DIDN"T pay a bill | ADHD Information
Hi Mrs. Red,
As Cheeky said, this is not a problem for some ADDers, but it is for others. We don't all have the exact same issues. For me personally this type of organization (managing when bills need to be paid) can be a problem. For others, not so.
But one thing I am sure of, for those who have trouble paying their bills on time and those who do not, we are all pretty aware that not paying causes credit problems (I used to be on a first name basis with people from the collection agencies).
You mentioned your ADD husband. Is it safe to assume that you do not have ADD? If so, why don't you take care of the bill paying? If you can keep all this stuff organized and do it all on time and your husband can't, then why don't you just do it? Why don't you do the things that you do well, and your husband can do the things he can do well.
My marriage has been damaged by many years of gender-based assumptions about who should be in charge of what. Somehow because I had external genetalia, managing finances was my job. So I screwed up our finances, and my wife became angry at me. I work and have some excellent skills that have enabled me to make a very good income. But I am not very organized about spending family money and paying bills. So how completely stupid was it for me to be in charge of paying bills or the first 15 years of our marriage? How much smarter would it have been for me to spend more time on my job (something I did well) and have my wife take care of the family finances and bills (something she does well)?
Just food for thought!
Yes and your point is generalizing and stereotyping. I have never had a problem with my credit. And actually you said be careful with your bill paying.
Please keep in mind that people with ADHD are sensitive. Your post made me upset because first, you assumed that all ADHD people are like your husband and second, you seemed to be unfairly criticising everyone for what he did. It's one thing to be ADHD, it's another thing to be completely reckless and irresponsible. I know non-ADHD people who don't pay their bills either.
Has your husband ever been diagnosed? Is he getting help? If not, it sounds like he really needs it. Both counseling and medication.
Please, please don't generalize.
Cheekydeeky
cheekydeeky- sorry my post upset you. I was venting more than anything. I guess I should have said that to start
"My point in all this is be careful with your credit rating"
MrsRed38226.636400463My ADHD husband forgot to pay a bill (.67) it was 34 days late and now it has screwed our credit rating 
We went today about a loan at the bank and this showed up from a month ago. It brought our credit score down and the loan was denied.
So now we have to wait another month until the credit burreau gets a new report ( they report every 30 days) and the bank said we can try again.
My point in all this is be careful with your bill payments. Our banker said even if it had only been .00 it will hurt your credit rating 
So now I'm looking after the bills !!
I think I heard on the news the other night that credit card companies make most of their profit from late fees. Wow. So, maybe they are OK with granting credit to people with only a certain amount of "lateness," if it looks like you are paying the bills. You are a good source of extra income for them.I went through a bad period where I could not make enough $$ and I had to let all of my bills slide for 3 MONTHS!!! All three of my credit cards froze my credit. I was K in debt at the time. I didn't want to go bankrupt, so I decided to get 3 jobs and just work hard.
Well, it took me a couple of years and I paid everything off. Surprisingly, I was able to get a car lease and purchase a condo. The credit card that was "kind" to me was Citibank. They restored my credit and have never had a problem since. I give them all of my credit business. I pay my card at the end of every month now. First Bank and Bank of America were so snotty that I won't deal with them now that I have good credit again.
Guess who wouldn't give me credit, even while I was paid off and buying my condo, and even had a much better salary? Banana Republic...yah, a stupid clothing store!! (The guy at the counter hounded me to apply, even when I told him that I would probably get rejected. ) Go figure!
bb
bluebird3838226.5688888889MrsRed,
as someone with possible ADHD, yet a pretty good record of clearing up credit ratings, what I would do is this. Call the company that you were late paying. Talk to one of the reps and say that it was an honest mistake, you take full responsibility, but could they please in good faith remove the bad credit ding?
If the first person says "No" call back, talk to someone else. Talk to the manager, or financial manager. I've had situations where there was a bad mark turn around so nicely that not only did they remove the ding, they lowered our interest rate.
1. be persistent
2. Be nice
3. take full responsibility
4. Ask for what you want.
good luck!
Blarney: Thanks for the advice. Yes after some long calls we got the matter cleared up. Like I said before I was just venting. I have taken over looking after the bills. It had been a very bad week. The credit thing, along with the motor going on the car we just bought 2 months ago. Fighting with the car company over extended warrenty. It had just piled up too high and toppled. Believe me I didn't mean to generalize. Our son is also ADHD. I also work in the school system. It was a bad day and I didn't mean to offend anyone. Sorry.
[QUOTE=MrsRed]
My ADHD husband forgot to pay a bill (.67) it was 34 days late and now it has screwed our credit rating We went today about a loan at the bank and this showed up from a month ago. It brought our credit score down and the loan was denied.
So now we have to wait another month until the credit burreau gets a new report ( they report every 30 days) and the bank said we can try again.[/QUOTE]
Write a good will letter to the lender the late payment was with, ask them to forgive the late for you, and remove from the credit report....
Usually a good will letter consists:
1. Letting them know you are sorry for the late.
2. Explain a bit about why the late happened.
3. Insure them that this will not happen again, and what steps you have taken to insure this.
4. Ask them if they would please reconsider reporting the late, and that at this time you are trying to obtain a loan and that this has stopped you from getting the loan.
5. Point out to them that in the past you have always paid as agreed, and in light of this if they can help you out.
A good web site for good will letters is called: www.planetfeedback.com they have addresses for key people at various companies, if you don't find your company listed there, then just use the address on your billing statement to send inquiries.
Hope this helps you, I am the same way managing the bills, and just recently had a mishap, but I called in and paid up to date including the late fee, and asked them for re-aging of the account, and they granted since my credit history was good. So give a try, and if it don't work the first time, don't give up... sometimes have to write 2 or 3 times, persistance in this case can pay off... the down side is if you don't try, you might see other creditors increasing your rates because of this little babble.
Best of wishes with this,
I have within the year been diagnosed with ADD. I am terrible at paying my bills. For me I lay the bill on the desk and before I know it, time has flown and it is two-three months later and the bill collector is calling. Most of my bills are very small payments, silly bills and they have caused me to have bad credit. I also have a real problem for some strange reason of putting anything in a envelope and putting a stamp on it and taking it to the mailbox. I can't tell you how many birthday cards, etc. I have bought and they never got to the mailbox.
I went through a recent period where I tried to not take my medication. I thought I was doing great until a bill collector called me with a bill that was over 3 months past due. It felt like to me the bill just got paid. That was a real wake-up call to me that I truly do need meds to keep me organized and focus.
Anyway, after saying all this, my husband and I have both been saved by internet payments. We both do soo much better to pay all bills online. We get on their email for a reminder and then all we have to do is push a button to pay the bill. I have also learned not to use all the little credit cards but only have one to have to keep up with. Actually, I only use my debit card and some times use the overdraft if I need extra. This way I can check the balance with a one click on the computer. I have also learned not to write checks, they seem to be harder for me to keep up with. A counselor advised us to take out cash for most purchases which works well also. I just think it is so strange how both my husband and I have trouble with envelopes and stamps. But we have both finally learned our weakness and found other options. Now if I could just figure out a better way to send birthday cards!
Adelem
Sometimes it is tough to communicate in writing when you cannot hear a person's tone of voice or see the expressions on their face. So most of us end up ruffling some feathers once in a while.
Except me of course, I am perfect!
Thanks Chazinmo : I will be more cautious next time !
Oh you mean we are spose to pay bills - i thought they just sent me those things in the mail to keep in contact!.
Those debt collectors just love to come for a chat. Thank you for the eye opener, I didnt know they wanted money. But I will miss their visits - 
Also, I keep a shredder plugged in by my desk. When I get junk mail, it goes one of two places:
*if my name isn't on it, goes to the recycle bin
*if my name is on it, to the shredder
Ahhh...no papers all over the house is becoming a reality.
Now, could they just invent a pill that makes filling papers feel like I am winning at a craps table in Vegas?
I learned in a training for work to never put a piece of mail down the first time. I take my mail from the mailbox and stand over the garbage can and throw everything that I can immediately. Then I also learned to mark all dates, etc in daytimer and throw the paper, invitations, etc. away. So I usually, the same day will mark my daytimer and throw away. If I ever lay something down on a desk I usually won't pick it back up until the desk gets too high and I clean the whole thing out which can be way too late!!
Now if I could just figure out how to keep my laundry going I would be a new person!! I seem to always have laundry at different stages in different places around the house! Ugg!!
Adele