Just when I thought things might get better....

[sunwyn]

Venting to follow.....

It's been a hard 2 weeks for me. After 4+ years of unemployment, I thought I had found a job but I found out seven days ago the credit check killed me. I went on about my not quite merry way. I have had plenty of rejections over the past 4 and half years. This was just another. After losing my food stamps and often missing out at the food bank as they would run out food before they got to me, I have taken to foraging the rural area where I live. I have been managing. Managing to take care of my elderly mother, cleaning and cooking for her, while trying to hide the fact that I was really hungry while servng her food. And then today I found out the electric coop we have here will not wait two lousy days to get their payment. They have scheduled shut off for Wed. even though the money will be available to pay the bill Friday. Without power we have no well pump which means we have no power. I have exhausted the government agencys and church network trying to get help with no luck. I have sold everything I had of worth years ago. I am at my wit's end . What happened to the country that I thought would allow me to at least make a living that might feed and house me. I have never been extravegent. My computer is old, used, and on it's last legs. I borrow internet from my neighbor's wifi. I walk 4 miles to use a phone on most occassions. I have no problem doing the hard work. And what really sucks is how often I have given my last dime or the last bit of strength to help another without ever thinking of reward. And now this...who would have thought loosing my electric would so throw me over the edge....but I am there. I think the system has finally broken me. For now...I am off to try figure out cold storage for the small bit of food my mom has and start filling jugs of water. Maybe I will have a good cry while I am at it though it's not my normal approach....Thanks for letting me unload again. At least here my mom won't see me break.

[G_j]

1. speechless

so very sorry..

[Mnemosyne]

2. ...

[L0oniX]

3. -

[premium]

4. This is horrible.

I too have a coop for an electric company, they tried to do the same thing to me, the collections lady wouldn't budge on just one xtra day, so, I went down to their main office and raised a stink until the general manager came out to find out what was going on, when I got done explaining, he got the collections lady and asked her if what I said was true, she tried to hem and haw and cast a bad light on me, at this point, the manager directed her to give me an xtra week to pay the bill.

Sometimes it pays to raise a stink, if you can, you may want to try that.

[BlueToTheBone]

5. I'm so sorry.

I can only imagine how hard this is for you. I wish I could help. I'm sorry I can't.

[LeftyLucy22]

6. I'm not sure if this is against the rules but can you set up one of those accounts

intended to help people out in a pickle? I've been there and I would contribute. I don't have much but my utilities are currently paid so I won't be in the dark. How much do you owe? If we all pitch in a dollar or two we should be able to make it work. Just a thought. One is called youcaring.com. I believe another is wishadoo.
Another thought, I gave up looking for a job and started screenprinting for a living and selling on ebay, etsie, and craigslist. Is there anything you can make? That way you can work from home like I do and be around to care for your mom. I have 4 kids so this works out well for me.

[premium]

8. That's a hell of an idea.

I'd be willing to pitch in $10.00

[we can do it]

18. Please check out link to help out.

Last edited Mon Apr 29, 2013, 04:40 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2772424



nice video on empathy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022772185

[LeftyLucy22]

29. I'm afraid that link was unrelated to this situation

unless I missed something.

[we can do it]

30. Sorry I will fix- that's a great link about empathy, I had just sent to my friends before this.

here's the one we need

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2772424

[OneGrassRoot]

7. I am so very sorry, sunwyn...

I'm sending you a private message now.

[Marrah_G]

9. Sun, where do you live and what sort of work can you do

Maybe, just maybe, someone here can help connect you to some help or some employment.

My heart breaks for you. I know what it is like to have nothing and to not know how you will get through the week.

Edit: Also, how old are you and your mother? Maybe there is some avenue out there that someone here will know of.

[sunwyn]

10. I live in SW Ohio. I worked customer service for 20+ years as well as

manufacturing and cleaning hotel rooms. It seems my age and credit history knocks me out of most jobs.

[Marrah_G]

12. Well, maybe someone will know someone...

If it's one thing I have learned about DU is that people will bend over backwards to help each other.

[premium]

13. That seems to be a wide spread problem now.

Those credit checks should be outlawed for consideration of employment.
I sent you a PM. Hope I can help out.

[CrispyQ]

16. "Those credit checks should be outlawed for consideration of employment."

Yes, they should be! It is absolutely no indication of one's honesty - not one bit. Said by someone who's been there - bad credit, that is. No problem getting a job because it was before they started doing credit checks for employment.

This country has some seriously fucked up priorities.

[tblue37]

26. And now most employers will not even consider hiring someone who has been unemployed for

a while. People get royally screwed coming and going!

[smirkymonkey]

35. +1000

This makes me so angry!

[we can do it]

20. That is just not right. How does one keep good credit with no job?

Some people can be so heartless. Hang in there help is on the way -

[Sheepshank]

11. Your post broke my heart

Does your co-op have online payment options.

I have a few extra bucks this week I've been wondering what to do with. Can you pm me info (or your address) and I can pay some into your co=op account? Look there another $10 in a post above.

[we can do it]

19. Here's post with info

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022772185

[dixiegrrrrl]

23. Thanks to Wish a Doo, Sunwyn got the help and sent a message of thanks:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=journals&uid=174406



Pls remember that One Grass Root has the Wishadoo service set up to help DU folks in need.
and it has jobs needed and jobs open sections, too.

The DU link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022328448

the web site:
http://www.wishadoo.org/wishlist

Because i refuse to use Paypal, I did sucessfully send 20.00 in the us mail to someone who needed a hand...

[Sheepshank]

25. Thanks dixiegrrrl

I was able to contact Sunwyn directly and we have it covered.

Yeah...paypal, hasn't been all that good to me, so i went anouther route.

[dixiegrrrrl]

41. Good on you!!!

[femmocrat]

14. Is there a local church that would help you?

I'm so sorry that you are going through such a terrible time. How about a county agency on aging to help your mother at least?

I know this probably doesn't help.

[JNelson6563]

15. Do you have a checking account?

You could set up a Paypal account and DUers could all contribute what they can. I myself am also very poor but I could pitch in a tiny bit. With enough tiny bits you could get that electric bill paid and then Friday, when you have a little money, you could buy some groceries!

Julie--who is an inch away from where you are

[LeftyLucy22]

17. This or wishadoo or youcaring.com would all work

I would contribute too. Also not far from this situation so I know what a difference this can make.

[JNelson6563]

21. Hopefully sunwyn has internet access soon

to see this thread again and maybe agree to one of the suggestions.

Sending telepathic messages to sunwyn now....

Julie

[dixiegrrrrl]

24. Sunwyn got the help!!!!!!!

see:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=journals&uid=174406

[JNelson6563]

31. This is so heart-warming!

Leave it to DU to make me cry while smiling a mile wide.

Awesome stuff! Thanks for the post!

Julie

[GoCubsGo]

22. I'm sorry.

Right there with you. I have managed, for the most part, to keep my credit good, thanks to The Bank of Dad and some occasional contract or temp work. What has been killing me is the lack of jobs altogether, along with my age. Of the few positions that come up in my field, they either pass me up because the pay is so low, they figure I'll be gone as soon as something else comes along. Or, they hire their ex-grad students. I had one a few months ago that I thought I was shoe-in to get. The person doing the hiring told me I was one of the most qualified of the applicants. She also told that to my references, whom she requested letters. I didn't even get a fucking interview for that one. I am sure I am 'damaged goods' at this point, as well.

I know all about stuff being on its last legs, too. My car, my washer, probably all my appliances... My microwave died yesterday. I want to sell my house, but half the houses in my neighborhood are up for sale, and none of them are moving. Meanwhile, all the local yokels are bitching because they're getting a few hour cut due to sequestration. Boo fucking hoo. Yet, they can still afford to buy a new car...

I am sure I will die from some stress- related illness before I see anything resembling a job.

[JNelson6563]

32. You are not alone.

There are a lot of us out here.

Julie

[GoCubsGo]

38. It sucks.

And, I saw it all coming election night of 2000. Including watching my job and career go down the toilet. I hear Sandra Day O'Connor whining about her bad decision, and I just want to slap her and spit in her face.

[dixiegrrrrl]

34. A wild shot here:

are you eligible for a reverse mortgage?
Not sure of the equity or age requirements, but might be worth a look see.
If I live long enough in this house, it might be just the ticket for me down the road, if the economy and real estate market are still in the doldrums.

[GoCubsGo]

37. Nope.

I need to just bite the bullet and put it on the market. Some at least three houses near my are "by owner", and those tend not to sell quite as quickly as those listed with realtors. Picking the right realtor will go a long way.

[sunwyn]

27. I just wanted to post and let everyone know what a wonderful group of people

inhabit the DU board. Through the wonderful generosity, love, and support of the people here, I now have the money to pay this bill and take a huge weight off my shoulders. You are all wonderful. You have given me back hope. Thank you all!

[Skittles]

39. we have your back, sunwyn

yes INDEED

[byeya]

28. I am sorry for your situation that is not of your making. Your society has failed you. Best of luck.

[Laelth]

33. I feel for you.

As wealthy as we are in the United States, for 50% of us (or more) this is a really crappy place to live.

Best of luck,

-Laelth

[smirkymonkey]

36. I am so sorry to hear this sunwyn!

Hopefully with some luck and with some help from DU you will be back on your feet soon. We are pulling for you. I know how hard it is.

[KentuckyWoman]

40. I'm glad your friends here got you out of immediate crisis....but

it is another reminder to me why I am fighting so hard to make credit checks for employment illegal.

[Corey_Baker08]

42. I Have Been In Your Shoes...& Tho Unexpected Many DU'ers Donated To Avoid My Eviction...

I am from Greenville, Ohio and a few years ago at the age of 19 my parents both lost their jobs, I worked and busted my ass at a restaurant for minimum wage and I just remember feeling like a failure when the Sheriff's office brought that eviction notice to our house because after all my parents had raised me & took care of me for 18 years & when their financial bottom fell out after being layed off, which turned out to be permanent, I promised them, and I promised myself that I would do everything I could, I would work as much as I could, as hard as I could, at as many jobs as I could all the while attending college to ensure them that i would not & could not with a clear conscious sit on my ass and do nothing as my family who had worked hard and played by the rules their entire lives on the promise and the premise that with hard work and dedication, in America your tomorrows will always be better than your yesterdays...

Needless to say after being an active member of DU since the age of 15 I posted my story, my families story of our struggle out heartache & our hope that while we as a family were down, & just like millions of other middle class families who were also down, we were not out, and we would not give up & the only glimmer of hope that I personally had was the candidacy of a man running for President of the United States named Barack Obama.l

I posted my & shared my story & my families story as a sort of therapeutic way of venting, I did not post our story expecting or wanting charity, I did not post our story expecting or wanting sympathy, I posted our story among other reasons as a way of reaching out & letting others on DU who were in a financial struggle as bad as or worse than mine to remind others that even though it may feel like it, they are not alone, they are not failures, they were not down on their luck, they like my family were victims of the 1st degree murder of the American middle class under 8 years of the Bush Administration.

The response I got was emotionally overwhelming many of my fellow DU brothers & sisters stepped up & the next thing you know I would unexpectedly receive donations to my paypal account, I would receive checks in the mail from people, from DU'ers who heard my story and wanted to chip in any little bit that they could to ensure my family would not be out on the street and while it sounds cliche it was the biggest morale booster & really showed me that people are different, some people do care & I wish all the best for you & yours!!!

And To Any & All DU'ers out there right now who may be reading and remembering this, whether you donated to my family financially or whether you donated to my family kindly & compassionately thru kind words & even more valuable advice, i say to you simply enough...THANK-YOU

[sunwyn]

43. I have been truly overwhelmed. I had no idea the outpouring that would ensue

but I am forever grateful.