There's a reason Shaunna Burns went viral with her videos about dealing with debt collectors: She used to be one, so she knows a few things. (Also she's smart and funny.) We fact-checked her advice with a legal expert: Jenifer Bosco, an attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. Who said: Yep, most of Shaunna's advice totally checks out.


This one's full of useful tips—and it's fun— so please pass it around. Debt collectors are out in force, and as you'll hear in this episode, they can be super-unscrupulous. But, as you'll also learn: We've got rights.


You don't need to have heard our earlier episode about Shaunna and her story; you can just start right here. (There's lots of strong language in both this and the previous Shaunna episode, so maybe save them for when the kids aren't around.)


Meanwhile, here's a bunch of links to resources:


The National Consumer Law Center, where Jenifer Bosco works, publishes the book Surviving Debt
There are chapters on medical debt, dealing with debt collectors, and what to do if you get sued
The book is updated every year
It's free to read online at https://library.nclc.org/sd




Consumer-finance expert Gerri Detweiler, who helped fact-check one big question for this episode, has a VERY useful-looking site: https://www.debtcollectionanswers.com/
She just published a new article with answers to questions like "Can medical bills be sent to collections if you're making payments?" (yep) and "How do I dispute a medical bill in collections?
There's another, more-general primer on medical debt/collections, also updated recently.
Gerri and co-author Mary Reed offer their e-book Debt Collection Answers as a free download. (It was published in 2015, so it may not be as up-to-date.)




Shaunna's dealing-with-debt-collectors TikTok videos


Be sure to note Jen Bosco's legal caveats, but these are great and will get you in a fighting spirit
Rapid-fire advice: They 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 this debt is valid... you've got options.
You're under no obligation to give them any information.
If the debt is valid, BE NICE. Take their calls. You may eventually be able to work out an OK deal.




Send your stories and questions: 

There's a reason Shaunna Burns went viral with her videos about dealing with debt collectors: She used to be one, so she knows a few things. (Also she's smart and funny.)&nbsp;We fact-checked her advice with a legal expert: Jenifer Bosco, an attorney with the <a href="https://www.nclc.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National Consumer Law Center</a>. Who said: Yep, most of Shaunna's advice totally checks out. This one's full of useful tips—and it's fun— so please pass it around. Debt collectors are <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/debt-collectors-have-made-a-fortune-this-year-now-theyre-coming-for-more" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">out in force</a>, and as you'll hear in this episode, they can be super-unscrupulous. But, as you'll also learn: We've got rights. You don't need to have heard <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/episode/your-tik-tok-mom/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">our earlier episode about Shaunna and her story</a>; you can just start right here. (There's lots of strong language in both this and the previous Shaunna episode, so maybe save them for when the kids aren't around.) Meanwhile, here's a bunch of links to resources: The National Consumer Law Center, where Jenifer Bosco works, publishes the book <a href="https://library.nclc.org/sd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Surviving Debt</a> <ul><li>There are chapters on medical debt, dealing with debt collectors, and what to do if you get sued</li><li>The book is updated every year</li><li>It's free to read online at https://library.nclc.org/sd</li></ul> Consumer-finance expert Gerri Detweiler, who helped fact-check one big question for this episode, has a VERY useful-looking site: <a href="https://www.debtcollectionanswers.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.debtcollectionanswers.com/</a><ul><li>She <a href="https://www.debtcollectionanswers.com/medical-bill-was-sent-to-collections-while-i-was-making-monthly-payments.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">just published a new article with answers to questions</a> like "Can medical bills be sent to collections if you're making payments?" (yep) and "How do I dispute a medical bill in collections?</li><li>There's another, more-general <a href="https://www.debtcollectionanswers.com/medical-debt-collection.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">primer on medical debt/collections</a>, also updated recently.</li><li>Gerri and co-author Mary Reed offer their e-book Debt Collection Answers as a <a href="https://www.debtcollectionanswers.com/buy-now.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">free download</a>. (It was published in 2015, so it may not be as up-to-date.)</li></ul> Shaunna's dealing-with-debt-collectors TikTok videos Be sure to note Jen Bosco's legal caveats, but these are great and will get you in a fighting spirit<ol><li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@shaunnaburns3/video/6766248889717722374" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rapid-fire advice</a>: They can't just call whenever they want. There's a statute of limitations on debt. You can— and should — demand documentation.</li><li>If they can't document that this debt is valid... <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@shaunnaburns3/video/6766319606194785542" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">you've got options</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@shaunnaburns3/video/6766326606672776453" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">You're under no obligation to give them any information</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@shaunnaburns3/video/6766301638564121862" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">If the debt is valid</a>, BE NICE. Take their calls. You may eventually be able to work out an OK deal.</li></ol> Send your stories and questions:

An Arm and a Leg is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.

If you’ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you’re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting — you’re not always helpless. We don’t have all the answers, but we’ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart. 

An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with KFF Health News and distributed in partnership with KUOW.

You can support An Arm and a Leg by donating at armandalegshow.com/support/

Show Credits: Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.

An Arm and a Leg&nbsp;is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.
If you&rsquo;ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you&rsquo;re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting &mdash; you&rsquo;re not always helpless. We don&rsquo;t have all the answers, but we&rsquo;ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart.&nbsp;
An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/">KFF Health News</a> and distributed in partnership with <a href="https://www.kuow.org/">KUOW</a>.
You can support An Arm and a Leg&nbsp;by donating at <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">armandalegshow.com/support/</a>
<hr>
Show Credits:&nbsp;Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.

An Arm and a Leg

There's a reason Shaunna Burns went viral with her videos about dealing with debt collectors: She used to be one, so she knows a few things. (Also she's smart and funny.) We fact-checked her advice with a legal expert.

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