What to Expect as a Student Loan Deadbeat
Student Loan Deadbeats do not have it easy. We cannot live like everyone else. Our struggle is continuous; mindfulness must become a way of life. I'm in my 50s, with no hope for retirement or even a full-time job. I earn money when I can get work from friends, live with roommates, barter, exercise and write. I live for today and fight my battles when I can.
And I do so with understanding and acceptance of the following:
I will probably never be bailed-out. Because of my student loan default, I will always be treated as less of a person, refused the same rights as others with "legitimate" business, gambling and consumer debt. There will be no fresh start for me.
I will never be employed. At my age, with my employment record, getting a good job is hard enough. A default on my record and a bad credit score (whatever that means) makes it virtually impossible to find long-term employment. Even if I got a real job, it would be difficult to keep due to constant phone harassment by debt collectors, the risk of embarrassing garnishments (after 2 garnishments an employer can legally fire you) and a looming court case.
I will never be able to run for political office. I am suspect, dirtied, worth less than others because my student loans are in default. Oh, if only I had merely hired prostitutes, or had illicit sex in a public restroom, or took secret, illegal contributions from powerful corporate interests or unscrupulous business owners " I could be candidate material.
I will never get a credit card or rent a car. I pay cash for everything. I will never have a credit card or finance anything again. If I need a car, I borrow one from my friends, or rely on others to rent it and sign me as a second driver.
I will never live alone. I cannot get a lease with my credit history. I must live with roommates and rely on them to obtain the lease in their name.
I will never get a cell phone in my name. This is probably a blessing anyway; no harassing calls. I have a friend who buys a package deal and I pay him to use his second phone. I never answer calls from someone I do not know.
I stay off social networking sites. If I share my story or a comment or opinion, I use a pseudonym; why make it easy for the thugs to find me? I know that anything I say can and will be used against me in a court of law, and I do everything I can to avoid being stalked, hounded and harassed by student loan debt collectors.
If I get a message saying I won something, I ignore it.
I will never get married again. Potential spouses are afraid to be associated with my student loan debt.
I will never have a savings account. I will never have more than $500 in the bank. I will never have a retirement account or assets or anything that can be taken away from me. I know the government can empty my bank account at any time, without warning.
If I get any extra money I immediately use it to pay medical expenses or buy essentials like glasses or get my teeth fixed or fix my laptop or shoes or buy second-hand clothing or luxury non-GMO food.
I am constantly afraid of being arrested. I review the State and Federal court dockets each week, looking for my name. I know the tricks debt collectors have been playing. I know they can file a lawsuit against me, not give me proper notice, and have me arrested for contempt of court for not showing up for a court appearance for a case I never knew existed.
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