When one thinks of a person with gambling problems, what probably comes to mind at first is a person who struggles to pay their bills, usually asking friends or family members for a loan. What one may not know at first is how bills are not paid can lapse, inescapably causing a debt collection agency to step in. Seeing it happen firsthand to a close relative, it is undeniably an easy road to go down if you or a loved one has a gambling issue.
In this particular occurrence, the gambling problem started out slowly. An infrequent game of cards turned into a nightly ritual, and once a month trips to Atlantic City turned into a once a week occurrence. Online gambling was rapidly becoming a new hobby. As I watched helplessly from the sidelines (and saw months of bills go unpaid,) the debt collection agency calls started. And if the unpaid bills and late nights and worry weren’t terrible enough, this was an absolute nightmare.
The calls came around the same times at first-if the phone rang around 8 AM, I could usually assume it was a debt collection agency and I just simply didn’t answer. When I did have the unfortunate event of answering the phone with one on the line, I was often hassled to just before the point of harassment to either put my bill-dodger on the phone, or straighten out the matter with the debt collection agency myself. Even though I had the misfortune of watching this all unfold, it wasn’t my debt or matter to try and fix. I had dealt with the gambling crisis for so long that dealing with a debt collection agency was more than I could handle.
The calls became more and more recurrent, and I was livid that I seemed to be the one always left to handle the situation. He was out gambling, and I was left to field the terrorization from the debt collection agency. I made up more excuses and lied more times than I was comfortable with, getting angrier and angrier that this had become my issue. I started avoiding home at all costs.
After a year and a half of nearly constant calls from the debt collection agency, I was completely fed up with the situation. I demanded that my relative get the help I had been trying to get him to seek out for a few years, as I was sick of being the one who suffered from his problem. He finally conceded, and got the help he needed while also contacting an agency that would help get his bills consolidated and back on track. The calls from the debt collection agency stopped, and I felt like I had my life back again. I was no longer afraid of answering the phone, which was an amazing feeling. I still am a little uneasy about my relative, and even though he’s doing well, I try and make sure he knows that every month all of his bills need to be paid on time. And after going through this, I make twice as sure all of my own bills are paid, as I never want to deal with a debt collection agency again.
Hire Rapid Recovery Solutions as your collection company today. For information on any type of debt including commercial debt collection, contact RRS today!