Justice in Real Life: Carlos

A single overdraft led to hundreds in penalties—and a spiral Carlos couldn’t escape.

For Carlos W. of Staunton, the whole mess started at a convenience store when he stopped for a bottle of water and snacks. He thought he had $35 in his bank account but had miscalculated and had “nonsufficient funds” to make his purchase.

Carlos says he understood why his bank had to charge him a $32 fee for his mistake. But then came another

$32. And another. And then yet a fourth $32 fee.

With each charge, his chance to get the account back to a zero balance diminished. It became impossible when the bank began slapping $100 late fees on each item not yet recovered.

Carlos owed his bank close to $1,000. He would not be able to make it out of this hole.

A dispute with his landlord ruined what was left of his credit. Not understanding how to navigate through the complicated court process, he simply gave up and accepted an eviction.

That decision, which put a judgment on his record, would continue to haunt him for years to come. “That was all it took to lose everything,” he says.

Like the rest of the 26% of Virginians not making it paycheck to paycheck, or officially in poverty, Carlos has financial problems in every area of his life.

Now on disability for a recent injury, the 46-year-old doubts he’ll ever be able to afford a car. He says he’s barely keeping his utilities on and relies on a food bank to make it through each month.

“Even when I was working full-time in building maintenance, I was barely above the poverty line,” he says. “I guess I’m fortunate to not have a child or a wife. It’s only me that has to bear the brunt.”

Virginia Poverty Law Center advocates nationally and statewide for stronger consumer protections, including a proposed Federal Trade Commission rule targeting so-called “junk fees” charged by banks and credit card companies—despite opposition from industry groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Justice in Real Life is a photography and storytelling campaign launched by VPLC in 2025. It shares real stories from Virginians facing poverty and injustice, highlighting their struggles and the changes we’re advocating for. Want to tell your story? Contact VPLC Communications Director Connie Stevens, connie@vplc.org.