Consumer complaint received 2022-06-28
Company: DISCOVER BANK
State: MN
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened to sue you for very old debt

Complaint:
XX/XX/2022, I received a letter ( and another this month ) telling me that I had to make payment arrangements by XX/XX/2022, or I would potentially get sued for the entire amount. I called to attempt to do so, but they refused to work with me. When I explained my general situation the CSA ( Customer Service Agent ) informed me that I had only 2 options : 1 : Pay $ XXXX/mo or 2. Pay $ XXXX/mo. The first payment would have to be paid by the XXXX, in order to avoid being charged off and further debt would then be collected. This wouldn't be an issue, except for the fact that I can not afford even the lowest option. I explained this, and made a realistic offer for me ( {$25.00} at least until things were less tight financially ). They refused the offer, saying they couldn't accept it, and that payment of at least {$50.00} for the " Hardship Program ''. I said that was unfortunate and gave up. Now, let me explain my situation... 

It's been a very, very financially rough 7 years. I got divorced 18 mos after my daughter was born, in XXXX. He moved out and from that point, til presently, I became a single parent. On top of that, I was later diagnosed with XXXX and XXXX. It got so bad for me financially, that I had to use cards to help pay my bills. Even with child support ( {$370.00} at the time, {$470.00} now ). Because of the XXXX, I can only work part time. I am working on getting on XXXX for it, because it's getting bad enough that I've had to miss work because of flare ups, which is not typical. But it's a long and nearly hopeless process when it comes to this invisible illness. 

I have experience in only 2 fields : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) and XXXX ( XXXX, XXXX  XXXX, etc. ). Neither field offers much for income. I had to work fulltime in my XXXX positions to barely make ends meet. As a XXXX, I can at least make enough to ( barely ) survive on. I currently work XXXX at a XXXX XXXX. I am scheduled XXXX hours a week, give or take, depending on appointments. I make $ XXXX plus very few tips ( XXXX {$2800.00} ). I have no XXXX or medical benefits and rely on public assistance ( all that I qualify for ). My rent alone is {$1400.00}, in fact, the sum of only my main, household expenses is {$2100.00}. That doesn't even include gas or other living expenses. I also have liability insurance to pay for if I want to be covered for when I practice massage, among other things. How am I supposed to pay back my credit cards right now?? Even {$25.00} a month is a stretch for me, but I at least offered that instead of refusing to pay it all together. As I stated at the beginning, they refused and were not even willing to compromise on the payment at all. It was a minimum of {$50.00} or nothing. I am a little upset over this, because their hardship program is useless with such a high min payment, with my income. I want to catch up on as much as I can, but household expenses and bills take precidence. I don't see what is so wrong with this. Yet, here I am. I would appreciate some assistance.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation