My name is MC, and I’ve worked at the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) for over 10 years. Recently, the union made drastic changes that eliminated overtime pay for staff, which was a lifeline for me and many others. This sudden loss of income forced my partner, Giuseppe Graziano, and me into a desperate situation. To cover basic living expenses, we took out an emergency loan from a company called MINTO, not realizing how predatory their practices were. What started as a small loan quickly ballooned into an overwhelming debt due to their outrageous interest rates.

The impact on our lives has been immediate and severe. We struggle to afford decent food, gas, rent, and car repairs. I’ve had to split our rent into multiple payments just to keep a roof over our heads. Giuseppe works tirelessly driving for DoorDash, Uber, and Postmates, while we sell belongings from storage to make ends meet. I’ve withdrawn as much as I can from my 401(k), but it’s still not enough. Our lives have become a cycle of working and surviving, with little hope for relief.

We’re asking for help to eliminate this debt and regain some stability. We also hope to find legal support to investigate MINTO’s practices, so no one else has to go through what we have. Any contribution will help us get back on our feet and move toward a future where we can live, not just survive.