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You're listening to Life Kit, from NPR.

I'm Stacey Vanik Smith, in for Mariel Segara. A few years ago, Lucy Serrezo's life went through a huge upheaval.

Lucy is an accountant by training, lives in Annapolis, Maryland.

She's divorced with a couple of kids and just before COVID she had a stable job, a fancy car,

and a big house right on the water. But during the

pandemic, everything changed. I had the life and then I lost it all. I lost my job. I didn't work for 18 months. And I moved out of my

six bedroom on the water home like and I have two kids and I wanted them to have a

stable like consistent safe space so I sent them to stay with their dad.

I got sick when I lost my when I lost everything like I didn't get back up because I

I had COVID and I had a nervous breakdown and it took me 18 months to get back on my feet.

Eventually Lucy was able to get back up. She got her health back, she found a place to live, a good job, and all

she needed was a car to get her to and from work. She got a very practical, reasonably priced

car. She thought everything was settled until she got the financing offer.

And when I tell you I saw the interest rate, I almost fainted.

I mean, I'm going to say it's 19%. I was like is that even legal?

Is that even legal? Lucy realized that her two years of struggle had just

tanked her credit which meant a very high interest rate and a very low credit score.

...