News Archive August 2005

Axalto Makes Headway in China - The Palmera Smart Card, issued by the Axalto company of Beijing, was recently awarded the first EMV certification ever issued in China.
More and More Americans Using Plastic at the Pump - If you’re like most Americans these days, you probably find yourself reaching more and more for your credit card at the gas station. In fact, as gas prices continue to rise, many Americans are maxed out with their budgets, and their credit cards are the only place they can turn.
Sky rocking Charges Catch Consumers Off guard - Recent increases in credit card fees and charges have consumers paying more cash for their credit cards. In the past year, credit card fees have gone up at an increasing pace, and they're currently higher than they've ever been
Do the New Bankruptcy Laws Affect You? - In April 2005 President Bush signed a bankruptcy reform bill into law. This new bill, which will make it more difficult for individuals to clear their debt in a bankruptcy, goes into effect on October 17th 2005.
Credit With Training Wheels for Your Teen - Last year, the biggest new teen fashion accessory was the cell phone. This year, the hottest teen accessory is a credit card. According to a national survey, the average teen spends about $100 a week, and over $5,000 a year. That all adds up to a nearly $200 billion market
Keeping an Eye on Your Credit - Financial experts have advised for years that people should check their credit reports from ALL THREE credit reporting agencies at least once a year to scan for errors and problems. With the recent publicity of high profile cases involving security breaches at major credit card companies and financial institutions, their advice takes on ominous urgency.
Initiatives Help Meet Growing Demand for Focused-Use Cards - Imagine being able to offer your sales force dinner at one of six different restaurants in town as an incentive. Or being able to choose five specialty stores from which your employees can choose rewards as Employee of the Month
Credit Card Spending Just Got Easier - If GE Consumer Finance and Mejier Stores have their way, swiping your credit card will soon by a thing of the past. Mejier and GE recently announced that all Mejier stores will accept MasterCard PayPass at all 171 of its locations
Texas Man Hits it Big with MasterCard Dreamcard - The American DreamCard offers the UnLotto rewards credit card, a pioneering alternative to 1% back cash rebate cards that offers its users the opportunity to win cash prizes starting at $25,000 a month
Cashless Credit Hits College Campuses - Thanks to a newly announced integration between USA Technologies e-Port vending system and ARAMARK's proprietary ScanPlus stored-value card, college students at the University of North Carolina's Greensboro campus no longer have to search for quarters for the vending machine
Traveling Just Got Easier with American Express Business Travel - American Express Business Travel is making it easier than ever for companies that need travel amenities for their employees. The largest travel management company in the world announced yesterday that they are making enhancements to two of their marquee traveler security and benefit programs
Wells Fargo Settles Suit - In a settlement approved by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Anthony Mohr Thursday August 12, Wells Fargo & Co. has agreed to pay at least $19 million and as much as $34 million to settle claims against the company 8/15/05
“Fun” Credit Cards Now Available To Teens - Doc Hollywood Kidz is teaming up with Relay Capital Corporation to bring more fun and value to kids across the country. The two companies announced plans this week to release a new stored value Master Card/Visa that will offer teens and pre-teens special incentives, bonuses and awards 8/15/05
The Skinny on Balance Transfers - If you’ve got a lot of debt on a few high interest credit cards, then chances are that those offers you’re likely receiving in the mail for lower rate cards are looking pretty good. 8/12/05
What Rising Interest Rates Mean to Credit Card Debtors - Because of the recent rise in interest rates, you may find yourself asking what that will mean to your credit card balance. The news isn’t great. Because monthly credit card payments are tied .. 8/11/05
New Tools For Protecting Your Credit Identity - In the past, if you wanted to check on the health of your credit report, you would have to pay a fee to each of the three credit reporting agencies in order to just look at it. But now, with the newly revised Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA), that’s all changed. (8th Aug)
Six California Women Given A Shot by American Express - Imagine that you owned a business and just knew that it was on the verge of breaking through and becoming a major success—only to learn that getting someone to lend you the expansion capital wasn’t as easy as you’d believed. (7th Aug)
New Financial Laws May Mean More Money in Your Pockets - Lawmakers are proposing new laws that may mean that you’ll no longer see some credit card fees and bank charges. There are three separate laws—each targeting a different type of lender. One targets credit card issuers, another banks, and still another those companies that are often referred to as predatory lenders. (6th Aug)
How To Think Like a Lender - Have you ever wondered how lenders evaluate whether or not you’re a good credit risk? After all, we’re constantly being told about how important it is to maintain a good credit score, but it seems that the actual “how to’s” of that aren’t so simple. (4th Aug)
Just Who Is MasterCard, Anyway? - When you think of credit cards, it’s likely that the word, “MasterCard” immediately comes to your mind. And it’s no wonder—this credit card company is growing by leaps and bounds—issuing millions of credit cards to anxious borrowers all around the globe. (5th Aug)