They Expect Me to Pay for It!

My parents taught me that if you want something, you pay for it and if you cannot pay for it, you do not get it, you learn to do without, or you save your money and then buy it. You pay your bills on time and make sure your family is provided for. That seems simple enough. However, I have met some people that just cannot wrap their minds around that concept.

I know some folks have real hardships, like an illness or disaster with no way to recover. However, some people try to outsmart the companies they owe by opting to ignore them completely, as if they never existed.

Example #1

I worked with a woman who was moving after living with her boyfriend for two years. She got an apartment and called to have the gas and electric turned on. She was total amazed and could not understand why they would not turn on her utilities until she paid an outstanding bill from two years previous. She said, "That was two years ago, and they expect me to pay for it." When she left her apartment to move in with her boyfriend, she also left the current utility bills unpaid.

Example #2

A family member purchased a used but nice vehicle; drove it for two years and then the engine locked up. They still owed money on it and could not understand how the company could ask them to pay for it when it was not running and beyond repair, outside of a new engine. They bought another vehicle and ignored the calls from the first company for payment. When the references they used to obtain the loan mentioned they were getting phone calls about back payments, the family member told them, "Yeah, I know. They expect me to pay for something that doesn't even run."

People might be able to avoid payments for months and even years, but eventually, you will have to pay, or you will have nowhere left to go.

Example #1

One person I know went from one vehicle repair service to another to get their car fixed, opting not to pay or only pay part of the bill each time. It got to the point where they could no longer get their car fixed within a 50-mile radius because they owed every vehicle repair service within the immediate area.

Example #2

A friend received a hefty tax return and wanted to buy a new sofa. They asked my advice on where to get a good one. I told them a place and they said, "Oh, I can't go there. I still owe them money on a bedroom set, which I no longer have and they expect me to pay for it. I don't even have it any more." Instead of using the tax return to pay her outstanding bill and get her credit back in good standing, she opted to ignore it.

Just as the people above are amazed that they are expected to pay a bill, I am equally amazed of the way they think they are not responsible.