Small Claims Part Deux
Shortly after I was married my new wife found a dead crow in our driveway. I joked with her that, “If you ignore a problem long enough the problem will go away”. After she went to work I got dressed to go out to clean up the bird—it was gone. It was a bit disturbing. Dead crows don’t simply fly away.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 (NIV)
I believe God gives us small battles to fight so we are prepared when the day of evil comes. I am not saying that every conflict that arises is from God. But I do think that in our culture we have gotten soft and He allows conflicts to arise to mature us. When difficult situations arise it is far too common to run and hide. We ignore issues and hope they go away.
This is how I viewed my recent conflict with the collection agency. In fact over the last several months I prayed that God would “make it go away”. Whenever I would think about it my stomach would be in knots.
God didn’t make it go away. I believe He intended for me to stand and fight.
My wife saw this months ago and was at peace with it. I, however, had no peace until about ten minutes into the court proceedings.
I went into the court convinced that I would lose, at best the case would be thrown out. The woman that the collection agency sent was the same woman that attempted (and succeeded) to intimidate me last June at the court assigned mediation. I knew win or lose I had to stand in and fight. What the collection agency was doing may have been legal but it was wrong. After stating my case the collection agent started talking and I knew I had won. Ten minutes later the judge ruled in my favor.
I could have paid the debt. The money, although allot, was available and the problem would have gone away. That would have been the easy way and not the way God had intended. This would have been the path I would have taken if it had not been for my wife and her encouragement last June.
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 3:6 (NKJV)
Collection Agencies
Collection agencies provide a valuable service that, unfortunately, is necessary. I do think they step their bounds. Should you find yourself dealing with one I have the following suggestions:
1. If you owe the money—pay it. I don’t want to oversimplify this because I know there are allot of difficult situations. The only right way to get out of a bad situation is to take responsibility for it.
Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders. Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code--don't sleep with another person's spouse, don't take someone's life, don't take what isn't yours, don't always be wanting what you don't have, and any other "don't" you can think of--finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. Romans 13:7-9 (The Message)
2. Check your credit reports often. You are entitled to receive a free one every year. Get it.
3. If a collection agency says you owe money and you don’t; DON”T PAY THEM! Try to work it out with them but if they wont release you from the debt you are going to go to small claims court. There is no enforcement agency for fair debt collection in Oregon beyond the court. Let the court decide if you owe the money. Don’t be tempted to just pay them to make it go away even if it is a relatively small amount of Money. I believe to many people do this and collection agencies take advantage of it. To you it may only be a couple hundred dollars but if they do it to a many people it doesn’t take long to add up.
4. When signing a contract, understand what you are signing and get everything in writing. My problems started because I was told something and I believed it
I hope you never find yourself in this situation. If you do be encouraged and fight it, DON’T IGNOR IT HOPING IT WILL GO AWAY.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 (NIV)
I believe God gives us small battles to fight so we are prepared when the day of evil comes. I am not saying that every conflict that arises is from God. But I do think that in our culture we have gotten soft and He allows conflicts to arise to mature us. When difficult situations arise it is far too common to run and hide. We ignore issues and hope they go away.
This is how I viewed my recent conflict with the collection agency. In fact over the last several months I prayed that God would “make it go away”. Whenever I would think about it my stomach would be in knots.
God didn’t make it go away. I believe He intended for me to stand and fight.
My wife saw this months ago and was at peace with it. I, however, had no peace until about ten minutes into the court proceedings.
I went into the court convinced that I would lose, at best the case would be thrown out. The woman that the collection agency sent was the same woman that attempted (and succeeded) to intimidate me last June at the court assigned mediation. I knew win or lose I had to stand in and fight. What the collection agency was doing may have been legal but it was wrong. After stating my case the collection agent started talking and I knew I had won. Ten minutes later the judge ruled in my favor.
I could have paid the debt. The money, although allot, was available and the problem would have gone away. That would have been the easy way and not the way God had intended. This would have been the path I would have taken if it had not been for my wife and her encouragement last June.
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 3:6 (NKJV)
Collection Agencies
Collection agencies provide a valuable service that, unfortunately, is necessary. I do think they step their bounds. Should you find yourself dealing with one I have the following suggestions:
1. If you owe the money—pay it. I don’t want to oversimplify this because I know there are allot of difficult situations. The only right way to get out of a bad situation is to take responsibility for it.
Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders. Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code--don't sleep with another person's spouse, don't take someone's life, don't take what isn't yours, don't always be wanting what you don't have, and any other "don't" you can think of--finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. Romans 13:7-9 (The Message)
2. Check your credit reports often. You are entitled to receive a free one every year. Get it.
3. If a collection agency says you owe money and you don’t; DON”T PAY THEM! Try to work it out with them but if they wont release you from the debt you are going to go to small claims court. There is no enforcement agency for fair debt collection in Oregon beyond the court. Let the court decide if you owe the money. Don’t be tempted to just pay them to make it go away even if it is a relatively small amount of Money. I believe to many people do this and collection agencies take advantage of it. To you it may only be a couple hundred dollars but if they do it to a many people it doesn’t take long to add up.
4. When signing a contract, understand what you are signing and get everything in writing. My problems started because I was told something and I believed it
I hope you never find yourself in this situation. If you do be encouraged and fight it, DON’T IGNOR IT HOPING IT WILL GO AWAY.
posted by P Keener @ 4:47 AM
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