First, I did some Internet searches, and some are for, while others are critical of this organization.  Personally, I am not in favor of everything that this organization’s leadership or members may believe in.  But, I don’t have the time to analyze or become embroiled in discourse about topics like immigration, who is, or should be the president, political parties, the left, right, or middle.

None of these things mentioned above are on my agenda, relative to the ChangeInTerms.com site.  Do I care about these issues?  Yes.  Do I have time to write posts and conduct research on all of these subjects (and their nuances) mentioned above?  No.

Relative to my employment, I also don’t feel inclined to speak out on all of these issues.  On the other hand, I have the right, the responsibility, and the passion for entrepreneurs to address matters that are affecting small businesses.  When credit is tight or unavailable, this impacts small businesses; when consumers are unemployed and spending is constrained, this impacts small businesses.

Not only do I feel passionate about entrepreneurs, I have been one, more than once.  This is why, along with a graduate education which I pursued in order to become academically qualified to teach, I am now an entrepreneurship professor.

Most small businesses, no matter how you slice it, are indeed very small: 0-1 employees.  They are often entrepreneurial bootstrappers.  Bootstrappers start businesses on kitchen tables and in basements and garages; about half of them by my estimates through formal academic research use personal credit cards as a source of capital.  This amounts to over 10 million businesses.

Oh, and that “0-1″ employees group, that number is around 21.7 million.  There are around 29.6 million businesses in the U.S.  So, you could say that over two thirds of all U.S. businesses are actually very small (perhaps a better choice of words would be “tiny”).  Yet, these are the everyday “Jills” and “Joes” who are vital to our economic recovery.

I want to help other people: students, current entrepreneurs, and would-be entrepreneurs.  It also happens that one of my official duties is to be “engaged” with the entrepreneurial community.  This includes conducting research (publishing), and trying to champion small businesses in every way that I can.

It’s my job.  I love it, but from a practical point of view in terms of expectations of my employer, I am supposed to teach, conduct research, serve, and be “engaged.”  If my discipline was political science, maybe I would be blogging on our system of government as a focus; but, my focus here is ending the abuses of credit card companies against small businesses and consumers.  Consumer spending does impact small businesses, employment, and the economy as a whole, as we have seen.

Relative to the Showdown or its organizers, this is the bottom line: I am against the undue influence that the banking and financial services industry tends to exercise over our Congress through its very powerful lobbyists.  Under the present system, we are where we are, today.  Small businesses are in jeopardy, the economy is a mess, people are hurting: “my people” (entrepreneurs) are hurting.

Banks are pushing people into defaults.  The ABA, American Banker’s Association, which obviously represents the interests of banks, is against the industry changing its ways, and I am for the industry changing its ways.  Banks are not working with consumers and small businesses to the extent that they could or should.

I am hurting, personally, because I am separated from my family by virtue of a “crashed” real estate market.  This occurred, essentially, because of a lending industry run amok and bankers’ irresponsibility and greed, with regulators asleep at the switch.  The “bail out” was misdirected, in my opinion.  We should have created loan programs (which would have broken even, instead of adding trillions to our national debt), targeting a recovery in the housing market and the restoration of consumer confidence, before things ever got so bad.

In my early years, I used to write lyrical poetry.  Lately, I’ve been playing a little tune in my head that goes something like this:

“I want to take my boy fishin’

But I find I’m just wishin’

He and I would bait the hooks

And cast our lines in babbling brooks

We’d really reel ‘em in”

We’d catch rainbow trout

Maybe bream, or

Perhaps a leafy branch or two

It wouldn’t matter, son

As long as I’m with you

Here in Western North Carolina, I find myself surrounded by some of the most beautiful terrain on the planet, including places where I could “take my boy fishing.”  But I can’t.  I’m lucky to do my job and get back home each week to take care of chores, pay bills, visit my family briefly, and return.

When I play that song in my head, it makes me want to cry.  If credit card issuers and the banks with which they are associated want to know why I’m going to keep coming, and coming, and coming, all they have to do is recognize that I am deeply motivated by that little tune.

I will continue to fight the greedy, unethical, and misguided policies that have been implemented by these institutions, because “I find I’m just wishing” that I could be with my family, and that we could live in peace.  (Chase just sent another change in terms on one of my wife’s accounts; that was a very bad idea, Chase: I told you to leave me, my wife, and my family the hell alone. READ MY TERMS.)

And, as I have outlined, I continue to fight because it’s also my job.

If you think things are just “hunky-dory” for small businesses and consumers, and the economy at large, well, I am happy for you.  You may be isolated from the pain that others are experiencing.

You can choose to support, or not, the “Showdown in Chicago” protest.  I support that protest, even if I do not agree with everything that others may have in mind in terms of a larger agenda (politics, health care, immigration, et cetera).

If you do support the protest, but are not in the Chicago area, the Americans for Fairness in Lending site has also provided a link for contacting elected officials in the post which states “AFFIL has endorsed the upcoming events in Chicago, and now we’re asking for you to support it too.”

© Dr Robert Lahm for ChangeinTerms.com, 2009. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: "Bail Out", banks, change in terms, consumers, credit, credit cards, debt, economy, interest, small business

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In one sense, this story is already well known, at least by virtue of its observable impact.  We have seen it in neighborhoods across America: foreclosures, short-sales, and a devaluation of property values.  Speculators and house flippers were understandably giddy over profits that seemed at the time, easy and never-ending.  But this period of exuberance did end, badly.  Those of us who are concerned with credit card company abuses, are paying the price.  Taxpayers are paying the price.  Investors from around the world are paying the price.

In essence, the mortgage industry sold “instant gratification” to buyers.  Yes, buyers “signed the dotted line,” and certainly, many knew (or should have known, if they lied about matters such as their income and obligations on “stated income” loan applications — that’s why the slang, “liar’s loans,’ came into being), that they too, were taking a risk.

Everyone was gambling.  But in common, the core belief that drove this scenario was the notion that housing prices would continue to rise.  Refinancing, to take “cash out” of real estate investment gains (or otherwise leverage the cash from appreciation in property values), enabled people to buy even more.  They used that money for anything under the sun: vacations, home improvements, adult toys (and “toy haulers”).

We now know this was a fallacy.  Anyone who may be watching squirrels gathering nuts on the ground for the coming winter can use this as an analogy for what many people did not do.  There are many adages which capture this failing, but perhaps the one (which in history seems to repeat itself) that best captures the miscalculation is this one: “What goes up, must come down.”

The “House of Cards” production does a great job of explaining, how we who are fighting credit card company abuses got where we are today.  Banks bought bad investments.  They want to recoup their losses by dipping into other sources of cash.  First, it was the bail out money: your money, and that of your children and grandchildren.  Second, it is every dollar and quarter, dime, nickel and penny, from fees, interest rate increases, and payment increases that banks can impose on the backs of people who still take pride in trying to pay their bills and fulfilling their obligations.  (But for how long?  Most people who walk away and “leave their keys on the counter” have simply given up, knowing that they can never pay.)

Obviously, the lax regulation that allowed Wall Street to profit and party on what we now know are toxic assets (I’m not an accountant, but it seems to me that a so-called “toxic asset” is a bad debt!) enabled a complex scheme with many participants to arise.

Unfortunately, as banks squeeze those of us who are still standing, more and more “able bodied borrowers,” including small businesses which account for much of our economy, suffocate.  Layoffs and fear have led to the destruction of consumer confidence — so spending slows to a crawl.  Here we are.

I personally found that one of the most interesting interview questions that was posed to various participants in the CNBC piece had to do with “feeling guilty,” for having been a part of this debacle.  The body language told a different story than the words that were uttered, slowly and carefully, in several instances, consistently along the lines of “just part of the food chain.”  Well, I already know where I am in the food chain: near the bottom.  However, when these banks try to “eat” what’s left of the rest of us, I want to make sure that we at least leave a very bad taste in their mouth.

Just a Few More Notes

This present post is very difficult to write.  I am separated from my family by virtue of real estate.  I have a house that has not sold, even though it is well cared for and in a decent middle-class neighborhood.  I have debts that are primarily associated with a decision to go to graduate school, trying to help others by becoming academically qualified to teach.  Those who walk away from their own homes (or who are forced to leave by eviction); those who enabled this to happen (see the documentary for the entire “food chain”); and I, along with my wife and children, are entangled.

Credit card companies (i.e., the banks that run them), are dealing with issues such as losses and liquidity pressures.  Nevertheless, because the banks are equivalent to “Goliath,” and we could be likened to “David,” naturally, ChangeInTerms.com and its supporters are in a position such that if we don’t throw “sticks and stones” to defend ourselves in any way that we can, we will be destroyed.

Sadly, I could be sympathetic to the banks’ problems, if they weren’t so mean and uncaring about what happens to others.  The most typical response to consumers (some of whom are the entrepreneurs we desperately need to nourish for a recovery) when they call to “negotiate,” just as appears to be the case with distressed homeowners, is that banks don’t want to work things out.  Rather, they just want to take everything that they can get, forcibly, mercilessly, and immediately, no matter what the consequences may be for individuals — and when taken in the aggregate — for the economy and this nation’s citizenry as a whole.

This behavior on the part of banks is sure to lead us all down a path to further destruction, I predict, unless we “work things out.”  How do we do that (those of us who are on the receiving end of banks’ callous, greedy, untenable dispositions)?  That’s really quite simple.  Anyone who has survived a schoolyard bully knows that the only way to prevail, is to make him or her very afraid of you.  If you are a small person, then you may need to assemble an army and gang-up on that bully.

I actually have a post in draft mode on the subject of “somebody should do it.”  Here’s what it boils down to: all of us “little people” must band together (this is a tiny example, but I sometimes get frustrated: why have I written several times, trying to get someone to print-out a free protest T-shirt, and send me a picture for the site?  Scared; too busy; afraid to raise a “stink” in public — I can understand all of these, because they describe me, but I still fight).

The formula for returning to a period of economic stability is also fairly simple.  Banks are in the business of taking in deposits, and lending at a profit.  Profits are a function of “time and terms.”  If they wanted to do it, they could institute all kinds of creative workarounds, because that’s what ends up happening in settlements.  Why they don’t want to work with people until the situation becomes such that a settlement is for “pennies on the dollar” (with the losses being shifted to those who are still standing, financially), is hard to fathom.  I suppose it’s because enough people have not has yet boycotted media for running credit card companies’ ads; written to affinity partners; threatened the reelection prospects of representatives; or gone “viral,” like the Debtor’s Revolt video.

If you aren’t willing to combine forces and join the fight, then you can count on being fleeced, beaten, and terrorized by such a bully.  We have already seen that this bully’s greed is insatiable.  I guess you’ll get involved once you’ve “lost your backpack and lunch money,” one too many times.

© Dr Robert Lahm for ChangeinTerms.com, 2009. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: "Bail Out", banks, consumers, credit, credit cards, debt, economy, fees, interest, interest rate, regulation, small business

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Let’s see, if a “similar lot” was $70k “not more than 9 months ago,” but now worth $24,900 (assuming enough similarity to be considered a comparable in a real estate appraisal), then the loss was $45,100 ($5011 per month).

Thank goodness, in these days of economic turmoil (with credit card companies doing all that they can to bully consumers and strangle small businesses), there are “RECESSION PROOF!” safe havens where those who have the financial wherewithal can invest!

Oh well, not to worry, with the “real estate professionals” working the market here in Murfreesboro, TN, it will probably be a while before our present home sells and we can move on to NC, anyway.  Yep, yesterday, one of those “professionals” called from our driveway to show a (local) “looker,” who wanted to see our home.  Forget the one hour notice request on the MLS, “we’re here to see your house!”

It’s days like those that make me want to give up.  But I don’t.  I make the drive.  305 miles, each way, every week, to work (plus the “in-town” mileage, when I am in NC).

I have a deadline to meet this weekend.  I’m working on a conference paper (on credit cards and small businesses).  You see, if I did “give up” on selling our home (by walking out like so many others have done), then I would not have much of an argument any more, when I try to speak out on behalf of struggling entrepreneurs (who are being squeezed — mercilessly — by credit card companies).

I have paid my bills and met my obligations, no matter what.  (As I drive during the treacherous trips through the mountains on I-40 eastbound in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, I at least know that if something happens to me, I’ll go with a clean conscience; I’m guessing that an apt description of “hell” is being a credit card account holder for eternity, so I definitely want to avoid going there.)

The FED (which is — unbeknown by most citizens — “owned” by the national banks and not “Federal”) and all of the bailouts have done nothing but enrich executives, who have enjoyed the parties, trips, perks, bonuses, and salaries of corporate big-wigs while they have had the same time, engaged in a reckless campaign against ordinary citizens (worldwide).  Meanwhile, homeowners, small businesses, and middle class consumers at large are slowly having the life sucked out of their wallets.

Just imagine: What if we invested $750 billion in bail out funds on the 21.7* million very small businesses in the United States?

The numbers are so staggering, they’ll make you dizzy (especially if you wear eyeglasses):

$1,000,000,000 (one billion dollars) x 750 = $750,000,000,000

$750,000,000,000 / 21,700,000 (very small businesses) = $34,562.21 (each)

I’d certainly bet that if the first round of bail out funds had been invested in small rather than big businesses, we would have stimulated the economy.  But no, we bailed out big banks and car companies, where a handful of executives (each typically earning in excess of a million dollars in salary, so you do the math) became even richer in bad times, on the backs of all of us.  I know that these executives are about the only ones who can afford scooping up deals on lakefront property right now.  Further, as I have previously written, we could have averted the worst of the mortgage and foreclosure crisis as well.

By the way, regarding one of biggest problems, unemployment (which as you recall, came next in our downward spiral — while we bailed out “big” businesses and executives), and much of the pain that has come from that, could have been avoided if we had invested in small businesses.  Also according to the SBA Office of Advocacy, small businesses: “Employ just over half of all private sector employees”; “pay 44 percent of total U.S. private payroll”; and, “have generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years.”

Want to know why we’re suffocating, despite ever-so-slight signs of recovery?  A relatively small number of big businesses and their executives have prospered, and the rest of us, along with our children, and grandchildren, will pay, and pay, and pay.

* Those so small that they have no employees; number taken from SBA Office of Advocacy 2009 FAQs — out of 29.6 million total U.S. businesses.  Yes, the vast majority of all businesses are small businesses.  The vast majority of start-ups “bootstrap,” and many of these use personal and business credit cards as a source of capital.

© Dr Robert Lahm for ChangeinTerms.com, 2009. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: "Bail Out", advocacy, banks, business credit, consumers, credit, credit cards, economy, small business

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Apparently, her video, “DEBTORS REVOLT BEGINS NOW!,” is drawing a lot of attention on the Internet.  According to Mr. Delaney, the video (released on September 8, 2009) had received “96,000 views as of Monday morning [September 14]“; in checking just now, the site reports 175,023 views (it was 151,204 yesterday, when I started composing this post!):

Click here to view the embedded video.

Not surprisingly, with that kind of trajectory in viewership, comments have also been robust.  Many are supportive, and many are not.  Since I have this blog as a platform, obviously, this post is my primary place for adding my own “comment.”

First of all, I personally have not taken the same approach in refusing to pay (actually, her refusal appears to be “unless she was offered a lower rate,” which was raised to 30 percent as of July).  I do think 30% is obscene (in the questioning period after my testimony before Congress I remarked along the lines of “how high did interest rates need to go before everyone agreed that it was legalized loan-sharking…40%, higher?”).

I do understand that such a refusal as has been pursued by Ms. Minch may appear to be the “biggest stick” that an individual borrower may have if he or she feels that it is impossible to negotiate any other way in the face of interest rate or minimum payment hikes.  I am not a lawyer, so I can’t really advise someone one way or another in taking such an approach.  However, I can say that generally, “it depends” (on the value of one’s assets, his or her credit rating or concern for that rating, and other circumstances).

Notwithstanding the above, relative to her premise — starting a revolution — I agree that fighting back is necessary.  (Respectfully, she claims that hers is “the proverbial first shot fired in an American debtors’ revolution,” but she is not the first — consumer advocates and others have been fighting this battle for years.)  Nevertheless, how or even if one chooses to fight back is matter of heated debate (judging by comments under her videos).

The ChangeInTerms.com site has predominantly featured Chase since I began actively blogging here, but as you will note, “the cause” is ending the abusive treatment of customers by the credit card industry at large, and I have long been against that abusiveness.  I think that fighting back is best approached using well researched information, along with technologies to disseminate anti-marketing messages (obviously, a viral video is one such technology, regardless of how one feels about the negotiation tactic that Ms. Minch has decided to employ).

In reading some of the negative comments, I found myself saddened.  Numerous remarks were personal attacks against this individual, accusing her of buying cosmetics, or whatever (the point was, according to the comments, that she borrowed money frivolously and she shouldn’t have done that — time to pay the price).

What made me sad was that it’s hard for me to stomach some of the negative comments underneath a video like this.  Many people seem to assume that anyone in debt has gotten in that position because they were frivolous, or stupid (“read your contract”).  These individuals who make such assumptions about “read your contract” completely ignore, however, other tenets under the law, especially “bad faith” versus “good faith.”

The contracts written by credit card companies are bad faith agreements, which seems to be alright with anyone who is able to “pay cash.”  What is interesting to me, is that many of these holier than though individuals passing judgment would “holler to high heaven,” if they were on the receiving end of a bad faith contract themselves.  What are other “bad faith” contract examples?

How about the nightmare stories concerning home improvements (when jobs go bad, or are not completed)?  Let those “paid cash for my home” buyers get into one of those bad faith deals, and they’d scream, too.  The mechanic “said” your transmission was rebuilt, but a minor repair was made, instead (because that was all that was really needed: again, “bad faith”).

I could go on and on…but if “screwing the other person over is fine, as long as you don’t do do it to me” is the mentality out there, what a merciless, horrible future, we face.  Our unsuspecting children will have it even worse, and eventually they will learn to lie, cheat, steal, and otherwise be “out to get the other person, before he or she gets me.”  What a vicious downward spiral.

I would venture to guess that 99% of the “read your contract” folks slept through the part about the necessity for good faith that underpins all contractual agreements in whatever business law class they may have taken (if they took one at all).  For that matter, the “rule of law” itself means nothing, to individuals or a citizenry at large in the situation under which laws apply, when the intent of parties is to willfully act in bad faith.

What really frustrates me, is questioning my own life in the face of such mean-spirited, presumptuous, holier than thou “don’t spend what you don’t have” remarks.  It’s not my video, but I (too) spent money “I did not have.”  I get the feeling that these critical individuals who are passing judgment, would not care that I did so going to graduate school, so that I could be academically qualified to teach.  I wanted to try to help people, and I have.  Thus, I question myself: “But at what cost?”

The comments from those who “do have” (apparently some have a whole lot — they even think that beyond credit cards, people should have no debt, not even a mortgage — must be fabulous, buying houses for cash) really hurt.  Some were laden with expletives and made me feel like anyone who is in debt, for any reason, is scorned.  They really are merciless, barbaric, Roman Emperor “thumbs down” callous; many are not even civil to one another.  If comments like that come to this blog, I do not want them.  We can all disagree, but I’m not interested in a brawl.

Did I make a mistake, going to graduate school?  Well, it was certainly a financial mistake.  Did I make a mistake, thinking I could make a difference by teaching?  I don’t think so.  Not every student is going to like every professor, or learn, but most seem to learn from what I provide in the classroom (or on my faculty site, et cetera).  Am I sorry I borrowed money to go to graduate school?  Absolutely, yes.

Could I have gone to graduate school without borrowing money?  I would have been too old to teach, if I waited and saved enough to “pay cash.”

Would I live my life differently, if I had it to do over again?  I would not change some things:

I’m far from perfect, and I’ve certainly made mistakes, but I’ve always done the best I could;

I pay my bills on time and meet my obligations;

I’m a good citizen: I pay my taxes, although I’m very concerned that government is spending “our money” on the wrong things at the wrong time, and at levels that are beyond all of our means (for example, see my previous article, “A low cost ‘2-3-4′ assumable step-loan program would have prevented much of what has ailed us and what will be ailing us for decades“);

I earn an honest living: I don’t wake up each morning trying to think of ways to screw people over (like many credit card companies do); instead, I try to help them;

I am a hard worker;

I take pride in maintaining my home and I take care of what I do have;

I was a very good student, in graduate school;

I have been completely faithful to my wife (I do tell “wife jokes” on occasion…but wives, including mine, tell “husband jokes,” too); I love my wife and my children;

I am a person of faith (but I do not believe that is my right to judge others in their faith, or any lack thereof);

I accept other people (and their individual and cultural perspectives — indeed, I love learning about these);

When I am gone I will leave what I hope will be pleasant “memories” for some whose paths in life have crossed my own;

My writings, art, and photographs (as forms of expression) may be seen as a contribution, by somebody.

Meanwhile, the other thing that really hurts is the selfishness and ignorance suggested by some comments under the aforementioned video.  When I say “ignorance,” I mean the inability to think (apparently) about the interconnectedness of it all, beyond individuals, consumers and what they buy using credit cards.

This is not strictly a consumer or consumption issue.  It’s a lot of interrelated concerns that are at stake here: “fairness,” whatever that is ultimately defined to be (in consideration of usury), being the biggest one.   Political processes and corruption (credit card industry lobbyists having more influence that “we the people” — millions upon millions of credit card holders) is also a major issue.  This is especially exacerbated with the media too afraid to engage in real journalism because of the threat of lost ad revenues, so they make these things a “last page” mention (or ignore them).  (I have not seen one hard hard-hitting story about the Congressional testimony delivered by Chase executives who used opt outs to describe the means by which customers were treated fairly, yet Chase turned right around and refused to provide an opt out with its infamous 5% — payment-jacking — change in terms.)

I am also referring to issues related to the economy, which is especially in need of nurturing small businesses (the vast majority of which are started by entrepreneurial “bootstrapping,” and may very likely entail using HELOCs, credit cards, and/or other non-traditional sources of capital).

Importantly, bootstrapping, including using credit cards to start businesses has been done successfully.  I would offer Google as a bootstrapping start-up example, a company that has gone on to generate wealth and employment for thousands.

Now, I am not saying that start-ups should use credit cards; rather, I am merely pointing out that they do use credit cards.  And they do so in very large numbers.  Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t, but entrepreneurs are typically passionate people who are driven to try (there are so many obstacles, they need to be).  Furthermore, without the successful efforts of some who do make it, civilization as we know it would not exist (if you’re reading this on a computer, thank many entrepreneurs who each played a part in bringing that computer to market).

And yes, I acknowledge that it would be nice to “save up” and “pay cash” to start a business (buy a house or a car, or go to graduate school).  Unfortunately, in many instances, it would be too late; i.e., with entrepreneurship, it can be the case that an opportunity or market that isn’t seized promptly, is lost permanently.

Despite this present post, or all of the ChangeInTerms.com site’s content, there apparently will always be comments by dismissive, naive, selfish individuals who either cannot or will not grasp the issues.  Have I make a mistake, fighting the abusive treatment of customers by credit card companies (again, I have asked myself)?  I’ve outlined who I am and what I believe in, and I don’t think so.

© Dr Robert Lahm for ChangeinTerms.com, 2009. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: "Bail Out", consumers, credit, credit cards, debt, interest, interest rate, small business, Testimony

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Osama bin Laden: May you be a Chase account holder, at the mercy of its customer service representatives, forever. 

I thank “M” for a comment which included a link to a September 9, 2009 press release entitled, “Consumer Groups Call on Chase Bank to End Minimum Payment Hikes on Fixed Rate Credit Cards.”  Along with additional observations, the release included a copy of a letter that was sent to Chase Card Services CEO Gordon Smith, from the consumer groups (Consumers Union, National Consumer Law Center, USPIRG). 

For those of you who do not know, Consumers Union is the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports; the National Consumer Law Center is a leading advocacy organization “protecting vulnerable consumers and promoting marketplace justice”; and  USPIRG is a “federation of state Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs).” 

Rather than quoting the aforementioned letter in its entirety, I’d like to use this present post to make some observations related to selected passages.  First, considering the source (all of these are premier consumer advocacy organizations), I would submit that the conclusion was certainly a rebuke to Mr. Smith’s leadership decisions while at the helm of Chase Card Services:

“By changing the terms of these promotional financial products Chase is significantly harming the economic stability of the families who make up its consumer base. We ask that Chase reconsider this devastating change in terms.”

The letter included two examples.  One was about a customer who used a promotional balance transfer to pay for his daughter’s college tuition.  And the other example was in connection with a small business owner, who “is having a hard time thinking about how he will pay more than twice as much to Chase each month and still turn over a profit to keep his business going” in light of a new monthly payment of $1200, which had previously been $475 per month.

In case it is not obvious, I have long been aggravated about Chase’s willingness to harm families, students, and small businesses with no apparent sense of restraint or remorse: no “opt out” (despite Chase’s portrayals before Congress in testimony that used opt outs to describe the means by which Chase treated customers fairly*).  The fact that it has pursued this course of action while at the same time defaming responsible account holders in the media is really sick and loathsome as well. 

Since most of my personal indebtedness is associated with my decision to return to graduate school at a significant cost, with what I thought was a worthy motive of becoming academically qualified to teach, trying to help people, I am able to easily empathize with students. 

Now, in my present role as an entrepreneurship professor, I feel duty-bound to speak out regarding the “devastating” consequences that have been imposed on Chase customers who used what was promised to be “fixed APR for the life of the balance” loans in connection with small businesses (many of whom are bootstrapping – sorry they’re not glamorous enough for the Chase corporate culture to appreciate, but these entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of our economy and must be nurtured).  (Do not even get me started, Chase, arguing that customers are voluntarily giving up those fixed rates — the choice is nothing more than another underhanded scheme devised to further enrich Chase executives: Door Number 1, 2, or 3.)

Meanwhile, in light of the above (what Chase has done under the authority of Mr. Smith and his executive team) I’d have to point out (again) that this is not an example of leadership.  The reason for my repetition is that this is a brand new semester, with a brand new Master of Entrepreneurship Degree Program cohort, and a course in New Venture Leadership at the undergraduate level to be taught.  (Thus, I have been thinking about the most important objectives that I have in delivering these courses, in keeping with the notion that I want to contribute to the development of individual students, but also to the cause at large of fostering and enabling entrepreneurship.) 

It’s interesting, first impressions are being formed with these students, and in an opening class session I asked them what leadership “is” (broadly, but also in the context of entrepreneurship).  Obviously, whatever leadership is defined to be in the latest bestselling book — usually a rehash of old concepts using new buzzwords — has long been used as a source from which many would derive their answers.  If you are reading this and waiting for a sound bite or my definition, sorry to disappoint, but I think we’re into a very broad subject (which some have studied their entire lives — and I ask my students to do this). 

I don’t mind framing the subject, however, so let’s start by establishing some dimensionality.  Whatever “floats your boat” with respect to terms that may be used, but I believe that there is “good” leadership as well as “bad” leadership.  To some extent, leaders are associated with their ability to amass followers.  With his charismatic public persona and brilliant use of oratory, Adolf Hitler amassed and subsequently perverted a substantial group of followers who committed unspeakable atrocities and acts of evil.  He almost led the entire world down a path to “unity,” by destroying anyone he did not deem fit to exist such that those who remained would be unified.  Hitler was a “bad” leader.  

(I insert today: Osama bin Laden was/is a “bad” leader.)  I think that the leadership at Chase, is “bad,” too; even if the methods of “bad” leaders differ, the lust for domination and callousness in wreaking “devastation” upon others is apparently the same. 

I think “good” leadership requires individuals who hold high ethical standards.  Frankly, there is a whole scholarly area interested in ethics, but I’d like to keep it simple and give some examples demonstrating ethical breeches on the part of Chase.  For one, back when Chase issued its first infamous change in terms notice, that notice stated: “Important: Your APRs will not be impacted by these changes.” 

I’m sorry, Chase, but adding a so-called service charge that “is a finance charge” (ibid, panel 2) does indeed impact APRs, and stating that it doesn’t is not ethical; frankly, since you are in the banking business and know full-well that such actions raise the APR, I am amazed that Chase would expose itself as being so plainly deceptive in its business practices.  I am even more amazed that Chase correspondence, sent to me from its own Executive Offices would be so absurdly and disingenuously written, in light of basic “financial facts of life” regarding the mathmatical result of adding finance charges on top of finance charges, acting as though this had no impact!

Bullying and coercion are not ethical (it is coercive to raise a payment so radically, “devastating” the household budgets of individuals — including students — and families as well as the operating budgets of small business owners).  Portraying one scenario before Congress (referring to opt outs) only to deny customers an opt out is not ethical (and other than the fact that Chase and the banking industry virtually “owns” Congress and the OCC, I think it’s tantamount to perjury).  Portraying responsible account holders who have met all of their obligations as laggards who were not paying enough, soon enough, before the media is not ethical either. 

Leadership also requires the ability to anticipate the long-term implications of actions that may be taken.  Clearly, attacking a group of “good” customers, alienating them forever, is short-sighted.  With an inkling of positive news in the economy lately, I have recently seen new American Express advertising geared to a small business audience; yet, the imagery of Kevin Johnson and the followers he has on his site, NewCreditRules.com, is what comes to mind first in connection with the AmEx brand.  (Now Kevin is running for office: GO KEVIN!) 

My kid brother contacted me the other day and informed me that Bank of America radically raised his rate to 27% (Bank of America has now taken over my prior mortgage company, and every time I talk with them they want me to speak with a loan officer about originating a new home loan, once I finally sell my present home).  How many times do I have to say it, incompetent bankers?  You’ve messed around with me, my wife (hence, my immediate family), my brother, friends, neighbors, and my colleagues, students, small business owners (therefore the economic well being of all of us), and the result is that

NOW I’M COMING AFTER YOU!  

In short, I think “good” and effective leadership requires at a minimum, an ability to refrain from “harming the economic stability” of not just customers, but of people in general.  Every soul is important.  Harming any person — especially in these difficult times — simply exacerbates an already troubled situation, and that’s what Chase has managed to do (I’ve lost count of the number of people impacted after another wave of change in terms notices — millions) with Gordon Smith at the helm of its Card Services Division.  

I have previously written about the irony of Gordon Smith lecturing at the Thunderbird School of Global Management.  While as he was speaking, minions back at Chase must have been very busy conjuring up and then distributing the first wave of change in terms notices.  The irony was associated with his topic: leadership. 

I certainly hope that in the future, the administration and faculty at Thunderbird would “consider the source” and recognize that their former guest speaker has overseen “devastating” attacks against consumers on the part of Chase Cards Services while he has served as its CEO (duly noted by some premier consumer advocacy organizations), and therefore he does not seem to be an appropriate choice for delivering a lecture on leadership (or marketing, or anything else that I can think of). 

I’m teaching an MBA class in strategy and marketing this semester as well.  I would not be rude to a guest speaker under any circumstances, but then again, I would not invite Mr. Smith to speak in my class (unless he wanted to apologize on behalf of Chase for “harming the economic stability” of every one of us — not just account holders).

The ultimate irony is that causing such harm to others, also harms Chase.  I’m afraid that’s not leadership either, Mr. Smith.  And, I don’t think I’m going to close this post by asking you to “reconsider” (using such a gentle approach, as did the authors of the letter written by consumer groups).  Rather, Chase’s “leadership” can either retract (further details of this demand can be found here – don’t you just love fine print!) its actions, or suffer all of the consequences that will come as a result of destroying its own brand by cultivating an outright rebellion.  Since what I just said is apparently beyond the intellectual or moral capacity of Chase to grasp, I’ll put it in terms that its executive team should be able to understand (as the tyrant and bully that it has been):

If Chase wants peace, it can issue a press release.

I’ll conclude with what I hope is perceived as a respectful remark in connection with the authors of the press release and letter that has been the subject of my discussion here: Chase is not just harming customers ”who make up its consumer base.”  As I have said many times before, when small businesses are harmed, when students are harmed, when individuals and families are harmed, when neighbors, co-workers, brothers and sisters are harmed, then we’re all harmed. 

It does really make me wonder, in light of such a damning letter from these advocacy organizations, would Thunderbird School of Global Management’s faculty sensibilities really support the actions of Chase Card Services? 

* I have previously acknowledged that “fairness” is evidently an outdated concept at Chase, concluding based on its actions that: “Everyone knows the life of our [Chase's] testimony is about the same as our ‘life of the balance loans’ — until we change our minds and change the terms.”

© Dr Robert Lahm for ChangeinTerms.com, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: advocacy, change in terms, consumers, credit, credit cards, customer service, debt, economy, interest, notices, small business, Testimony

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Chase wants to give BIG rewards to holders of this card unlike their egregious loan-shark-like actions implemented against the peons who were upholding their side of the agreement by diligently paying off their credit cards. Playing reverse Robin Hood, no doubt….squeezing the the little guy to make credit card life better for the affluent.

Excerpt: Quote from Joan Bassett, marketing director for Chase Sapphire “We’re giving cardmembers more value and positioning Chase well for the long term,” said Ms. Bassett. “What we’re seeing in our data is consumers are looking to get more out of their reward programs, looking to redeem them and expected to be rewarded more for their loyalty.”

Change-in-terms for the Wealthy

Chase – Targets high-income consumers in multimedia effort

“NEW YORK JPMorgan Chase is kicking off a national ad campaign in support of its new credit card, Chase Sapphire, a service for upscale consumers that rewards users for spending.

In a bid to reach shoppers with deep pockets, Chase Card Services is investing an estimated $30 million in measured media to introduce Chase Sapphire, ….. Sapphire is being marketed to consumers in the upper 15 percent of all U.S. households, with incomes of $120,000 or more.”

This effort is a little different than the change in terms we all experienced with Chase. Since Chase continues to empty our pockets, it stands to reason as our pockets get emptier, Chase would go hunting for deeper pockets. Recently I’ve been reading complaints posted by people whose Chase Reward cards have also had a sudden change in terms – regular folks who will no longer receive the rewards they signed up for and have been enjoying for years. When asked for an explanation, Chase continues to recite the “it’s the economy, it’s market forces, it’s because we can” mantra they used with us…ad infinitum, ad nauseum…

Apparently the “economy, market, and because we can” are motivation for this new breathtakingly expensive marketing gambit. Amazing, isn’t it? The exact same market conditions which cause one group of long-term, reliable customers to be cruelly punished is the reason a huge carrot is to be offered to another group of customers that does not yet exist.

Chase Long Term Positioning Plan : A bird in the hand is worth nothing, while hypothetical birds in the bush are worth, well….a speculativeTHIRTY MILLION DOLLAR AD CAMPAIGN!!!

Watch for the $30,000,000 Sapphire ad campaign – coming to a television channel near you! There must be a untold thousands of affluent customers who have had their heads buried in the sand this past year and either don’t know and/or don’t care that Chase has been treating millions of their customers like dirt. Rich, deep pocketed consumers, who are just dying to hop on Chase’s Sapphire Band Wagon.

Chase will treat wealthy Sapphire card holders right and will never change the terms on them, right?

If you believe that, I have a bridge I want to sell you…..

A Chase Promise made is a Promise you can count on (Chase breaking).

© pdurant for ChangeinTerms.com, 2009. | Permalink | 18 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: change in terms, complaints, consumers, credit, credit cards, economy, interest, interest rate

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As you may recall (in connection with questions about exactly what Chase and other banks were doing with YOUR bail out money), following its September 2008 acquisition of Washington Mutual’s banking operations, including the former WaMu brand, Chase now operates more than 5,000 branches nationwide (as is also indicated in the cited press release).  Here’s a link to a handy branch location finder (you might find this useful as you read further).

Meanwhile, the purpose of this post is to convey that some Chase branch managers may not be familiar with protections that we have as ordinary citizens, such as “freedom of speech.”

I realize that it would be nice, from the bank’s point of view, if we were all serfs with no rights whatsoever (economically enslaved), but we still have the right to protest.

For months, Alessandro Machi has been doing a fabulous job of protesting through his live appearances with Daily-Protest.com signs.  And recently, I have been contacted by another fellow “Comrade in the Chase Resistance Movement,” who has also been garnering the approval of motorists who have honked in favor of his message as they have observed his “DON’T TRUST” (side 1) — “CHASE” (side 2) sign.

Of course, Chase branch managers don’t really seem to care for free speech, coming from customers, and that’s too bad.

I do find it ironic that the “that’s too bad we can do anything we please attitude” regularly exhibited by Chase employees (not afraid of the impotent OCC) toward customers has now backfired: Customers have the right to speak out in protest against Chase, for having done as it darned well pleased (in a manner that many customers consider to be outrageous and hurtful).

I have been asked not to promote the name of our new-found friend and fellow protester, but he has supplied plenty of other material and permission to share it.  Taken from his emails, here is a description of the activities with which he has been involved:

**************************************************

“The first 2 days, the bank manager tried to intimidate me any way he could:

1)       He attempted to “video” me with his cell phone.  I blocked my face like an accused criminal!

2)       He asked me if I had a permit.  No, I didn’t.  But I told him that I had already personally visited the Buena Park Police Department the day before and they told me I didn’t need one if I stayed on the sidewalk.

3)       He told me I could not distribute anything.  At that point, I told him to call the police.  He said they were already called!

4)       Police arrived.  The police officer did not even get out of his car!  The officer told me that the bank manager claimed I was blocking their private driveway.  This was a complete fabrication!  I politely suggested that the officer review the bank manager’s cell phone video and the officer will NOT see that on the video!  The police officer then drove away without taking any further statement from the bank personnel!  I went back to holding my sign!

5)       By the second day, I was allowing the bank manager to “video” my face with his cell phone.  As soon as I did that, he wasn’t interested in videoing me any more!

Intimidation didn’t work, so now the branch is in the ignore mode.

For the record, the branch number is #1281, at the corner of the very busy intersection of Beach Blvd. and La Palma Ave., Buena Park, CA (caddy corner to Knott’s Berry Farm – Famous landmark in Buena Park, CA – The nation’s first “themed” amusement park! – Origin of the “Boysenberry” and built before Disneyland, also in Orange County, CA!).

It seems odd to me that the branch numbers do not appear on their website!

Here’s what else I have done.  I have gone to about 7 branches now, and have personally handed the “BEWARE” flyer [see below] to the bank manager (if possible) or an assistant manager, and informed him or her that this flyer will be given to all of their customers.  I then walk out of the branch.  They usually look dumbfounded!  But, from what I gather, I think they have a procedure in place for this kind of activity.  I believe, at the very least, that they are instructed to fax the “flyer” to their District Manager.  My 7 branches are in 2 counties, Orange and Los Angeles!  I hope Chase is buzzing behind the scenes with one or more District Managers receiving the same flyer from all of these different branches.

This is something people can do!  Take the flyer to their local Chase branch.  As many branches as possible!  Ask to speak to the manager.  Tell him or her that this flyer will be handed out to all their customers.  And then leave!”

**************************************************

One word of caution to folks: If you decide to mount your own protest, make sure you are familiar with your rights and responsibilities under your own local laws (and keep in mind that ChangeInTerms.com is not engaged in rendering professional or legal advice).

For example, you will note that the police department in Buena Park was consulted, first.  Further, in the above instance, the flyer could not be given to any customers on bank property (doing so would have been considered trespassing).  But, as a customer, people do have a right to “communicate” (for example, with the branch manager and/or his or her designated representative). 

I also learned that one of the benefits of the location associated with the photos below was as follows:

“By the way, another advantage of this branch at this busy intersection is because I believe the bus stop at this corner is a bus schedule, timepoint. That means that if a bus arrives there ahead of schedule, the driver must wait there until the scheduled departure time. So, I use that opportunity to hand the flyer to the bus driver and tell him or her to spread the word to all of their friends and work associates! Not one driver has refused it! Hey, they need some light reading to fill these pauses in their day!”

Here are the photos (we love them!):

Beach Blvd., north of La Palma Ave. looking north-west. “DON’T TRUST”

Beach Blvd., north of La Palma Ave. looking north-west. “CHASE”

Here is a link to the handout (about which our friend stated, “I would like to see this flyer go nationwide!” — so would we!).

Finally, here is a copy of a press release that was sent to The Orange County Register (no answer — but there are plenty of other members of the media who may appreciate having a copy):

For Immediate Release

To: Michael Mello, The Orange County Register

08/04/2009

Buena Park, CA

Hundreds, if not thousands of motorists were greeted today driving north on Beach Blvd., north of La Palma Ave. by the words, “DON’T TRUST CHASE”. Those words were emblazoned upon a sign held by a yet to be identified male protester in front of the Chase Bank Branch located on that corner. Many motorists felt inclined to honk in support of those words.

Apparently, this individual has grievances with the “Change in Terms” on credit cards issued by Chase Bank. Upon learning of the presence of the protester, the bank manager emerged from the branch in 90+ degree heat, and proceeded to video the individual with his cell phone. When that did not encourage the protester to leave, the Buena Park Police were called to complain that the protester was allegedly, illegally blocking their private driveway on Beach Blvd. Upon arrival, the police determined that no violations had occurred and they drove off without taking any further statement from bank personnel.

According to the protester, these daily protests will continue until an acceptable resolution is reached with Chase Bank.

###

I can’t help but wonder if Chase sent any of its infamous change in terms notices to police officers (maybe the one who was called by Chase’s Branch Manager!)?

© Dr Robert Lahm for ChangeinTerms.com, 2009. | Permalink | 29 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: "Bail Out", banks, change in terms, credit, credit cards, interest, notices

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At the time, my wife and I thought that since everything was packed, and our ultimate destination was North Carolina, anyway, then we should go ahead and move it.  (Usually there is little or no moving allowance by the way; it’s Penske trucks — and a massive DIY packing project when we have moved — ever since I began my second career in academia.)

Over the phone (although we had seen the property on a house-hunting trip when we were under the impression that our home sale would close), we leased a 3-bedroom, 2-bath condo.  Our thinking was that we would live there (in the condo), and visit the house in Tennessee until it sold.

We keep an extremely clean and well maintained home (I was without a home, i.e., homeless, at one point in my adult life, so I am very obsessive-compulsive about taking care of what we do have), and our real estate agent expressed confidence in the property’s prospects for selling again soon (during the fall 2008).  The condo manager was kind, and even negotiated an “out” clause in our agreement, in the event that we did sell.

We left just enough things in the Tennessee home to get by: the guest bedroom bed, a scaled down but working kitchen, a few chairs, a small (old-style) TV (we don’t own one of those fancy, newfangled flat-screen TVs), some folding chairs and folding tables, and just a few pieces of furniture in the great room.  The kids’ rooms were emptied completely.  The washer and dryer were moved.  Most clothes, linens, and anything such as personal effects, photographs and memorabilia: they were packed and moved.

After my first week of new employee orientation, we all got in the car and headed back to Tennessee, from the condo in North Carolina.  When we arrived in the early hours of the morning (about 1:00 a.m. on a Saturday, having left on a Friday night), we found our door unlocked.  Yep, a real estate agent had shown the home and failed to lock the door properly.

I could fill up a whole new blog expressing my sentiments and experiences with real estate agents, if I only had the time (noting that blog is short for web log, which originally suggested an online diary).  I’ll skip that for now, because I want to simply point out why we came to the immediate conclusion that someone had to stay in Tennessee, to baby-sit the house.

This was because irresponsible, unprofessional, incompetent realtors (spell-check wants me to capitalize here, but I refuse to do so), don’t give a second thought about sellers’ properties (all they work for is commissions, those so-called buyer’s agents are not in a position to be either “free” or objective when they earn their living by taking their “cut” off the top of every transaction).  They act like your property is their property, to show (calling from a cell phone in your driveway), but they sure as heck don’t bother to extend any respect otherwise.

Since my job was in North Carolina, my wife and kids were the ones to stay with the house for sale.

“Should we bring stuff back?,” we wondered to ourselves.

“No, we’ll wait it out — the house will sell again, soon,” we said; our agent said.

In the meantime, my wife and kids lived as though they were “camping out,” inside of a suburban home.  People have suffered worse; I have suffered worse (as I said, I was once without a home for a period of time).  But, things were not working out as we expected.  I commuted.

My university office was in transition, because the College of Business building was being renovated.  I was advised not to unpack, there.  I had no intention of unpacking most of what had been moved to the condo, either.  Everywhere, most of what we had was either “nothingness” (in Tennessee) or packed and stacked.

As a teacher, I have always enjoyed bringing in exhibits to support what I may have to discuss on any given topic; these resources were packed.  As a researcher, my books and files: packed.  I was not getting “settled in” at work.

As the fall semester was winding up, we were debating where to spend Christmas.  We had signed with a new real estate listing agent (our third), and among the assurances given in the agreement was one that stated that the home would be secured after any showing.  We ended up spending Christmas day in North Carolina, but as can be learned from reading my How Chase Card Service Stole Christmas eBook, that day was destroyed.

The new spring 2009 semester soon began.  My dear cousin was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; my wife was scheduled for major surgery in February.  Chase had threatened everything I had worked for, for years.  Chase jeopardized my family.  Chase cornered me, although I had done nothing wrong, and evidently, hundreds of thousands of other families and small businesses.

I have been fighting my own personal battles for a long time: to acquire a formal education as an adult learner at the undergraduate level (finally, at the age of 28, I earned that first degree); as an employee in various industries; as an entrepreneur (who has both failed and succeeded); as a husband and father; and in recent years as an academically employed individual.

It’s true.  I have incurred and carried a significant debt load.  However, my debts are primarily associated with my decision to return to graduate school, with the aspiration of becoming qualified to teach; my desire was and is to try to help and serve others.  I had been paying down my debts.  I had been meeting my obligations (I am still doing both, but I am referring to where I stood as I began the spring 2008 semester), and Chase, had decided to attack its most loyal customers.

The spring semester marched on:

My wife had surgery, and recovered (stranded for six weeks with food at arm’s reach on a folding table) in a near-empty house, primarily under the care of children;

Our third real estate agent resigned earlier than the contract specified (she did not have the professionalism to do so in person; she sent emails and subsequently an administrative assistant to have us sign off on the termination — good riddance!);

My dear cousin died;

Chase sent its letter stating that it had “incorrectly” included my account in its infamous “5% minimum payment; ’service charge’ that ‘is a finance charge’,” change in terms;

(But) by then, my personal financial matters became public information, as I felt the only way to fight was to be willing to talk to the media, and use this blog to communicate my disdain for the abusive practices of credit card companies at large against consumers and small businesses;

By May, our house was on the market without a real estate agent (during this period, we observed some of the most unethical treatment of all);

By June, I gave notice at the North Carolina condo — I was moving (almost) everything back to Tennessee.  If we had to look forward to an indefinite period, during which we were still trying to sell, at least my wife and kids could live like normal people in our home;

During the month of June and July, I moved.  A lot of hard physical labor has been involved (my wife has recovered but she is in no condition to be doing “heavy lifting”);

A few weeks ago, in mid-July, the ChangeInTerms.com site went down.  The host suggested that it may have been attacked because a “malicious” hacker file was found in one of the folders;

Concurrently, Chase has mercilessly attacked hundreds of thousands more account holders, hurting consumers, small businesses, and all those who might be considered collateral damage – employees, families;

My emails have piled up;

One of my emails, from someone who knows me and about my advocacy and concern for entrepreneurs, states: “Just as you feared…..Here’s a small, growing business about to be put out of business by Chase’s change in terms.  These folks did what a lot of us did – used Chase credit cards to finance their business”;

My home is now put back together, and habitable (as of several days ago);

Long overdue personal matters have been serviced (tires, dental exams, and the like);

I don’t know where I will be living this coming semester, but I think it will be in hotels (at least I can come home more often, not worrying about our personal things being left in North Carolina);

Here is where I stand, now:

I think I have managed to restore the site, with the exception of the missing posts and comments since June 22, 2009.  I am very disappointed with the hosting situation — that’s a long story.  To make it short, data centers are often attacked, or there can be other naturally occurring issues that arise.  That’s what backups are for, and the reason the site is up again at all is because it was restored from a backup, except for the missing data which for some mysterious reason simply is not in that database – I have looked (at the actual database).

Meanwhile, the company that does the hosting is engaged in a transition, and is moving its customer base to new servers held under a different company name.  I can’t predict the future relative to that transition and the consequences that may arise.

I do not want to complain.  However, it seems that I have no choice but to state a lament: I have said I do not want donations because it sends the wrong message (the long version is elsewhere on the site).  Yet, it remains the case that help is needed in support of this cause in other ways.

I am not a programmer.  I have a career and a lot of responsibilities (and also a very challenging personal situation with a home that has not sold in Tennessee, while at the same time my job is in North Carolina, as detailed above, perhaps ad nauseam).

I have received a number of emails expressing concern that the site was down altogether or not functioning properly.  These tell me that I am not alone in my concern over the issues between credit card companies and their abusive treatment of consumers and small businesses.

That being said, I have felt very much alone in the technology support arena, and it has been up to me to “fix” these problems.

I’ll do the best I can.

No reader should interpret the above to suggest that at some point, frustrated with technology, I would throw in the towel relative to the larger cause.  The site is a tool in the fight, but not the only one.  When you are on a journey and the vehicle breaks down, then you get out and continue on by other means.

You push.  You pull.  You walk.  Or you crawl.

I am on a journey, and I sometimes get to travel fast, and at other times progress is slow.  It can be the case that everything comes to a standstill, or we lose ground and go backwards.  If you are with me, against the abusive treatment of consumers and small businesses by credit card companies, then rest assured that I will continue fighting.

As long as we are right and the leaders of credit card companies are wrong, they will never win the race.  Faith is mightier than fear, and with the former you shall prevail over all obstacles.

© Dr Robert Lahm for ChangeinTerms.com, 2009. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: advocacy, change in terms, consumers, credit, credit cards, debt, small business

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Professor Warren’s article came to my attention yesterday afternoon as I was perusing emails, one of which was a newsletter from Americans for Fairness in Lending (AFFIL).  You may want to check out the AFFIL blog, here.  Now having read the newsletter and blog, I have concluded that I am not watching enough late night TV (referring to the fact that President Obama used Professor Warren’s “toaster analogy” during his appearance on Leno; I missed that one). 

While I am humbled by my inability to keep up, to me this suggests a need to openly admit that as one human being, it is unlikely that I will ever be able to do so all by myself.  The various newsletters and “heads up” messages I receive from site visitors are helpful, but I would respectfully ask for more.  Thus, comments that include links to such current events and information on the site can and often do direct visitors to very useful insights and resources, so keep them coming. 

Indeed, at the risk of calling upon all of you here too forcefully or appearing to sidestep my own responsibilities in terms of remaining informed and engaging in advocacy on this site: it is incumbent upon every one of us, working together, to create a robust knowledge management system and a (social networking) platform as a means of resistance against a common enemy: any credit card company that would engage in abusive practices against account holders.  (Oops! — maybe I’m spending too much time on the geeky stuff; translation: we need to collect and share all of the information we can get our hands on, and spread the word so that everyone on the whole planet who has been treated badly by credit card companies has a voice, and that voice is heard, loudly.) 

Meanwhile, in my ”PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL“ post, I was intending to make some “fresh, new and original” observations using my interpretation of the PEW (“SAFE CREDIT CARD“) study; yet, Professor Warren’s idea for a Financial Product Safety Commission definitely came before mine (i.e., summer 2007).  Further, since I was being somewhat sarcastic, directing my attention to Chase in particular relative to my own analysis as to what constituted an unsafe product, I might clarify: her suggestion for such a Commission is one that I think should be taken very seriously. 

I’m certainly not in the least bit surprised that Professor Warren may have many ideas that are excellent, and proactive, as she has been a leading proponent of credit card reform for years.  I have previously exchanged collegial correspondence with her, and I certainly admire her service as a true champion regarding this issue.

Although the aforementioned AFFIL email newsletter’s subject line announced a “Credit Card Victory!,” I think that there’s a lot more work yet to do. 

When an industry is run by people who are constantly looking for ways to bully customers and who spend their time dreaming up more and more ways to trap consumers (as a full-time avocation), we can’t let our guard down.  The credit card industry’s executives aren’t sorry; they’re sorry they got caught.  We won another round (the first significant blow against Chase, in particular, was its retraction of the so-called “service charge” that was in fact, “a finance charge”).  However, this industry as a whole fights with sucker punches and dirty blows below the belt.  What will Chase conjure up next?  We don’t know, but I note that whatever Chase executives may do, I am expecting that “fairness will be outdated” (i.e., no opt out). 

It’s not that I don’t want to celebrate, but I’ve already issued my own demands on behalf of myself and consumers who have been abused by Chase: ”If Chase wants peace, it can issue a press release” (making good on its promises to provide opt outs and addressing a number of other insults to account holders’ dignity, such as its defamatory portrayal of 400,000 account holders in the media, about which I have already written numerous times). 

This is no time for us to quit relative to the industry at large, either.  Opt outs need to be law (Alessandro has pleaded for you to “vote,” and now I am asking, too); mandatory arbitration is a rigged game (and it needs to end); and credit cards will continue to be unsafe, as long as the credit card companies are intent upon finding ways to engage consumers in a battle of wits with regard to a constant barrage of change in terms notices.  Last but not least, regulation without meaningful enforcement (I think it’s now clear that the OCC is a joke, given that Chase evidently finds the threat of its intervention laughable). 

No, we’re not done yet.  And you had better think twice if you think that Chase is anything less than a “terminator,” that is programmed (evidently as a core component of its culture and leadership) to keep coming, and coming, and coming, until the rights of all human account holders are obliterated.  Chase “will be back.”   

So, until all of your “unsafe” products have been recalled, credit card companies: 

NOW WE’RE (STILL) COMING AFTER YOU

© Dr Robert Lahm for ChangeinTerms.com, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: consumers, credit, credit cards

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Thus, it was pure pleasure to read that Stephanie could not comment after a Federal Judge ruled against Chase today. The issue is not exactly on point with our issues but hey, any ruling against Chase is a step in the right direction. May the future hold many more headlines like the following….

JPMorgan loses court ruling over credit cards

Excerpt:

NEW YORK, May 19 (Reuters) – A federal appeals court reinstated a claim by a JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) credit card holder accusing the bank of failing to properly disclose risk factors that allow it to suddenly raise rates.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said the bank failed to make “clear and conspicuous disclosure” of the annual percentage rates it could impose, as required under the federal Truth in Lending Act, by burying the reason for an increase in the fine print of a cardholder agreement….

…He said this was “buried too deeply in the fine print” for a reasonable cardholder to realize the bank could raise the APR not just for events of default, but for “any reason at all.”….

…Chase spokeswoman Stephanie Jacobson said the New York-based bank does not comment on pending litigation.”…

May the lawsuits continue to multiply. May court rulings against Chase gain momentum. May Ms. Jacobson be unable to comment on many occasions as lawsuits against Chase wend their way through the court system.

I hope having to hold her tongue is driving Stephanie nuts. Being powerless to counter her many derogatory comments about me and my fellow account holders kind of drove me crazy. Ah….the sound of (Stephanie’s) silence. So sweet.

© pdurant for ChangeinTerms.com, 2009. | Permalink | 19 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: change in terms, credit, credit cards

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