Defend Your Dollars http://www.defendyourdollars.org/ Defend Your Dollars is the website of the Consumers Union Financial Services Campaign, where we support reforms to the financial marketplace to curb bad practices by banks and lenders. en Copyright 2012 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:04:24 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss The Latest Gift Card Advice In response to consumer inquiries about gift cards, and in light of the holiday season, we thought it’s time for a refresher on existing gift card protections for consumers.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/11/post_34.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/11/post_34.html Blog Post Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:04:24 -0800 Gift Cards 2010: New consumer tips for the holiday season http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/11/gift_cards_2010_new_consumer_t.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/11/gift_cards_2010_new_consumer_t.html Tips Tue, 09 Nov 2010 13:01:15 -0800 “E-Gift Cards”: What You Need to Know Before You Buy Read our information and consumer tips before buying and using " e-gift" cards.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/10/egift_cards_what_you_need_to_k.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/10/egift_cards_what_you_need_to_k.html Blog Post Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:24:06 -0800 State gift card consumer protection laws A summary of key features of many state gift card laws.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/09/state_gift_card_consumer_prote.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/09/state_gift_card_consumer_prote.html Legislation Tue, 28 Sep 2010 10:59:53 -0800 Fact sheet on state gift card protection laws A summary of key features of many state gift card laws. http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/09/fact_sheet_on_s.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/09/fact_sheet_on_s.html Factsheet Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:15:35 -0800 Consumers Get New Credit Card & Gift Card Protections on August 22 Consumers seeing benefits of the CARD Act

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/08/consumers_get_new_credit_card.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/08/consumers_get_new_credit_card.html Blog Post Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:33:59 -0800 New credit card & gift protections begin August 22 New regulations will help limit credit card and gift card fees and require banks to re-evaluate interest rate hikes

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/08/new_credit_card_gift_protectio.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/08/new_credit_card_gift_protectio.html Press Release Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:52:57 -0800 Senate debate on financial reform heats up Now that the Senate floor debate on financial reform has started in earnest, supporters are ofering a number of amendments to strengthen the bill so that it better protects consumers from unsafe financial products and creates new rules to stop banks from getting so big that they could threaten the financial system.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/senate_debate_on_financial_ref.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/senate_debate_on_financial_ref.html Blog Post Wed, 05 May 2010 11:50:48 -0800 What do the new gift card rules mean for you? Starting August 22, 2010, consumers will have additional protections on bank-issued gift cards which are gift cards branded with Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, Discover, and retailer issued which are store gift cards (if your state doesn’t already provide strong retailer issued gift card protections):

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/03/what_do_the_new_gift_card_rule.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/03/what_do_the_new_gift_card_rule.html Blog Post Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:28:46 -0800 The Latest Development for Gift Cards but will it help you spend down to the last penny?
Target recently introduced its Mobile Gift Card which allow customers with web-enabled cell phones to use their gift cards at this big retailer. Starbucks also has a similar mobile gift card iPhone application on a trial basis in the Seattle and Silicon Valley areas.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/02/the_latest_development_for_gif.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/02/the_latest_development_for_gif.html Blog Post Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:55:54 -0800 Ed of Lawrenceville, NJ Prepaid gift cards are a rip-off! The balances start to decline after receiving the cards. You can't cash them in.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/02/ed_of_lawrenceville_nj.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/02/ed_of_lawrenceville_nj.html Story Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:43:36 -0800 Nicholas of theTownship Of Washington, NJ I found that the AMEX gift card I misplaced for a few months had expired and it was worthless.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/02/nicholas_of_thetownship_of_was.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/02/nicholas_of_thetownship_of_was.html Story Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:28:38 -0800 Scott of Norman, OK I received a $50 gift card for Christmas. After 6 months, I found that I had approximately $17.50 left and had lost $32.50 in fees or 65%.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/01/scott_of_norman_ok.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/01/scott_of_norman_ok.html Story Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:44:16 -0800 Judith of Worcester, MA Three malls in Central Massachusetts are selling their own prepaid cards at holiday time. If not used right away at any of the stores in the mall it automatically reduces in value!

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/01/judith_of_worcester_ma.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/01/judith_of_worcester_ma.html Story Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:40:12 -0800 Stuart of Porter Ranch, CA I have received prepaid gift cards that were subject to a monthly fee because they weren't used by a certain date.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/01/stuart_of_porter_ranch_ca.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/01/stuart_of_porter_ranch_ca.html Story Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:34:23 -0800