Jeff's Blog

What did Jeff do this week?

ABUSE OF POWER


This week I came face to face with the abuse of power.   Each one of us holds enormous power.   Unfortunately we often give it away.   Our government asks for power in order to protect us.  Corporations ask for power so they can “make our lives better” by providing us with the products they claim we need.    We all want protected.   We all want the new “electronic gadget.”    So in our vulnerable state, we give away our power.  Those who accept the power we give them often abuse it.   We are easy targets.  When we are weak or in a time of need, that is when the power holder takes charge.    Debt collectors abuse their power.   Rather than work with us in order to resolve a difficult situation, they use their power to abuse us.   We would like to think that the debt collector on the other end of the phone is going to work with us.   Somehow they will empathize with our situation and try to help us.  Because we are in this vulnerable state, the debt collector wields enormous power over us.   The debt collector then abuses this power in an attempt to make money.  This abuse takes many forms.   It could include false threats of a lawsuit or false threats of wage garnishment (which by the way is illegal in Pennsylvania).   It could also take the form of a personal attack.    I told you I came face to face with the abuse of power this week.    I meet and talk with a lot of people every day.  I am never surprised to hear the abuse that takes place.   

One debt collector referred to a young woman who didn’t even owe the alleged debt as a “bitch” because she didn’t want to talk with the debt collector on Christmas Eve.  Another debt collector accused an elderly woman of having Alzheimer’s and told her he would personally serve the warrant and would have the hearing in her living room.   If that wasn’t enough the debt collector then said in a sarcastic tone, “I’m sure you living room is clean.”  The abuse didn’t end.  The debt collector then said, “When you are standing in front of the Judge, he will laugh at you.”   This is an elderly woman who paid her dues.  She should be treated with respect.  Unfortunately, the abuse of power showed its ugly head once again.