I’m Hiding My Phone Because Creditors Keep Calling and I Feel Like I’m Drowning
The calls started on day two—credit cards, car loan, student loans. I can’t even listen to the voicemails anymore. If you’re doing the same, please read this:
Federal student loans: log into studentaid.gov, click “I’m a federal employee affected by the shutdown,” and it automatically puts you into forbearance—no payments, zero interest accrual for the entire lapse. Takes 45 seconds. I did it shaking.
Credit cards: call and say “government shutdown hardship.” Most big banks (Chase, Citi, Capital One, Amex) are offering 3–6 months of deferred payments with no interest right now. They don’t advertise it—you have to ask.
Car loans: USAA, Navy Federal, and PenFed are skipping payments with zero credit impact if you just upload your furlough letter online. I did it at a red light, tears streaming.
If they’re mean, hang up and call back—you’ll get someone else. I had to try three times with one card before I got a human who said “Ma’am, breathe, we’re pausing everything.”
You’re not a deadbeat. You’re a federal employee whose paycheck was stolen by politicians. The banks know this. They’re pausing things if you just ask.
You’re not alone in this terror. I’m right here with you. But these steps are working—for thousands of us. We’re going to survive this shutdown. One scared day at a time.
I’m Hiding My Phone Because Creditors Keep Calling and I Feel Like I’m Drowning
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