Chris Arnold

Yeah, thousands of people. And we did an episode back in May about a woman named Karen McDonough. She's a nurse who lives in Quincy, Massachusetts. And in the episode, we told how one morning she looked out her window and she was just shocked to see this group of men gathering on her lawn. And there was one guy who was like in charge with a clipboard.

Yeah, thousands of people. And we did an episode back in May about a woman named Karen McDonough. She's a nurse who lives in Quincy, Massachusetts. And in the episode, we told how one morning she looked out her window and she was just shocked to see this group of men gathering on her lawn. And there was one guy who was like in charge with a clipboard.

So he told Karen that her home was being foreclosed on and auctioned off. And this is the house that Karen had owned for 17 years. She'd raised her kids in this house and she'd been making payments on it. So this was, of course, like really upsetting for Karen.

So he told Karen that her home was being foreclosed on and auctioned off. And this is the house that Karen had owned for 17 years. She'd raised her kids in this house and she'd been making payments on it. So this was, of course, like really upsetting for Karen.

So he told Karen that her home was being foreclosed on and auctioned off. And this is the house that Karen had owned for 17 years. She'd raised her kids in this house and she'd been making payments on it. So this was, of course, like really upsetting for Karen.

Well, one thing is that government officials have also been looking at this issue. And after a story came out, I interviewed the attorney general in Massachusetts, Andrea Campbell, and it was pretty cool. She actually knew about our episode.

Well, one thing is that government officials have also been looking at this issue. And after a story came out, I interviewed the attorney general in Massachusetts, Andrea Campbell, and it was pretty cool. She actually knew about our episode.

Well, one thing is that government officials have also been looking at this issue. And after a story came out, I interviewed the attorney general in Massachusetts, Andrea Campbell, and it was pretty cool. She actually knew about our episode.

And her office has started to take some action. It turns out the AGs there have been investigating one of these companies that's been foreclosing on people's homes. The company's named Franklin Credit Management. The AG alleges it was breaking state and federal law by trying to collect on these debts.

And her office has started to take some action. It turns out the AGs there have been investigating one of these companies that's been foreclosing on people's homes. The company's named Franklin Credit Management. The AG alleges it was breaking state and federal law by trying to collect on these debts.

And her office has started to take some action. It turns out the AGs there have been investigating one of these companies that's been foreclosing on people's homes. The company's named Franklin Credit Management. The AG alleges it was breaking state and federal law by trying to collect on these debts.

The company did not admit wrongdoing, we should say, but to avoid the risk of litigation, it struck a settlement with the AG.

The company did not admit wrongdoing, we should say, but to avoid the risk of litigation, it struck a settlement with the AG.

The company did not admit wrongdoing, we should say, but to avoid the risk of litigation, it struck a settlement with the AG.

And what she's talking about with the $10 million there is that the company basically agreed to forgive all of the mortgages it controls for people in the state of Massachusetts. And that's more than 500 loans.

And what she's talking about with the $10 million there is that the company basically agreed to forgive all of the mortgages it controls for people in the state of Massachusetts. And that's more than 500 loans.

And what she's talking about with the $10 million there is that the company basically agreed to forgive all of the mortgages it controls for people in the state of Massachusetts. And that's more than 500 loans.

Yeah, I mean, for sure. This settlement involved just one company and what they're doing in just one state. So Karen McDonough, the settlement doesn't help her. She's still trying to get ownership of her home back from a different company that foreclosed on it. But consumer law groups are hoping that there will be more to come with the government cracking down.

Yeah, I mean, for sure. This settlement involved just one company and what they're doing in just one state. So Karen McDonough, the settlement doesn't help her. She's still trying to get ownership of her home back from a different company that foreclosed on it. But consumer law groups are hoping that there will be more to come with the government cracking down.

Yeah, I mean, for sure. This settlement involved just one company and what they're doing in just one state. So Karen McDonough, the settlement doesn't help her. She's still trying to get ownership of her home back from a different company that foreclosed on it. But consumer law groups are hoping that there will be more to come with the government cracking down.