Managing Money

CA News & Special Reports Archive

2008

May

08

• Internet Commerce Issue [Spring 2008].
  This issue of Consumer Action News covers many aspects of doing business online, including payment methods, privacy, tips for security, Internet auctions, favorite e-tailer sites and sources of advice and information.

January

14

• Debt Collection Issue [Winter 2007-2008].
  The Winter 2007-2008 edition of Consumer Action focuses on debt collection from a consumer viewpoint. The issue contains stories about: potential updates to the law that protects people from abusive debt collections; consumer rights to fair debt collection; how to correct inaccurate collections accounts; how to get information about who's collecting the debt, and how to deal with collections fraud.

2007

May

23

• 2007 Credit Card Survey.
  Consumer Action's 2007 Credit Card Survey was conducted between Oct. 9, 2006 and March 2, 2007. Consumer Action examined 83 cards from 20 banks, including the top 10 U.S. credit card issuers. In our new report we detail our findings on change of terms provisions, penalty rate policies, balance transfer costs and offers, fees to pay by phone and to make last-minute payments online, cash advance costs, residual interest and two-cycle billing, minimum ages for authorized users, rewards cards, arbitration clauses and minimum payment formulas.

2005

July

28

• 2005 Credit Card Survey.
  Consumer Action examined 146 cards from 47 issuers for its 2005 Credit Card Survey and documented top reasons that lead banks to impose high universal default and penalty rates, as well as details on fees, cash advance and default APRs, introductory rates on purchases and cash advances, arbitration policies, balance calculation methods and more.

2004

March

21

• 2004 Credit Card Survey.
  Consumer Action examined 140 cards from 45 issuers for its 2004 Credit Card Survey and documented increased penalty fees and rates, "zero interest" introductory offers, cash advance rates, currency conversion fees and rewards cards, among other details of interest to cardholders.

2003

01

• 2003 Credit Card Survey.
  Consumer Action surveyed 143 credit cards issued by 47 companies and found growing costs and an increase in anti-consumer practices.

2002

• 2002 Credit Card Survey.
  Consumer Action surveyed 126 credit cards issued by 42 companies and found growing costs and an increase in anti-consumer practices.

2001

April

• 2001 Credit Card Survey.
  Consumer Action surveyed 109 credit cards issued by 45 companies and found growing costs and an increase in anti-consumer practices.

2000

December

30

• 2000 Financial Checklist Issue.
  This issue of CA News was designed to help you update your personal finances. Get help saving money and sorting out bank fees, credit reports, estate planning, insurance, income tax withholding, investments, and credit card costs.

1998

July

01

• EBT /EFT Update (1998).
  In this publication on Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) you will find the latest news from the U.S. Department of Treasury's EFT rule-making process, reports about current state EBT programs, information about direct deposit and low-cost bank account options and other news.