Consumerist
-
forced charity
Radio Shack Forced Me To Donate To Livestrong
Ryan says a Kentucky Radio Shack employee tacked on a $1 donation to Livestrong without his permission. This is the letter he sent to the company's corporate office: More » -
consumerist hotline
Citibank: Transfer $5000 In Debt Onto This Card Or We'll Double Your APR
"It's the increased cost of doing business," was Citicard's constant refrain when Kent's husband called to complain about their latest pre-CARD act adverse action insanity: transfer $5000 in balances from other credit cards to this credit card or we'll double your interest rate. Listen to Kent's message left on the new Consumerist hotline and/or read the transcript: More » -
double billing
AT&T Charges Customer Twice, Refuses To Investigate It
We think AT&T just stole about $157 from commenter Spoco. They applied the payment as always via his Amex card, but then said that it was declined and auto-debited it a second time a month later (+ late fees, of course). The only problem is, it wasn't declined, and Spoco has proof. He just can't get anyone at AT&T to care. More » -
charge it
More Patients Are Letting Medical Industry Raid Their Credit Cards Rather Than Checking Accounts
Americans are choosing plastic over paper when it comes to paying off the nearly $300 billion they rack up annually in medical charges — the leading cause of bankruptcy — every year, CNNMoney.com reported earlier this month. More » -
surprises
Psht, Bank Of America Doesn't Need Your Consent To Give You A Credit Card
Hector didn't know whether or not he was going to accept Bank of America's offer of a new credit card with a $3,500 limit, so the bank made his decision easy by issuing the card without his permission. When Hector discovered the surprise credit line, he called Bank of America with two requests: explain how they could open a new account without his consent, and keep the account open until he could figure out the new line's impact on his credit score. Of course, without a peep, Bank of America immediately canceled the new credit card, leaving Hector wondering what might happen to his credit score... More » -
best buy
Best Buy Charges $15 To Pay Bill On Time
Owners of Best Buy credit cards (via HSBC) are being charged $15 to pay their bill on time online. The only way to avoid the fee? Pay at least two business days early. More » -
credit card reform
Liveblog Transcript From Obama's Credit Card Reform Town Hall
Our fearless co-leader Ben just sent us this link from the Consumerist Washington delegation. The New Mexico Independent sent a reporter to liveblog today's credit card reform town hall meeting at a high school in Rio Rancho, NM. The transcript includes comments and questions from readers, and also comments from national and regional consumer advocates. More » -
science says
Big Shocker: Students Are Abusing Credit Cards
Sallie Mae's 2009 study of credit card use shows that students just love binging on plastic. Kids these days have more than four cards on average, and most of them carry a balance pushing $3,000. Many don't tell their parents, and almost a fifth graduate with more than $7,000 of debt. This is how meltdowns start... More » -
-
american express
American Express Cancels Your Card Right Before You Were Supposed To Get Your $500 Rebate
Andrea, an American Express member for over 20 years, is upset because AmEx canceled her cash-back card two weeks before her $500 rebate check was supposed to arrive, and declared the rebate forfeit. More » -
complaints
Rogue Charges Resurrect Expired Amex Card
Patricia closed her company's American Express Delta Sky Miles card six months ago, but the expired card unexpectedly sprang to life thanks to a supplier's accidental charge. American Express laughed off the matter, saying "this happens all of the time," adding that it's Patricia's responsibility to ensure that all vendors destroy her outdated billing information. More » -
readers
Amazon Screws Up Refund, Charges $2,288.44 for $750 Of Gym Equipment
Reader Craig ordered some gym equipment from Amazon, but he accidentally used his debit card instead of his credit card. Realizing his mistake, he immediately tried to correct the problem. He went through the change payment process right away and figured all was well. Of course it wasn't, and he ended up getting charged $2,288.44 for $750 worth of equipment when Amazon got the refund process backwards. Twice. See how it happened after the jump. More » -
personal finance
How To Go 30 Years Without A Credit Card
Consumer Reports staffer Greg Daugherty has gone 30 years without a credit card. Why? He doesn't need one. More » -
billing errors
Barnes & Noble Error Leaves Gift Card Unused, Doubles Charges On Credit Card
It's bad enough when a glitch on a retailer's side screws up your method of payment, but Barnes & Noble took so long to investigate and respond to one customer's emails that by the time they acknowledged they'd made a mistake, they said it was too late to do anything about it. Now the customer is left with an unused $25 gift card and a $50 charge on his credit card, twice what he'd approved at check-out. More » -
excessive force
Follow Up: Woman Tasered Last November At Best Buy Will Not Have Charges Filed Against Her
On November 26th, a 35-year-old woman was shopping at Best Buy in Daytona Beach, Florida when there was some sort of communication breakdown, and a police officer who was at the store tasered her. We wrote about it here, and it turns out there's a video of the event here. At the time there were few details, but the full story has since been pieced together and resolved, and last week the Florida state attorney said "charges won't be pursued because there is no evidence that Beeland committed a crime." More » -
fraud
Shopper Tasered After Using Someone Else's Credit Card At Best Buy
The Daytona Beach Police Department say that a woman was tasered last Monday inside of a Best Buy store after attempting to use someone else's credit card to make a purchase. More » -
debt
UPDATE: Getting Out of Credit Card Debt
T'is a pity for the flower of youth to be wrinkled by the radioactive belch of credit card debt. Yesterday, we asked the readers about how college boy L.S. should get out of his $2150 in credit card debt set at exorbitant rates and here's what we think he should do. More » -
hacks
Credit Hacks: Pretty Way to Picture Your Debt
Here s a nifty way to take master your credit card debt. Punch into John Madea's free analyzer the APR, minimum monthly payment percentage, the principal and monthly payment. More »
creditcard
New York, 9:41 PM
Mon Nov 23
24 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip Your Editors:
tips@consumerist.com
tipline: 347-42C-ON95
Co-Managing Editor:
Ben Popken
Email | AIM | Twitter
Co-Managing Editor:
Meghann Marco
Email | Twitter
Senior Editor:
Chris Walters
Email | Twitter
Weekend Editor:
Laura Northrup
Email | AIM | Twitter
Associate Editor:
Alex Chasick | Email
Associate Editor:
Phil Villarreal
Email
