suesinfl
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 9, 2011 18:02:27 GMT -5
Posts: 2,765
|
Post by suesinfl on Jun 28, 2012 18:28:11 GMT -5
Someone I know on a friendly basis, not really someone that I hang out with unless they are with my friend that I do hang out with quite often, actually used me for a reference for Aarons Rent-A-Center.
The problem with this is that they are financial train wrecks. Although I’m in the greatest shape and have issues of my own, I just have to shake my head at what they do.
Anyway, long story short I get a call at work for a reference check on some things that they want from Aarons. The conversation goes like this after she introduces herself and the reason for her call:
Lady: How often do you talk to XX? Me: Maybe a few of times a month. Lady: would you say maybe once a week? Me: if you averaged it out, I guess. Lady: Do you know her address? Me: No I just know how to get to her house in XX area. Lady: Do you know her phone number? Me: No, I believe they change it every couple of weeks. Lady: Do you know where she works? Me: No, I heard that she finally found a job, but I have no idea where. Lady: If we need to get in touch with her can we contact you to pass on a message? Me: No, especially at this number (she had called my work number) Lady: Ok, thank you.
WTH??? There is no way in H@LL I would give her a good reference for something so stupid. And I know that they would renege on their payments when one of them loses their jobs again. So no, I do not want someone calling me to pass on a message to them.
|
|
KaraBoo
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 17:14:51 GMT -5
Posts: 3,076
|
Post by KaraBoo on Jun 28, 2012 22:41:49 GMT -5
I shouldn't, but I'm still at your post. I totally get where you're coming from and in fact got several collection calls for both my ex-husband and DH's ex-wife. I have told all of them if they had called me first for a reference, I would have told them to keep their money - it was better than losing it all!!!
|
|
Bluerobin
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:24:30 GMT -5
Posts: 17,345
Location: NEPA
|
Post by Bluerobin on Jun 29, 2012 6:27:43 GMT -5
Next time you get one of "those" calls, say "WHO?"
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 6, 2024 22:07:52 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2012 7:00:38 GMT -5
actually used me for a reference for Aarons Rent-A-Center. The problem with this is that they are financial train wrecks
Now I'm sure that there are exceptions but I've always thought that anyone renting from one of those rent a centers WAS either a financial train wreck or was just bad at math.
About 100 years ago I wandered into one of them while killing time waiting on the wife. A quick glance at a rental price on a VCR (& the terms) almost made me faint. You would be paying at least twice what it was worth (actually as I remember it was something over 2.5 what it was worth) & that's if you rented it long enough to own it. If you don't do that then it's all "gone" money. I would rate those rent a centers behind credit card companies & in front of payday loan places.
Just my take on them but if it were me I would rather do without until my credit improved so that I could get better terms.
PS: I HATE to be used as a credit reference by anyone. I mean for me to really know how good of a risk they are I should have been able to review their checkbook & their bills & that won't have happened. Even a lot of very successfully looking people are financial train wrecks, but then I guess if your dealing with those type places it's expected that you are in trouble (mostly).
|
|
NancysSummerSip
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 19:19:42 GMT -5
Posts: 36,356
Today's Mood: Full of piss and vinegar
Favorite Drink: Anything with ice
|
Post by NancysSummerSip on Jun 29, 2012 8:14:57 GMT -5
Yanno, if the rest of your first post didn't already make me go , that statement alone would have done it.
|
|
zibazinski
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 16:12:50 GMT -5
Posts: 47,866
|
Post by zibazinski on Jun 29, 2012 8:21:29 GMT -5
What's funny kind of is that one of the reason things are so high is because these people skip town with the goods.
|
|
TD2K
Senior Associate
Once you kill a cow, you gotta make a burger
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 1:19:25 GMT -5
Posts: 10,931
|
Post by TD2K on Jun 29, 2012 10:07:57 GMT -5
They can be useful for short term rentals. Mich needed much better support when she first got here from Swedish and my regular recliner didn't cut it for support. Even on narcotics, she was in some serious hurting status. I dropped by, ordered one and they had it at the house in 2 or 3 hours and it made all the difference. Hopefully we will have be able to ditch it, will see how Mich does when she gets back next week after this round of surgery.
|
|
sesfw
Junior Associate
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 15:45:17 GMT -5
Posts: 6,268
|
Post by sesfw on Jun 29, 2012 12:34:33 GMT -5
My younger brother does this to me a lot. Even had one lady tell me she had my electronic signature on a loan for him. I told her she didn't, and if she did send proof to me.
Now I just tell them I don't know where he is and have no way of contacting him. Which for the most part is true.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,415
|
Post by thyme4change on Jun 29, 2012 12:40:32 GMT -5
I got a call from one of these places asking for a reference for my cleaning lady. I was away on business when I got the call, and then we went on a mini-vacation, and before I knew it 2 or 3 weeks had passed by and I just plum forgot to call the person back. Now I'm glad I didn't, because I am so stupid I might have said "Well, I could leave her a note" and BAM - I'd be getting her collection calls so she could pay $2500 for a $200 couch.
|
|
Artemis Windsong
Senior Associate
The love in me salutes the love in you. M. Williamson
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 19:32:12 GMT -5
Posts: 12,318
Today's Mood: Twinkling
Location: Wishing Star
Favorite Drink: Fresh, clean cold bottled water.
|
Post by Artemis Windsong on Jun 30, 2012 14:45:11 GMT -5
Years ago I got one of these camouflaged calls about my son. I refused to give them any information. It was for his house loan. He almost didn't get it. I told him to let me know next time as I have people who have been overly interested in me and my family using such methods.
Fast forward. One month ago we applied for and got a car loan. DH used people for references without telling them even when I told him to call and let them know. He didn't. We did get the loan.
|
|
suesinfl
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 9, 2011 18:02:27 GMT -5
Posts: 2,765
|
Post by suesinfl on Jun 30, 2012 15:45:09 GMT -5
actually used me for a reference for Aarons Rent-A-Center. PS: I HATE to be used as a credit reference by anyone. I mean for me to really know how good of a risk they are I should have been able to review their checkbook & their bills & that won't have happened. Even a lot of very successfully looking people are financial train wrecks, but then I guess if your dealing with those type places it's expected that you are in trouble (mostly). This is so true, I really don't know what they were thinking considering they are so far in the hole $$ wise. TD, I do realize that for "short" term situations it is a good option and have had a couple of friends use them as such, but this was not going to be a short term situation.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 6, 2024 22:07:52 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2012 14:51:35 GMT -5
I didn't know that you had to put down names for credit references. Seriously, I have never had to put down a name for a reference on any credit application. Ever.
My brother must have put me down as a reference or as someone who would know how to get in touch with him...or something. I started getting bill collection calls for him and I haven't even had the same last name as him in almost 15 years!!! I have rarely lived in the same state as him...yet they found me and started calling me.
|
|