Pam Stewart writes about debt collectors suggesting a cash advance on the card they were collecting on to pay the arrears. That one ups the story I’ve heard twice in the past 2 months: the collector offers a new credit card if you will settle the amount due on the card he is collecting on!

Clearly, it’s a crazy world in the realm of debt collectors. Collectors have to be imaginative or compelling to get you to write the check, or authorize the bank account debit for money they can’t reach otherwise.

Debt collectors rely on fear, shame or harassment to get you to pay them money they can’t get at. As long as you understand their game, you can be resolute and pay first things first.