Bad Cop, Good Cop: The Games Collectors Play

We have all seen this type of Hollywood movie. The scene is almost a stereotype by now. The detective screams into the suspect’s face. He gets so close, nose to nose, that he slobbers on him and he screams at the suspect in rage. The detective appears on the brink of losing control. He throws chairs around in the interrogation room. At any moment, he can lose it completely and inflict very serious injuries.

Just an instant before this “bad” cop would have gone into a murderous rage, a nice guy, the “good cop,” suddenly runs into the room to rescue the suspect. The bad cop leaves. This gives the good cop an opportunity to do his thing. The good cop tries to relate to the suspect and becomes very sympathetic. He points a finger at the bad cop as a stressed out mess. He also mentions to the suspect that he doesn’t know how much longer he will be able to “control” the bad cop.  He again mentions the bad copy’s violent temper and tendencies and pleads with the suspect to help the good cop out by cooperating, here and now.

Sometimes, it’s not all that different with bill collectors. Although most states regulate the “tactics” bill collectors use with consumers, abuses always seem to occur. They talk to the consumer like he or she is a moron and worthless. They then threaten to garnish wages, seize property, take the house and more. They call the harassed consumer at work and do everything possible to humiliate and embarrass the person into paying.

Suddenly, the good cop, the Consumer Credit Counseling Service, rescues him. The good cop negotiates lower interest rates on some accounts, helps him to develop a budget, and sets up a payment plan. He also helps by perhaps getting the interest schedule turned off temporarily on some accounts and maybe getting a few balances on some accounts reduced. As long as the consumer complies with his payment schedule, the good cop, the CCCS, will shield him from the collectors, the bad cop.

Now, the scene shifts. The consumer leaves a counseling office, but realizes that he left something behind. As he re-enters the room, he sees the bad cop. Then, the consumer moves out of sight and listens. He hears them talking and realizes they are buddies. The whole thing has been staged. Not only that, the bad cop tells the good cop that he will pay him the usual 12% and it’s a great deal because the collection agencies charge up to 50%.

Next, the bad cop drives you into the good cop’s embrace. The bad cop accepts a lower payment amount and even pays a 12% “donation” out of this reduced amount because he knows that if you have a total financial meltdown, he could get nothing.

Decisions - Decisions - Decisions

Let’s imagine that you walk into a studio and find yourself standing in front of a microphone. You are handed a script and you start reading it. You have not chosen any of the plot twists. You have not sketched any of the characterizations. You are just performing what has been placed in front of you. A lot of what goes on in the credit world is like this. Creditors are just doing what they have been conditioned to do. The counseling services are playing the role that has been handed to them.

How should you respond to this type of situation? Should you ever use a credit counseling service? That, of course, is each person’s decision, but perhaps you should take some time to think about this as you consider this question. You can do the same things, in many situations. You can contact your creditors and ask for a lower interest rate. Meanwhile, it is possible that you might have someone in your life that simply will not submit to any authority or exercise any restraint or self-discipline of any kind. Even if you do not have a problem yourself with financial responsibility, you might have to submit yourself to the wise advice and services of a credit counseling service just to get the rest of your situation under control. Even if the guy who runs the “non-profit” organization writes a salary check to himself for $40,000 a month and you know you are being used by these people, you might have to let them use you if that is what it takes to slap the foolishness out of your irresponsible party affecting you.

Of course, it would be more efficient to wipe out your debt on your own with your own debt elimination strategy. All of the financial power that is unleashed in your life by doing this would be enjoyed by you and your family without being shared by a “non-profit” guy profiting from you. It is wise to pursue the structure and discipline of a CCCS and allow a credit counseling service to help you.