Better read the fine print, Mr. Bank! Our new hero: Sick of the fine print banks put into their credit card offers, a man in Russia added a bunch of his own fine print – like 0% APR and a $182,000 cancellation fee – then signed the offer and used the card for two years without making a payment. (Why should he with 0% interest?) So far the courts have sided with him.
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Have to love it when the usual big business "You should have read the fine print" backfires on them.
I think this guy is A: related to me, and B: my new hero...
It never ceases to amaze me at the ingenious of some individuals. The bank is now getting its justice and they cant stand it.
Here, here.
Way back in the bad old dial-up You've Got Mail! days when I got my first 'puter (gawd, the thing was huge, weighed a ton and was dumber than most of todays phones), there was a story similar to this.
Guy took one of those "checks" everybody gets in the mail, endorsed and deposited it to his account through an ATM(?). Thing cleared the whole Fed Bank process and the money was deposited in his account, and it was a lot of money.
The body of the story was about his dealings with the bank after that, he never planned on keeping the money, but of course the people responsible went major Richard on him so he toyed with them for a year waiting for his personal apology.
Great story, doubt if it's still out there. May make that todays project while listening to the Reds fumble another one and see if I can find it in the 'Wayback Machine'.
I'm glad to be done with the credit card shuffle, but the debit card is similar, or is it? I think it's as much of a problem as the credit card and it's connected to your account directly. If the identity thieves steal your data they can wipe out your account. Damn, I don't know who's worse, the identity thieves or Obama!
I solved that problem.
I have a PayPal debit card linked to my bank account. I use it for every purchase.
The nice thing about it is I get an email immediately when it is used, telling me how much was charged, who the merchant is, and in what city they are located.
It takes about 3 days for the charge to hit my bank, so if there is a charge I didn't make, it gives me that much time to contest the charge. I also earn 1% cash back on the card.
Nobody gets my money without my knowlege.
One thing about the Germans that I really like. They save money and pay cash. Your average German will go into debt for 2 things.
1) a car
2) a house
They haven't really discovered the "joy" of credit cards.
Of course, they also have a government office that will come to your house, decide the bare minimum you need to survive, confiscate the rest and sell it to pay off your creditors if you get too far into debt.
Look up the gerichtsvollzieher.
Uncle SambO can.
Only if I leave enough in the bank for him to take.
If you have one of those debit or credit cards that you wave over a sensor instead of swiping it you are a prime target for thieves. I watched a special on the local news and the pro was showing how all he had to do is walk by you with the right kind of scanner, aim it at your wallet or purse, and push the button. He had all the people's info he tried it on and showed it to them to prove it.
Anyone that one of these new types of credit or debit cards need to keep it wrapped in foil! Better yet go to your bank and tell them you want a plain old card you have to swipe through a card reader.
The more people depend on technology the more vulnerable they become. I've stood and watched people who are just in their own world and never see the action around them. These are the easiest marks, purses open, talking on their cell phones and just wave or swipe their cards. They never look to see if anyone is close, they stand where their PIN can be read or in some cases the beeps associated to each number can be heard. Some go to cafe's use the free wifi and low and behold they cant figure out why their identity has been stolen and their accounts are setting at zero. Sniffer equipment and other packet stealing equipment or software is readily available and easy to use.
Steal my identity, please!
If someone can actually get something with it, more power to them. I can't. They're always asking at stores, "would you like to sign up for our credit card?" "No, I can't handle rejection." Even the credit card offers that come in the mail are Pre-Declined.
Hmmm...I wonder how good I can forge my ex-wifes signature? I wouldn't run up a measly $500 bucks worth of charges either. (teehee)
I hope this guys wins..Just like the robo-signature home loan bullshit that's been going on for years. Never fully trust a bank, they are in tune with the government on the "your money is our money" philosophy....