Clipmarks | hayliirjsmom's 'debt' clips

Band Overdraft Fees PART #2

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:22:21 GMT

clipped by: hayliirjsmom

In its most recent report, "Out of Balance," the consumer advocacy group found that debit cards are the largest source of account overdraft fees for banks and credit unions. Debit card point of sale and ATM overdrafts cost consumers $7.8 billion in 2006, which represented 45 percent of the $17.5 billion the financial institutions received in overdraft fees last year.

In hopes of reducing overdraft fees, the center is supporting legislation sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., that would require banks and credit unions to warn their customers before authorizing an electronic overdraft. The House recently held a hearing on the legislation.

And financial institutions should restrain their fee frenzy and stop routinely allowing consumers to withdraw funds that exceed their account levels, only to slam them with overdraft charges.

Tags: government, debt, credit

Band Overdraft Fees PART #1

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:18:11 GMT

clipped by: hayliirjsmom

Clip Source: www.tbo.com

One of the biggest selling points for debit cards has been that you couldn't spend more than you had in your bank account, making them a good alternative to racking up debt on a credit card.

But, as many users have discovered, the debit card carries the same problem as its credit card cousin: You can spend over your limit.

The practice of approving a check or debit transaction when the account has insufficient funds is an intentional effort to drive up revenue, according to a new study by the Center for Responsible Lending, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and policy organization.

"Banks should protect customers' funds, not plunder them with high fees and harmful practices," said Eric Halperin, director of the center's Washington office.

This year, the center published a report that found that debit card purchases at point of sale terminals and withdrawals at ATMs triggered 46 percent of overdrafts. The rate for paper checks was just 27 percent of overdrafts.

Tags: government, laws, debt, credit, finance

Things Women Can't Do

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:43:27 GMT

clipped by: tron2007

Clip Source: itsringing.blogspot.com

1. Know anything about a car except its color.

2. Understand a film plot.

3. Go 24 hours without sending a text message.

4. Lift.

5. Throw.

6. Run.

7. Park.

8. Read a map.

9. Rob a bank.

10. Sit still.

11. Tell a joke.

12. Play snooker.

13. Pay for dinner.

14. Eat a kebab while walking.

15. Argue without shouting.

16. Get told off without crying.

17. Understand fruit machines.

18. Walk past a shoe shop.

19. Make a decent bacon sandwich.

20. Not comment on stranger's clothes.

21. Use small amounts of toilet paper.

22. Let you sleep with a hang over.

23. Drink a pint gracefully.

24. Get a round in.

25. Throw a punch.

26. Do magic.

27. Like your friends.

28. Eat a really hot curry.

29. Get to the point.

30. Buy plain envelopes.

31. Take less than 20 minutes in the toilet.

32. Sit in a room for 5 minutes without saying "I'm Cold".

33. Go shopping without telephoning 20 friends.

34. Avoid credit card debt.

35. Dive into a pool.

36. Assemble furniture.

37. Set a video recorder.

Tags: funny, general, humor, humour, joke, jokes