How have you been personally affected by debt?

When I got out of college, I was in a lot of credit card debt. I couldn't get student loans, so I paid Visa with Mastercard. I had also bought a house, but had trouble with rent from roommates, so I got behind on my mortgage and they actually sent an appraiser over threatening foreclosure.

We've Been in Your Shoes - Employee Spotlight Christine FrankHow did this experience make you feel?

I knew nothing about Debt Management and Debt Consolidation; I am not sure if they even existed back then. It was a scary time, embarrassing, and very stressful. Back then, I was horribly embarrassed by it. I didn't even want to answer my phone, especially at work. 

What did you do to get yourself back on track financially?

I ended up working with the creditors directly to get them to lower my interest rates, cut me a break with late fees, etc. I also sold my car and bought a cheaper one to lower my payments. Over time, I was able to dig myself out of the hole I had buried myself in. 

Thankfully, I got a good job pretty quickly. It took me about 5 years to get everything paid off and to rebuild my credit

Does working for CareOne give you the opportunity to give back to others dealing with debt?

Working here, I see how common it is for people to get into a financial mess and I am proud I got myself out and didn't lose my house or car.  My personal experience really does give me empathy for our customers. I can also relate to Bernie's story and the company mission, it means more since I really have been through what our customers are going through.

Tell us about yourself:

I am the Director of Enterprise Information Resources.

I have two amazing kids :-)

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