Technology is like money, it seems. You need some of it…a decent amount, really…to be happy. But at a certain point, it might do more harm than good. Microsoft released a fascinating global survey at Davos this week which unearthed another gap between the developed and the developing world. Poorer [Keep reading]
It’s back. School districts are again claiming the right to demand Facebook passwords from students. This, despite several states passing laws making the practice expressly illegal, and introduction of federal legislation that will do the same when Congress gets around to passing it. The Illinois Principals Association has posted a [Keep reading]
Fake debt collection scams are on the rise, and now rank among the top complaints scammed consumers file around the country, the National Consumers League says. The consumer advocacy organization issued a special warning about the scams, which generally involve a cold call from a would-be criminal trying to intimidate [Keep reading]
Free-credit-score-a-palooza has begun. Well, it continues. Millions of consumers with Citi-branded credit cards can now get a free peek at their Equifax-based FICO credit score just by logging on to Citi’s website. Citi had promised the move last year, and it comes just a week after the White House announced [Keep reading]
Progressive Insurance, and its TV personality “Flo,” have for years been urging consumers to install a small electronic device called Snapshot into their cars that allows the insurer to gather safety data on drivers. Supporters say the device, sometimes called a dongle, lets Progressive offer discounts based on the way customers [Keep reading]
Each time Uber angers customers with another surge pricing incident, or angers a city by ignoring its laws, an army of fans jump to its defense (as if Uber needs the help) and cry “free market.” Then, self-congratulatory insults at stupid consumers or old fart city leaders are hurled, along [Keep reading]
Being late on one bill can’t hurt your credit score that much, right? Wrong! Not only can a single, small late payment slice 100 points off your credit score, it can take three years to recover from the damage. Look here if you’re trying on improving your credit score after [Keep reading]
It’s hard enough to make good financial decisions when you are young without finding out that your college is out to get you. Or at least is encouraging bad decisions through unseemly agreement with banks. Not long ago, credit card issuers crowded American’s college campuses, offering free pizza in exchange [Keep reading]
Great news! Soon, the majority of Americans will have free access to their credit score. This is a major victory for consumers, a decade or more in the making. It means that they will be able to take action to improve it in readiness for something important like applying for [Keep reading]
A text-message spam campaign that flooded mobile phones and irritated perhaps millions of iPhone users last summer reared its ugly head again towards the end of 2014. The messages offer recipients a cheap way to order designer products like handbags and sunglasses, which can be done more easily and affordably [Keep reading]
Bob Sullivan