said it was a gift. We don't know all the circumstances for her offering this vacation to him, and more importantly that's not the point of his post!! He's not asking us to examine how he ended up in this situation, or if it's right or wrong to go on the vacation - he's just asking what to do now that he's in this situation.

It really bothers me to see people make posts who's only intent is to make the OP feel bad.

 

[jenny2]

not to hijack this thread
but HI JENNY2!!!!!

whats up !!

Hey! I'm not usually over here... the topics get so hot so fast, LOL!

PM me... we should make lunch plans! Maybe I can convince pattyt to come out for the day, too.

 

[snoopy]

As someone who works in the banking industry here is the advice I am going to give you.

1) Contact Citibank IMMEDIATELY! Find out if there is any amount you can pay now towards the debt in good faith that you will continue to pay the rest. Work out a payment plan. Citibank does not want to have to come and collect your items - they are to big to be interested in that. But they will do it if you give them no other choice.

2) Great job on paying off your truck and other various loans. However you do realize that this one Citibank card is going to ruin your credit? You now need to concentrate all of your available funds towards the Citicard. As a business owner it is not a good idea to have bad credit.

3) Once you work out a payment plan- pay more to it. Citibank is not going to go away.

4) You could go to a credit advisor if you can't work out a payment plan to Citibank. Or you could also file bankruptcy. I don't really reccommend either since they are black marks on your credit. Again it doens't look good for a business owner to file bankruptcy.

5) We all rack up debt in the college years. I know I've done it as well so I completely understand where you are coming from. The best thing to do is own up to your mistakes and pay it off.

Go on your trip - but if you don't think you can keep it to a $1000 then cancel it. No sense in going into even more debt. Also tell yourself now that any tax return you receive is going to go towards that $11,000. Make no other plans for the money.

There seems to be an awful lot of judgemental people on this thread. I don't think you meant to get this kind of backlash, but some people take it personal when others didn't do as well in life as they did. I say ignore those people and concentrate on what you can do.

~Amanda

Yup. What she said.

 

[simpilotswife]

You know, I also don't usually jump into threads like this for this EXACT reason. He posted looking for advice, and your post doesn't offer ANY... so why post? You're just attacking him. If you read his post you'd see that he doesn't "have his mother paying for his vacations" - he said it was a gift. We don't know all the circumstances for her offering this vacation to him, and more importantly that's not the point of his post!! He's not asking us to examine how he ended up in this situation, or if it's right or wrong to go on the vacation - he's just asking what to do now that he's in this situation.

It really bothers me to see people make posts who's only intent is to make the OP feel bad.

I don't really care what you think about my post or comments. Pass it by or put me on ignore, take your pick.

If a 37 yr old man with 5 Disney vacations under his belt in last 5 yrs is gonna start a post about being hauled into court over his debt and what he should do about it then he (and others) should realize that not every response is going to be full of Pixie Dust.

As to the OP feeling bad about what he reads.....who cares? He is 37 yrs old (which is not a child in anyone's book) and has admittedly ignored this debt for years. He should feel bad.

 

[LindaR]

I might also add that he even stated that he'd been trying to "ignore" this debt for years.

You do NOT just receive a summons to court. This credit card company has sent him notices and notices and notices and I'm sure, has tried to contact him via phone numerous times. He could have worked something out LONG ago but CHOSE not to.

A debt is a debt. If he had stated that he was being hauled into court because he hadn't paid.........say.........child support......would you be just as sympathetic?

I've worked in banking, too. Heard all the excuses. He's avoided this debt for a long time....now they have his attention.