Cedar Rapids Couple Sells Debt on eBay

By: Claire Kellett, Anchor/Reporter

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By Claire Kellett

Story Created: Aug 17, 2007 at 9:30 PM CST

Story Updated: Aug 17, 2007 at 9:46 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - One Cedar Rapids couple is asking anyone to erase their debt. The buyers can be from Eastern Iowa or across the country. That's because the Brownfield family is selling its debt on eBay. But the parents say they're not making this unusual request for themselves.
Five years of marriage, three young kids, one new home…Matthew and Rachele Brownfield are riding the roller coaster called family life. Every turn brings a new surprise, but Matthew wasn't ready for the latest one.

“I thought she was crazy, honestly I did," says Matthew.

Desperate for financial help, Rachele turned their private problem public.

“Everyone else tries to sell weird things on eBay, so I said hey let's sell our debt on eBay,” says Rachele.

And hope a total stranger has a heart to help a struggling family.

“We started it out at $74,000. That's what we would need to cover the student loans, car loan, and some personal loans we have," says Rachele.

They see it as a quick financial fix. It’s certainly more appealing than years and years of paying off debt.

“We've consolidated our debt, talked to church, and family, and friends have helped us out with some of the debt," says Rachele.

But not enough of the debt, and no where near the point to be able to help their son, 4-year-old Jeremiah.

“He's only speaking about at a one-and-a-half or two-year-old level, and he’s four,” says Rachele.

Jeremiah has autism. With financial assistance from the state, he gets speech and occupational therapy, but his parents say it's not enough.

“About five hours a week through Grant Wood AEA, IEP, and everything they do at school," says Matthew.

Their doctor recommends 25 hours a week. Since their private insurance doesn't cover autistic needs, that cost would come out of their own pockets. Rachele says it would be about $13,000 a year…too big a bill to foot right now without the help of eBay.

“It's been hit 37 times, that means 37 people have at least been interested in it enough to view the page," says Matthew.

And they’re hoping one of them places a bid by next Friday. The couple says they won't be devastated if they aren't able to sell their debt.

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