Real Talk: We Can’t Buy Your Debt Yet
Hey everyone,
We need to be straight with you about something.
The truth: We can’t buy your debt yet. And the reason why perfectly illustrates everything wrong with how this system works.
As late GenX who lived through every financial “innovation” since the 80s, we’ve seen this movie before. The same financial ecosystem that created the debt crisis has spent decades building walls to prevent anyone from actually solving it.
What We Discovered Building Citizens Reunited
Every legitimate debt relief effort faces this moment where they discover the system isn’t broken - it’s working exactly as designed.
The same system that loves payday lenders and debt settlement scams suddenly gets very concerned about “compliance” when a cooperative tries to actually help people.
Where We Actually Are
✅ What We’ve Built
- Legal structure: Delaware PBC using their own corporate law for cooperative ownership
- Smart voice system: In development - technology-powered debt guidance, not debt collection tactics
- Payment infrastructure: Building from scratch because traditional processors banned us
- Community platform: 1,000+ people who see through the system’s bullshit
- Financial education: Real information, not victim-blaming “financial literacy” propaganda
🚧 What The System Is Blocking
- Payment processing: Credit card networks protect debt collectors, not debt relief
- Banking relationships: Most banks won’t touch cooperative debt relief (Mercury approved us, thankfully)
- Media coverage: Financial journalists won’t cover actual alternatives to the debt industrial complex
The Bigger Picture
We’re not just building a debt relief service. We’re proving that cooperative alternatives can work, even when the existing system tries to block them.
This is about more than debt. It’s about whether people can organize collectively to solve problems that the market creates but refuses to fix.
What This Means for You
Right now: We’re building infrastructure that bypasses their gatekeepers entirely.
Soon: When our systems launch, you’ll be able to contribute directly without enriching the same companies that profit from your debt.
Long-term: We’re proving that cooperative economics works at scale.
Our Promise
We will never:
- Promise debt relief we can’t deliver
- Charge fees for services that should be free
- Sell your financial data to creditors
- Take investor money that compromises our member-first mission
We will always:
- Tell you exactly where we stand
- Share every financial decision with member-owners
- Prioritize collective power over individual profit
- Build infrastructure they can’t co-opt or destroy
What Happens Next
We’re documenting this entire process - the roadblocks, the workarounds, the victories and setbacks. Because transparency is how we build trust.
This is just the beginning of the story.
Ready to build something real together?
Join our email list → to follow our progress and be notified when we can actually start buying debt.
Questions? Email us at founders@citizens-reunited.com. We respond personally to every message.
Read the full series: