Vault: He Missed A Payment, And Got a Call He Didn't Expect

Summary

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The Bert Show: Vault - "He Missed A Payment, And Got a Call He Didn't Expect"

Date: March 6, 2026
Main Theme: Accountability, second chances, and setting boundaries for making amends after a broken trust

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on Nick, a man who owed his ex-girlfriend $4,300 after leaving town with her money years ago. The Bert Show mediates his repayment journey: Nick agrees to pay her back in installments—under the watchful eyes (and playful threats) of the show. If he misses or is late on a payment, puzzle pieces of his photo are posted online, slowly revealing his identity and, eventually, his phone number. The episode dives into the ethics and logistics of holding Nick publicly accountable after he misses a payment, sparking a lively debate: How strict should the show be, and does intent count when it comes to keeping promises?

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nick's Backstory and Repayment Agreement

• Nick left town on his ex, owing her $4,300. He’s now trying to “make it right” by paying her back through the show.
• Host: “He kind of just left town on her ... Kind of took some money from her as well.” [00:45]
• The deal: timely installment payments, or his identity/photo and phone number are gradually revealed online as a deterrent.
• First payment: $800 (on time); subsequent payments: $150 every two weeks.

2. The Late Payment & The Show’s Stipulations

• Nick’s payment, due on a Monday, came in four days late without prior notice. He claims an unexpected work trip caused the delay.
• Jeff: “His payment of $150 … was not there. Tracy waited today. It still didn’t come in. ... The payment actually didn’t arrive until after we got off the air on Thursday. So, he's made all payments. The first one was $4, four days late.” [02:17]
• According to the agreement, lateness should trigger the first puzzle piece of Nick’s photo going online.

3. The Debate: Stick to the Rules or Cut Nick Some Slack?

• The cast debates whether missing one payment so early counts as a real breach, or if life happens and leeway is warranted.
• Kristen: “I mean, he made the payment, but only … you gotta give somebody, like, a little bit of, like, what if something happened?” [04:52]
• Jeff: “If we give him three days this time … then all of a sudden we've created a pattern ... I think we just put it up.” [07:04]

4. Nick's Side of the Story

• Nick attributes the late payment to an unforeseen work trip.
• Nick: “My boss calls me, says he needs me out of town for an emergency. ... The minute I got back, I drove the check over to you.” [05:29]
• The timing: Only after Tracy, the show liaison, left Nick a voicemail did he bring the payment in.

5. Listener Call-ins & Accountability

• Anna, a listener, doubts Nick’s story, questioning his occupation and the legitimacy of the emergency work trip.
  • Anna: “What kind of work does this guy do that his boss will call him up on a Saturday, say, look, man, I need you to go out of town without prior notice.” [09:00]
  • Nick, terse: “It’s not your business, actually. ... I’ll just say it’s sales related.” [09:10, 09:25]
• Jen, a collections worker, argues for strict adherence to payment deadlines, emphasizing trust must be built over time:
  • Jen: “This early into it, we would never let this happen. … We don't really have a pattern that he's reliable yet.” [09:35, 09:55]

6. The Vote: To Post or Not To Post (the Puzzle Piece)

• The cast puts it to a vote, echoing the imminent U.S. election—and with similar gravity for Nick!
• Host: “Let’s do this democratically. How are you casting your vote, Jeff?” [13:04]
• Final votes:
  • Jeff, Host, Melissa: Post the puzzle piece.
  • Kristen, Wendy: Don’t post; be lenient.
  • Nick tries to vote no, but is denied.
• Decision: By 3–2, the puzzle piece (a non-identifying part of the photo) goes up, along with the first phone number digit (just the area code).

7. Closing Thoughts: Motivation, Trust, and Precedent

• Host: “I feel like being hard guy on this whole thing ... You're the one that did this years ago. … If we're gonna set a precedent here, that we're serious about it, then it doesn't matter what the circumstance is. Some of that picture's gotta go up. That's the agreement we made.” [07:49, 08:16]
• Wendy: Raises concern that consequences could demotivate Nick and threaten the ultimate goal—getting the ex paid back. [12:20]
• Nick: “All right, let me slide this time. Next. There won’t be a next time. But should there be? Then do two squares.” [08:19]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jeff (on accountability): “If we give him three days this time … then all of a sudden we've created a pattern ... I think we just put it up.” [07:04]
• Host: “You're the one that did this years ago … It's $4,300 that you took from her. … If we're gonna set a precedent here ... then some of that picture's gotta go up. That's the agreement we made.” [08:16]
• Kristen (on empathy): “I'd want to be cut a break just if something happened.” [11:47]
• Nick (on his job): “It’s not your business, actually. … I’ll just say it’s sales related.” [09:10, 09:25]
• Caller Jen: “This early into it, we would never let this happen. ... We don't really have a pattern that he's reliable yet.” [09:35, 09:55]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:45: Recap of Nick’s situation and the closure call setup
• 02:17: Payment schedule and first missed payment detailed by Jeff
• 04:52–07:04: Debate among hosts about how strict to be
• 05:29: Nick explains his side of the story
• 09:00–09:25: Listener Anna calls in and Nick's evasive answer about his job
• 09:35: Caller Jen offers a collector's perspective on trust and deadlines
• 13:04–13:46: The team votes on whether or not to post the puzzle piece
• 14:09: The first clue to Nick’s number (area code) will be posted

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Episode Tone & Takeaways

• Tone: Playful, authentic, sometimes hard-nosed but always focused on fairness.
• Themes: Personal responsibility, the challenge of rebuilding trust, and the fine line between grace and holding someone to their word.
• For listeners: If you want to see what accountability sounds like—messy, real, with both empathy and firmness—this episode delivers.

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Transcript

[Host]

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[Host]

Hey, the bird show. Let's try to recap this because it was a while ago, but Nick called us up and at the heartbeat of the closure call for him was that he kind of just left town on her. Remember this? He's going out with a girl for a while. Kind of took some money from her as well. Nick, how much money was.

[Nick]

Was $4,300.

[Host]

$4,300. Never paid it back. And with our closure call, what we do is we give the ex the opportunity to come on and get the closure that they never got. So we got his ex girlfriend, but she didn't want to talk to him at all. She's like, I don't want anything to do with him. Took all that cash from me. I'm just past it.

[Wendy]

Because he wanted her to kind of tee off on him and maybe feel better about it and somehow at that stage, exonerate him from, you know, the sort of crimes he committed in their relationship.

[Host]

It was years ago, and now he's just a different guy, and he's like, you know, what I could do to make this right is I could just make the payments to her. I can pay the money that I ripped her off of years ago. So we made that agreement, like you heard in the clip a couple of minutes ago. We said, look, if you're late on a payment or you miss a payment, here's what we're gonna do. Give us a picture of yourself, which he has done. And every time you miss or you're late on a payment, we are just going to use it like it's a jigsaw puzzle and there'll be another piece to your picture up online, and we'll start giving your phone number out as well. And he agreed to that?

[Melissa]

That's right.

[Host]

He said yes. Okay.

[Wendy]

And at first did a good job. Yeah.

[Host]

Jeff, you're on. You're in on the logistics more than I am. So the first couple of payments were made on time, correct?

[Jeff]

Yep. I have them right here. Hold on. His first payment of $800 was paid on September 29, which is what he promised. And he's originally on the phone. That's a biggie. And then he was going to pay $150 with every paycheck. And he gets paid every other week, so every two. So $150 every two weeks after that. His first payment of $150 arrived on the 13th. No problem. But his payment of $150, that was scheduled on the 27th, which was last Monday, was not there. Tracy waited today. It still didn't come in. That's when she told you, Bert. We scheduled to come in on the show, but the payment actually didn't arrive until after we got off the air on Thursday. So he made the payment. So he's made all of his payments. The first one was $4, four days late. So the debate that we have amongst ourselves and with Nick on the phone is his agreement was every Monday because he gets paid on Friday, every other Friday. So the following Monday, the payment will be here. And Tracy did give him a one day, whatever it's called cushion didn't work out. He's four full days late. Do we still put a piece of his face up online?

[Host]

So an important piece of this for me is we called him to remind him that the payment was late. Then he sent it. Or had he sent it before we called?

[Jeff]

He sent, well, he'll explain to you. But apparently he was traveling and just couldn't. Couldn't get it into us. But we didn't know ahead of time that he was traveling.

[Host]

Hey, Nick, are you there? Yeah, hold on one second. Hey, Nick, hold on one second.

[Melissa]

Hey, Nick, hold on.

[Host]

Let me try this again. Are you there, Nick? Oh, no, we're having some problems with our phone.

[Melissa]

Hold on.

[Jeff]

Tracy to call him right back.

[Host]

Yeah, let's try that might be something on my boys. Your Nikki there. Yeah, hold on.

[Wendy]

It just sound really far away.

[Host]

Yeah, there's no way we can do a whole segment like that.

[Jeff]

We'll call him right back. So anyways, the debate is his argument is going to be. When we talk to him, his argument will be, well, I paid it. I paid it, but I was traveling and I didn't. It was unexpected trip and whatever, blah, blah, blah. But our argument is, well, we called you on Tuesday afternoon and said, hey, I think we actually called him on Wednesday during the show and said, hey, whatever. We need you to come on the air today because you didn't make your payment, and then all of a sudden, it shows up on Thursday. So my. My feeling is, this soon into it, it's his. Technically only his second scheduled payment. Third scheduled payment. Maybe we should show him we're serious.

[Kristen]

But, I mean, it's in. I mean, he made the payment, but only you gotta give somebody, like, a little bit of, like, what if something happened?

[Jeff]

Well, we'll find out from him if it did.

[Melissa]

Yeah, I'm curious to talk to him, too, because I'm like, much like Bird. I want to know how. What was the motivation to the payment based on we had to prod you or if it was, you know, you initiated it yourself.

[Jeff]

And I don't think Tracy would have even made an issue about it if he called her on, like, the day he was leaving and said, hey, my Monday payment won't be until Thursday. Then it wouldn't even be an issue because it's still a scheduled payment. Still would have. Come in.

[Host]

Nick, you there?

[Nick]

I'm here.

[Host]

All right, so the payment was late. We call to remind you, and then two days later, we get it into the studio.

[Nick]

That's right. I've got a. Basically, what happened on Saturday? My boss calls me, says he needs me out of town for an emergency thing that I had to go to. You know, it was last minute. I just didn't think to call you guys because, you know, frankly, I was getting prepped and going out of town. So, you know, the minute I got back, I drove the check over to you, and, you know, I'm up to date right now. And, you know, when's my next payment? November 10th. You know, you're gonna have it right on time, just like normal. So I don't see what the big deal is, really.

[Melissa]

So you. So we didn't.

[Host]

47-41-Q100.

[Melissa]

So you.

[Wendy]

We.

[Melissa]

We didn't call you before you drove the payment over. You brought it yourself as soon as you got back from town.

[Host]

Okay, but you had. But Tracy left a message for you saying that I'm getting the timing of it wrong. So the phone. The message comes in from Tracy. Even though you're on the road, you realize that you hadn't sent the payment. And then as soon as you get home, you drive the payment here, right?

[Nick]

That's right.

[Host]

So he did get a message.

[Wendy]

So he did get a reminder in order to do it. I don't know. I tend to lean with Wendy and cut him a break because I don't know, I try to be flexible with people in my life that have to reschedule things, whatever appointments or yada yada, cuz life gets in the way.

[Jeff]

But, but using our argument, he does have some leeway. Like the, the square of the picture. You've seen it, right, Melissa? Like the segment of the picture that would go online doesn't reveal anything.

[Host]

It's not his face yet.

[Jeff]

I mean, it's just a face. And I think that's. I think if we're going to stick to it because if we give him three days this time, and I'm sorry to be hard on you, but if we give him three days this time because he went out of town, then do we give him. Then all of a sudden we've created a pattern or whatever, that three days is acceptable. So if he's ever three days late again, he could say, well, last time he didn't put my face up. So I think we just put it up.

[Kristen]

But sometimes things just happen like that just happened. Did you have an opportunity to go to a mailbox and drop something off before you went out of town? Like after you got the message, Was there a chance for you to go drop it off?

[Nick]

I mean, again, it was like Saturday afternoon. So I guess I could have, sure. But still wouldn't have arrived there on Monday. There's no service on Sunday, you know, which is why I've been bringing it over personally to drop it off.

[Host]

I'm with Jeff. I feel like being hard guy on this whole thing.

[Jeff]

I mean, I don't think it's being hard.

[Host]

Well, I mean, the bottom line really is, I mean, you're the one that did this years ago. And I think there was a. Yeah, I mean it was. It's $4,300 that you told you took from her years ago. The picture that we're going to put up today or the part of the picture doesn't reveal who you are, but it's certainly. I mean, the next one might. And I think if we're gonna set a precedent here, that we're serious about it, then it doesn't matter what the circumstance is. Some of that picture's gotta go up. That's the agreement we made.

[Nick]

All right, let me slide this time. Next. There won't be a next time. But should there be? Then do two squares.

[Host]

It's not the agreement we made.

[Jeff]

I think we put one square up this time and then you will ensure that there won't be a next time because I mean, the picture doesn't show anything, right? Melissa, Even if you knew that guy.

[Melissa]

It's a puzzle piece. It's one of the. If you were doing a puzz puzzles, the puzzle piece, you're like, where does this go? So dark. I don't understand this. So I think it's like a shoulder.

[Host]

So it doesn't reveal anything. So not putting one up now doesn't effectively do anything more than just putting this one that we have up. Except we are closer to it. Good morning, Q100.

[Caller Anna]

Hey, good morning.

[Host]

Good morning.

[Caller Anna]

What kind of work does this guy do that his boss will call him up on a Saturday, say, look, man, I need to go out of town without prior notice.

[Host]

Nick, what do you do?

[Nick]

It's not your business, actually.

[Jeff]

What? What kind of business?

[Melissa]

You said it's none of your business.

[Host]

It's none of your business.

[Caller Anna]

Okay, see, there you go. He's lying. You don't have to. Okay, well, he's lying, dude.

[Nick]

I'll just say it's sales related. And as in a lot of sales jobs, you know, things will come up where you gotta go meet clients.

[Host]

Good morning. Anna, you're on Q100.

[Caller Jen]

Hey, I just wanted to say I do collections for a doctor's office. This early into it, we would never let this happen. If he was making consecutive payments for maybe six months, then it would be a different story. But not deserved payment.

[Wendy]

It could be a sliding scale for you.

[Caller Jen]

Absolutely. I mean, that makes sense.

[Jeff]

We don't really have a pattern that he's reliable yet. Like, I agree with her. I would have a different attitude if we were 10 weeks into it and he was three days late. Then you're like, okay, cool, you've made $1,500 more than that $2,300 worth of payments, and now you're late on 150, no problem. But with this one, your second scheduled payment, that's tough.

[Host]

And I think it sends a message. I think it really sends a message that if you're a late, doesn't matter what why that picture's going up, even though this. And I like it. Especially because the first piece going up doesn't reveal at all who he is.

[Jeff]

And it just shows him that we're not going to accept that type of behavior. Like, pick up the phone and call Tracy. Leave her a voicemail. Go. I just got like, on your way to the airport. Make the call. Front desk to the radio station. Ask for a voicemail. Leave a message. This isn't an issue. He couldn't Even do that.

[Host]

Go ahead, Kristen.

[Caller Jen]

I think you guys are being way too hard on this guy. I mean, he's got his payment in. I think that you guys are just being way too hard on him. I mean, stuff happens. And, you know, if he was really traveling, I think you guys should give him the benefit of the doubt. Let him go this time. If it happens again, then you can do it. But, I mean, I think you guys are just being way too rough on him.

[Jeff]

I think Wendy and I had the same thought at the same time.

[Kristen]

Well, no, I agree. I agree with her, though.

[Jeff]

Okay, well, then why don't you. Will you fax Tracy, within the hour the printout from the airline that shows that you traveled?

[Nick]

Yeah, I can do that.

[Host]

Okay.

[Jeff]

And if it doesn't come, it's still inconsequential.

[Kristen]

I mean, I get why he doesn't want to reveal his job, because that may reveal who he is, just if it's a different job. But, like, he did make the. Like he got the payment in. I. I think if he wouldn't have answered the phone or if he didn't send a payment in at all, or he just ignored calls, then I think that was a different deal. But he did send in the payment. He is answering the phone calls, and he did schedule to come on the show. So, I mean, he's showing effort, and he still got it in. So, I mean, cut him. I'm.

[Melissa]

I don't know.

[Host]

This is.

[Kristen]

I'd want to be cut.

[Jeff]

What if it was your money?

[Kristen]

Well, I mean, you gotta give people the benefit of the doubt, though. I'd want to be cut a break just if something happened. No, no.

[Jeff]

What if it was your money and this guy has $4,300 of your money that you are owed that he took from you and he is promised again. How many times has he probably promised the original girl that he'd pay it back and we made a promise to her? I mean, all we're doing is upholding our end of the bargain. We're not doing anything bad. We're just upholding our end of the bargain.

[Nick]

And I'm trying to uphold, not upend, but uphold mine.

[Wendy]

If we go ahead and post his picture, I mean, obviously what's on the line here is just a portion of the picture. But if his picture is posted, then what's his motivation to continue paying her back? And we want ultimately for her to

[Host]

get paid back, because this doesn't reveal. I mean, the first picture doesn't reveal anything. I think it's just he doesn't want to.

[Melissa]

This is a puzzle piece.

[Host]

So it's a puzzle piece.

[Melissa]

What will happen next time is more if he never makes a payment again, then his whole picture goes up.

[Host]

And he certainly doesn't want to be walking around Atlanta and everybody know who he is.

[Jeff]

This is all you're going to see. That's the picture that goes out.

[Host]

Yeah, I mean, it's just the bottom right part or left part of his chin.

[Wendy]

Yeah, you won't see.

[Host]

Can't tell anything there. All right, tomorrow is the election, so let's do this democratically. How are you casting your vote, Jeff? Except ours is public. It's a public vote.

[Jeff]

If we're doing it like tomorrow, I would really prefer to stand in line for three and a half hours first. And do you have any stickers for me?

[Host]

I can make a sticker for you.

[Jeff]

Okay, then I would.

[Melissa]

You can't wear a sticker tomorrow though, can you?

[Jeff]

Then I would vote to put it up.

[Host]

Put it up.

[Jeff]

That would be. My vote would be to post the one picture.

[Host]

Wendy.

[Kristen]

I say don't, don't.

[Host]

I say put it up, Melissa.

[Melissa]

Well, I mean, if I'm gonna just stay with within, you know, what I would normally do, it'd be to put it up because you have to, you know, the deadline and, you know, you just put it up.

[Jeff]

If you want the picture up, put your hands up.

[Wendy]

In the spirit of tomorrow, I'd like to vote for change. No, I think that we should not put it up because he did make the payment.

[Nick]

I'm also gonna vote to not put it up.

[Host]

Yeah, you don't get a vote. It was three to two to put the picture up. So the picture is part of the picture goes up today.

[Jeff]

Actually, Jen has 120 electoral college votes.

[Host]

Wendy's new to the social. She's like Vermont, as opposed to you.

[Jeff]

You only got six.

[Host]

Yeah, that's three to two. So part of that picture is going up today. And also the, the first phone number is going up as well.

[Nick]

Online.

[Wendy]

The first number.

[Jeff]

That's just the area code.

[Host]

Yeah,

[Kristen]

feel bad.

[Host]

Sorry.

[Kristen]

Because he did make it. He didn't make the payment.

[Wendy]

I just don't want him to bail on us and not pay this girl back because I think she.

[Host]

Well, then the whole picture goes up. That's his motivation not to. And he's, he said, I mean, forget about the radio thing. He's motivated and passionate about paying the money back. So they should be inconsequential right now. There's no harm in it.

[Jeff]

Well, if he bails on us, the whole picture goes up.

[Host]

The whole picture goes up? Yeah.

[Melissa]

I think what Jen's saying is. But she didn't get any money.

[Host]

No, she wouldn't get the money. All right, Nick.

[Nick]

All right. Well, see you on the den.

[Jeff]

Okay. Don't be late.

[Nick]

Yeah.

[Host]

Bye.

[Nick]

Bye.

[Host]

Hey, the bird show.