Title: From Debt Collector To Debt Negotiator-My Journey Into Debt Relief

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Like any regular American coming out of high school the big dilemma was if I would further continue my education and go on to college. I chose not to go on to college, and boy did I find out it was probably the biggest mistake of my life. The value of education can never be measured. Education is the gateway to making all your dreams come through. Most of us undervalue education, and why not we still live in a country where a high school education still gets you a decent job. The world is changing and if I knew then what I know now I would have opted for education not fast dollars.

At the age of eighteen I began my career as a press person for a small label printing company. The money was great and I was still living at home. My father was still paying for my car insurance. I had no responsibilities. Things tend to change every once in a while, and my luck ran out, at the age of nineteen I saw myself living on my own, paying all my bills. Suddenly, life was not as easy as I thought. I worked for this printing company for almost nine years, probably some of the best years of my life. At this time I was wishing I had spent this time studying and becoming more prepared for the obstacles life tends to place in your way. I was let go after nine years of work with not a penny saved. A lesson learned here the hard way.

My next stop in my wonderful career of bouncing from one place to another led me to work as a package handler for one of the most prestigious overnight package delivery companies in America. Guess what? As I picked up packages weighing almost seventy pounds I was wishing I had gone on to college. At my first job I had sacrificed my eyesight and at this second job I was sacrificing my back. Oh, how I wished I had gone on to college. What I did not know was these labor experiences were shaping the person I would become later on in life.

After breaking my back for almost six months lifting heavy packages, I landed a job with a utility company. I started out as a meter reader and here is where I began to shape my customer service abilities. Facing an angry customer face to face makes you toughen up a little bit, but it also gives you the savvy to learn to negotiate yourself out of almost any possible situation. Here is where my college education began, without even going to college.

I went from meter reader to customer service. I became a customer service representative, that nice voice you hear on the other end of the telephone when you have question or complaints regarding your utility bill, your furnace going out, etc... This was a fine job, I loved helping people out, everyone was happy. The client always got what they wanted.

I made the mistake to try a new job, later on I found out it was not a mistake but a blessing. Collector, for the same utility company. Here is where I learned about people. The struggles people have to make to survive, to place food on the table for their children while paying those unholy utility bills on time. Needless to say I grew tired of saying to people if they did not make arrangements to pay their bills, their utility services would be discontinued. This is a nice way of saying we are heading over to your house to shut off your gas and electric. Here is where I decided my short lived career as a collector would come to an end.

I left the utility company because I wanted a fresh start, I was not really sure what I wanted to do. By luck I answered a classified ad for a customer service representative position without much knowledge that it was for a debt management company.

All the education I received from my first job all the way to this new job had shaped me, without me noticing it. I really cared for people, I did not like to see them suffer. Debt, makes people suffer and I enjoyed helping people become debt free. I took on my new debt negotiations job and I enjoyed it, I enjoy it to this moment. Saving a family thousands of dollars on their credit card debt makes me feel human. I know the pain these people are going through, I myself throughout all the years I struggled to find my calling amounted a debt of almost $20,000.00. It took me close to four years to pay this debt off. I worked full time, part-time, weekends, holidays, you name it. I finally became debt free. These days I help other people do the same, I have found my calling, I have gotten my education, my degree comes in the form of a brand new settlement letter every time I save a family money, every time I place a smile back on their face. I paid for my education dearly, I would have it no other way.

About the Author: Alex Delgado has worked in the debt settlement industry for the last 10 years and has vast experience negotiating personal credit card debt as well as business debt. He has headed some of the most prestigious debt settlement companies in America. For more information please visit http://www.pemperandgartle.com