So we have my mother in law's birthday party this past Sunday. I didn't exactly feel like going because I was sick, sour stomach, etc. But the wife gives me the whole "When you do things for me, it makes me want to do things for you" speech. We all arrive and my idiot brother-in-law is there. This is the one that lost custody of his children, had trouble with the law over drug charges, debt because of unpaid credit cards, etc. So we haven't even really started things up, when all of a sudden there's a knock at the door. And it's someone looking for the idiot.
Now my mother in law advises that he doesn't live there any more and that this group needs to stop calling and stopping by (but never once does this guy identify himself nor do the people calling). The guy starts going to a spiel of "Let me tell you why I don't believe you" and I step in front of my mother in law and advise him that he has been asked to leave and that if he does not then the cops will be called and harassment charges file. Jackass doesn't back down, so I reiterate my point and stop closer to him and then he starts to go. I make sure he leaves by following him to the parking lot, watching him get into his truck that has KANSAS license plates (yeah because I'm sure a lot of debt collectors in Colorado run around on Sundays with license plates from another state). He takes his sweet time talking to the girl in the truck (who looks surprisingly like the egg donor for my niece and nephew) and doesn't leave yet. So I pull out my phone and act like I'm dialing a number and he moved the faster he had moved.
So I go back to the party but I'm getting the glares from the wife and the cold shoulder. So eventually I ask what's the problem and she goes into some big spiel of me being an idiot, blah blah blah, I could get arrested for menacing, blah blah blah. But whatever, I apologize because you can't argue with your wife, especially when she pulls out the "worried about you" card.
But anyone agree that I didn't do anything wrong here and she freaked out for no reason?
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Apologise to Patricia for worrying her. What you did was incredible brave and chivalrous and I'm impressed!
Maybe next time (should this ever happen again) call the police from inside the house. Get m-i-l a peep hole and install it. She shouldn't answer the door unless she knows the person or the person identifies themselves to her satisfactorily.
I understand why you got into a bit of hot water. It's never a good thing to scare the ladies, no matter how well intentioned you were.
(My computer keeps crashing, hence the edit to add some thoughts.)
Bill collectors are trained to intimidate, but not cross the line of physically terrorizing people. It sounds to me like that guy had a different reason for looking for b-i-l, He could have been a real danger to you. You were lucky but I still have to compliment your bravery!!
-- Edited by KaeEll on Monday 17th of August 2009 01:07:28 PM
I can see how she might be worried, but I personally wouldn't get mad. Then again I am kinda a hot head and might have been the one doing the bitching at the guy myself. Kudos though on standing up for m-i-l especially when most guys really don't like their mil
Brandon, I'm cheering now because I think that you did exactly the right thing! Good for you. Your mother-in-law tried to get rid of the guy, and her efforts didn't work. You were trying to be a male presence, and were trying to be supportive of your mother-in-law's wishes.
Your wife is worried because she thinks that you put yourself in harm's way. And maybe you did, but who knows whether or not your family might not have been in harm's way already anyway. Women become a little worried, though, when they think that male testosterone may be flowing a little too freely!
If these people show up again, call the cops. Maybe then they'll get the message. Make sure that everyone in your family, including your mother-in-law, knows that this is what you intend to do. And hey -- if your family doesn't want you to participate in this, the next time you plead an upset stomach, they'll let you stay home, and not complain. LOL...
But no -- in my point of view you did absolutely nothing wrong. You tried to get an obnoxious trespasser to leave your mother-in-law's home, and if I'd been there, I would have stood right next to you.
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"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
I don't think you did anything wrong either but I am with Kae or whoever said it. Make sure your MIL has a peek hole on her door so she doesn't ever open the door to strangers
Bran - that was pretty good what you did to help your wife's family. Perhaps your brother-in-law needs to be found. All the debts he doesn't pay get distributed to the rest of us.
Sundancer's right about that! When bad debts can't be collected, the bill collectors will sometimes go after a close relative. I don't believe that it's legal to do that (not in Canada anyway) but the grief is still there.
Sundancer's right about that! When bad debts can't be collected, the bill collectors will sometimes go after a close relative. I don't believe that it's legal to do that (not in Canada anyway) but the grief is still there.
I didn't mean that debt collectors go after a close relative. I meant that when a bill isn't paid, that store, doctor, etc. need to raise ther prices to cover the costs.
