Byard Duncan
I work with communities to cover business and consumer protection issues, with a focus on exposing harm done to large groups of people.
Have a Tip for a Story?
If you or someone you know has been harmed by a company or government agency, I want to hear from you.
What I Cover
I cover the ways people get hurt when powerful entities — corporations, banks, government agencies — operate without guardrails. As the Trump administration removes more of these protections, I’ll be interested in the effects on the ground.
My Background
I strongly believe that the clearest picture of a problem comes from the people living through it. In all my reporting, I take a ground-up approach and focus first on the accounts of those in harm’s way.
Before joining ProPublica, I spent seven years at Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting. There, I was part of a team that earned a Pulitzer finalist nod for exposing the high rate of worker injuries at Amazon warehouses.
At ProPublica, I’ve exposed how a prominent house-flipping company trained its franchisees to zero in on homeowners’ desperation. I’ve covered the federal government’s sluggish response to New Mexico’s largest wildfire. And I’ve investigated how a leading auto lender saddled borrowers with unmanageable debt.
An important part of my job is arming consumers with information to protect themselves. That’s why I’ve written about the safest ways to sell your home, the challenges of rebuilding after a natural disaster and the hidden perils of car loan deferments.
One of the Nation’s Largest Auto Lenders Told Customers, “We’re Here to Help.” Then It Took Their Money and Their Cars.
CarMax partner Exeter Finance makes high-interest loans to people with troubled financial histories. It allows borrowers to skip payments but often adds thousands of dollars in new charges — costs that customers say Exeter didn’t tell them about.
What No One Tells You About Car Loan Deferments
When you defer a car payment, you’ll likely end up owing more at the end of your loan. Our free auto loan calculator tool was built to help borrowers figure out their final payment amount and understand how car loan extensions work.
The Ugly Truth Behind “We Buy Ugly Houses”
HomeVestors of America, the self-proclaimed “largest homebuyer in the U.S.,” trains its nearly 1,150 franchisees to zero in on homeowners’ desperation.
Looking to Sell Your Home for Cash? Read This First.
Cash home buyers like the “We Buy Ugly Houses” company may offer a quick and convenient sale to homeowners. Here’s what experts say you should know about interacting with these companies.
Gun Lobbyists and Cambridge Analytica Weaponized Gun Owners’ Private Details for Political Gain
Documents and interviews reveal how the now-disgraced political firm targeted potential voters by combining its cache of confidential consumer data with information secretly collected from millions of gun buyers, sporting goods shoppers and others.
Executives From a Bank Charged With “Predatory Lending” Moved to a New Lender. Regulators Did Little to Stop Them.
A dozen states that pursued Santander Consumer USA for its high-interest loans have failed to address scores of complaints alleging nearly identical behavior at Exeter Finance. The same team of executives ran both companies, ProPublica has learned.
Record-Setting Blazes Are Growing More Common. Here’s What Survivors of One Want You to Know.
When the federal government accidentally triggered New Mexico’s largest wildfire, hundreds of people lost their homes and livelihoods. They have become reluctant students of forest management, disaster aid and resiliency.
Local Reporting Network
“We Buy Ugly Houses” Company Overhauls Policies in the Wake of ProPublica Investigation
HomeVestors franchises will be required to provide prospective home sellers with a disclosure that includes a three-day window to terminate a sales contract.
In the Scar of New Mexico’s Largest Wildfire, a Legal Battle Is Brewing: What Is Victims’ Suffering Worth?
A wildfire accidentally started by the federal government drove them from their homes and destroyed the things they loved most about their land. The government will pay them only for things with a price tag.
Local Reporting Network
Help ProPublica Investigate the World of Subprime Car Loans
More and more people are struggling to pay back loans on their used cars. Our journalists want to hear from the people who know the industry best.
Life in Limbo: Victims of New Mexico’s Biggest Wildfire Wait for Checks From the Federal Government to Rebuild
Congress set aside $4 billion to compensate victims after the U.S. Forest Service accidentally set the largest wildfire in state history. The vast majority of victims haven’t been paid, and many can’t rebuild until they are.
Local Reporting Network
Homeowners Trying to Get Out of “We Buy Ugly Houses” Deals Find Little Relief in State, Federal Laws
ProPublica found few jurisdictions have laws or regulations to protect homeowners from aggressive real estate tactics short of fraud or elder abuse.
HomeVestors Said It Had Kicked Out a Top Franchisee Who Broke the Law. New Evidence Suggests It Didn’t.
The company said it had cut ties with Cory Evans, the former co-owner of Patriot Holdings LLC, “a number of years” ago, but texts, emails and interviews indicate he was still engaged in the business as recently as March.
“We Buy Ugly Houses” CEO Steps Down Following ProPublica Investigation
David Hicks, CEO of HomeVestors of America, said in a letter announcing his retirement that recent press coverage of the company’s homebuying practices has taken a “personal toll on me.”