by: Francisco J. Colayco

*first appeared on Good News Pilipinas on December 2, 2013

Many are now preparing for Christmas and it scares me how many people are so deep in credit card debt. The narration of the story of JP is already something that I am sure many of our readers will want to pay attention to.

There are so many like JP who come to ask for advice. JP thought I was a lawyer and gave many details that it will take two articles just to cover her story. I removed the names of the banks and the people she named. My advice will already be in Part 3.

“Have read your article on the internet, CREDIT CARD DEBT which was published last July 22, 2008. I would like to seek an assistance po sana sa inyo, same as others I’m also a credit card defaulter. Honestly speaking I have 11 credit cards now out of 11, 3 cards are now on AMNESTY PROGRAM but remaining are over due and now under the COLLECTION AGENCIES.

Bacause I’m the breadwinner and my husband is unemployed for about 1 yr and a half, gipit na gipit po kami financially kaya di po ako nakakapag-settle ng mga CREDIT CARD AND LOAN OBLIGATIONS ko. As I have signed a contract/promissory note for 3 AMNESTY PROGRAMS, natatakot po ako na makasuhan kasi di ko po na-meet ung monthly dues na dapat bayaran dahil sa insufficient funds though nakakapagsettle naman po ako kahit papano para at least eh maging updated yung mga accounts ko at makita ng banks na I’m willing to pay my obligations un nga lang eh di ko na-meet ung dapat because of short funds.

Other cards that I have po are the following:

1. ABC Bank (2 credit cards), I’m afraid po kasi as per agent before these were already cancelled and they will file legal case against me kasi di ko po nabayaran yung dues ko. Although, nag-offer po sila sakin before ng RESTRUCTURING PROGRAM eh di ko naman po kayang bayaran ung minimum dues na pinapasettle sakin dahil sa kakulangan po sa pera. (Ako po kasi ang gumagastos sa lahat sa bahay, and I have a 6month old baby kaya kulang po talaga ang 4,000-5,000 (range) na sahod ko 15th and 30th).
2. DEF Bank (credit card and pre-approved loan), as per their DEF Bank Manager pag di ko po sya na-settle (minimum dues 7,000) until tomorrow eh they will file a case against me. Based po sa conversation namin over the phone, I will try po my best na makakuha ng funds pero about 40% lang kasi di ko naman po sure kung makakakuha talaga ako pero he’s not accepting my answer dapat daw eh 100% makakuha ako kundi eh i-note nya na i-abandoned ko na ung account ko na grounds for legal case. He will call me tomorrow for updates and he will not accept any excuses.
3. GHI Bank (credit card) – now under JKL Collection Agency and as per text need to pay minimum dues in order for my account to qualify in the RESTRUCTURING PROGRAM. Gusto ko po i-grab ung program un lang po eh wala po akong pera sa ngayon dahil kulang po itong sinsahod ko para sa pamilya ko.
4. MNO (credit card and loan), now credit card is under COLLECTION DEPT while loan is under PQR LAW OFFICE though pinapabayaran lamang po ung minimum dues out of total dues eh di ko po kasi kayang bayaran sa ngayon (2,000card+2000loan) dahil nga po sa kakulangan sa pera at for endorsement na po ito sa legal meaning they will demand po ung full amount (loan).
5. STU Bank still active po pero di pa po ako nakakabayad ng minimum dues dahil din po sa kakulangan sa pera.
6. VWX BANK – with outstanding but not yet under collection dept.
7. YZA loan – under BCD Collection Agency and need to update my account.

Sana naman po eh matulungan nyo po ako sa problems ko both in credit cards and loans dahil sobrang hirap na hirap na po ako mentally, physically and morally. Everyday they (collection agents) are calling me and asking for receipt of payment eh wala naman po akong magawa kasi ang totoo po eh wala po akong pera sa ngayon at di ko po kayang magbayad ng utang. Some agents naman po eh okay at courteous kausap pero some po eh talagang nag-threathen sakin. Nagsasabi na I’m not professional, na napakinabangan ko daw ung pera pero di ako marunong mgabayad, na nananakot na may personal visit sa office at sa bahay at Lawyer na lang ang kakausapin ko at di na BANK mismo. 7months na po akong natatakot, di makatulog ng maayos, may takot sa dibdib at para po bang and tingin sa sarili ay sobrang baba na dahil sa mga naranasan ko.

Hopefully po eh mabigyan nyo ko ng advise kung ano po ang dapat kong gawin.

Maraming salamat po, at naway ma-receive ko po ang response nyo soonest.

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