If you are new to the blog, click HERE to start at the beginning of my story.
POST #26
OK, so maybe I let the cat out of the bag with the title.
On December 31, 2009, my account FINALLY made it to the Recovery Department. There were a lot things working in my favor:
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The people in this department knew me.
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It was the last day of the year – bonus time for the reps.
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I had money ready for an offer.
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Reps in this department had said $20K was in the ballpark.
So I called, told my story,and offered $20K.
The rep didn’t jump at it, but he didn’t laugh me off the phone either. I knew we were close. I could taste it. My CRN coach would be proud.
He put me on hold to talk to his sup.
I felt like I was at a car dealership haggling over a car. Was this rep off taking a leak and having a laugh with one of his colleagues about how he had a client on hold for the last 5 minutes?
- Image via Wikipedia
Fortunately for me, not so. He came back on the line and countered with $28,250.
NOW WE’RE TALKING BABY!!!!
I almost couldn’t contain myself. Just 2 weeks earlier, the best offer was $60,000. This current offer of $28,250 was an amazing deal, one that most people would have jumped at. But not me. I could taste a sweeter deal. This rep had a better offer. I just had to coax it out of him.
Thanking him, I declined explaining I didn’t have that money (true). We went back and forth. At one point, I could tell the rep really wanted this deal. I could almost hear his inner voice saying, “If I land this settlement, I can buy an iPhone with my commission.” I don’t know how I knew, but I knew. And once I felt that, I calmly waited for him “to come to papa”. I had him. He wanted it even more that I did. Then, as though I was cutting HIM a deal. We finally came to a settlement.
$25K.
$22,500 today and 5 monthly payments of $500.
When I heard him agree, I silently jumped for glee, hardly able to contain my excitement. Then something amazing happened. It was actually surreal.
There was a pregnant pause and the rep asked me to hold. I was a bit concerned that he would rescind the offer.
Boy was I wrong.
When he returned, he had another offer.
A better offer.
$23,500 if I could pay it all today.
WOW!
He actually came down another $1500, without my asking. Cash really does speak.
I guess this was like a car dealership after all!
Unfortunately, I couldn’t come up with the extra funds that day. I was bummed, but not THAT bummed. 🙂
After all, I settled almost $100K for $25K.
I cut the deal, received a fax, paid by check over the phone and hung up.
THEN I SCREAMED OUT LOUD….
I called my wife. I felt like I had just lost 300 pounds. 3 dragons had been slain. 1 more to go.
My confidence was up as the new year began. Little did I know what was in store for me. Unlike the 3 lines of credit I had settled, my last account was a VISA.
I would soon realize it was a very, very different breed.
Stay tuned. Stay afloat. Wealth and freedom are in your future.
Jonathan