I just got through reading many of the comments posted to the Globe’s Spotlight series Debtor’s Hell.comments posted to the Globe’s Spotlight series Debtor’s Hell. They range from folks sharing their own experiences, to other more pompous remarks that the consumers profiled got what they deserved because they should not buy what they cannot afford. The latter reflects a profound lack of understanding of those things in life that push people into debt to begin with.

It’s rare that my clients have not suffered through a divorce, a job loss, a health care crisis, or in some cases, a death of the primary bread-winner. I have represented people who have had to use credit cards to put food on the table. In addition, as I have commented on here, there is a lack of financial literacy education in our schools. If parents cannot control their money, how are their children going to do it?

But more importantly, the latter comments reflect a lack of understanding of how the credit card industry engages in tactics that are not all together dissimilar from a stereotypical loan shark. Default interest rates, interest rates upwards of 20 and 30 percent, and card user agreements that are often stuffed into monthly bills along with advertisements for useless trinkets. The system is one-sided and fundamentally unfair. It is also perfectly legal.

Richard Daniels, a creditor’s attorney, made this astute observation:

''Any system that puts people's backs up against the wall doesn't work,'' he said in an interview. Daniels described the penalties and fees that credit card companies tack onto consumer bills as ''usurious'' and ''totally unconscionable,'' making it impossible for people to get out of debt. Such charges, Daniels declared, amount to ''classic abuse I wish to hell Congress would do away with.''

''This used to be an honorable business,'' Daniels said, when discussing collections for credit card companies. ''Now, the guys on the other side are thieves.''