Collecting from the dead, Cutting 687,000 jobs

Good day for final payments, Bad day for job seekers

GOOD DAY FOR: Final payments, as collecting on the debts of dead people from their relatives is one of the bright spots in the otherwise grim debt collection industry. In many cases, the relatives agree to pay off the dead person’s credit card or cellphone bill, even though they often have no legal responsibility to do so. “We want the dead to rest easy, knowing their obligations are taken care of,” explains industry consultant Michael Ginsberg. (The New York Times)

BAD DAY FOR: Job seekers, after a survey of payroll data by ADP Employer Services showed that U.S. private employers cut 697,000 jobs in February. Economists were expecting about 630,000 cuts. The ADP report, coming before Friday’s official Labor Department jobless numbers, signals the 14th straight month of net U.S. job losses. In all, more than 4.2 million Americans have lost their jobs in the current downturn. (Bloomberg)

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us