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 2010 Mon, 24 May 2010 10:09:24 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Gaming and Mobile Payments By Simone Backer More and more consumers each year are paying for virtual currency and other online goods with their cell phones. These mobile payments are quicker and simpler than credit card payments, but lack the regulations and infrastructure necessary for totally secure transactions.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/gaming_and_mobile_payments.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/05/gaming_and_mobile_payments.html Blog Post Mon, 24 May 2010 10:09:24 -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 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 New Rip-offs Have you been ripped off by unfair lending or financial practices?

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/01/new_ripoffs.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2010/01/new_ripoffs.html Story Ask Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:11:58 -0800 Tips for Buying Online It’s no secret that consumers today are spending money with more care, looking for bargains and buying only necessities. It’s good that consumers are being more cautious about their spending habits. But, more consumers are also choosing debit or alternative payment methods for online shopping—which may be cause for concern.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/07/tips_for_buying_online.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/07/tips_for_buying_online.html Blog Post Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:46:21 -0800 Consumers Union’s Tips for Mobile Payments Users http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/06/consumers_unions_tips_for_mobi.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/06/consumers_unions_tips_for_mobi.html Tips Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:10:16 -0800 Gift Cards Do you have gift cards you can no longer use?

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/06/tell_us_your_story_3.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/06/tell_us_your_story_3.html Story Ask Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:50:53 -0800 Phone and Online Payments Consumers have long been able to make payments by phone and more recently, by mobile phone. The emergence and eventual widespread adoption of electronic payment methods has dramatically changed the payments landscape. Convenience should not give way to statutory and regulatory consumer protections.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/05/phone_and_online_payments.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/05/phone_and_online_payments.html Intro Text Mon, 11 May 2009 09:11:50 -0800 CU offers tips to shoppers for paying online Not all payment options offer the same level of protection for unauthorized charges and other disputes with retailers

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/11/cu_offers_tips_to_shoppers_for.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/11/cu_offers_tips_to_shoppers_for.html Tips Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:09:49 -0800 CU applauds effort to restrain abusive credit card practices as a strong first step The agencies have issued proposed rules that would restrict when and how the credit card companies can raise interest rates and assess fees.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/07/consumers_union_37.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/07/consumers_union_37.html Press Release Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:32:58 -0800 Where’s my money: Consumer protections needed for new ways to pay Five things to do today with payments law.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/07/wheres_my_money_consumer_prote.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/07/wheres_my_money_consumer_prote.html Comment Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:30:30 -0800 CU calls for protections in contactless cards and pay by cell phone Consumer groups describe to the FTC the need for consumer protections in emerging “contactless” payments methods.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/06/cu_calls_for_protections_in_co.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/06/cu_calls_for_protections_in_co.html Letter Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:10:58 -0800 Consumer’s Guide to E-Payments http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/05/consumers_guide_to_epayments.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/05/consumers_guide_to_epayments.html Tips Fri, 16 May 2008 11:18:08 -0800 California: Consumer Rights In Electronic Fund Transfers (CR-6) http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/04/california_consumer_rights_in.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/04/california_consumer_rights_in.html Tips Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:21:49 -0800 Read your bank statements carefully Money Mom’s Monday Tip: Read Your Bank Statements Carefully

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/02/read_your_bank_statements_care.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/02/read_your_bank_statements_care.html Blog Post Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:14:38 -0800