A week after one of its franchisees was hit with a lawsuit alleging low-paid workers were forced to accept their pay on fee-laden prepaid cards, McDonald’s is again in the crosshairs of worker advocacy groups over what one …
Paying With Plastic
Nickeled, Dimed, and Dollared to Death: Fee-Laden Payroll Cards Forced On Low-Wage Workers
A recent lawsuit and reports from regulators and consumer advocates suggest that some of the most abusive fees are being forced on those least able to protect themselves
Why Saving Money and Cutting Debt Doesn’t Cut It Anymore
Consumer savings are up, and credit card debt is down. But experts say the economic current is running against us, so even those who think they are swimming are probably just treading water.
5 Summer Travel Scams to Avoid
With the summer comes peak season for scammers coming up with new ways to empty tourists’ wallets — increasingly, by getting their hands on travelers’ personal financial information. Here are five tricks to be on the lookout …
Germany Has Become the Cut-Rate Prostitution Capital of the World
The presence of thousands of brothels and hundreds of thousands of prostitutes has heightened competition and pushed prices down steeply in the German sex trade. One tourist from Florida, who visits the country three times annually to pay for cheap sex, compares the scene to a discount supermarket: “Germany is like Aldi for …
Big Brother Is Watching You Swipe: The NSA’s Credit Card Data Grab
The National Security Agency isn’t just snooping into phone and online communications. It also appears to be keeping a close eye on credit card transactions. Why? And what can they see?
4 Prepaid Debit Card Fees You Should Never Pay
The entrance of mainstream financial institutions transformed the prepaid debit card market. Customers have more options today, and many of the newer cards closely resemble the checking accounts they are replacing.
The big difference is that prepaid cards are more lightly regulated than bank accounts, which is a concern to consumer …
Why Banks Love Debit Cards Again
Debit cards were supposed to be toast. The industry started writing their obituary when financial reform targeted overdraft fees and interchange or “swipe” fees, which had made debit cards extremely lucrative for banks. So …
How to Master the Allowance Question and Prepaid Cards in One Shot
Virtual family banking site FamZoo has introduced a prepaid card that actually makes sense–for kids and parents.
Misguided? Half of Adult Children Think Parents Made No Money Mistakes
Adults past age 30 generally feel their parents nailed it when it comes to money matters, a new survey shows. Are these people doomed to repeat their parents mistakes?
Celebrity Prepaid Cards: Will Justin Bieber Fare Better than the Kardashians?
Teen sensation Justin Bieber’s prepaid debit card goes live in coming days. He can only hope he gets a better response than the Kardashians, who had to withdraw their predatory card from the market and wound up in court.
The Rise of the Alterna-Banks: 4 Options Beyond Traditional Banking
Is it time to part ways your bank? There are more options than ever for people looking for a different kind of banking experience — many of them without the onerous fees and requirements of traditional bank accounts.