A Listener’s Drowning in Debt at 71—Here’s What I Told Him

In this episode of the Get Out of Debt Guy podcast, I answer a powerful listener question from a 71-year-old semi-retired filmmaker who’s buried in $30,000 of credit card debt. After losing income from DVD sales, he’s now fielding calls from debt relief companies offering to settle or consolidate his debt—but something doesn’t feel right.

We talk about how to spot red flags in the debt relief industry, including fake law firm branding, misleading promises, and manipulated review sites like Trustpilot. If you're wondering whether you can trust a company to handle your debt—or if you’ve been targeted by companies offering to "erase your debt" with no mention of the risks—you'll want to hear this.

I share the key questions to ask before signing up for any debt solution, especially if you’re a senior on a fixed income. I also point you to my free resource, The Ultimate Consumer Guide to Checking Out a Debt Relief Company, and explain why sometimes the right path isn’t the most advertised one.

This episode covers:

• How debt settlement companies often market to seniors in financial crisis

• What those five-star reviews really mean (and how to spot fake patterns)

• Why declining income years demand a different financial strategy

• What options are actually available when you're over 70 and deep in debt

• Who I personally trust to help people find the right solution for them

👉 If this hits close to home—or you know someone who’s falling behind—share this episode and visit GetOutOfDebt.org/podcast to submit your own question.