I'm beginning to think my mom is in financial trouble.
Several months ago I received a phone call from an 866 number asking for her. I said she didn't live here (she doesn't, she's on the west coast).
Then another call. So I called the number back.
It was Capital One.
So I called her and told her Capital One was looking for her. She said she'd pass it on to my stepdad to take care of.
A few more calls as the months have gone on, one lady even saying that my home phone number was listed as a reference number for the account.
While I was in Hawaii, I checked my voicemail and received a message for her on my home phone with a claim number to refer to.
I called the number back & got a real person, I didn't reveal the claim number or my name. The name of the company was United Collections Bureau
So I called my Mom and asked her what was going on.
She said it was a phishing scam and to ignore them.
Last night, I got another call. This time asking for her husband.
I'm really doubtful that I believe her. If it was a phishing scam, I doubt that I'd be able to talk to REAL people and over the period of a year or so.
DH thinks she's in financial trouble that she doesn't want to admit because she's lied so much over the years.
A few years ago she became a partner for a McDonald's franchise, she also said she inherited half a million dollars (which I presume was actually her husband's inheritance when his parents died because they owned a business).
Either way, I think she's in financial trouble and too proud to admit it.
A part of me just wish she would. Adding me to the tree of people being lied to doesn't feel great. Even my brother is at least open about deciding to file for bankruptcy, so I just don't understand it.
Would you admit to your children if you need help?
October 14th, 2009 at 07:29 pm
October 14th, 2009 at 07:58 pm 1255550293
Interesting...I received an 866 phone call for my brother in law yesterday. I stated I didn't know who he was. DH was fine with that. I'm pretty sure BIL is in financial trouble. Primarily it is because he is hardly working!
BTW...I hardly ever answer any 800#.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:32 pm 1255559563
October 14th, 2009 at 11:14 pm 1255562078
October 15th, 2009 at 02:45 am 1255574751
October 15th, 2009 at 03:20 am 1255576833
Which I'm not sure how to take... being a victim of identity theft is a pretty big thing, the fact that I was not told as her daughter sort of makes me feel put off. I know my mom and I aren't close, but for this to happen and for her to just now tell me - makes me feel like we're strangers instead of mother/daughter. Although I shouldn't be surprised, when my Dad was diagnosed with his first cancer in 2007 - it was the coincidental time for her to announce that she's been dealing with skin cancer since 2000.
If she's lying, well, at least identity theft is a more believable story. DH doesn't believe a word out of her mouth. After his training on the psych ward & in the psychology dept he says she has Borderline Personality Disorder in his opinion.
Either way, she's my mom so even though her & my relationship is nowhere near what my relationship was to my Dad... she's still my mom.
October 15th, 2009 at 05:45 am 1255585551
It has really had an effect on DH, in that now he bends over backwards to help his father to make sure that the land he has won't be repossessed (providing him work, not money). When we were first engaged, I didn't understand it at all...I felt he needed to spend more time for us to make it instead of his Dad. Our Engaged Encounter weekend helped me finally understand it. Not that I still don't bristle a bit when his beans are in the ground, and ours isn't, but what do you do? You can't fight everything.