I easily was approved for student credit cards when I was about 19 or 20 back in 1999. Of course, they accumulated and I did not pay them off because I either did not work at times or made very little being a full-time student.
Being that I finally got a decent job recently, I did want to pay them, but in increments. I did receive letters over the years, but never was served court documents. I got a letter from them about 2 weeks ago and called them last Friday. I never got a call back but saw today that my account is withdrawn almost $3000. What a way to start the day.
I called my bank to confirm what this charge was and they gave me the number to Eltman. There was also a $120 bank fee. I called and spoke to a very rude and pompous employee named Samantha. She had a very disagreeable tone of voice with me, like she was annoyed. She was annoyed?! I have literally no money right now and she is annoyed?! WOW!
I kept a professional, but unhappy tone of voice, both because I was disappointed in myself, my current financial situation, and that I was flat broke now. I do know that I incurred these charges, but the reprimanding tone she had with me was not helping things. I told her that I actually left a message last week and she shrugged it off and said "forget about the phone call last week this is what you owe".
She said that she would need 30% of the balance, which would be about $1000, in order to start payment arrangements. I had about $700 in my account. She asked if and where I was working. I told her because I have nothing to hide. I told her I get direct deposit.
She said "well then your $400 deposit and the $700 will bring it up to the 30% and then you can make payment arrangements". I said "well how am I going to eat? Get to work? Pay other bills? Pay rent?" She said "can't you borrow money from family or something?" She said to fax my last pay stub and my bank statement to her for her information because she has "no information" Then we can "get things started" No information?! ELTMAN just went into my bank account!!!
I started to get annoyed with her tone. She was sort of reprimanding me. I said "listen, I don't have to tell you my whole life story and justify myself and your tone of voice is not helping my situation" She said "okay ma'am just fax the paper work" in the rudest way. Then I just hung up.
Please advise. I am working to get my paychecks mailed to me now instead of deposited. Should I close my bank account? What about the money that I had in there? Should I just deposit my check that Im receiving so they get their money?
Kismet
Brooklyn, New York
U.S.A.
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