California Attorney General Kamala Harris filed an enforcement action against JPMorgan Chase last Thursday, alleging that the bank used illegal debt collection methods, such as robo-signing, against approximately 100,000 California credit card consumers from January 2008 through April 2011. "Chase … Continue reading
Chase Bank has now placed self-service kiosks in 400 locations. Last week, additional locations were opened, including one in the Blue Ash branch in the Greater Cincinnati area. The new kiosks were described as "ATMs on steroids." With the new … Continue reading
Credit card delinquency rates fell again in March as consumers continue to pay down credit card debt in a timely manner. Five of the top six credit card issuers reported lower delinquency rates in March than in February. Discover was the only exception … Continue reading
For the longest time, the U.S. government has issued unemployment and workers compensation payments through checks in the mail. They eventually opened the option of receiving direct deposits into a bank account, but that does not help the thousands of … Continue reading
JPMorgan Chase announced that it will take action to protect its customers from payday lenders. Account holders will now have more power to stop withdrawals and close their accounts. Chase will limit fees that it charges customers for withdrawals from payday lenders due … Continue reading
Banks Bury Fees in the Fine Print Pew's annual Safe Checking study has uncovered a number of items and fees that most consumers wouldn't have a clue about until they got hit with them. From mandatory arbitration clauses that waive jury … Continue reading
Consumer Watchdog Readies to Bare Its Teeth The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is entering 2013 poised to flex its muscles as it finishes up a list of studies and rules required by the law. They will have wide latitude to … Continue reading
Some of the nation's biggest banks have extended temporary waivers through Wednesday, November 7 on a variety of fees and late charges for residents of states hit hard by Superstorm Sandy. The banks waiving fees include JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, … Continue reading
Credit Card Settlement Could Stymie PayPal's Retail Plans A provision within the hotly-contested settlement between merchants and credit card networks could potentially slow PayPal's bid to become more widely accepted at grocery stores, restaurants and other retailers. Retailers that choose to … Continue reading
The robo-signing scandal burst onto the financial scene two years ago when a number of major U.S. banks aggressively fast-tracked foreclosure paperwork. The practice was loudly condemned and the government handed down a $25-billion dollar fine. Robo-signing slowed, but it … Continue reading
London is shining in the spotlight as the host of the Olympics, a welcome distraction from the Libor (London Interbank Offered Rate) rate-fixing scandal that threatens to rock the financial world. The Libor scandal is far reaching for both consumers … Continue reading
Last Thursday, Capital One agreed to pay $12 million in a settlement over alleged violations of special consumer protections for military families. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Department of Justice took action against Capital One … Continue reading
Retailers reached an antitrust settlement on interchange fees with Visa, MasterCard and several large banks that will be good for merchants but might penalize cardholders with higher prices or decreased credit card rewards. The $7.25 billion dollar settlement allows retailers to … Continue reading
Last Thursday, Moody's Investors Service cut the credit rating of fifteen banks due to their significant exposure to the volatility and risk to the global financial markets. Earlier this month, Standard & Poor's also warned that the United States could … Continue reading
More Americans are paying their credit card bills on time as well as carrying less of a balance. According to figures from last week's regulatory filings, credit card delinquencies decreased for each of the top six credit card issuers in … Continue reading