The number one thing that these class action lawsuits against Chase can do: Correct journalists where they have been duped.

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about the number one thing that all of these class action lawsuits against Chase can do: correct journalists who have looked no further than, or who have been swayed or tricked into accepting, the same old tired lines that repeat only what Chase wants their respective audiences to know. 

At this point in time (because class action lawsuits actually will take years to litigate if they go through the entire process, including appeals), it’s very important to show members of the media how they are being “duped” into simply serving as a messaging service on behalf of Chase.  Members of the media must be informed that there is more to this story than the deflections that we keep seeing all over the Internet. 

One of this site’s visitors sent me another example yesterday, a link to an article entitled, “Card Issuers: How Can We Make You Go Away?“  In it, I observed that the same sound bite from Chase was quoted from the spokesperson we have come to know so well through her repetitive phrases:

“Changes affect fewer than 0.5% of accounts, says Chase spokeswoman Stephanie Jacobson.”

However, the egregious, unethical, outrageous, fraudulent, deceptive acts (including “bait and switch”) that I believed — as a legal layperson but before any suit was filed and when firms would not even answer me – were being perpetrated by Chase, we find, are now alleged in the suits. 

So what, exactly, do you need to do?  Send an email or other note to correct (in a nice way) the journalist’s perspective.  Use links from this site (such as this one), or create your own counter points.  Another part of the aforementioned article stated:

“Chase is tacking on a $10 monthly service charge to many low-rate accounts with big debts held for more than two years. The fee is added to the balance, where it earns interest just like any other charge.

First of all, the so-called ”fee” or “service charge” needs to be identified as a FINANCE CHARGE.  Secondly, and this deals with accuracy, the last time I checked, I have not “earned interest” on any credit card account.  Rather: I have accrued interest; I have paid thousands of dollars in interest; I have struggled with interest rates; I have transferred balances in seeking so-called “fixed rates”; but, I don’t think any of us are earning interest on credit card accounts.  So, to correct the article:

“The fee, which ”is a finance charge,” is added to the balance, where it accrues interest at the purchase rate.”  (And, to tell the whole story, this changes the previously promised promotional rate, and violates that promise). 

Here’s an example that addresses the “service charge” or “fee,” versus “finance charge” issue sent to KPIX CBS 5 in San Francisco (which listened, and when a journalist gets the story straight, it tends to make his or her day). 

Please help me and join the fight by sending a correction to Kelli B. Grant (and editors/”accuracy” links) as well, and every journalist who appears to be simply serving as an extension of Chase’s PR propaganda machine. 

Don’t forget to also contact your Congressional representatives, and anyone else who might spread this story or take action to end the abusive treatment of customers by credit card companies.