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CARDNEWS FOR CONSUMERS
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(8/29/97)
MBNA Expands MLB Endorsement
MBNA received endorsements from the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals for MBNA's 'Official MLB Card' program yesterday bringing MBNA's total MLB endorsements to 16 teams. The endorsement of the Cardinals and Reds represents important additions to MBNA's Sports Sector, which remains one of the company's fastest growing areas with the endorsement of more than 400 sports organizations.
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(8/26/97)
Online Card Scams
The Federal Trade Commission and other federal authorities are now aggressively investigating Internet credit card fraud scams following a brazen attempt by cyberthiefs to extract personal card data from America Online's 8.5 million subscribers.
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(8/28/97)
AT&T Universal's Credit Ed Support
AT&T Universal Card Services announced yesterday it is awarding nearly $350,000 in grants to help organizations nationwide fund credit education programs. The 'Partners in Credit Education' program will support the CFA, ICA, Call For Action, Consumer Action, and seven other programs.
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(8/28/97)
Card Hacker Pleads Guilty
The San Francisco man who attempted to sell more than 100,000 credit card numbers for $260,000 at San Francisco International Airport's smoking room in May, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court.
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(8/29/97)
Federated Settle Bankruptcy Suit
A Federal Judge in Boston has given preliminary approval to a settlement of a nationwide class action lawsuit brought on behalf of bankruptcy debtors who reaffirmed credit card debts allegedly owed to subsidiaries, affiliates and operating divisions of Federated Department Stores. The settlement involves payments totaling approximately $4 million.
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(8/26/97)
Discover Card to Promote Classical Music
Deutsche Grammophon, the world's oldest continuously running record label, Borders Books, Music & Cafe and Discover(R) Card have joined together to create the "100 Reasons You Should Be Listening To Classical Music" campaign which kicks off in early September and runs through the DG centenary in December 1998.
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(8/25/97)
Customer Service Fee
Secured and sub-prime card issuer First Premier Bank of Sioux Falls, SD has begun charging its cardholders a $1.00 monthly fee for unlimited access to its VRU for personal account information. First Premier formerly participated in the PinPoint service and was charging 50 cents to 80 cents for each inquiry in excess of three per month.
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(8/22/97)
Chase Buys Bell Atlantic VISA
A new Bell Atlantic credit card will be issued next year as a result of the agreement announced Thursday between Bell Atlantic and Chase Manhattan Bank. The announcement follows last week's merger between Bell Atlantic and NYNEX.
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(8/22/97)
People's TJX VISA New Promotion
People's Bank kicked-off a back-to-school promotion for its 'TJX' VISA card yesterday. Each time consumers use the TJX VISA Card at off-price retailers, T.J. Maxx or Marshalls, they will receive a reward equal to five percent of their purchases.
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(8/22/97)
Kmart Card Online
Beneficial's private label Kmart credit card is now accepting applications online with same-session credit decision. Visitors to Kmart's Web site have the option to complete and submit an application for a Kmart Credit Card over the Internet and receive a same- session credit decision. Approved applicants will receive their credit cards in the mail.
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(8/22/97)
PO Promotes FirstClass PhoneCard to Students
With nearly 30 million high school and college students returning to school this fall, many parents are now feeling the effect of last-minute shopping, spending and a host of other exhausting details associated with getting their children back into the hallowed halls of higher learning.
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(8/21/97)
Blockbuster VISA Dies
Nationsbank and Blockbuster have mutually agreed to pull the plug on the 'Blockbuster VISA' program. Launched in March 1995, the program represented VISA's first major, exclusive co-branded program, and was among the first major programs to offer monthly rebates.
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(8/21/97)
E-Commerce Jitters
Americans are not convinced that security systems for e-commerce are more secure than just revealing your credit card number over the Internet. A new survey by San Jose-based World Research Inc. shows 70% of the 930 survey participants fear "Internet Pirates" despite the level of security employed.
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(8/21/97)
Union Bank's Year 2000 Consumer Initiative
Will your computers work when the calendar turns to the year 2000? And will your vendors be able keep their commitments to you? Bankers are asking, and your answers may affect your ability to expand your business, manage your cash flow cycle to meet financial obligations or, for that matter, stay in business at all.
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(8/20/97)
Bally MC Activated
Metris Companies and its banking subsidiary Direct Merchants Credit Card Bank began processing pre-approved applications yesterday for its new 'Bally Rewards MasterCard' and 'Bally Rewards Gold MasterCard'.
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(8/19/97)
New Harley Visa Card
Harley-Davidson announced Monday it will offer the 'Harley-Davidson Chrome Visa Card' through its subsidiary Eaglemark Financial Services. Beginning this fall, the Harley Dream Sweepstakes will give away 52 Harley-Davidson bikes in 52 weeks.
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(8/19/97)
Bank of America HomeBanking for NM & AZ
Bank of America today announced that it has launched its HomeBanking and Pay by Phone services throughout New Mexico -- bringing the convenience of PC and telephone banking to the state's consumers.
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(8/18/97)
Caught In The Web
Experian's new online consumer credit report service was abruptly shutdown Friday after being active less than 48 hours, due to security problems. On Thursday several consumers received reports belonging to someone else. Last Wednesday Experian began selling credit reports online to individual consumers for $8 each, in most states.
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(8/18/97)
U. S. Army Corps Expands Card Program
Recreational users at Louisville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes may pay for maps and charts, shoreline permit fees, and advance payment of recreation fees with Visa and MasterCard under a new Corps Credit Card Program.
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(8/18/97)
VISA Olympics Art Contest Underway
Although the 1998 Winter Olympic Games are six months away, the Olympic spirit is already taking hold as children throughout the nation gear-up for the Visa Olympics of the Imagination international art contest.
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(8/14/97)
Internet Super Checking
Atlanta Internet Bank began offering a 'Super Value Checking' account yesterday to its on-line customers providing a high-yield and a low minimum balance. With a minimum deposit of $100 customers can earn a 4% annual percentage yield on a 3.93% percent interest.
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(8/13/97)
Visa Expands Consumer Protections
In a major consumer initiative this morning VISA announced it is waiving all liability for fraudulent transactions on all its consumer card products if reported promptly, banning unsolicted VISA Check Cards and requiring issuers to issue provisional credits for fraudulent transactions within five days.
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(8/7/97)
Northwest Now Takes Web Reservations
Affinity Technology Group (Nasdaq: AFFI) today announced financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 1997.
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(8/7/97)
FP&L E-Bill Online
Florida Power & Light Company rolled out electronic bill presentment and bill payment system yesterday. FPL customers can now use CheckFree's new "E-Bill" services through a single web site to receive full color electronic bills, at no charge, complete with graphics, logos and full billing detail on their PC screens.
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(8/6/97)
New Prepaid Cellular Card
AirTouch Cellular today launched Prepaid Cellular Service, a pay as you go option that allows customers who have been denied cellular service due to past credit, customers who want a defined monthly spending limit or customers who simply want seasonal or temporary service, to have access to cellular for the first time.
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(8/6/97)
Salvation Army to Accept AmEx
Beginning this month, The Salvation Army will welcome American Express Cards for charitable donations. It is the first credit/charge card to be accepted nationwide by The Salvation Army. Until recently, charitable organizations have most often relied upon donations received by cash and check.
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(8/6/97)
Kmart Cash Card
Beginning Aug. 17 Kmart customers may purchase the Kmart Cash Card. The reloadable card is a gift card as well as an AT&T calling card. Also, customer cash refunds on returned items without a receipt will be granted as a Kmart Cash Card. Stored Value Systems worked with Kmart and AT&T to design and implement the Kmart Cash Card program.
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(8/1/97)
Spiegel Breast Cancer MasterCard
Spiegel, Inc. and the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organization announced yesterday they will partner to issue a new credit card. This will be the first major multi-branded bankcard in the U.S., carrying the Spiegel Catalog, NABCO and MasterCard logos as well as the pink ribbon, the national symbol for breast cancer awareness.
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