Itsuki Minami

I just received a new AT&T Universal Card with an embedded smart card ship for use when in Europe. I know companies have been talking about rolling these out since back in 2008 but this is the first one I have ever received from any domestic credit card company. Does any one of any other US credit card company that now offers these?

In the last seven days I have received three offers in the mail for Credit Limit Increases with approvals for all three. The first was with USBank, then last week with AT&T Universal / Citibank, and again today with Citi Bank on there Platinum card. Is any one else noticing this as well? The last time I got a credit line increase without asking was back in 2007.

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/941526/391/Collection-agencies-targeted-by-MN-Commerce-Department ST. PAUL, Minn. - Eight separate collection agencies are in the crosshairs of the Minnesota Department of Commerce for alleged violations of state law. Documents made public Thursday allege that those agencies unlawfully hired convicted felons, harassed consumers, forged signatures, failed to properly report instances of criminal identity theft and doctored financial documents. "Our investigation discovered a handful of companies that disobeyed the law, and effectively let the wolves loose in the henhouse," said Commissioner Mike Rothman. "In numerous instances, credit card numbers, bank accounts, and personal financial information of vulnerable, financially stressed people were handed over to criminals. It should come as no surprise what happened next." The companies facing enforcement actions are Allied Interstate, LLC of Plymouth; Bureau of Collection Recovery, LLC of Eden Prairie; AllianceOne Receivables Management, Inc. of Eagan; Illinois-based Van Ru Credit Corporation; IC System, Inc.; General Revenue Corporation of St. Paul; Nationwide Recovery Systems, LTD LP of Texas; and Commercial Recovery Corporation (CRC) of Blaine. One example given by the Commerce department involves an investigation of Allied Interstate, LLC. Investigators say they uncovered a serious breakdown of vital consumer protections in the company's operations. Through a broken system of inadequate background checks, deceit, and negligence, Allied Interstate hired numerous convicted felons as registered debt collectors. Allied Interstate, LLC allegedly fired employees for harassing debtors over the phone, using profanity, forging documents, and other serious misconduct - but failed to inform the Commerce Department of these violations, as required by law. Consent orders released today by the Department of Commerce reveal a pattern of similar misconduct at that business, and seven additional collection agencies doing business in Minnesota. "Let me be clear: this pattern of disregard for important regulations will not be tolerated on my watch," said Commissioner Rothman. "We will continue to vigilantly monitor the marketplace to protect Minnesota consumers, and work with healthy businesses to promote a strong and competitive Minnesota economy." Commissioner Rothman stressed that this problem is not unique to Minnesota, citing similar instances in Georgia, Texas, West Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC, and New York. Rothman encouraged regulators in other states to join Minnesota in keeping an eye on the problem. (Copyright 2011 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)

There are at least hundreds of victims in a credit card skimming case at the Monticello McDonald's, according to the Wright County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Joe Haggerty says during July and August a 16-year-old girl working the drive-through had been skimming customers' credit card numbers, targeting mostly white females in expensive vehicles. The girl worked at the McDonald's on 7th street in Monticello, but Haggerty believes she is part of a much larger credit card skimming ring that extends into the Twin Cities. Wright County is in the process of compiling the list of victims, but both Lino Lakes police and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office are involved in the investigation. The sheriff says the female employee skimmed credit cards twice--once for the purchase and once for the number, which she passed along to a "larger organization." That employee has since been arrested and is facing charges. Lino Lakes Police Chief John Swenson tells KSTP.com a victim reported her credit card had been used at a retail store in Lino Lakes. Swenson says they've made some arrests in the case and executed three search warrants. Chief Swenson says, "The skimmed credit cards are not specific to a business, but rather to an employee." "There are also a variety of amounts and retail locations," he says. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is also involved in the case, but authorities aren't saying what their connection is to the case. Wright County says McDonald’s Corporation is cooperating with the investigation and has provided evidence. The Sheriff says credit card skimming is a common method used in financial crimes. The thieves will legitimately obtain a person's credit card during a business transaction, however; they will be in possession of an electronic skimming-type device and will swipe the card again and obtain the credit card number. Those numbers are taken and placed on another credit card, allowing them to purchase items with their name on the card but with the victim’s credit card information. The victim will be in possession of their credit card and will not be aware their card is being used fraudulently. If you utilized the Monticello McDonald’s Drive Thru on East 7th Street in the months of July and August 2011 and have been a victim of credit card fraud, the Wright County Sheriff’s Office is asking people to call them at 763 682 7733.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Yet another of the nation's top banks is flirting with the idea of charging a monthly fee to customers who use debit cards. Wells Fargo (WFC, Fortune 500) said Tuesday it will start charging a $3 monthly fee for debit card usage to customers in Georgia, New Mexico, Nevada and Oregon beginning Oct. 14. "We regularly review our pricing and take into account the needs of our customers, industry trends, the market competition, and our cost of doing business," a Wells Fargo spokeswoman said. Customers who don't use their card during the month won't be charged the fee and the fee will be waived for select accounts, she added. At the end of last year, JPMorgan Chase (JPM, Fortune 500) announced a similar test, in which it charged customers in northern Wisconsin a $3 fee for using their debit cards. The tests are still underway, a Chase spokesman said Tuesday. http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/16/pf/debit_card_fee/?hpt=hp_t2

Got this in the mail today, Due to the uncertainty surrounding the national debt ceiling, PenFed would like to assure our membership that in the event the issue is not resolved in August and causes a disruption in federal government payments, PenFed members who regularly have their pay direct deposited to PenFed that are military or civilian employees and retirees of the federal government, as well as Social Security recipients, will have their August deposits advanced as scheduled in anticipation of receiving the actual deposit once the debt ceiling issue is resolved. Should it be necessary, PenFed will be advancing these August deposits to provide assistance to our valued members. Members who have deposits advanced will need to repay the amount of funds advanced within 90 days from the date funds are advanced.

How did you request that card? No one I talk to (AT BOA) seems to know any thing about it.

Does any one on this list, who is from the US, have an EMV card in hand issued by a US bank yet? I keep reading about these in the news and have yet to get one. When I check with BOA, US Bank, Capitalone I keep being told they are not available yet to people in the United States.

How difficult is it to get a signature loan with Penfed? The only account I have now with them is a savings account.

Back in 2006 they wanted to charge me 21% (They also wanted it secured), by comparison my credit union offered me 10% (Unsecured / Signature Loan).

Simply Cash - 9.24%

Debt-collector fined $100,000 Source: Minnesota Department of Commerce A Lonsdale-based debt collection company and its owner lost their licenses and must each pay the state $50,000 for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Minnesota Department of Commerce ordered last week. Khemall Jokhoo and his company, Lonsdale-based First Financial Services violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Minnesota law by threatening to have consumers arrested, making false statements and engaging in harassing, oppressive and abusive conduct, the department said in an order issued on April 28. “We have shut down First Financial Services for oppressive debt-collection practices, which were reprehensible,” said Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman. “This company caused consumers considerable loss and aggravation. By revoking their licenses and fining them $100,000, we want to be clear that these practices are not tolerated.” Jokhoo and his company convinced consumers and their credit card companies to transfer thousands of dollars to First Financial’s account without authorization. The Lonsdale collector and his firm also wrongly held themselves out as federal investigators and lawyers during the collection process. In its original statement of charges, filed in January 2010, the department accused Jokhoo of lying on numerous debt collector registration applications, claiming he had never been charged, indicted, pleaded to, or convicted of any crime in state or federal court. However, Jokhoo was charged with attempted aggravated robbery and assault in Hennepin County District Court. The department revoked First Financial’s debt collection agency license in November 2009. Jokhoo’s individual debt collector licenses lapsed in June 2009.

Citi send me a new card today, IMPORTANT SECURITY MESSAGE Your account number may have been illegally obtained as a result of a merchant database compromise and could be at risk for unauthorized use. To protect you from any risk related to this event, you will find your replacement card(s) enclosed, to be activated as soon as possible. Any one have any ideas about this? or received any thing similar? I have not been contacted by any merchants.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson is accusing a major debt buyer of hounding people for debts they didn't owe or already paid years earlier. Swanson filed a lawsuit Monday against Midland Funding LLC and its administrative arm, Midland Credit Management Inc. She says Midland bought bad debt from banks and other creditors for pennies on the dollar, and then tried to collect on those debts. While that's legal, Swanson says Midland crossed the line. She says the company sometimes pursued the wrong people such as those who had similar names or addresses as the real debtors. She says Midland also filed affidavits in Minnesota courts without confirming their accuracy first. A spokesman for Midland parent company Encore Capital Group Inc. in San Diego says a response is being prepared. (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Yes they do and yes they are automatic. I have had three since 2007.