The Idaho Falls Grinch Who Stole Christmas Power
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to the newsletter or RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Kudos to the Post Register’s Marty Trillhaase who wrote an opinion piece yesterday pointing out how Idaho Falls city power is shutting off peoples’ power for being late on their bills, despite this being the coldest winter months and despite children, disabled, and elderly folks being in some of those homes.
How do they get away with this? Apparently since Idaho Falls Power is owned by our city and is non-profit, it is not regulated by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission and therefore not subject to the cold-weather shutoff rules that all other Idaho utilities must observe. However, it is unconscionable that Idaho Falls claims to be a family-friendly city while the city-owned utility does not respect such a basic humanitarian principle.
Who makes this policy decision, the mayor, the city council, or the IF Power director? I call on Idaho Falls Power and the Idaho Falls city council to immediately hold themselves to this public utility standard. I’m not advocating for deadbeats here. Feel free to shut off the power after our extreme cold weather months pass. Feel free to impose stiff fines and fees for late payments. Feel free to require huge deposits for these deadbeats when they try to hook up service later. But don’t shut power off to homes during our coldest months where children, disabled, and elderly are involved.
How we treat the least of our folks reflects greatly on our society, and Idaho Falls Power is not reflecting greatly on our city with this Scrooge-ish policy.
What do you think?
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
Vote:
0 
0 I used to feel sorry for these families. Then I got involved in some charity work involving the so called neediest of the needy kids. Part of it involved getting the kids a gift for Christmas which they got to pick out themselves at Walmart. Well over half, and I’m not exaggerating, went straight to the video game section. Then to the Playstation 3 or X-Box 360 section. Meaning they have these game systems at home. These systems cost at a minimum $350 and up to $500. I lost all sympathy for the families at that point because if they can afford that they can afford to pay their bills.
I still feel sorry for the kids who grow up in abuse homes. But the poor homes not so much because they aren’t really that poor. And I’ll bet, and I’d win about 9 times out of ten, that the parents are smokers as well. The cigarettes alone would pay for some of their bills.
Vote:
0 0 I totally understand frustration at the folks who routinely spend their money in foolish ways, then have no money to pay the important things such as heating bills. I spend my money foolishly, also, and make unwise choices.
Luckily for me, I have enough money to do that without paying a penalty of facing utility cutoff.
I also know that with the energy assistance programs, helping at least once per year to those with low incomes, the tendency is to start to plan for at least a month or two of coverage every year, in your budget.
But I’ve decided that I won’t begrudge them the assistance, after all, they are close to poverty level for their income, and that’s a damned hard life no matter why you are living it (choice, circumstance, etc).
So, that being said, I think Joe and Marty are correct about the issue of winter shutoffs for certain categories of power users. It doesn’t speak well for our humanity if we can cold heartedly remove the power from a deadbeat household in these conditions.
SOMEBODY ends up paying for it, whether by energy assistance programs using tax dollars in TANF funds, or by church programs using donations, or by general assimilation of the unpaid expense spread out amongst paying customers. One way or the other we all will end up paying those bills, if the person does not.
But do we have to be so callous and cruel in our efforts to avoid helping out those folks whom we believe (in our all-knowing judgmental hearts) are undeserving?
Vote:
0 0 Hold their feet to the fire in terms of late fees and deposits took hookup their service again, and there may be some truth to the stories about some not really needing the assistance, but it makes our city look bad if even one innocent family, elderly or disabled person gets their power shut off during our coldest months because they fell a little behind on their bills. Our city still looks like a Grinch for that one case, so let’s hold ourselves to the higher standard that the Public Utilities commission holds the publicly-owned utilities to.
On a related note, the Idaho Falls Power was described as privately owned, but isn’t it owned by our public city municipality, which would make it publicly owned, right? Somehow that gets lost in translation…
Vote:
0 0 There are programs in place through the Eastern Idaho Special Services Agency to help with energy assistance. There are also other charities that help with these issues. Many folks don’t pay their bill…..or even attempt to pay a little bit to avoid shut off.
It is also amazing to go into some of these homes and see how people crank the heat upto over 80 degrees or higher. It amazes me that people think they can do this and just duck the bill. Kind of reminds me of a lack of personal responsibility here–like the mortgage mess. No one is responsible for the details. In this case, no one is responsible to pay the bill. Shameful…..for people to act like this. Good for IF Power to take action and not let this drag on and on…….especially when the culprits make no attempt to right the situation or seek assistance.
Vote:
0 0 We are talking about people who don’t care about their credit so late fees etc don’t work. The only way to make them pay or disconnect is to turn off their power. I know that a few years ago, when I was in the know about low income folks, the City waited until the spring to turn it off. But I guess if they get three “free” months then that can get them thru the coldest months if timed right. If someone is worried about people freezing their butts off then they should donate to the fund that IF Power has for those folks. I think info on that is on each bill or at least on the website.
Vote:
0 0 I can’t believe the callous comments from some of these Grinches. I guess our city does represent these Grinches with this policy. You’ve seen a handful of the worst cases so you think you know everyone’s case, right?
You don’t know if a family has been battling their insurance carrier all year to get overdue treatments for their kids, you don’t know who got hit by a drunk or uninsured driver, and you don’t know who got laid off because their boss wanted a bonus. You don’t know everyone’s circumstances, but you feel justified in supporting a blanket policy reminiscent of Stalinist Russia.
I know a family who just a few weeks ago almost got their power shut off because the utility was mailing bills to the old address. You think they are deadbeats?
We shouldn’t coddle late bill payers forever, and nobody is suggesting “power welfare”. The suggestion is merely to not shut off power for the three coldest months of our harsh winters, in those homes where kids, disabled, or elderly people reside.
Sure some folks will abuse the system, but since it’s only three months the system will catch up to them. It reflects more poorly on our community that we will not allow this three months as public utilities do, and yes it reflects even more poorly on our community than those few deadbeats who work the system.
When national reports are compiled about Idaho Falls’ supposedly great livability standards, I hope they consider this glaring example of Grinchy cheapness. The city should be ashamed of themselves for this policy and everyone who supports this policy should be ashamed of yourselves.
Vote:
0 0 Whatever happened to taking responsibility for our own actions and lifes? We can’t expect others to do it for us. I will help anyone who is trying to help themselves, but not those that sit back with their hands out and want everything given to them. How many of these people who are about to get their power turned off are working? There are jobs in IF, a lot of the stores have Help Wanted signs posted. How many of these people who are about to get their power turned off have money for a cold pack of beer and a carton of cigarettes?
It can’t come as a surprise to these people that they are getting their power turned off. Why weren’t they making arrangements after the first month that they couldn’t pay their bill? I’m sure they received notices. Joe you make it sound like they shouldn’t be accountable for their inaction.
Joe, the people you mentioned that about lost their power because the bills were going to the wrong address. What did they think when they weren’t getting a bill each month — that their power was being given to them. Responsibility.
I’ve been very poor. So when one job didn’t cut it, I took another minimum wage job — at one time I was working 3 minimum wage jobs to keep food on the table for my children and heat and electricity in the house. Sacrifices and Responsibility. I was still able to spend quality time with my children. One of my jobs was babysitting on the weekends. My kids were with me.
Remember the saying: Give a man a fish and he will eat one meal, teach him to fish and he will eat forever. I’m sure the words are wrong, but the meaning is there.
Vote:
0 0 Again, you are assuming things about other folks’ lives that you don’t know about. The people missing their bill did finally realize they had not gotten a bill and checked in about it. In today’s fast paced day and age, when someone moves into a new home, it is easy to forget about a bill. They paid it in full after they learned of the “problem”. Responsibility, as you put it.
And again, I’m not excusing them, I’m just saying let’s have half a heart during our coldest three months of the year. I support penalizing them with hefty late fees and hefty reconnection deposits, which would take care of the financial burdens incurred by our utility.
If the financial part is a wash, then I suspect the only reason to support disconnects in our coldest months is to teach some kind of “lesson”. This is getting to the heart of meanness, and reflects the Grinch attitude.
Vote:
0 0 I say we all pay for everone’s bill that can’t pay, won’t pay, or forgets to pay. Is that more sensitive? If we have to do it on a case by case basis we start a huge ball rolling that includes people to meet with these, nonpayers lets call them, and determine if their needs meet the criteria. Again, I say you should donate to the fund the City has set up for people in need. My level pay is $175.00 with the City utlilities and I’m sure that these people in need have simular utility bills. For that matter sign up for the pay someone’s credit card bills as well. I’m sure alot of people are in need after Christmas. I hear what your saying but the City Utility is set up to make money not donate it.
Vote:
0 0 More of this “all or nothing” mentality! Why must it only be all or nothing, shutoffs regardless of kids/disability/elderly or no shutoffs whatsoever and I should also pay their credit bills?
Why can’t a middle ground be acceptable where a mere 3 month reprieve is given under the stated and limited circumstances?
And the city utility, being a nonprofit, is not setup to make money. It is setup to serve us at the minimum cost possible.
Vote:
0 0 I guess the question is, how and when is the three months of utilities getting paid back? If people get 3 months behind they will owe $500.00 back to the City. How can they pay this when they can’t pay the monthly amount? Does the City write off the 3 month total for people in financial trouble during the winter months? Because that’s essentially what they’d be doing. If someone can answer these questions then we’d know what type of program your talking about. Maybe it’s written above but I’m lazy.
Vote:
0 0 OK, maybe this is where our confusion is found?
If the power bill is not paid during the three coldest months, I say heck yeah tack on some hefty late fees, but don’t shut them off.
If after those three months pass, and they still don’t pay the bills up to date, then heck yeah shut them off, and when they want to pay up and reconnect service require some hefty deposits.
Eventually they will need power again and will have to pay back the three months worth. I don’t think anyone is saying give them free power for life. We’re just saying don’t shut it off for three measly months in our coldest season.
Vote:
0 0 I understand your point and it’s well taken. I work with some of these people and many of them will take the help and appriciate it. What I have found is some people who owe the City money for late utilities will get them put in the children’s names. You’ll have a 20 month old with a utility bill. It’s funny, but it’s true. You can’t have people who are too young or too old to take care of themselves left in the cold. It’s not right and it’s not the way a City should conduct business. There just has to be away to catch as many of the bad eggs as possible. Maybe along with Shop with a Cop the police could do a drive and have the City donate power to needy families during the winter months. After all they, along with the Fire Dept, see first hand IF’s most needy families. Or the Mayor could select a volunteer committe to do administer it.
Vote:
0 0 How are kids able to get utilities in their name? Doesn’t the city require them to be 18 or older? That seems like it should be changed at the city level, a city problem more than a society problem.
Vote:
0 0 Respectfully Joe you are quite naive about identity theft if you think that its hard to get utilities in kids names. It happens all the time and not just with utilities. It also happens with phone bills, credit cards, etc. About 99% of all identity theft is perpetrated by a family member or friend. It puts the victim in a catch 22 because they don’t necessarily want their family member to go to jail but they also don’t want to be responsible for the bill. And sometimes the victims are too young to know they are victims but come adulthood they will sure find out when they have a bad credit rating right from the start. I’ve got a family member whose own sister and mother have both opened multiple accounts in her name both maiden and married. And thats the way it usually happens.
As to how its done. Its the same reason men can use women’s check in Walmart and vice versa. Why anyone can use your credit card if they get hold of it. NO ONE EVER BOTHERS TO CHECK ID.
Vote:
0 0 Not receiving your bill at the right address is NO excuse! You still have a responsibility and you STILL know that you have a bill to pay. Just because you didn’t receive the bill doesn’t mean you should not have to pay it. If the first month goes by and you don’t receive it, it’s YOUR responsibility to look into and contact the power company to make adjustments to the address and whatnot. Like someone else noted….”what ever happened to personal responsibility”? I don’t feel sorry for those who get their power cut off, no matter what time of year it is. They have 3 months to come up with the money or even CALL the power company and make payment arrangements so the power doesn’t get cut off. We’re supposed to feel sorry for these people because their not responsible enough to do this? I don’t think so! And if that makes me a “grinch” than so be it. I’ve experienced tough times myself, so I know what it’s like. And I also know that there are ways to keep them from shutting your power off. A simple phone call to the power company to explain your financial difficulities is all it takes. And if people can’t even do that much, than too bad for them. They deserve to sit in the cold for a few days. Perhaps they’ll learn some responsibility in the process. Life is hard, but don’t expect me to feel sorry for people who don’t or WON’T help themselves. So many people these days are looking for a handout or sympath or something for nothing, well I say get your affairs in order and learn to take care of your own problems. Learn to be a little more responsible.
What amazes me is to see Joe stick up for these deadbeats!
Vote:
0 0 Guest….I couldn’t have said it better myself!
If you can’t pay your utility bill within the time alloted, then either get a better paying job or move somewhere that you can afford. LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS!
If these people that Joe speak of can’t even pay their bill within 3 months, how do you expect them to pay it once they’ve tacked on these hefty fines you speak of? (on top of the three months they already owe!)
I say let them sit in the cold and learn some responsibility! There’s no “free lunch” in this world and just because it’s winter time, doesn’t mean we should feel sorry for these deadbeats that refuse to pay their bills!
Vote:
0 0 I keep forgetting to update ya’ll on this. I spoke to those folks about why they went three months wondering where their bill was, and they said they tried to update their address with the utility three times in those three months! The disconnection notice also got sent to the wrong address.
Companies today are completely retarded in basic customer services. Who among you has not had problems like this with companies?
Last summer Dish network sent me to collections because they were too bungled to fix their own problem. It was only after I contacted their executive offices (for the second time BTW) that they realized and fixed their error.
In this case the utility was too stupid to update their billing address record, then wanted to shut off because of the problem they caused themselves.
Can Idaho Falls Power claim they have never messed up a customer service issue such as described? When IFP can claim absolute perfection in customer service, then I will agree there is no need for a three month delay.
Until then, IF Power needs to align themselves with Idaho’s public utilities, or Idaho Falls will rightfully earn reputation for being full of mean Grinches.
Vote:
0 0 I thought the power company sent the bill to the address where the power was being used? Joe, are you saying these folks gave the ulitity company a different address to send the bill other than the one they were living? Or did the power company just get the address wrong? If they got the address wrong then they would turn off the power at the wrong address. Something smells fishy with their story.
Vote:
0 0 You would think the utility company would logically send the bill to the address serviced, wouldn’t you? Not in this case!
I’d have to ask again. Before doing that all I can say is these people rank highest among the most responsible people I know, I’ve spent months trying to talk them into buying a budget computer because they do not like spending excess money. They are both college educated and savvy folks. The husband mentioned today he was having trouble getting their cell carrier to also change their address, and described all the ways he has tried to inform the company. They all sounded like the normal ways I would communicate to a company that my address changed. I do not know how it got started, but I understood the utility company screwed up more than one thing, and the billing address was one of those things.
But the point is, we know companies mess up these things. Is Idaho Falls Power claiming they never make these mistakes?
Vote:
0 0 Something sounds fishy to me as well. They can’t be THAT savvy if their both “college educated” and they’re still living without an entry level computer. They’re not THAT savvy if you’ve been spending “months” trying to “talk them into” buying one. C’mon Joe, everybody knows you can purchase an entry level pc these days for well under 200 bucks.
I just don’t think their as educated or “responsible” as you make them out to be.
I agree we’ve all had our issues with “customer service” these days. However, if the power company didn’t get the address right after the 2nd month, I would have just gone downtown and walked into the office to handle it. 3 calls in three months is hardly “responsible” in my opinion.
Vote:
0 0 I cannot believe what I am reading here! I always have this belief that there is still good in people, until I stumble across these sorts of forums. People make mistakes; people don’t pay all their bills sometimes. Do you know for sure without a doubt they are smokers and drinkers? If you say yes, you are lying or completely blinded by your own selfishness. I have 5 kids and my husband and I work very hard at our jobs to bring home very little. We are poor, buying a house (paying my taxes just like the rich folks) and we do NOT get food stamps. Sometimes paying the electric bill means not eating. I have been behind and or shut off several times. And, yes we have had to scramble to borrow or scrounge money to get it turned back on. I do not spend my money foolishly I pay my bills and take care of my kids. But sometimes problems arise and we have to miss work (without pay) surgery’s and sickness and/or fix problems that sometimes happen IE: car and house failure. Just because we are poor does not mean we do not have the same life problems that everyone has, we just don’t have the extra money to throw at them like some do. Hopefully you will never have to make these kinds of choices or decisions in your life… FOOD/POWER??? I am not saying, feel sorry for me. I chose this life and I am proud to be the parent I am. Just don’t assume all people are deadbeats here because some of us (deadbeats) work hard and still have to fight to keep the amenities that most of you take for granted!
Vote:
0 0 Jeez….do you really think you “needed” FIVE kids? It’s obvious you can’t affored to support them if you’re going hungry so often and having your power shut off as much as you had. WHY would you have so many kids knowing full well you can’t properly take care of them? Situations like this really get to me because it’s completely unnecessary!! You or your husband either need to go back to school to get a better education so you can get a better job, or perhaps you should think about not having anymore kids. Because its not you who’s paying the price here, but your children who have to live in such poverty.
It’s so sad how selfish people are sometimes. Best of luck to you, I surely feel for your kids though.
Vote:
0 0 Wow, that comment just proved my point! I was just trying to give an honest heads up to all the people who are complaining about us (deadbeat drunk, lung cancer infested lowlifes); that maybe things aren’t always what they seem. Just because the power bill did not get paid in full does not necessarily mean that all of us are all the things I listed above. Some of us do work and do NOT sit home waiting for a handout! I should not have to defend myself or my character to a nameless individual. Or…. were you afraid, because, I got my power shut off a few times I might also be violent and quite possibly a criminal? (Because, I hear that ALL poor poverty stricken people are ALWAYS drunks, smokers and now we are uneducated… and from the anonymous forum finder (that would be you guest 007) possibly dangerous too.) This is ridiculous…..I have 5 wonderful kids who are mostly A and B students with no real problems. I think there are more important things in life than money and worrying about the rising cost of electricity and being able to afford it. Like being a good parent and teaching my children to feel compassion for others and to take responsibility for their own actions (like my husband and I deciding to have 5 kids) By the way my husband is an educated Computer tech and I am Lab tech. I think the real problem here is that even educated people have problems paying their bills due to low paying jobs and the rising costs of domestics. Maybe if you could come down from that pedestal you sit so high upon and use your well spent time and writing skills that you so frequently use on this forum to bash low income families about not paying their bills to a more useful activity like writing our congressmen and state officials about the rising costs and low paying jobs. So that my children that you are so obviously worried about, can have a better life. Or better yet maybe we should just quite our jobs and live on food stamps and welfare, (then I could get help from taxpayers to pay that notorious power bill that we are speaking of…oh and also I could go back to school) would that be a better life for my kids? Or maybe just maybe since you never want for anything and you are so concerned for my kids you could pay my bill! I got a whole better idea why don’t you find a hobby and stop posting about things you obviously have no clue about like going without! Good Luck to you too, and don’t lose a wink of sleep over my children they are obviously better off than a close minded self righteous selfish person like you.
Vote:
0 0 Hey, I never said you were a drunk, lowlife, smoker. YOU broght that up, not me. It’s quite obvious that you and your husband are working for the wrong companies. IF in fact your husband is a “educated” computer tech and you’re an “educated” lab tech (whatever that means), and you cant afford to feed your children or pay your electric bills, than something is wrong. I can give you the name of 3 companies that would hire your husband at 40k a year to start right now. (if he’s as educated as you say he is).
I’m sure you’re both good parents, but nobody told you to go out and have FIVE kids.
You don’t want us to feel sorry for you, but you’re the one who came on here talking about not being able to pay your bills or feed your children. It’s not you I feel sorry for, but kids that are brought into this world and then have to do without food because somebody that couldn’t afford it, wanted a half a dozen kids. Just doesn’t make sense to me.
Vote:
0 0 Well, if these kids are A and B students, and have truly grown up in a loving home being taught the difference between wrong and right, how is that “going without?” I know a lot of richer kids that may have had electricity all their lives but never an ounce of love, respect, or discipline. Providing for your family is not all about bringing home the bread.
Vote:
0 0 Seriously??? I was looking around for other people who may have had to deal with Idaho Power’s relentless rule over the Treasure Valley’s electricity and I find an entire forum of narcissistic, self-centered cockroaches! To the lady with 5 kids working hard to make ends meet and everything in your power to see that your children are brought up with morals and knowing that they’re loved, BLESS YOU! I bow to someone who takes responsibility for their choices and works to make the best of it. I am also in the computer industry and though educated (I have a B.S. in Computer Science) I make less that 45k a year because Idaho has an extremely low income base. Ironically, the cost of living is relatively high by comparison.
To “Guest 007″:
If you’re so intelligent, what’s the solution to an entire country facing recession? Do you not feel the pinch, at the gas pump, at the grocery store? If not, well you’re obviously better off than most and probably have no right to criticize hard working American families. Looks to me, according to the posting times listed here, that you have no need to work, being as how you have nothing better to do all work day long than sit on the internet and bash people on forums. I realize that people like you never admit any wrong-doing, so I’m quite sure it matters very little what I think, but you should be ashamed of yourself! And if you’re so blessed, maybe you should give a little back to your community. Maybe not money, but perhaps you could find a better sense of self worth by volunteering to help those less fortunate than yourself. Just a thought.
Now I have to go. I am currently fighting a losing battle with a corrupt power company that is, evidently, immune to the publics protection from monopoly.
Vote:
0 0 If it is so corrupt, move to another area that has IF Power or Rocky Mtn. Power. You are not forced to use their power.
If you read the entire thread, you would know that Idaho Falls has programs to assist truly needy people with their bills (both the city and private organizations are engaged in this).
What other “hardworking” people have been saying here–without picking out a single scape goat–is that there are many persons who abuse the system, don’t pay their bills, put accounts in their kids names, and generally live beyond their means. Who pays for this? You do. I do. The rest of us do.
So, if we are busy paying more for unpaid bills by deadbeats how do we provide for our families in these “recession” times that you referenced? You can’t expect everybody to keep paying for everyone else. What people on this thread have been saying is live within your means and take care of your own problems so long as you can!!!
There is no free lunch on this site. However, if you are so inclined, you can pay my electric bill if it will make you feel like a good human being!
Vote:
0 0 Good points Mike! As for Brandon, if you think Idaho has a high cost of living than its obvious you haven’t lived in too many other places. The cost of living is one of the lowest in the country here in Idaho and although I do feel the pinch at the pumps, we’ve still got some of the cheapest gas prices in the world.
All i was saying was if two educated people can’t afford to pay their electric or put food on the table for their children, than changes need to be made in their lives. I never claimed to be perfect or above anybody else on this site. And not that it’s your business, but I do give back to the community all the time. I’ve put time in our local soup kitchen cooking and serving food to those less fortunate. And I’ve helped numerous time with our local Meals on Wheels program at the Idaho Falls Senior Community Center. I’ve had my share of problems and am by no means perfect. But what I haven’t done is come onto a blog forum to look for sympathy. I’ve always worked hard to improve my situation whether it be going back to college at 33 y/o to get my degree, or moving to a less attractive home in order to live within my means.
I just think when people CHOOSE to have 5 children, than they need to work twice as hard as the average family to take care of them, pay their bills, etc. But like Mike noted, there are quite a few programs out there to help truly needy families. However more often than not, people are “too proud” to use them.
You’d be amazed at the type of people I see come through the soup kitchen for a hot meal. Everyone from homeless alcoholics, to single moms with 3-4 kids in tow, to younger college kids living on their own working two jobs but still barely getting by.
So to answer your question, it’s not up to me to find a solution to the countries problems. But it IS up to me to find a solution for myself and my family. Whether it’s moving somewhere less expensive to trading in an expensive vehicle for a beater, to finding a better paying job. There are solutions out there for those who willing look and are motivated to helping themselves and improving their own situation.
Vote:
0 0 I need help paying my credit cards…does anyone suggest anything? The minimum payments are well over what I can pay…The cards are small limits 200, 300 700 but the minimum payments are way over…what do I do?
Vote:
0 0 ccdebt, do you also live in a cocoon? There are dozens of advertisements in every news medium that claim to help with cc debt. We have many local companies offering those kinds of services.
If you choose to go with one of them you’ll need to do your research, maybe with the BBB and other online sources, to find which have more customer satisfaction. Definitely shop around.
Barring that, you’d need to get another job, just part time temporary until you paid the cards off. Also, you could go for a consolidation loan or card with a lower interest rate and smaller monthly payment. I would hesitate to go the last route unless you’re incredibly strong, because most folks who do that end up in deeper debt because they don’t have the willpower not to use the available credit.
Bankruptcy should not be an option for many reasons.
Good luck.
Vote:
0 0 good points, nemesis, and may I add that oftentimes, especially now, credit card companies themselves will be willing to work with you. For example, if you call them and ask if you can pay interest only for a few months or if they will lower the interest rate or eliminate fees.
I know it sounds crazy, but trust me: they would rather get some money from you than have to get in line with all the other unsecured creditors in a bankruptcy proceeding.
Also, beware (if you are a home-owner) any type of consolidation that ties your credit card debt to your house (like a second mortgage, even though people refer to them as type of consolidation loan): if you take out such consolidation loan or home-equity loan, guess what? you have just created “secured debt”, meaning your creditor can seek a foreclosure of your home to repay the debt.
Just FYI.
Vote:
0 0 Why not just tie them to your home? Then one could jump on the foreclosure bandwagon with bailouts for all to be paid by all of us!!! Seems like our politicians want to bail everyone out to get elected. Why not include credit card debt while we are at it?
Vote:
0 0 You do make a good point, Mike….wish we could somehow do that with student loans……almost 20 years out and I am still paying….
Vote:
0 0 I am sure that students loans will get lumped in there somewhere too. It is really scary to see how many elements of everyday life are being usurped by the government. Too many people expect to be taken care of in every element. The lack of personal responsibility and living within ones means is disturibing but not all that unfamiliar. The citizens of this country have allowed their government to deficit spend and engage in risky borrowing schemes, as well as shell games taking money from Social Security Trust Fund with IOU’s to pay it back so that the government could give away more goodies. It seems that normal folks want that to trickle down to them too. Problem is that we couldn’t afford to do it with the government and we can’t afford to do it with the regular population either.
By the time we hit 2017 at present rates, every single dollar collected by the federal government will only be able to pay for medicare and social security. Talk about hard choices to be made!!!! Yet, all we see now is bailout business, bail out home owners, bail out anyone who is hurting!!!! The pipe dream needs to come to an end.
Vote:
0 0 Cut up all your cards, get another job or 2 and pay them off. Then next time you get the urge to put things on credit think twice about what you really want versus what you really need.
Vote:
0 0 Excellent posts Mike & GuestInIF. I cut up all my credit cards about 15 years ago after I made some unwise decisions. I paid them all off a few years after that and haven’t had any CC debt since. I don’t even keep one for so called “emergencies”. That’s what my savings acct is for. Plus when I travel and I need to rent a car, pretty much every car rental company now accepts Visa/Debit cards. (as long as you have 3-5 hundred dollars in your acct to use as a “security deposit”) Nowadays if I don’t have the money to buy something outright, it isn’t purchased. It’s a great feeling not having any CC debt. I highly recommend it.
I also think some type of class on finances should be mandatory to educate our children more in regards to money, personal finances, credit cards and spending habits. Our children are being brought up with the media constantly bombarding them with television commercials and print ads telling them to consume, consume, consume….making them believe that if they don’t have the latest and greatest of everything out there that they just won’t be happy.
Good luck to ccdebt….and like a previous poster noted, contact the cc companies directly and they’ll be more than happy to work out a payment plan with you that will be much less than your minimum balance. Granted they’ll turn off your cards so you won’t be able to use them anymore, but thats ok. You’ll also be doing yourself a favor by preventing any more damage to your credit. Once you get used to living within your means and not relying on credit cards, you’ll really feel liberated. Having a handle on your finances and not being a slave to the credit card companies and their outrageous finance charges will also take a lot of stress out of your life.
Vote:
0 0 There is a nonprofit debt counseling/consolidation place here in Idaho Falls. Make sure you find the nonprofit one, a friend used to work there and said they can help most people.
Leave Your Comment
Our Community's Comment Guidelines:- Please stay polite and on topic.
- Your email will never be published.
- No profanity or euphemisms for profanity.
- No personal attacks, name-calls, put-downs, or baiting other guests, races, genders, or religions.
- Express opinions, facts, logic, and reasoning; just don’t argue for argument’s sake.
- No commercial links (unless absolutely relevant to the discussion) and no religious proselytizing.
- No religious discussions (for or against). Go to http://religiondebates.blogspot.com for religious discussions.
- Use the "I" word as much as possible to demonstrate responsibility.
- Limit yourself to using one name per thread to demonstrate responsibility.
- If you think a comment is inappropriate, ask Joe to review it.
Vote:
Perhaps people should think about this before letting their power bill get 3 months behind! IF power lets you go up to 3 months without paying…..which in my book is pretty darn good! A lot better than most other states! Stop whining and pay your freakin bill I say! These people made the decision NOT to pay their bills and IF power is not in business to give out free power. It’s not IF Power’s fault if they happen to be handicapped or elderly. They still made a conscious decision NOT to pay the bill and if they can’t pay it within the 3 months allotted, then maybe they should think about alternate means of living and/or income. It’s people like this that make the rates increase each year! If shutting their power off lights a fire under their butts then I’m all for it! And you and I both know, they’ll suddenly come up with the money to get it turned back on. Especially if it’s below freezing out!
That’s my opinion on the subject!