By JoAnn Merrigan, WSAV — Up to 19% of people in Georgia have a medical bill that’s in collections. “And it’s even higher among people of color, up to 21%,” says Liz Coyle from Georgia Watch.“Sometimes those debts remain on consumers’ credit reports for...
More infoEngaging the Community to Promote Medical Billing Transparency and Reduce Debt in Southwest Georgia
By Sarah C. Phillips, Policy Research Associate, Georgia Watch – Medical Debt in Southwest Georgia Medical debt accounts for more than half of all personal debt, affecting the lives of insured and uninsured people alike. In Georgia, where our rate of...
More infoCollecting Community Stories of Medical Debt in Southwest Georgia
By: Whitney Griggs – Georgians for a Healthy Future – In the spring of this year, Georgians for a Healthy Future, Georgia Watch, and SOWEGA Rising launched a project in Southwest Georgia to address the burden of medical debt. Southwest Georgia...
More infoGeorgia Watch Releases Report on Need for Garnishment Reform
J. Laney’s car was repossessed in 2009—at the time of repossession, she owed $10,000, but she received a letter stating it had been resold and thought that was the end of it. Over a decade later, in 2021, she realized her wages had recently started being...
More infoFederal regulators say Atlanta-based Greensky owes millions to customers
By Justin Gray, WSB-TV (Watch Now) – ATLANTA — An Atlanta company that has been at the center of a series of Channel 2 Action News investigations is now being ordered by federal regulators to pay back millions of dollars to customers...
More infoFactsheet: What You Need to Know about Georgia’s Surprise Billing Law
The Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act went into effect in January, making Georgia the 16th state to have adopted comprehensive protections against surprise medical bills. Georgia Watch and Georgians for a Healthy Future advocated for...
More infoDebt relief firm costs man nearly $17k, how Better Call Harry helps
By Harry Samler – CBS46 (Watch Now) GRIFFIN, Ga. — A report by creditcard.com says more than half of America got itself deep into debt during last year’s pandemic. Abasi Kitt did his best to work out a payment plan. Kitt is a Marta Bus...
More infoConsumers Complain About Quick Loans From Metro Atlanta Company
By Justin Gray – WSB-TV ATLANTA — UPDATE: Channel 2 investigative reporter Justin Gray has learned that Attorney General Chris Carr’s office is now investigating Greensky. We confirmed the state investigation after an open records request...
More infoOnline Vigilante Gives Inside Look at an International Scam Call Center
By Harry Samler – CBS46 Better Call Harry often relies on reputable non-profits like the Better Business Bureau and the advocacy group Georgia Watch. But the AARP’s most recent investigation “Inside an International Tech Support Scam” provides a...
More infoCongress Plans to Introduce Resolution to Rescind “Fake Lender” Rule that Facilitates Predatory Lenders’ Evasions of Georgia Interest Rate Limits
330+ groups representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia called for Congress to support a resolution to overturn a rule that helps triple-digit interest rate loans spread across the country by evading state and voter-approved interest rate...
More infoHow accurate is Credit Karma when checking your scores?
By Lindsay Bramson – WSMV (Watch Now) NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) – Millions of people use Credit Karma to check their credit scores, but just how accurate are those scores? A lot of people are getting a big surprise when they apply for a loan right...
More infoBetter Call Harry: How accurate is Credit Karma?
Want to hear about how you can protect your credit and keep an eye on your credit report during this unstable time? Liz Coyle discusses this timely issue on Better Call Harry at CBS 46. Watch here.
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