How to Overcome the Past?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2009
How to Overcome the Past?
1
Sat, 11-28-2009 - 8:06pm

Hi, my name is DeAndre Currie. I am a 20 year-old student and go to a four-year college in Detroit, MI. Okay, here is my story.



First Attempt:


During the mid of January 2008, my aunt called me on a Saturday evening, notifying that I had a check from my college and will give it to me on the following Monday. During the conversation, she also stated my college wanted me to give back $728 to them because they called her saying that they had mistakenly put the wrong amount of money by putting at least $700 more than what I was expected to receive on the check.


On that following Monday which was on February 4, 2008, my aunt met up with me in the former Campus Safety Office, which is in the Liberal Arts Building (101) at approximately 9:30 am. She asked me, “How was going to give them back the money?”, so I stated that I was going to write a check for them (Financial Aid) and try to get it over with before I go to my English class, which started at 10:00 am. So she said, “No. It’s not safe to write a check, its better off to go to the bank than to write a check.”, and I told her that I didn’t have time going to the bank in that particular time. When every time I told her that I couldn’t go right away, she continuously insisted that she will take me to the bank because since my bank is Chase Bank, which is approximately one mile away from the school, so I agreed to go to bank before I went to class which we went at 9:45 am.


Before she sent me  to the bank, I asked her why did the person who was accountable for the “refund checks” put the wrongful amount of money into the check and notified someone on a late basis, but she also did not have the reason why they made the minor mistake. Fifteen minutes later, I purchase a money order from the bank, which was approximately $728.00, and Kim and I was on our way back to the school. She told that since I was about to go to class, she would give it to the Financial Aid Office and I will be all set. I gave her the money order and headed to my English class.


Two weeks later, I started to see my aunt’s reactions towards me when I say “hello” to her by doing things like being very jumbled and being less like her normal self. Until she called me during that week and kept calling my cellular phone a numerous of times about my income taxes information, which she already had the information when my mother gave it to her in that following weekend. She called again and said that she had to tell me something, which I ask her what was the problem and she said that she “accidentally” taken the $728.00 that I had gave to her in order to give it to the Financial Aid Office while she repeatedly apologize for what she caused. I later immediately forgave her; due to confusion, youthfulness, stressed, and to stay more concentrated onto my schoolwork. So I remain to keep it a secret for the time being and was later resolved within six months.    


 


 


 


Second Attempt:


Around the week of December 15-19, 2008, I had receive numerous of calls from a credit card union and JC Pennys stating I had purchase a charge card under my name and spent over $356.00 of merchandise. They also stated that I only paid for the charge card once, which was around January 2008, and never paid for it again. The main thing that surprises me was the fact that I had never purchase a charge card under my name nor never received the bill information from this company during the month of January 2008. I had spoken to one of the representatives on the phone who eventually told me about this information. I repeatedly ask “where were the bill information going to?”, and the representative said, “the billing information was going to the address in the residence of Redford, MI”, which I indeed told the representative that I do not live in this address. But when the representative told me the address, I wasn’t sure who was living in this particular address until I let my mother to call the representative back to get the address, which the representative told her the same address as they told me. Later in that day, my mother found out who was living in this particular address and she found out that it was indeed her sister.


Nevertheless, I called the company (JC Pennys) to notify them on the information on the fraud/stolen identity which she committed and they said that a form called a fraud report will be mailed to my house within one to two weeks. This company also included that I should report this information to the police department which I never did report it to the police, even though I did receive a copy of the fraud report from JC Pennys. In approximately four days later, my mother received a phone call from Ms. Sanders stating that she will pay for the charge card. For the time being, the charge card has not been paid for yet, but I did receive a copy of the fraud report and sent it to the company three weeks ago (January 19, 2008).





Now its been three years later, and its not the end of the story. As soon as I found out about the situation including the two attempts, I began going through depression and ended up putting myself in debt; at least $5,000.00 in debt. The main reason why I was going through depression because as soon as my family found out about it, they sort of stop communicating with me and due to not talking to anyone, I isolated myself from the world and from the people who at least care about me and started by spending and going places that I shouldn't been going to or buying stuff that I couldn't afford. I understand that the debt issue is my fault and take full responsibility of it. Right now, I'm looking forward into going back to school in the winter and no longer feel depressed nor angry about the situation anymore. I pretty much trying my best to move forward with my life and willing to start over. It is just my financial issues that is driving crazy. All I really need right now is the people's opinions and little bit of motivation. I thank you all who are willing to get me your thoughts on my drama.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-04-1999
Sun, 11-29-2009 - 5:36am

I am sorry for what you have gone through,