Related Consumer Finance Programs - The following lists of companies and financial service providers offer services to assist you with handling your debts. Combine debt with a consolidation loan or use a credit counseling or debt relief program for help with lowering your payments and getting your credit card bills and other obligations under control.
- Debt Settlement Service - If you have a large amount credit cards and other unsecured debts, and have fallen behind your payments, this form of debt negotiation may be the right option for helping you with your financial problems.
- Credit and Debt Management - Having trouble keeping up with your monthly credit payments? Compare debt management companies in this online list that can try amd help you get a grip on your personal financial situation.
- Personal Loan Rates - This type of lending is most often structured as an unsecured debt. This means your personal property or house will not used as collateral. Your approval (or denial) will usually be based upon your payment / credit history and your ability to repay the loan. This type of credit is also often called a signature loan.
Speed Paying and Banking
"Contactless" Credit and Debit Cards
You're probably used to swiping your credit or debit card's magnetic stripe through a sales terminal. But with the new generation of what are being called "contactless" cards, you can wave your card in front of the sales terminal (or quickly tap it on a screen) at participating retailers. A special reader at the sales counter will use a radio signal to gather the payment information from an electronic chip embedded in your credit or debit card. Another possibility (first introduced for use at gas pumps) is a small piece of plastic – perhaps a tag you can keep on your key chain or attached to your car's windshield – with a computer chip inside that can send information about which credit or debit card to charge. After getting a signal that your transaction has been recorded, you'll probably have the option to get a printed receipt. The transaction also will appear on your statement.
What's the benefit of contactless technology? It makes checking out faster, especially for small transactions (typically purchases under $25) at restaurants, convenience stores, movie theaters and other places.
If a contactless card is lost or stolen: You will have the same security protections and limits on loss under federal laws and financial industry policies as you would for any unauthorized use of your "regular" credit or debit card issued by a financial institution. That would include any zero-liability against losses that a financial institution may provide for a card. For details, contact your card issuer.
|
Spring 2007 |
High-tech cards and phones |
Pre-Loaded Cards |
"Contactless" Cards | |
FDIC Consumer News is published by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FDIC Consumer News is produced quarterly by the FDIC Office of Public Affairs in cooperation with other Divisions and Offices. It is intended to present information in a nontechnical way and is not intended to be a legal interpretation of FDIC or other government regulations and policies. Mention of a product, service or company does not constitute an endorsement.
Find current and past issues of FDIC Consumer News at http://www.fdic.gov/consumernews. Refer to this same index to locate the issues that are specially formatted for being reprinted in any quantity.
To receive an e-mail notice about each new issue of FDIC Consumer News posted on the FDIC Web site, with links to stories, follow instructions posted at www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.
Last updated on 5/16/2007