In partnership with
Clear communicators aren't lucky. They have a system.
Here's an uncomfortable truth: your readers give you about 26 seconds.
Smart Brevity is the methodology born in the Axios newsroom — rooted in deep respect for people's time and attention. It works just as well for internal comms, executive updates, and change management as it does for news.
We've bundled six free resources — checklists, workbooks, and more — so you can start applying it immediately.
The goal isn't shorter. It's clearer. And clearer gets results.
What's happening?
A massive industry is making billions by targeting Americans drowning in debt—and it's not what it seems. These "debt relief" companies promise to slash your credit card debt by 40-60%, but the reality is far darker.
You've probably seen the ads. They go by names like "debt backpack method," "national debt relief," or "rapid relief method." Celebrities endorse them. The pitch? Banks have a secret they don't want you to know about.
Spoiler: There's no secret. Just a well-oiled machine designed to separate desperate people from their money.
How the scam works
Picture this: You're struggling with $10,000 in credit card debt. An ad pops up promising help. You call.
Here's what actually happens behind the scenes.
The bait: These companies advertise low-interest consolidation loans. That's what gets you on the phone.
The switch: Once you call, you're told you don't qualify for a loan. But don't worry—they have a "repayment plan" that can help.
What they don't tell you is this "plan" is actually debt settlement. And debt settlement works by having you stop paying your bills entirely.
Yes, you read that right. The "solution" is to stop paying your creditors.
Why stopping payments is dangerous
The theory sounds logical: If you stop paying, you'll eventually have enough money saved to offer creditors a lump sum settlement. They'll take 50 cents on the dollar rather than nothing.
Here's what actually happens.
Your credit score tanks. Late payments get reported immediately. Your score can drop 100+ points within months.
Fees pile up. While you're not paying, your $10,000 debt is growing. Late fees. Penalty interest rates (often 29%+). That $10,000 becomes $12,000 fast.
Creditors sue. This is the part nobody mentions in those slick ads. Debt collection lawsuits have become the number one type of civil lawsuit in many states. Nearly half of all civil court cases are creditors suing debtors.
If you get sued and lose, creditors can garnish your wages directly from your paycheck.
The math doesn't work
Let's say everything goes perfectly. No lawsuit. Your creditor agrees to settle.
Starting debt: $10,000
After penalties and interest: $12,000
Settlement at 50%: $6,000
Company's fee (25% of settled debt): $2,500
Taxes on forgiven debt (IRS counts this as income): $1,300
Total you pay: $9,800
You saved $200. Two percent. After destroying your credit and spending years in financial limbo.
That's the best case scenario.
The lie about "special relationships"
These companies claim they have insider connections with banks. They say they can negotiate deals you can't get on your own.Legal experts say this is completely false.
You can call your credit card company yourself and often get the exact same settlement offers. Banks have standard procedures. There's no VIP hotline for debt settlement companies.
What these companies actually provide is a middleman who charges you 25% to make phone calls you could make yourself.
Who's getting targeted
The marketing behind this industry is disturbingly sophisticated.
Investigators found thousands of ads specifically targeting:
Seniors on Social Security
Veterans
Christians
Factory workers
Anyone with $10,000+ in debt
The ads use AI-generated variations to test which emotional hooks work best. Fake headlines claim the VA is "handing out debt elimination." Photoshopped news stories. Fake testimonials with different actors to see which face gets more clicks.
It's industrial-scale deception targeting the most vulnerable.
What actually works
If you're buried in debt, there are legitimate paths forward that don't involve destroying your credit.
Nonprofit credit counseling
Organizations like the National Foundation for Credit Counseling offer free or low-cost help. They'll review your income and expenses and work with creditors on your behalf. The key difference? They're nonprofit. They're not making 25% off your misery.
Call your creditors directly
This sounds scary, but credit card companies often have hardship programs. If you're struggling, they may lower your interest rate, waive fees, or create a payment plan. They'd rather get paid something than nothing.
Consider bankruptcy
This word terrifies people, but experts say it's often the best option for those with no realistic way to repay their debt. Bankruptcy gives you a legal fresh start. Your credit actually begins recovering faster than it would after years in a failed debt settlement program.
The stigma around bankruptcy is real but overblown. It's a legal tool designed specifically for situations where debt becomes unmanageable.
The bottom line
The debt relief industry makes $10 billion by exploiting a simple truth: Desperate people want to believe there's an easy way out.
There isn't.
Anyone promising "secrets" the banks don't want you to know is selling something. Anyone claiming they can magically erase half your debt has a lot to hide.
The real path out of debt is boring. It's budgeting. It's negotiating directly with creditors. It's working with legitimate nonprofits. In extreme cases, it's using bankruptcy as the legal tool it was designed to be.
None of that sounds as exciting as a "rapid relief method." But it actually works—without wrecking your credit, risking a lawsuit, or paying a 25% fee to a company that's betting on your desperation.
When you're drowning, anyone offering a life raft looks like a hero. But if that life raft has a hole in it, you're better off swimming.
The opinions expressed here are for educational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making financial decisions.