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 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:41:39 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Consumer protections lacking for mobile payments Consumers Union finds protections fall short when mobile payments are linked to phone accounts

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/12/consumer_protections_lacking_f.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/12/consumer_protections_lacking_f.html Press Release Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:41:39 -0800 How Top Wireless Carriers Compare on Consumer Protections For Mobile Payments http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/12/how_top_wireless_carriers_comp.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/12/how_top_wireless_carriers_comp.html Document Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:51:53 -0800 Send BofA Your Own Video Breakup: "Drop the fee or we drop you!" We imagine the conversation might go something like this...Press play!

Do you have something to say to Bank of America? Soon BofA will charge you $5 a month to use your debit card, even though they're already collecting enough money from retailers to profit on the processing costs.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/10/breakup_with_bofa_drop_the_fee.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/10/breakup_with_bofa_drop_the_fee.html Blog Post Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:41:25 -0800 Your Buying Habits May Be Key To Mobile Pay Success Your shopping habits and information may be the key to mobile payments success.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/08/your_buying_habits_may_be_key.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/08/your_buying_habits_may_be_key.html Blog Post Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:03:01 -0800 No Consumer Guarantees With T-Mobile “Direct Carrier Billing” Program Wireless Carrier’s Mobile Payment Plan Does Not Cover Fraud Or Mistakes. Consumers at risk.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/08/no_consumer_guarantees_with_tm.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/08/no_consumer_guarantees_with_tm.html Blog Post Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:54:04 -0800 T-Mobile's mobile payment plan risky for consumers eless carrier's direct carrier billing program not covered by protections against fraud and mistakes

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/08/tmobiles_mobile_payment_plan_r.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/08/tmobiles_mobile_payment_plan_r.html Press Release Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:52:13 -0800 When Farmville Leads To Fraudville Consumers may not be protected when using mobile payments for games like Farmville

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/07/dont_lose_your_cash_crop_on_fa.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/07/dont_lose_your_cash_crop_on_fa.html Blog Post Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:21:29 -0800 Mobile Pay or Mobile Mess Mobile payments are supposed to make consumers' lives simpler by enabling consumers to pay with cell phones instead of carrying plastic or cash. But, mobile payments may cause consumers huge headaches with the lack of consistent consumer protections if a transaction goes awry or when mobile phones are lost or stolen and used to make unauthorized purchases.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/06/mobile_pay_or_mobile_mess.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/06/mobile_pay_or_mobile_mess.html Blog Post Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:12:06 -0800 Prepaid Cards vs Bank Account Most prepaid cards charge higher fees than basic checking accounts offered by the top five banks in the U.S., according to our new reprt

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/04/prepaid_cards_vs_bank_account.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/04/prepaid_cards_vs_bank_account.html Blog Post Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:32:04 -0800 New CU Article: How to Make Every Way to Pay Safe for Mobile Payments Read a draft of our new article discussing the mobile payments market, the major risks it poses for consumers, and the few simple fixes that would ensure all consumers making mobile payments have guaranteed consumer protections.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/03/new_cu_article_how_to_make_eve.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/03/new_cu_article_how_to_make_eve.html Blog Post Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:42:59 -0800 Public Benefits and Wages on Prepaid Cards: Better Protections Needed Now Consumers Union and National Consumer Law Center call for better consumer choices and protections against high fees associated with government- and employer-issued prepaid cards

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/01/public_benefits_and_wages_on_p.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/01/public_benefits_and_wages_on_p.html Document Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:11:14 -0800 Treasury Announces Low-Cost Prepaid Card for Tax Refunds This year, some consumers who do not have direct deposit will be offered a prepaid card as an alternative method of receiving tax returns. Here's what you need to know about the card.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/01/treasury_announces_lowcost_pre.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/01/treasury_announces_lowcost_pre.html Blog Post Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:10:50 -0800 New "Club América" Prepaid Card Takes Aim at Soccer Fans A new prepaid card endorsed by the Club América soccer team is being marketed to soccer fans in the U.S. Goal...or foul?

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/01/new_club_america_prepaid_card.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2011/01/new_club_america_prepaid_card.html Blog Post Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:02:56 -0800 The Kardashian Kard May Be a Goner - After Only 3 Weeks! The Kardashian sisters are backing out of their contract to promote their prepaid "kard," after receiving massive criticism in the media and a warning from a state attorney general. Looks like not all publicity is good publicity!

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/11/the_kardashian_kard_may_be_a_g.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/11/the_kardashian_kard_may_be_a_g.html Blog Post Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:46:41 -0800 Group letter calls on FDIC to make safe template for prepaid cards http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/11/group_letter_calls_on_fdic_to.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/11/group_letter_calls_on_fdic_to.html Letter Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:53:58 -0800