A Positive Collection Agency Story:
Being Honest Helps

by Cherie
(Jackson)

I am fortunate enough to have a good and understanding debt collection agency. My dad bought me a car back in 1998 and had 5 years to pay. We issued the advance checks and we always had money to fund it. Then on the fourth year of the payment, my dad suffered a stroke. All of our living expenses were cut back and I did not even ask about the car.

It just wasn’t right to think of my car when all else was breaking apart. I really had a stressful and emotional time because my day had intended to pay the car until it was mine. It was so close to being ours and it was slowly slipping through our hands.

After we missed our first months' payment, the debt collection agency began looking for us and I was too scared. After a week, I decided to face the music and face me and my dad some agony and sleepless nights.

To my surprise and utmost gratitude, the collector believed in me and was even sympathetic. He counted our good credit rating and extended our months to pay to 4 years. I was going to graduate around eight months after. I told the collector, I could only pay a fraction of the amount for the first 8 mos.

Thereafter, I will look for a job and pay him on time. Guess what? He agreed? He changed some rates and it got a bit higher but reasonable enough considering I get to keep the car and save the agony of my dad.