credit cards
PIN Block Phish, Basted
Oh, this is just classic. Phishers are now trying to capitalize on the PIN block crisis.
Beat Credit Card Blocking
Lifehacker’s got a pointer to an FTC article for avoiding “credit card blocking” when booking trips, whereby a hotel will stake claim for the full cost of your stay, plus the incidentals it feels you may buy, prior to checking out of the hotel.
Debit Card Hacker Interviewed
Small World’s Bazooka Joe interviews “John Dillinger,” a debit card hacker who participated in the infamous “Russian Connection” ATM hack scandal. He discusses how he and others hacked millions of debit card accounts and why the story never makes the mainstream news.
Paypal’s PR Agency Promises to Help Resolve Consumerist Reader Complaint
Last week we wrote about Max, who tried to send money to his friend through Paypal but found himself ensnarled in a technical and customer service nightmare. In the end, his road of good intentions lead to B”anned from Paypal and Ebay Land,” a decidedly unhappy place excised from The Wizard of Oz as it frightened the focus group children terribly so.
Undergrad Credit: Jobless Students Go High APR Calypso
Why is it that some snot nosed punk can get over $5 million in credit upon being accepted to college but I, a grown adult, can’t get my credit limit raised by a few hundred bucks to fit a Macbook Pro into the slim wedge of non-debt still imbued into my Hustler Store credit card? Ten years of paying my credit card off only when I happen to remember is probably the answer. The sort of muffed financial sense that makes it all the more absurd that I work for an irreverent consumerist blog.
Hidden Benefits of New Wamu Gold Card
Seems like we have yet another thing to look forward to when we receive our shiny new gold Wamu card we didn’t ask for.
Paypal Penalizes Good Samaritan
Thanks to some zealous Paypal security, mixed with tech snafus and a little lack of information about how Paypal works, Max had to go through leaps and hurdles to retrieve his money after he committed the crime of lending money to his friend.
Washington Mutual Is Our Friend With Benefits (That We Couldn’t Care Less About)
We’ve just been the lucky recipient of exciting news; the PIN range our debit card belongs to has been hacked. To celebrate, Washington Mutual is “upgrading” our debit card “to gold status for free.”
Bad Charge at Macy’s Leads to Good Deed
Chris sends in a happy story about Macy’s messing up, then going above and beyond to not only remedy the problem, but assuage its effects. His letter details exceptional service, but not surprising for a department store counter known for high levels of customer care.
UPDATE: Requiring Minimum Credit Card Purchases is a Violation
A day without ice cream is like a day without sunshine.
Better Dead Then AMEX RED
The American Express RED card is a new, ostensibly fashionable, way to wear your charity on your wallet sleeve.
UPDATE: Requiring Minimum Credit Card Purchases is a Violation
Amy’s Ice Cream has a new sign (right) that seems to say that the $10 minimum charge is suggested, not required. The sign we originally posted (left) was one a store manager had replaced the ‘official’ sign with, according to Steve.
UPDATE: Requiring Minimum Credit Card Purchases is a Violation
Our article on the minimum credit card fees charged at Amy’s Ice Cream generated quite a little uproar. Amy is pictured, left, helping award Lonnie Williams with the “Best Transition” small business award in Austin. It’s made from left-over toffee ice cream.
New Debit Card Vulnerability
Your debit card could be stolen and used without the thieves even having to hack your PIN code.
UPDATE: Requiring Minimum Credit Card Purchases is a Violation
My my, how the rocky road of customer service melts and leaves a sticky trail.
