Make Ends Meet Checklist: How to get relief on bills

The third in a series of stories about how to make ends meet during the pandemic.

Tips about how to work with your bill collectors.

POSSIBLE.TAG:(SIG OUT)GOOD MORNING, WE’RE HALF WAYTHROUGH OUR SPECIAL REPORT THISWEEK ABOUT TIPS YOU CAN USE TOHELP MAKE ENDS MEET.IT’S ONE OF THE OUR COMMITMENTSTO YOU, WITH ’THE REBOUNDSOUTHWEST FLORIDA.’━V━ON MONDAY I TOLD YOU ABOUT PAMGOLDSMITH.SHE LOST HER EARLY CHILDHOODTEACHING JOB, WHEN EVERYTHINGCLOSED A COUPLE MONTHS AGOANDNEVER GOT ANY UNEMPLOYMENTBENEFITS.SHE OWNS HER HOUSE AND HADSAVINGS TO LEAN ONBUT SHE ANDHER HUSBAND HAVE HEALTHPROBLEMS.SHE NEEDS DIALYSIS THREE TIMES AWEEK, AND HAD NO WAY TO PAY FORIT, WITHOUT INSURANCE.SOTPAM GOLDSMITH"I was very depressed.

I waslike, oh my god.

I worked as atax payer for all these years,I’m 50 years old and I’m notgetting any help.

It made mereally concerned and want togive up."━V━BUT SHE DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO ASKFOR, AND GET A BREAK.SO LET’S CROSS THAT OFF OFTODAY’S ’MAKE ENDS MEET’CHECKLIST.━PK━IF YOU’RE OUT OF WORKAND SPENDHOURS A DAY, FIGHTING WITH THESTATE’S UNEMPLOYMENT WEBSITETHE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO,IS TAKE ON A NEW BATTLE WITHYOUR MORTGAGEOR CREDIT CARDCOMPANY.THIS IS A STRESSFUL PROCESSSOHERE ARE SOME WAYS TO MAKE ITEASIER.SOT...ADAM BRUNO"You can’t yell at these people,I think that’s my number onerule.

You can’t get frustrated."THAT’S ADAM BRUNO, THE FOUNDERAND PRESIDENT OF EVOLUTIONRETIREMENT SERVICES, IN FortMyers.IN OUR LAST CHECKLIST STORY, HETOLD US HOW TO PRIORITIZE OURBILLSTO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONESWE HAVE TO PAY FIRST.NOW LET’S FOCUS ON WHAT WE CANDO TO PAY ONLY PART OF THE BILLOR GET THE PAYMENT DEFERRED ALLTOGETHER.EVEN THOUGH LAWS ARE IN PLACETHAT PREVENT MOST EVICTIONS ORFORECLOSURES, YOU STILL HAVE TOSET SOME THINGS UP WITH YOURLENDER.CAR LENDERS, LIKE CHRYSLERCAPITALDO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OFMAKING THAT AVAILABLE ONLINE.SOT...ADAM BRUNO"All of those deferments forpayments, it’s all doneelectronically.

You don’t evenneed to speak with somebody.

Youdo it electronically on the siteand then it sends you a copy toyour email."FOR YOUR MORTGAGE, THOUGHOR IFYOU RENTYOU WILL PROBABLY NEEDTO PICK UP A PHONE.AND MOST COMPANIES, LIKE WELLSFARGO, WILL WARN YOUTHERE WILLBE A LONG WAIT TIME.SOT...ADAM BRUNO"These guys on the other end ofthat phone, they’re probably wayoverworked and underpaid.They’re dealing with callscoming in all the time.

And theyhaven’t had any respite either"SOT...ADAM BRUNO"so I think the best thing youcan do is be nice.

Be honest,tell them exactly what’s goingon.

And if you’re nice to them,more than likely they’re goingto want to help you."THE CONSUMER FINANCIALPROTECTION BUREAU HAS A LIST OFTHINGS YOU CAN ASK FOR, TO GETTHE MOST OUT OF THECONVERSATION.START, BY SAYING YOU HAVE A’PANDEMIC-RELATED FINANCIALHARDSHIP.’IF YOUR MORTGAGE IS COVERED BYTHE CARES ACTYOUR LENDER WILLDO THE REST.IF IT’S NOT COVERED OR, IFYOU’RE CALLING ABOUT ANOTHERTYPE OF BILLASK, WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLETO TEMPORARILY REDUCE OR SUSPENDMY PAYMENTS?CAN I MODIFY MY LOAN?OR, IT’S NOT A LOANWHAT OTHEROPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR MYSITUATION?ALSO SET YOURSELF UP FOR WHENYOU HAVE TO START PAYING THINGSBACKASK IF LATE FEES CAN BEWAIVED?AND FINALLY, GET EVERY DEAL YOUMAKE IN WRITING.IT MAY SOUND LIKE A LOTIN FACT,WHEN PAM LOST HER JOB AND HERINSURANCE, THAT’S WHAT SHETHOUGHT.BUT YOU’LL SEE FRIDAY, WHAT KINDOF DIFFERENCE, QUESTIONS LIKETHESEMADE IN HER LIFE.━ON CA━AND YOU DON’T ONLY NEED TO LEANON HELP FROM COMPANIES.TOMORROW, WE’LL TELL YOU ABOUTORGANIZATIONS RIGHT HERE, INSOUTHWEST FLORIDA, THAT CAN HELPYOU NOW.---pkg---WE WILL COME BACK FROM THIS,SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.AND FOX 4 IS DEDICATED TOHELPING YOU GET THERE.THAT MEANS, WE DON’T JUST TELLYOU ABOUT NEW JOBSWE GIVE YOUINTERVIEW TIPS, AND CAREERCOACHING SO YOU CAN BE YOUR BESTFOR THE FIRST VIRTUAL JOB FAIRIN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.AND WHEN THE SYSTEM ISN’TWORKING FOR YOU, WE *WILL.*<robTHAT ALSO MEANS, BRINGING YOUEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH THEPEOPLE WHO DECIDE HOW WE’LLREOPEN.WE’RE COMMITTED TO SHOWING YOUMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TO LOOK OUTFORAND WHERE TO GET HELP.AND THIS WEEK, A CHECK LIST, TOHELP YOU MANAGE THE BILLS, WHENNO MONEY IS COMING IN.WE HAVE A FACEBOOK GROUP WHEREPEOPLE IN YOUR SAME SITUATIONARE SUPPORTING EACH OTHER.ONE PLACE, WITH THE INFOR