Consumers Union

Home | News | About Us | FAQ

“...working for a fair, just
and safe marketplace for all...”

Health Care
Food
Phones & Media
Money
Product Safety
Other
En Español
- Dinero
- Salud
- Casa
- Carros
- Allimentos
- Medios de Communicacion
Campaigns
Take Action

Money

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
- 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
- Still waiting for your deposit to clear?
- 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
- Checking Up On Check 21
- Testimony of CU On the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act Before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions
- Testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, September 25, 2002 Hearing on the 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- New Debit Card PIN Fees
E-Money
- Consumer groups call on Federal Reserve to protect consumers in electronic payments
- On-line banking policies and principles
Electronic Benefit Transfer
- 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: A New System for Distribution of Food Stamps and Possibly Cash Benefits
- 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 & Stored Value Cards
- Consumer Reports highlights gift card pitfalls
- Fact sheet on state gift card protection laws
- 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 payroll 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
- 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 payroll cards
- Payroll Cards: Issues for Employers
- Questions for Employees to Ask About Payroll Cards
- Consumers Union calls for consumer protections on payroll cards and other stored value cards
- CU comments regarding the proposed amendment addressing payroll cards
- CU Urges Fed To Protect Payroll Card Users
- Preguntas Comunes de los Empleados sobre las Tarjetas de Nómina (Payroll Cards)