That was, indeed, astounding.
One of the things that shocked me most: the difference between the sticker price for the private school and what the parents' are actually being asked to pay.
One of the biggest lies they tell themselves: the kids don't know about this. Of course, I believe they haven't told their kids about it, but the kids either know or are willfully blind to it all as a coping technique.
One of the things I am genuinely curious about: when they did credit counselling and the payments weren't being forwarded on time -- is that typical? Is there a solution to that? Is it just a matter of following-up with the credit counselling agency and the credit card companies and to keep at it until things get paid? If it is true that things weren't getting paid under that system, I do empathize with that aspect of things.
I would be really interested in a follow-up from them... is it just a question of time until they file for bankruptcy? Or can they sell their house, keep their jobs and find a way to live within their means and pay down their existing debt? Hopefully, they are wrong about life insurance being the only possible outcome by which this gets paid off.