Red Ink
The Boston Globe is concluding its terrific and terrifying
"Debtor's Hell" series today. Reporters
Michael Rezendes, Beth Healy, Francie Latour and
Heather Allen along with photographer
Michele McDonald
show how millions of Americans are suffering at the hands of debt
collectors, the courts and law enforcement agents. According to the
Globe team, "almost unnoticed by policy-makers, many millions of
Americans have slid, or been pushed, into a debtor's hell where bank
accounts are drained, wages are attached, property confiscated, and
threats of jail are an everyday occurrence." The stories do a strong
job of explaining how the system works against consumers. The writers
offer powerful examples such as the woman whose car was swiped by debt
collectors even though her debts had been erased.
Walter V. Robinson edited the series.
For another strong series on the same problem, check out the
"Merchants of Debt" by
The Buffalo News business reporter
Fred O. Williams,
which was spotted by News Gems reader Brian Summers. Williams gives
numerous examples of the system's abuses, including one man who was
threatened by three different collection agencies at once for the same
$14,000 credit card bill.