The Hightower Report: Debt Buyers Bury Hard-Hit Consumers in Lies

Surprise! Debt collectors are unscrupulous.

"...one of our country's largest buyers of bad consumer debt – and it definitely has not been playing nice..."

Feb. 27, 2015 News Column by Jim Hightower

The Hightower Report: Rampaging Debt Collectors Are Committing Highway Robbery

Corporate souls achieve "truly evil" status

"...Consider debt collection firms that are thuggishly and lawlessly running roughshod..."

Sept. 16, 2016 News Column by Jim Hightower

With $4 Million in Debt Trudy’s Files for Bankruptcy

Company still hopes to “win back the goodwill of the customers”

"...tells the Chronicle that the total sum of the debt surrounding the filing is around $4 million...."

Jan. 22, 2020 Food Post by Kevin Curtin

The Common Law

My Credit Card Company Is Suing Me: What Can Really Happen?

"...You're not sure how it happened, but that credit card bill spiraled out of control, and the credit..."

May 23, 2008 Column by Pat Fitzgerald

Maxed Out

A documentary about our credit-card mess and some of the casualties of debt.

"...we can now add the multiheaded hydra of the credit industry, the most horrible beast of them all. With..."

March 16, 2007 Movie Review by Josh Rosenblatt

The Giving Tree

Making movies takes money. Lots of it. From grants to bakes sales, credit card max-outs to benevolent rich uncles, local filmmakers struggle to come up with the cash.

"...and the ever-popular (but ultimately risky and often self-defeating) credit card max-out...."

May 24, 2002 Screens Feature by Marc Savlov

The Common Law

Overzealous debt collection – what are my rights?

"...I've got outstanding credit card debt. I really want to work something out,..."

Jan. 3, 2020 Column by Luke Ellis

Robbing Pedro to Pay … Highland Park?

The funds in the latest public ed bill appear much less than meets the eye

"...and the basic needs of Texas schoolchildren is appalling."Casinos, Credit, and Canadian Drugs..."

Feb. 25, 2005 News Column by Amy Smith

The Hightower Report

Bush barks but barely bites, and MBNA buys a Congressman … on credit.

"...four years ago, Jim had fallen $700,000 into personal debt, was playing hide-and-seek with two dozen credit card companies,..."

July 26, 2002 News Column by Jim Hightower

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Profligate spending may be out of step with the times, but don't short-sell the comic charms of Isla Fisher.

"...her job, she is forced to confront her out-of-control credit-card debt and accept a job she literally stumbles into..."

Feb. 20, 2009 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Problems With Bush's Tax Plan

"...second problem with this plan is that the median credit card debt per household in America is between $6,000..."

Jan. 21, 2008 Postmarks

Letters at 3AM

All those brilliant 'financial instruments' turned into monsters that no one can stop

"...billion taxpayer dollars to buy the finance industry's bad debt. We can forgive ourselves our confusions when even the..."

Oct. 10, 2008 Column by Michael Ventura

SXSW Film

Interviews and reviews

"...A disturbing look at the state of debt in America – from the highest levels of government..."

March 17, 2006 Screens Feature by Darcie Stevens

The Hightower Report

Facts for Action on Health Care; and Paying the Price for NAFTA

"...Widely reported fact No. 2: Credit-card debt continues to pile upon the backs of American..."

Jan. 25, 2008 News Column by Jim Hightower

The Hightower Lowdown

Star Wars boondoggle, MBNA's bankruptcy fraud, and the CIA's cooked books

"...The latest beneficiaries of this process are MBNA, Visa, MasterCard, and other purveyors of credit cards. These are the..."

March 30, 2001 News Column by Jim Hightower

TV Eye

Fox sees Sunday as its anchor, and aims to keep it that way

"...Secret History of the Credit Card: Credit cards are supposed to make life easier,..."

Nov. 5, 2004 Screens Column by Belinda Acosta

El Planeta

Spanish tale of mother-daughter grifters is an intriguing debut

"...“until the end of the month,” and racking up credit card debt are currently sustaining them, but that won’t..."

Oct. 29, 2021 Movie Review by Josh Kupecki

The Common Law

Bad Credit – Should I Hire a 'Credit Repair' Company?

"...qualifying for a decent loan due to my bad credit. I'm thinking about hiring a credit-repair service but have..."

July 13, 2007 Column by Luke Ellis

Filling the Void

"...and faith in humanity. But with just a few credit cards and a vow to sign only bands he..."

Sept. 4, 1998 Music Feature by Andy Langer

The Common Law

Personal Finances – Should I consider personal bankruptcy?

"...for several years and accrued a massive amount of debt. I am now fiscally responsible and would like to..."

Jan. 30, 2004 Column by Marvin Sprouse

Naked City

News briefs from Austin, the region, and elsewhere

"...went – the reports simply said they went toward credit-card debt, without listing who the original vendors were. The..."

Jan. 2, 2009 News Feature

The Hightower Report

Cashing in on Payday Loans; and Our Leader Speaks

"...way, than we're now assessed on our Visa and MasterCard bills)...."

March 21, 2008 News Column by Jim Hightower

The National Texan?

The Texan Yanks Its Liberal Roots

"...on Social Security, who ran up nearly $10,000 in credit card bills at the hands of fast-talking Australian lottery..."

Aug. 29, 1997 News Column by Lee Nichols

Voxtrot: The (Re)start of Something

12 years after disbanding, the forerunners of modern indie-pop call on the "mystical, inexplicable force" that flowed through their Early Music

"...Scottish band to whom Voxtrot actually owed a creative debt, must have been deeply confused)...."

Sept. 23, 2022 Music Feature by Julian Towers

Point Austin: Let Them Eat Sprouts!

John Mackey weighs in on health care – and recommends lots of spinach

"...health care costs remain the leading cause of both credit card debt and personal bankruptcy." He goes on to..."

Aug. 21, 2009 News Column by Michael King

Luv Doc Recommends: Hayes Carll and the Band of Heathens

Antone's, Sunday, December 28, 2008

"...busy having the time of our lives, racking up credit-card debt on crappy consumer goods so worthless they probably..."

Dec. 26, 2008 Column by The Luv Doc

Dumb and Dapper

The former AG lands in solitary in Lockhart after trying to buy two fancy cars while claiming to be indigent.

"...the judge that he was broke and deep in debt and needed court-appointed counsel -- had applied for loans..."

July 4, 2003 News Feature by Lauri Apple

Project ATX6

The city’s unofficial music ambassador program turns 4 thanks to the sweat equity of founder Chris Brecht

"...Leo Rondeau, Gina Chavez, and Elijah Ford; and wild card talent Aisha Burns and Beth Chrisman...."

Nov. 24, 2017 Music Feature by Doug Freeman

God's Paper

Austin-based Publisher Reaches Out to Russians

"...the first generation of English-speakers. Cover immigration. Have a green-card columnist. Make a feature section. Cover the streets. Even..."

Sept. 27, 1996 News Feature by Andy Langer

Luv Doc Recommends: Armadillo Christmas Bazaar

Palmer Events Center, Thursday, December 23, 2010

"...America may only be a few hundred million maxed-out credit cards away from economic salvation. One thing is for..."

Dec. 24, 2010 Column by The Luv Doc

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