‘An Arm and a Leg’: Vetting TikTok Mom’s Advice for Dealing With Debt Collectors
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TikTok mom Shaunna Burns used to be a debt collector, so she knows a few things about what’s legal and what’s not when a company contacts you to settle a debt. We fact-checked her advice with a legal expert: Jenifer Bosco, an attorney with the .
Bosco said most of Burns’ advice totally checks out.
A recent from ProPublica shows that debt collectors have thrived during the pandemic; they’re out in force to get people to pay up. But we have rights. Scroll down for some consumer protection resources.
You don’t need to have heard ; you can start right here. (Both conversations contain lots of strong language, so maybe listen when the kids aren’t around.)
Meanwhile, here are links to resources:
- The National Consumer Law Center, where Jenifer Bosco works, publishes the book . It’s free to read online at
- Consumer-finance expert Gerri Detweiler, who helped fact-check a big question for this episode, has a very useful-looking site called . She like “Can medical bills be sent to collections if you’re making payments?” (yep) and “How do I dispute a medical bill in collections?”
Burns’ Dealing-With-Debt-Collectors TikTok Videos
Be sure to note Jen Bosco’s legal caveats, but Burns will get you in the fighting spirit.
- : Debt collectors can’t just call whenever they want. There’s a statute of limitations on debt. You can — and should — demand documentation.
- If they can’t document that the debt is valid … .
- .
- , be nice. Take the calls. You may eventually be able to work out an OK deal.
“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of Kaiser Health News and Public Road Productions.
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