This is the untold story of how the US Government set up a system of greed that mirrored gutted student loans of consumer protections, leading to the skyrocketing cost of tuition and indenturing millions through predatory lending.
GLAD you found us! Ever wonder why the cost of college has skyrocketed in the past two decades? For the past five years, our production team has captured jaw dropping interviews revealing how the US Government engineered a system of greed through the Department of Education, Sallie Mae, Congress and Wall Street. SCARED TO DEBT will be told in SIX chapters, yet we couldn't wait for all to be completed and decided to release Episode 1: Sallie Mae Not.
Now entering Episode 2: MEET THE WHISTLEBLOWER, former Department of Education policy and research analyst, Jon Oberg, who uncovered wrongdoing by the nation’s largest student loan servicers. After higher-ups refused to take action, Oberg leaves the Dept. of Ed and mounts his own private investigations discovering potentially billions in overbilling.
In Episode One: Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi discovers Alan Collinge, author of The Student Loan Scam, a dedicated stalwart who turns from scientist to activist when he is wrongfully thrown into default bySallie Mae. Collinge warned, in 2006 on 60 Minutes, how this same scheme continued to throw millions of students, parents and colleges over the cliff. No one paid much attention and despite today’s headlines of privilege, scandal, greed and blame, the predatory lending system designed to indenture millions, predominantly women and people of color, remains hiding in plain sight.
We're pleased to announce Chapter One: SALLIE MAE NOT is set to launch its US festival premiere July 26th at the WHISTLEBLOWER SUMMIT and Film Festival.
Through In-Kind services, cash donations made here (WeDidIt, GoFundMe, Facebook), we've raised over $183,000, yet many expenses remain outstanding and, yes, we have five more chapters to go!
The Good News is the heavy lifting is finished: first understanding the heart of the issue, next traveling across the U.S. interviewing educational insiders, whistleblowers, Wall Street bankers, financial investigators and dozens of student borrowers from the US Army, US Navy, USC, MIT and Georgetown to name a few.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE. We are bringing to light this failed lending system. Immediately, this gives borrowers the basic relief of knowing the truth. And here it is in a nutshell. THIS IS NOT A BAD BORROWER problem. THIS is a Bad LENDING scheme that main stream media simply hasn't addressed. We are. And, we know documentaries can do so much more, like create lasting social impact.
IF we don't finish telling this story, NO ONE ELSE WILL.
So, here's what we need to complete the feature documentary:
Archival footage @ $200 per second @ $28,000
Editing $45,000
Post Sound $15,000
Original Score $5,000
Social Impact Strategy** $25,000
Trailer $500
Festival fees $500
Festival / travel $1,500
Legal $10,000
Publicity $15,000
** critical for policy reform
Please Join this story of hope. Together we can reform an unsustainable, lending system.
Scared To Debt puts PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS on the table from credible financial experts to conservative Voices to restore America’s confidence in higher education. When solved properly, America will witness the greatest stable economic growth in our lifetimes.
NEMO RESIDEO(Leave No One Behind)
Meet Linda Navarro, a 70 year old U.S. Navy Veteran burdened for over 31 years by this lending system. At first, like many borrowers, Linda was reluctant to share her story, because she had already tried a 1,000 times before to get help. No one would listen: not her college, her government, nor her representatives. Today, Linda reports we were the first to make her feel heard. Linda is only one of thousands of Veterans who are dealing with these toxic loans. This problem will be passed on to the next generation, like our children. To Linda, who already lost 30 years of her life, finds that unacceptable and has broken her silence.
By donating as little as $10, YOU will give student loan borrowers like Linda a VOICE: the gift that no one has given them -- their FIRST opportunity to be heard.
GIVE SOMETHING. Send prayers, contribute your story, send whatever $$ you can. This is a fight we must win to end America's indentured servitude for past, present and future borrowers.
On behalf of millions of borrowers, thank you.
~ Michael Camoin
RECORDED TOWN HALL
We want to introduce you to members of our team who often appear in national media, yet rarely given an opportunity to share what they now know. Help us deliver the facts along with heart-felt personal stories to correct this deceitful practice.
Tom Borgers, former JP Morgan & Chase, Wall Street banker, finanical
investigator, fraud specialist and Executive Producer, Scared To Debt.
Alan Collinge author ofThe Student Loan Scam: The Most Oppressive Debt in U.S. History, and How We Can Fight Back
Matt Taibbi, reporter, Rolling Stone Magazine. Author of Griftopia: A Story of Bankers, Politicians and the Most Audacious Power Grab in American History
Francis H. Buckley
Scalia Law School George Mason University, Professor; Author The Republican Workers Party: How the Trump Victory Drove Everyone Crazy
Catherine A. Fitts
Sallie Mae Board of Directors 1991- 94, Host of Solari ReportFounder of The Hamilton Securities Group, Inc.
Jon Oberg
NY Times Whistleblower, Former Researcher, U.S. Department Of Education
Rachel Schreiber
Dean New School Parsons School of Art & Design ranked #1 in the world. Penning first Op-Ed by leader in higher education.
Bob Hildreth
International Monetary Fund, Harvard Grad ‘72. Founder Inversant propelling low-income children to higher ed.
Ralph Nader
Consumer Protections Advocate, Author “Unsafe At Any Speed”. Collinge and Nader warned of today’s student loan crisis over a decade ago.
Tony Fiorentino
Borrower / Lawyer Chicago, IL Mounting lawsuits in 50 States
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Write the following in the Memo: Scared To Debt
From the Heart, 1013 Harbor Blvd. Oxnard, CA 93035
Jon Oberg
Bob Hildreth 