WAMU 88.5 : The Diane Rehm Show

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New Concerns Over Credit Card Debt Collection

August 21, 2012
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Americans are $21 billion dollars behind on their credit card debt. Banks are increasingly taking borrowers to court, suing them for payments owed. In many cases, these lawsuits rely on false documents, incomplete records and generic testimony from witnesses. State judges report that some lenders try to collect money that has already been paid or increase the size of the debt by adding fees and interest. Banks defend their procedures and insist their court filings are accurate. But consumer groups warn these cases are reminiscent of the mortgage foreclosure crisis with outcomes just as devastating. Diane and guests discuss new concerns over credit card debt collection in the U.S.

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