Cut Up the Credit Card!
How We Became a Generation in Debt
Story by Shana White // art by Wesley Vara

When I see bills pile up on top of my counter, I look the other way. I can't stand to look at them.   My friends feel the same way I do.   They say when the collectors call and harass them, it makes them just not want to pay at all.

I have a friend whose voice message is tailored to ward off collectors.   It says, “ If you're friend, or a pretty girl, please leave a message. But if this is a bill collector, stop F%*^”king calling me cause I'm never going to pay you!” My generation is not Generation X, or Y, or any other letter -- we're “Generation Debt.” Every generation is known for their fight. There are the generations who were known for fighting against the war in the 60's, fighting AIDS in the 80's, and my generation is going to be known for fighting creditors.

My cousin, who for “billing reasons” won't say her name, say's things started to get out of hand when creditors used to call her at her job. But her co-workers would help her out and say there is no one by that name or that she doesn't work there anymore. They stopped calling her. The same thing happened to me when creditors began calling me.   I was so embarrassed because people in my office knew my business.   My mother gave me a book about different California laws on how to defend myself against creditors.   I learned that creditors can only call you at a specific time, and they cannot contact you at your job if the call will risk you losing your job. And they definitely don't have the right to harass you for their money. So when the collectors call I just tell them that my employer does not allow me to have personal calls. They stopped calling.

But debt problems don't go away just because the calls stop.   From what my friends and family tell me about their credit problems, I know I'm not the only one who goes through this. But the truth is, it's not completely our fault. Young people are targets of banks and creditors.   Credit card companies locate themselves on school campuses and offer students credit cards with low or no interest rate ( they don't tell you that its only for the first month). Under my mother's encouragement, my 15-years-old brother walked into a bank to get a savings account . But after had the sit down the bank salesperson, he walked out with a checking account and check card.   He now owes the bank over $100.00, most of which are from overdraft fees.

When I recently had a problem with my account, I called the banks customer service and told them the situation and why I thought that their insufficient funds charge was too much – $33, double the amount it was a couple years ago. When they told me that those fees are there to make sure that I don't make the same mistake again, I felt like they were talking to me like if I was child and were giving me a slap on the wrist.   One that I couldn't afford.

There are ways that can help young people get out of debt, but even those programs are limited. I once tried those credit debt solutions, where they consolidate your bills into one monthly bill. At the time, I was a temp getting paid every week, so I could pay the bill, and was slowly pulling myself out financial bind.   But like most jobs young people get, that job ended after a few months, and while I was looking for another job, the interest on the bill kept piling.

I wonder what the next generation's money situation will be like. Especially if their parents, us, are still racked with debt that we took on as teenagers.   Maybe my generation will be a testimony, and a learning experience for them, not to spend money they don't have. But for now, I'll just try to deal with paying off my bills.