Debt Blog

Recently, I got a call from the widow of one of my most memorable clients, just after he had passed on. She called for advice and stated they had always appreciated ClearPoint’s assistance and that her husband loved calling me to update his account balances. He was very proactive with his account and kept up with his balances and APR’s.

I’ve got to tell you..I was certainly choked up to learn he had passed.

I inherited my client when his original counselor was transferring to another branch. He originally hailed from NY and still had the great accent and manner of a local - brusque and to the point. Over time, he divulged that in addition to being on full disability due to emphysema, he had recently been diagnosed with the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s.

On a few occasions, as his Alzheimer’s progressed, he’d call update his account information and then call back, forgetting that he’d just called. He had a good sense of humor, (sometimes he’d ask if he had just called) so I explained that if he felt a follow up call was needed, it was important enough to go over the information as many times as needed. Really, I just enjoyed talking to him.

He was so very proud of his progress! I’m glad I was able to get to know him and see his Debt Management program through to completion. I’m going to miss him.

Every client has a story behind their debt. It takes compassion to feel their fears. The most gratifying feeling is showing them that we CAN help - whether it is negotiating with their creditors, or offering tips to help manage their income and increase savings throughout their household budget.

We have great jobs.

A lot of people don’t deal well with the stress of debt. I always tell them that it important to keep the lines of communication open with your creditors and try to avoid getting defensive and overly emotional.

Sometimes they show up at my office and just start crying. When I ask them why, they’ll tell me that a collector was mean to them, and they didn’t know what to say. I always give the same advice, “Just tell them you don’t have the money to pay them right now and ask if you can work something out.” It is that simple.

I have two kinds of clients: There are your hard luck stories, and then there are people just living beyond what they can afford. Some stories I hear are tragic. My heart goes out to those people who suffer illness or injury, or who find themselves in an unexpected, unavoidable situation. But I didn’t have a lot of compassion for someone who is irresponsible – someone who is buying more than he or she can afford – and doesn’t take control of their situation soon enough.

Cutting back and matching their lifestyle to their income is really hard for some of my clients. I think some people get to a certain point in life and they don’t think they should be in the same situation they were in when they were a student. They need someone like me to calmly show them how to make those adjustments less painfully.

For those that have been through a rough time, I really have to choose my words carefully. I have one client who was working and living a normal life, until her son was killed. She was depressed, and she stopped working and paying bills. She essentially had a breakdown. A friend referred her to ClearPoint, and she is now getting her life back on track. I have to be so careful how I talk to her, because she is so incredibly emotional. Oddly enough, she likes to talk about her son. Part of my job is to I listen to her.

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