Ask Me Help Desk - The creditors are driving me crazy

My husband is a self contractor and is underemployed at this time we have been late on our credit card payment for the first time ever. The creditors keep calling all hours of the day and night. Wells fargo called today and were really big jerks about it. They tried to tell me that I need to defer a payment on my car and house in order to settle my past due amount with them. They also checked my credit report without my consent and told me if I had the money to buy a car then I should have paid them, I needed a different vehicle to drive because my old one was a piece of junk. We thought at the time we bought the used vehicle that my husband had steady work lined up for awhile but that job fell through. It is taking all that we make just to cover our mortgage, car payment, and utilities. They threatened to sue me and garnish my husbands wages if we didn't solve this with them. I am only about 45 days behind on my payments. How long will it take them to sue me over this matter. And did they have the right to pull up my credit report to see what I have bought within the last 6 months?

Wow... things sure have changed. I can't believe they are being that horrible over a 45 day late payment. I wouldn't think that it would be become a major issue until you were at least 90 days late.

I would recommend sending them even a small portion of the balance if you can just so they know you are trying to catch up. Sometimes if you call local utilities they are willing to work out a payment deferment or a budgeted plan to help reduce the monthly payment, this can be especially helpful over the winter months when heating bills go up.
You are doing the right thing though... you don't want a mortgage late on your account... I always pay my mortgage first before anything else. Good luck to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlr08

Wow...things sure have changed. I can't believe they are being that horrible over a 45 day late payment. I wouldn't think that it would be become a major issue until you were at least 90 days late.

I would recommend sending them even a small portion of the balance if you can just so they know you are trying to catch up. Sometimes if you call local utilities they are willing to work out a payment deferment or a budgeted plan to help reduce the monthly payment, this can be especially helpful over the winter months when heating bills go up.
You are doing the right thing though...you don't want a mortgage late on your account...I always pay my mortgage first before anything else. Good luck to you.

Thanks, but I think it will take more than luck with these people, I have offered to send them what I could afford right now, which isn't a whole lot but they thankfully declined. I am at my wits end because I have never been late on anything. But sometimes things happen that are beyond our control

Most likely, sue in 6 months to 2 years, but they can anytime.
Normally they will call and call and write and write, then they turn it over to a collection agency and then maybe another one before they do anything.

If you want the calls to stop, merely write them and tell them not to call you on this matter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

Most likely, sue in 6 months to 2 years, but they can anytime.
Normally they will call and call and write and write, then they turn it over to a collection agency and then maybe another one before they do anything.

If you want the calls to stop, merley write them and tell them not to call you on this matter.

I thought that only pertained to collection agencies, not the original creditor. So you are saying that if I write them a cease and desist letter they can no longer contact me? Will they turn it over to a third party first or can the original creditor sue? I am going crazy, as I have never been in a situation like this before. Thanks for any advice.