NPR Explores the Underworld of Debt Buying and Collection

NPR Thursday on its “All Things Considered” program ran a segment focusing on the post-secondary debt purchasing and collection world through the eyes of an ex-con in Buffalo.

The seven-minute piece told the story of Jimmy, a character in an early piece by Jake Halpern. The spot is flowing from the promotional push for Halpern’s new book on the debt collection industry, published this week.

While the segment explores Jimmy’s early experience of rising from the streets to run a debt collection shop, it also delves into some shadier elements of the debt buying world, like fraud and double sales.

Read (or listen to) the piece here.