Features
The Red Tape Chronicles
Fighting fine print with fine print: If Thrifty can charge me a $20 no-gas-receipt fee, why can’t I charge Thrifty a $20 no-receipt fee?
I’m constantly amazed at the unfair contracts consumers are forced to sign during simple transactions with large corporations. Lawyers load up standard-form contracts with one-sided, take-it-or-leave-it terms, often called “contracts of adhesion.” I’m in a crowd that believes one-sided contracts where there’s unequal bargaining power aren’t contracts at all, and [Keep reading]
Gotchas / Consumer
As the local bank branch becomes an endangered species, are there hidden consequences?
Many Americans still find themselves visiting a bank branch at least once in a while — to deposit a large check, for example. When big bucks are involved, dealing with a human being can be a nice security blanket. But that may be about to change. Banks are closing local branches at [Keep reading]
Cybercrime / Privacy
Yes, using more social networks raises your risk of ID theft — a lot, says ID Analytics.
Using social networks and sharing personal information online can dramatically increase your risk for fraud, a new study has found. It makes sense that consumers who disclose the most about themselves online are at greater risk of becoming fraud victims. But the study claims their increased risk is probably more [Keep reading]
Gotchas / Consumer
CFPB: Navy federal Credit Union threatened soldiers with debts, cut off access to ATMs, veterans’benefits
Navy Federal Credit Union threatened to contact soliders’ commanding officers and cut off access to ATMs as part of a pattern of illegal debt collection practices, federal regulators said Tuesday. The credit union, which is the nation’s largest, grants membership only to current and former U.S. military servicemembers, civilians working [Keep reading]
The Red Tape Chronicles
Time out: Buffett paid the equivalent of $20 in federal taxes last year. Why he, and Trump, and most owners, are laughing about the tax bill
I just can’t let this go by without comment. Warren Buffett seemed heroic this week when he released his federal tax bill after Donald Trump called him out in the Sunday night presidential debate. “No Donald, I’m not like you,” he was saying, “I pay federal taxes.” In fact, Buffett [Keep reading]
The Restless Project
The robot-proof job opportunity of the 21st Century? ‘Engineering bottleneck’ expert (Part 2)
Want a robot-safe job? Start getting good at things machines are bad at. Fast. As I was telling you the other day in part 1, robots are gainin on us fast. I’m really worried about how this is going to impact our society (see ‘A billion useless people.’) And the [Keep reading]
Gotchas / Consumer
Comcast to pay record FCC fine after consumers complain about surprise charges for unwanted services, equipment
Comcast has agreed to pay the largest civil penalty the FCC has ever assessed a cable operator to settle charges it billed consumers for equipment and services they never ordered. You might recall a series of stories I wrote nearly two years ago about “drive-by” modem upgrades that Comcast was [Keep reading]
The Red Tape Chronicles
Since the debate didn’t ‘give economics to people,’ I will; Robots are coming to take your jobs, soon
Let’s talk about a real issue facing America, shall we? Donald Trump said in the debate last night that he “will give economics to people.” I wish he did; we could all use some economics. So I’m going to give you some. Robots are coming for our jobs, and gaining on [Keep reading]
Credit cards
Judge: ‘Reasonable suggestion of collusion’ against Mastercard, Visa over chip cards – merchants win round 1 in court
Small merchants who sued the credit card associations alleging a conspiracy connected to the conversion to chip credit and debit cards may proceed with their lawsuit, a judge has ruled. Billions of dollars could be at stake. California federal court Judge William Alsup ruled Sept. 30 that a set of [Keep reading]