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Consumers can pay with checks, debit cards, credit cards, and electronic payments. Each way to pay has different costs and benefits, and may also carry different consumer rights. This section covers some of the ways to pay, including your rights if things go wrong.

Following are news releases, letters to legislators, and other documents Consumers Union has issued on this issue.

Cards, Checks & Electronic Payments

Checks
- Senator Dodd introduces financial reforms
- Consumer Financial Protection Agency Gets OK
- Jury’s out on abusive overdraft loans proposal
- Comments on proposed rule to curb unfair overdraft practices
- New rules proposed to curb unfair bank practices
- Congress should curb overdraft loan fees
- Consumers Deserve Stronger Financial Services Protections
- Consumer groups call on Federal Reserve to protect consumers in electronic payments
- Consumer groups call for action to reduce check holds
- Deposit Delays? Tell us about it!
- Advice from CR.org on how to protect yourself when you use a credit card, write checks, and make investments.
- Consumer groups oppose cutbacks in consumer protection under the guise of regulatory relief
- Questions and Answers About the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act, "Check 21
- Consumer groups urge Fed to rein in high cost overdraft loans
- Consumer Groups Call to Eliminate "Oral Checks"
- CU seeks shorter check holds and other protections for consumers after Check 21
- Support Consumer-Friendly Changes to Check 21
- Post "Check 21" banking law reforms proposed in Congress
- How long banks can make consumers wait to use deposited funds
- Checking Up On Check 21
- CU Testimony On the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act Before the House
- Testimony regarding Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act
- Consumers Union Opposes the Check Truncation Act
- Survey finds large banks charge non-customer check-cashing fees
- Noncustomer check fees reinforce financial divide
Consumer Tips
- CU offers tips to shoppers for paying online
- Questions and Answers About the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act, "Check 21
- “Check 21” banking law now in effect consumers urged caution
- New law will mean more bounced checks and fees for consumers
- Seven policies banks could adopt to improve Check 21 for consumers
- Comments to the Federal Reserve Regarding Collection of Checks
Credit Cards
- Senator Dodd introduces financial reforms
- Consumer Financial Protection Agency Gets OK
- CR poll: Consumers angry at credit card companies
- Chase bank's minimum payment policy criticized
- Senate approves credit card reform bill
- Great news on the credit card front!
- Coalition support letter for the Credit Cardholder Bill of Rights (HR 627) to House Financial Services Committee
- Coalition endorses bill to cap interest rates
- CU offers tips to shoppers for paying online
- New rules proposed to curb unfair bank practices
- CU urges Fed to improve credit card disclosures
- 2006 GAO study highlights anti-consumer practices in the credit card industry
- GAO stats and facts on credit cards
- Your credit cards – What you don’t know can cost you
- Credit Cards: A Call for Reform
- Letter urging Congress to keep existing credit protections for consumers using credit repair services
- Advice from CR.org on how to protect yourself when you use a credit card, write checks, and make investments.
- Will Congress Protect Credit Card Consumers?
- Consumer Groups Strongly Support the Credit Card Minimum Payment Warning Act
Debit Cards
- Fed issues new overdraft rules for banks
- Senator Dodd introduces financial reforms
- Consumer Financial Protection Agency Gets OK
- Report: Prepaid cards come with high fees
- Consumers need opt-in on overdraft programs
- Jury’s out on abusive overdraft loans proposal
- CU offers tips to shoppers for paying online
- Where’s my money: Consumer protections needed for new ways to pay
- Gas consumers to get relief on debit card holds
- Fact sheet for Direct Express cards
- New rules proposed to curb unfair bank practices
- Consumers Deserve Stronger Financial Services Protections
- Consumer groups call on Federal Reserve to protect consumers in electronic payments
- Consumer groups support stronger protections for debit cards
- Consumer Reports offers tips to avoid debit cards gotchas
- Advice from CR.org on how to protect yourself when you use a credit card, write checks, and make investments.
- What's At Stake for Consumers with Interchange Fees
E-Money
- Consumer Financial Protection Agency Gets OK
- CU calls for protections in contactless cards and pay by cell phone
- Consumer groups call on Federal Reserve to protect consumers in electronic payments
- On-line banking policies and principles
Electronic Benefit Transfer
- Consumer Financial Protection Agency Gets OK
- An Advocate's Guide to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) in California
- California Signs Contract With Citicorp To Privatize Delivery Of Food Stamps And Welfare Benefits
- Electronic Benefit Transfer
- Summary of the California Depart. of Social Services' invitation to partner for electronic benefits
- Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Programs: Best practices to serve recipients
- CU urges California to make new computer system for distributing public assistance benefits user-friendly
- CU urges public input in state computer contract to handle $4.9 billion in public assistance benefits
- Recipients of electronic food stamps should have same protections as bank customers
- Letter to the CA Dept. of Social Services regarding electronic benefit transfer
Gift Cards
- Senator Dodd introduces financial reforms
- The Consumers Union Model Payroll Card Law
- The Consumers Union Model State Gift Card Law
- OCC response on prepaid cards and FDIC insurance coverage
- CU offers tips to shoppers for paying online
- Protect all your money if your bank fails
- CU calls on the FTC to protect consumers from losing billions held on retailer gift cards
- FTC urged to protect gift cardholders
- Fact sheet on state gift card protection laws
- Fact sheet for Direct Express cards
- Consumer Reports highlights gift card pitfalls
- CU estimates that 23.3 million Americans haven't used last year's gift cards
- Consumer groups seek clear federal deposit insurance coverage for funds backing stored valued cards
- Consumer groups call on Federal Reserve Board to protect funds on emergency benefits payments cards
- Letter to Congress seeking support of the "Fair Gift Card Act"
- Watch out for holiday gift card fees
- California Bans Most Service Fees on Gift Certificates
Payroll Cards
- Senator Dodd introduces financial reforms
- Consumer Financial Protection Agency Gets OK
- Report: Prepaid cards come with high fees
- The Consumers Union Model Payroll Card Law
- Payroll Cards: Issues for Employers
- Questions for Employees to Ask About Payroll Cards
- CU supports Federal Reserve Board's interim rule to protect consumers holding payroll cards
- Consumer groups seek clear federal deposit insurance coverage for funds backing stored valued cards
- Consumers Union calls for consumer protections on payroll cards and other stored value cards
- CU comments regarding the proposed amendment addressing payroll cards
- Consumer groups support proposed amendment to federal Regulation E addressing payroll cards
- CU Urges Fed To Protect Payroll Card Users
- Preguntas Comunes de los Empleados sobre las Tarjetas de Nómina (Payroll Cards)
Money-Checks
- Senator Dodd introduces financial reforms
- Consumer Financial Protection Agency Gets OK
- Report: Prepaid cards come with high fees
- The Consumers Union Model Payroll Card Law
- The Consumers Union Model State Gift Card Law
- OCC response on prepaid cards and FDIC insurance coverage
- Letter to the Comptroller of the Currency regarding stored value cards
- Protect all your money if your bank fails
- Gas consumers to get relief on debit card holds
- Fact sheet for Direct Express cards
- Consumer groups seek clear federal deposit insurance coverage for funds backing stored valued cards