According to the latest Last Week Tonight, Americans collectively owe more than $12 trillion in debt—a serious problem that has given way to a questionable industry of debt buyers that prey on vulnerable people hoping to relieve their crushing financial situations. Oftentimes, these debt collectors break the law and use practices that show little respect for their consumers.
To demonstrate just how badly the industry needs additional government oversight, John Oliver created his own debt acquisition company to not only collect, but forgive about $14.9 million dollars in medical debt for roughly 9,000 people in Texas. The feat topped Oprah Winfrey’s former record of the largest one-time giveaway in television history.
