Dear Ryan,

I'm sorry you felt the need to give a false telephone number so that the creditors couldn't find you.

And I'm sorry that that false telephone number is my number.

Mostly its an annoyance to explain that not only is there no Ryan at this number, but that I have no idea who this Ryan is, and no I don't have a better number to reach him.

Ryan, maybe you have fallen into recent economic woes beyond your control. Or maybe your poor spending decisions caught up to you in this recession we're all experiencing.

I heard a great story on NPR the other day about a man who worked his way out of a wallet FULL of maxed out credit cards and who now lives debt free. He found that when he was honest with the people on the other end of the phone that he had no money and was afraid and had no perceivable way out, that they were suprisingly helpful and gentle. They turned him toward consolidation, cancelled his interest, and showed a great deal of mercy. The man is now much happier living debt free.

Ryan, now you don't even have a chance to speak with those people calling you, because they aren't calling you- they are calling me.

But, my advice is, call them. Be forthright and own up to your troubles. Running is never the way out. You may be surprised at the grace you could find in your honesty and repentence.

Sincerely,
Laura Negus.