For a pre-paid one month economy car rental for $632.03, on January 16th Hertz rented me a 2007 Blue Chevrolet , Lic#5981AVB in good condition at the Los Cabos airport. I declined to purchase insurance. Late on the night of January 20th, during a rainstorm, a tire blew out on the vehicle; so, after exchanging the tire with the spare the following morning, on January 21st, I returned the vehicle to the agency at their suggestion and wrote a full report. The agency assured me there would be no problem of any charges.
credit cards
Mexican Hertz Charges $499.48 For A Flat Tire
By 3.14.07
Are Minors Responsible For Their Credit Card Debts?
By 3.14.07
We’ve had a couple of different people ask recently if one is responsible for credit card debts made as a minor. See, people under 18 aren’t supposed to get credit cards (unless an adult cosigns). Now, some of these people lied about their age to get the cards. That’s fraud. Fraud is bad. Don’t do it.
WaMu Should Consider Sealing Envelopes Before Mailing Blank Checks
By 3.13.07
Maybe we’re being picky, but if you’re going to mail people blank “credit card” checks that they don’t even want, you should at least seal the envelope. Reader Brendan writes:Today I got a solicitation from Washington Mutual to “use these paper checks” to access my account.
Credit Card Vending Machines?
By 3.12.07
The early answer: yes.
Oh, joy. Someone tell the Stop&Shop credit swipe thieves they have a whole new venue to exploit. —MEGHANN MARCO
Two Years Later, WaMu Unable To 'Integrate' Acquired Card Division's Support System
By 3.12.07
Here’s some insight into why WaMu was screwing Marty so hard last week when he had his credit cards stolen overseas. If you recall, Marty canceled all his cards but still saw $5800 in fraudulent charges rung up on his WaMu card. When he called, WaMu was most unhelpful, refusing to help him as the “Consumer Lending Department” was closed for the weekend.
How Credit Cards Could Be Nicer
By 3.12.07
With the Senate’s recent interest in bringing credit card companies to task for their ridiculous fees and policies, ConsumerAffairs has a few suggestions for banks to become more consumer friendly:
American Express: What's An Apartment Number?
By 3.9.07
American Express truncated Ted’s address and sent his account to collections when he never received or paid his bill. The card in question was a backup card Ted used once in May 2006. He called Amex when he didn’t receive a bill in June. They told him a bill would only be issued if there were charges. He asked for one anyway, but they refused. Company policy.
Jump forward to December 27th. 8:30 AM. I get woken up by a collections agency telling me a) that I owe American Express for a charge from August, that b) I was obviously defrauding them, and that c) I was, to put it mildly, not being cooperative.
Ted never received a statement. Ted never received a late-notice. Ted never got a call from Amex. So why was a collections agency on the phone?
Credit Card Documentary "Maxed Out" Opens Today
By 3.9.07
Maxed Out, a documentary about the credit card industry, is opening today in select cities (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Washington DC, Seattle, and Austin) and next week in a few more (Chicago, Boston, and Minneapolis).
WaMu Screws Customer Stranded Overseas After Credit Cards Stolen
By 3.9.07
Marty was stranded in Greece after his credit cards got stolen on the metro. He called WaMu to cancel his cards and then when he tried to confirm they were closed, he got transferred from department to department. In the meantime, thieves continued to run his bill up to $5800. Marty’s cellphone minutes continued to drain. No one could help him because the Consumer Lending Department “was closed over the weekend.” WaMu must believe that identity theft is only committed during the weekday.
ID Stolen? Get an ID Theft Passport
By 3.9.07
Several states have started programs, often called “ID Theft Passport” programs, to help victims of ID Theft regain control over their information and establish their innocence of any crimes that may have been committed under their ID.
HOW TO: Get Your First Credit Card
By 3.8.07
Hello. I read the consumerist every day and since I turn 18 later on this month I wanted to ask how do I start a credit score or getting credit or a loan to start my credit score?
Senate Hearing Attacks Credit Cards' Ridiculous Fees
By 3.8.07
A Senate hearing today called up executives in the credit card industry to defend their anti-consumer practices, their explanations provoking laughter from the crowd.
Citigroup Stops Using Universal Default
By 3.6.07
Citigroup announced it will stop using the “Universal Default” clause for credit card borrowers, which should come as a surprising piece of good news for consumers.
Consumerist On Marketplace
By 3.6.07
We had a lil’ soundbite on American Public Media’s Marketplace tonight for a story on Ruby Tuesday’s installation of “ultra-secure” credit card transactions. (Remember, just because it’s broadcast nationally on public radio doesn’t mean it’s NPR…)
HOW TO: Play 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards For Fun And Profit
By 3.1.07
0% balance transfers can be a great tool to cut down credit card debt as you’re, obviously, paying nothing for interest. However, you need to know the rules of the game and how to play by them, or you could wind back up with a nasty APR. FiveCentNickel breaks it all down for you. He warns,
Is Anyone In America NOT Pre-Approved?
By 2.28.07
Elizabeth Warren over at the intellectually rigorous Credit Slips blog points out the correlation between tightened bankruptcy laws and credit card offers increasingly inundating the American consumer.
Debt Drives Student To Live In Pick-up Truck
By 2.27.07
The 26-year-old has been living in his truck for nearly 19 months, skirting rules against sleeping in vehicles while otherwise living the life of a mainstream student. What started out as a way to save some cash has turned into a journey of self-reliance and independence.
American Express Extended Warranty Protection Buys You A New Laptop
By 2.27.07
Now I am mad. So I called back this morning and went through the whole thing with several layers of managers and what not all saying no. I find this absolutely ridiculous…is there anything I can do? Should I contact HP non-support customer service? I just find this so ridiculous. I literally could have bought the laptop a week later, still given it to her on Christmas, and thus it would have broken the same time, and it would be covered.
After a bit of research, we knew David had pretty much exhausted his options with Compaq, but there was still hope. Even without an extended warranty, we helped David get his laptop replaced. How? Read our response to David and his success story inside.
