After the SF Chronicle published a very brief Q&A with PayPal president Scott Thompson, readers unleashed a slew of angry comments about eBay and its sister company, “Greedpal,” err, Paypal. Comments like: “Dishonest and insufficiently secure: the wave of the future!” and “Ebay + PayPal = Greed.” And: “ebay is now a giant flea-market of …
Fees
Should ATM Fees Be Capped at 50¢?
You need cash, and you’re not anywhere near one of your bank’s ATMs. So what do you do? Most likely, suck it up and accept the fee assessed for getting cash from a unaffiliated ATM. The average fee seems to be $3 nowadays, though it can run you $5 in some casinos or airports. And what does the transaction actually cost the banks …
Anybody Want to Fight?
Tips for battling it out with debt collectors, TV-Internet-phone providers, the IRS, and more.
Cell Phones: When Does It Make Sense to Drop the Contract and Switch to Prepaid?
Prepaid wireless is a clear trend: The fourth quarter of 2009 marked the first time that customers signing up for prepaid cell phones outnumbered new subscribers opting for contracts.
Enjoy Hulu for Free While You Still Can
The days of free TV shows on Hulu may be numbered. The online service is seriously looking into charging viewers a subscription fee of $9.95 a month if they want to continue having access to the most comprehensive range of programming, and the changes could occur as soon as next month.
Want to Lower Your Monthly Bills?
Then get on the phone and get busy. Here’s some evidence that it’s worth the time and effort to call up your pay-TV service, wireless provider, and credit card company and demand better terms.
Whine Time: 31 Annoying Fees, Ways Your Money Is Wasted, and Other Reasons to Gripe
Read up and pay attention or you’ll have good reason to complain too.
Fee Alert: Have You Been the Victim of Phone Bill ‘Cramming’?
You might be paying $14.95 a month for “enhanced voice mail” or some other service that’s totally unnecessary, that you never purposefully signed up for, and that you simply don’t want.
Should Bank of America Receive Praise? Or More Criticism?
Last week, the bank made news by eliminating debit card overdraft fees. That’s not quite correct, though: Bank of America has basically eliminated debit card overdrafts entirely. Starting this summer, when you try to use your debit card but don’t have enough money in your account to cover the bill, your card will be rejected. (Right now, …
2009: The Year of Scams—and Complaints
It certainly makes sense that the two go hand in hand. Complaints about cell phone and TV providers rose steeply, and complaints about banks and Internet scams soared.
Caught Between a Late Fee and a Payday Loan
Payday loans are bashed by consumer watchdogs because of the loan shark-like interest rates involved, which can exceed 450% when annualized. Nonetheless, the payday loan business is thriving, especially as consumers realize that an actual job is not required. The day your unemployment check arrives also counts as a payday, so if you’re …
Why Credit Union Credit Cards Are Better Than What’s in Your Wallet
As the Move Your Money movement preaches, there’s good reason for shifting your savings and checking accounts to local banks and credit unions. There’s just as much reason to change the kind of plastic you use.