Bank of America's Ads Look Strangely Familiar...

If you were a fan of the sadly short-lived ABC comedy Better Off Ted, then you probably look back fondly on the satirical commercials for the show's fake company, Veridian Dynamics. Their ads were meant to address issues like diversity in the workplace, their variety of products, and organic food, but these ridiculous commercials only proved two things. First, the general public had no idea what Veridian Dynamics did. Second, the company had no idea how to address issues like diversity in the workplace without being completely racist.

I was catching up on my YouTube watching when I noticed a promoted video by Bank of America. I'm the sort of person who is really interested in how big companies like Bank of America utilize YouTube, so I clicked on the video.

Oh boy.

The marketing team over at Bank of America really needs to watch Better Off Ted because their ads are creeping into Veridian territory. With everything that Bank of America has done in the past few years, though, I guess it isn't surprising that their business ethics and promotions are starting to resemble Veridian Dynamics more and more.

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Jersey City Woman Hires Hitman for Ex-Boyfriend's New Girlfriend – With a Stolen Credit Card

Sometimes, life in New Jersey is so crazy that it sounds like something out of a movie, a TV show, or a bad love song. Meatloaf once sang that he would do anything for love, but I think he would look at Marissa Mark, shake his head sadly, and sing, “...but I won't do that.”

Back in 2006, Marissa Mark was living in Allentown, Pennsylvania and getting over a break-up. She could have taken the conventional routes of finding a rebound, eating ice cream directly out of the container, or watching lots of sappy movies, but Marissa had another idea in mind. She found a hitman online and hired him to kill her ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend.

Hitmen don't exactly come cheap, and the site operator for Hit Man For Hire agreed to pass along the job to his network of hitmen for $37,000. Marissa paid an initial $19,000 using stolen credit card accounts through PayPal, and she promised to pay off the rest once the job was done. The hitman, Essam Ahmed Eid, contacted the girlfriend using an alias, and he said that he would call off the job if she could pay him off. The girlfriend paid him $20,000, and not long after, Eid was arrested and charged for taking another paid hit job. PayPal canceled the payment transaction, and Marissa was arrested. She is now facing charges and could face up to 56 years in prison.

For being stupid in love, stupid in money, and just plain stupid, we are awarding the Navin R. Johnson Award to Marissa Mark. Hitmen and stolen credit cards are never the answer to a broken heart.

To learn more about responsible credit card use and protecting yourself as a consumer, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up with My Credit Specialist today.

Picture courtesy of MemeBase

Bank of America Gives Free Museum Passes to Credit Card Users

Credit cards have offered rewards for their users for years including cash-back incentives and airline miles, but Bank of America is offering a different kind of incentive to their card holders who appreciate good art and culture.

During the first full weekend of every month, Bank of America customers can get into museums across the country for free. Many of these participating museums are major institutions. In New York City, participating museums include the Bronx Zoo, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, the New York Aquarium, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This deal doesn't include special exhibition shows, but this is still a very good deal for card holders.

Now, I have never been a fan of Bank of America. I still think that they are a terrible bank to deal with, and I encourage our readers to steer clear of them. Even so, I love this incentive, and I think more banks should add museum incentives for their users, if only to expose more people to great art at the Met or science at the New York Aquarium.

For more consumer education and tips for finding the best credit card deals, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation today.

San Francisco Taxi Drivers Defy Law, Refuse Credit Cards

I work in New York City, and on occasion, I will hail a taxi instead of taking the bus or subway. New York City taxi cabs are equipped to take credit cards as payment, something that I can take for granted at times. In the past few weeks, however, taxi drivers have been telling San Francisco commuters that fully-functioning credit card machines are not working.

Why do San Francisco taxi drivers hate customers paying with plastic? Well, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency voted last year to pass along the five percent credit card transaction fees to taxi drivers. This might not seem like a lot of money, but that five percent adds up quickly.

According to San Francisco law, cab drivers are required to accept credit cards as payment, but many drivers are quietly breaking the law. Other drivers are instead taking the opportunity to educate their customers about how credit card transaction fees are cutting into drivers' profits and encouraging them to use cash instead of just denying their cards.

Personally, I believe that taxi drivers should follow the law as it states right now and not lie to their customers about broken credit card machines. Instead, they should focus their energies on ending credit card transaction fees which hurt taxi drivers and other small businesses alike. By breaking the law, they are putting their jobs at risk and only compromising their own cause.

Readers, we want to hear from you. Do you take taxis often, and if so, do you use cash or credit card? Also, do you think civil disobedience will help or hurt the taxi drivers' cause? Leave us a comment below, and tell us what you think!

To learn more about responsible credit card use, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation today.

Nursing Home Worker Steals Credit Cards, Check From Patient's Wife

Lately, the news has been abuzz with foster children and toddlers having their identities stolen, and last week, the elderly were brought to the forefront as being vulnerable to identity theft.

80-year-old Loretta Louise Brillhart's husband Richard was a patient at the Colonial Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center earlier this year. During a visit, she left her purse in her husband's room, and Nicole Janise Jones, a caregiver for Richard, stole one of Loretta's checks as well as her credit card and debit card.

Jones used the check to pay her $612.93 Comcast bill, and she charged an undisclosed amount to the credit and debit card. According to the York Daily Record, she went shopping with the credit card and just kept charging the card until it was finally declined.

For high levels of stupidity and the moral depravity to steal from an 80-year-old woman, I am awarding Nicole Janise Jones with the Navin R. Johnson Award. Ms. Jones, you stole from your patient's wife. I have no qualms saying that you are a horrible human being. I hear you are currently being held in the York County Prison, and I hope you stay there.

To learn more about responsible credit card use and protecting your identity, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation today.

New MTA Payment: Convenience vs. Credit Card Security

In the past year, the MTA has been trying out a new method of payment for the New York City subway and bus system. Instead of buying an extra MTA card, commuters could use their swipe-less credit cards for subway fare. When they started testing the new payment method last year, MTA and city officials claimed that paying by touch-and-go credit cards would make subway stations more efficient and cut down on commute time, but I think that by implementing this change right now will actually cause new problems and could put commuters' credit card information at risk.

In the past year, there have been numerous stories about how the technology for RFID chip credit cards like MasterCard's PayPass has not been perfected. It is easy for credit card thieves to grab a card's information just by putting a credit card reader in their pocket and then bumping into a card owner. For the sake of convenience, consumers are putting their personal information at higher risk.

Consumers should also keep in mind how easy it was for criminals to rig ATMs to steal card information. They put their own card scanner over top of the ATM's scanner, and even if a customer suspects that something is wrong with the machine after they swipe their card, the criminal still has their information. How much easier would it be to install a fake credit card touch pad at subway stations or tamper with the touch pads to steal commuter's information?

The MTA is providing another method for commuters who don't have a swipe-less credit cards or just want to keep a separate MTA card, but even these cards are undergoing some changes. These will also be swipe-less cards like the New Jersey PATH cards or London's Oyster cards, but the MTA will encourage commuters to link their MTA card to a credit or debit card so that they won't have to spend time refilling their card at the station. I'm all for moving to swipe-less MTA cards, but I would feel uncomfortable linking my MTA card to my credit card. If I lost a card before that had $10 on it, I would only be out $10. If my MTA card is lost or stolen and it is linked to my debit or credit card, the consequences could be much worse.

How do you feel about the MTA's payment changes? Do you prefer the old cards, or do you think the changes will make commutes easier? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

To learn more about responsible credit card use and protecting your personal information, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation today!

"Mad Hatter" Thieves Hit Detroit

I regularly joke with people that when I get older, I plan on joining the Red Hat Society, a group of women who dress up in red hats and purple dresses and go out on the town together. I was surprised to hear this week that a group of Detroit women had twisted the idea. Instead of putting on hats and going out to the theater, these women are putting on hats and going out to steal credit cards.

The group has been dubbed the “Mad Hatters” by the press, and so far, they have stolen almost half a million dollars worth of cash and merchandise. According to reports, they seek out distracted shoppers who have left their purses unattended in their shopping carts and snatch their cash and cards.

I imagine that people are more trusting of these women because they are elderly and probably remind them of their grandma. Still, crime is crime, and these women are thieves no matter how old they are or how cute they might look in their hats. The police still haven't identified these women, so if you are in the Detroit area, keep an eye out for the Mad Hatters and keep the other eye on your purse.

Today, I am awarding the Navin R. Johnson Award to the Mad Hatters of Detroit. Your hats and thievery will tip off the police soon enough, and thanks to your actions, the people of Detroit will be less trusting of the elderly.

To learn more about protecting yourself from identity theft, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation today.

"Raising Arizona" Thieves Steal HD TVs, Baby Clothes

In Raising Arizona, Nicholas Cage holds up a convenience store for some cash and an economy-sized pack of Huggies diapers. The whole scenario is ridiculous and played up for laughs, but earlier this week, three women in North Carolina followed suit, using stolen credit cards to buy baby clothes.

The stolen credit cards belonged to teachers at two local elementary schools. One of the women, who as of now has not been identified, walked into the schools and asked to use the bathroom. At one school, she had to sign in at the office, and she used a fake name. She then sneaked into several unoccupied classrooms where several teachers had left their purses and stole their wallets.

From there, the three women, one of whom is pregnant, bought an American Express pre-paid credit card and went on a shopping spree. Their purchases included an X-Box, two HD televisions, a phone, and baby clothing.

This story would be kind of funny if it wasn't so sad for the people these selfish women were stealing from. I mean, these credit cards belonged to elementary school teachers, a profession which is underpaid, under-appreciated, and overworked. I don't really care what excuse these women have for their actions because honestly, there is no excuse for stealing anyone's credit card, much less a teacher's credit card, and using it to buy two HD televisions.

The good news is that the police have video surveillance of these women, and it is only a matter of time until they are caught. For going on their Raising Arizona-esque shopping spree, I am awarding the Navin R. Johnson Award to all three of these women and especially the still-unidentified pregnant woman. You will most likely be bringing a child into the world just as you are heading off to prison. How stupid can you get?

To learn more about responsible credit card use, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation today.

Credit Card Thief Sends Thank-You Note, Flowers to Victim

I read about a lot of credit card thieves. Scam artists, struggling businessmen, irritated in-laws, millionaires buying pizza, I've seen it all. Of all the credit card thieves, however, I have never heard of a thief sending his victim flowers...and a thank-you note.

Last week, Rhode Island resident Stephanie Marisca had $2,500 in fraudulent online purchases charged to her Bank of America card. Bank of America quickly closed the account, and the police immediately started tracking down the thief. At this point, I think that a smart criminal would lie low for awhile until the police stop looking, but instead, he decided to send Stephanie flowers and a handwritten card which read, “thnx for ur money.”

Now, if I was Stephanie, I would already feel pretty vulnerable and angry seeing as someone just tried to steal thousands of my hard-earned dollars from me. After all this person has already done, I would be livid if they had the nerve to send me a note. I don't know if the thief did it because they have a sick sense of humor or if they honestly thought that the flowers and note would make Stephanie feel better. Either way, this criminal is unbelievably selfish and stupid, and I hope the cops find fingerprints all over the letter.

To learn more about protecting your identity and responsible credit card use, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com for a free credit evaluation today.

Low Debt, Low Credit Scores in Alabama

There are a lot of misconceptions about credit scores and debt. Many consumers believe wrongly that if they don't have any debt, they don't have to worry about their credit score. To disprove this notion, consumers only need to take a look at the great state of Alabama.

According to a study from CreditKarma, Alabama has the fifth lowest average amount of debt statewide. Many consumers would assume that Alabama's average credit score is pretty high, but they would be wrong. Alabama actually has the fourth lowest average credit score statewide, coming in with an average score of 642.

Credit scores are meant to gauge the risk of lending to a consumer, and debt does play a role, though not in the way some people think. In order to have a good credit score, I need to have a strong credit history. I have to borrow money whether by a loan or by using my credit card, and then I have to show that I can repay that money. Debt starts to play a role when it comes to credit utilization. For example, if I have a credit card, I only want to use a small fraction of my credit limit, and I don't want to carry a large balance from month to month.

The trick is to use your credit card enough to establish a good credit history but not too much to rack up debt. Alabama is doing pretty well staying away from debt, but by being credit-shy, they are hurting themselves later if they want to buy a car or get a loan.

To learn more about responsible credit card use, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation today.

Banks Hike Up ATM Fees

I hate ATM fees. They are just about my biggest day-to-day annoyances with banks, and according to the Huffington Post, they are only getting worse.

HSBC currently charges $3 for using non-HSBC ATMs, and in Illinois and Texas, JPMorgan Chase is charging $5 and $4 respectively. On the lower end, TD Bank and PNC Bank are charging $2 for every use of another bank's ATM. PNC customers can avoid these fees by paying a $25 monthly fee, but seriously, who wants to pay that?

Banks claim that these ATM fee increases are making up for their losses from the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill. Before these increases, the banks were making billions of dollars off of ATM fees. Last year alone, they made $7.1 billion, and they are set to make even more this year.

This story is the perfect example of why financial reform isn't really working out the way it should. As soon as the federal government has outlawed one practice, the banks and credit card companies have come up with 10 more ways to get more money out of their customers.

If you want to avoid ATM fees, I recommend sticking to your bank's ATMs, and if there aren't any in your neighborhood, go to a local grocery store and buy a soda or a pack of gum. Use your debit card, and request cash back.

To learn more about responsible credit card use, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com.

Millionaire Dentist Steals Credit Card, Buys Pizza

In this blog, we have covered a lot of weird stories involving credit card theft. There was the businessman who stole from Peter Jackson to save his company, the woman who wanted some liposuction and a boob job, and the CVS cashier who just wanted some booze and cigarettes. For the first time, however, I am stumped, all thanks to a dentist from Michigan who apparently wanted some free pizza.

This strange story begins with a college student Harrun Majeed accidentally dropping his credit card in a grocery store parking lot. The card was found by Richard Lewis Ludwig, the aforementioned dentist, who was in the area for his son's baseball tournament. Instead of turning in the card to the authorities, Ludwig stopped in at a nearby pizzeria and placed an order for two large pizzas with extra olives. He was still waiting for the pizza when the police arrived to arrest him.

My initial thought was that maybe the guy was just hungry and short on cash. Perhaps his dental practice had fallen on hard times, and he had several small hungry children at home who really liked olives on their pizza. Well, as it turns out, Ludwig had absolutely no excuse for his actions beyond that he wanted some free pizza. When the police took him in, he had $250 in his wallet, and according to Ludwig himself, his net worth is about $4 million.

There is nothing else to say but to give Richard Lewis Ludwig of Michigan the Navin R. Johnson Award for credit card theft stupidity. You had $250 in your pocket, and you used a poor college student's credit card to cover a $40 pizza bill. You are a moron.

To learn more about responsible credit card use, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation today.

GameStop Sued for Storing Customer Information

Gamers, beware! You might want to think twice about picking up Crysis 2 or the new Lego Star Wars at GameStop.

Recently, there was a class action suit filed against the popular video game retail store claiming the store is in violation of California Civil Code section 1747.08. According to the law, corporations like GameStop are not allowed to ask credit card users to provide and record their PII, or personal identification information.

The suit was filed by Melissa Archehiga, and in the suit, she says that GameStop requested her personal identification information while she was making a purchase. The employee did not tell Ms. Archehiga that she was not required to give them her personal information. After that, the employee entered her information into the electronic cash register, scanned her credit card, and then did not delete her information from the electronic cash register.

If Ms. Archehiga is successful, she and other plaintiffs could get up to $1,000 for each violation from GameStop. While I'm sure that GameStop will be more diligent in making sure a situation like this does not happen again, I'm glad that this story has brought attention to consumer rights. You do not have to provide personal information while making a purchase, and stores do not have the right to keep that information without your knowledge. Read up on your state's laws, and know your rights as a consumer!

To learn more about responsible credit card use, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation.

Bride Runs Wild with Father-in-Law's Credit Card

The merging of two families in the midst of a wedding can sometimes be tense, contentious, and high-stress. New in-laws can't agree on place settings at the reception or the menu for the rehearsal dinner. It is rare, however, when the drama before a wedding includes the bride turning into a credit card thief.

Montana bride Brittany Marie Lanaghan was upset because she had paid for gas for her future in-laws' cars and had not been reimbursed. She decided to get a little revenge by charging $5,776 to her soon-to-be father-in-law's credit card. Most of the 55 charges were wedding related, in particular a $1,609 charge to the motel where the wedding, but she also purchased diapers and a laptop computer as well as paying for her cell phone and satellite TV bills.

Lanaghan has been charged with deceptive practices by common scheme. She has officially plead not guilty, and she is currently free without bond.

Now, I got married last December, so the stresses of wedding planning are still fresh in my mind. While planning a wedding, people are going to clash and get into arguments. There is no avoiding it. Honestly, though, Lanaghan overreacted in the worst way. She didn't get reimbursed for gas, so she decided to steal her future father-in-law's credit card. Before her marriage has barely begun, she has destroyed any trust with her in-laws and her husband as well. What will stop her from running wild on her husband's credit card when she gets upset or doesn't get her way?

For stealing from her in-laws, I am awarding the Navin R. Johnson award to Brittany Marie Lanaghan. Really, Brittany, did you think you wouldn't get caught?

To learn more about responsible credit card use and protecting your identity, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation.

Girl Scout Cookies: Now Accepting Cash or Card!

After years of cash-only, you can now buy Thin Mints with a credit card.

The Girl Scouts have been selling Shortbread, Tagalongs, and Thin Mints for years, but starting this year, the San Diego Girl Scouts can accept credit card as payment. Considering how much people rely on cards for payment, the Girl Scouts will most likely see a rise in sales.

Thanks to iPhone technology, secure credit card transactions are easy and portable. Troops will get iPhones with mophie marketplace credit card cases. They swipe the credit card, and the customer signs the receipt on the iPhone touch screen.

Some people might see this as a gimmick to boost sales, but I think this is a pretty cool idea from the Girl Scouts. First, they probably will see an increase in sales. Many people use their credit or debit cards more often than cash, and the ability to process credit card transactions gives people one less excuse not to buy Girl Scout cookies. Second, and more importantly, the Girl Scout organization is using this advancement as a teaching opportunity. In a press release from mophie, leaders from Girl Scouts and mophie have stated that they want the girls to learn about using credit and think outside the box with new technology.

Readers, we want to hear from you. Do you think it is a good idea for Girl Scouts to adapt credit card technology? Are these girls responsible enough to handle credit card transactions? As a bonus, what is your favorite Girl Scout cookie? Leave your response below!

To learn more about responsible credit card use, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation today.

Follow Up: “Lord of the Rings” Credit Card Thief Gets Prison Time

Last month, we brought you the story of Richard Berry, a Michigan business owner who sold toys and collectibles. When his business started to fail, he used film director Peter Jackson's credit card information to charge $190,000 in a desperate attempt to keep his business open. Since being caught, Richard has cooperated with authorities and has already paid off over half of the bill in hopes that he will get to serve his sentence outside of prison.

Last Monday, Richard Berry received his sentence. He will serve 10 months in prison, pay restitution, and be under court supervision for 3 additional years after completing his prison sentence.

Since the first article was published, some readers have pointed out that Richard Berry committed a serious crime and that theft and credit card fraud is never acceptable. I wanted to assure our readers that we do not condone Richard Berry's actions in any way. I was sympathetic for Richard Berry's situation with his business and the difficulties of a small business owner in today's economy, but his actions were wrong, no matter his intentions might have been. I apologize if that was unclear in the original article.

To learn more about responsible credit card use and protecting yourself against credit card theft, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation today.

Deputies Can Be Credit Card "Jerks" Too

Usually on this blog, we enjoy laughing at the stupidity of credit card thieves and bringing you some of the most ridiculous credit card fraudsters from around the country. Today, however, we want to take a moment to point out the stupidity of a former law enforcement official who was a victim of credit card theft. The only excuse I can find for this crime is a lack of common sense, and hopefully our readers will behave smarter.

Debra Hill, a retired deputy in West Palm Beach, was shopping for couch at Baer's Furniture. She was being helped by the only employee in the store, so she though it was safe for her to leave her purse on a table on the store's first floor and head up to the second floor. I have no idea why she thought this was safe. Shouldn't she just bring her purse with her? Isn't that the point of a purse, that you can throw it over your shoulder and take it with you?

Anyways, by the time she got back to the first floor, someone had snatched her wallet out of the purse which she claims had $200 in cash in addition to her cards, ID, and other personal information. This is the part that really baffles me. You can cancel credit cards and replace ID, but she had a good amount of cash in her wallet. This woman used to be a deputy, and she just left her purse with $200 in cash on the first floor of the store while she was on the second floor.

The thief was Merri Cindy Snyder who was an employee at Baer's Furniture. Surprisingly, her purchases were relatively tame. She bought shampoo and beauty products at CVS, picked up groceries, and stopped to gas up her car. She was no Shatarka Nuby or Tamika Garris. When the authorities caught up with her, she claimed that she took the wallet because “there was no food in the house” and she didn't have money for groceries.

Normally, I give the Navin R. Johnson award to credit card thieves, but today, I am awarding it to Debra Hill, a former deputy who does not have the sense to keep an eye on her purse. Hopefully she learns from this experience and does a better job protecting herself from credit card thieves in the future.

To learn more about responsible credit card use, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and call My Credit Specialist at 1-866-565-6500 or go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation.

Collectible Toys Company Steals “Lord of the Rings” Director's Credit Card

The story sounds like a plot in the vein of The Full Monty or Kinky Boots. A struggling Michigan toys and collectible figurines company, headed up by a goodhearted businessman Richard Berry, is trying to keep the business afloat and the workers employed in a time of high unemployment. Berry hardly has a prayer until he discovers that he has in his possession the credit card information for Peter Jackson, the highly-successful film director behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Berry starts using the card to make business purchases and plans to pay it off once his luck changes, but he winds up charging $190,000 by the time he is caught.

Credit card theft is not funny and should not be encouraged under any circumstances. Still, I couldn't help but feel for Richard Berry. In an interview with Macomb Daily, Berry feared what might happen to his employees if his business failed, explaining, “So many people were relying on me and the thought of failure and letting all these people down weighed heavily on me that I made some very foolish and terrible decisions.” He was desperate, and while he admits that his actions were wrong, he is working hard to make things right. Already, he has paid American Express for more than half the money he fraudulently charged and is continuing to pay off the rest. He is hoping that his willingness to cooperate will convince the judge to let him serve his 18 month sentence in a half-way house or under house arrest.

For having the most epic credit card theft story I have heard in months, I am giving Richard Berry the Navin R. Johnson award. I applaud your compassion for your employees, but seriously, did you think you could get away with using Peter Jackson's credit card?

If you are having financial difficulties or have been the victim of identity theft, call My Credit Specialist at 1-866-565-6500, or go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation.

Sex, Lies, and Joint Credit Cards

The details sound like something out of dark comedy, but in the case of Illinois lovers Vivian Williamson and Xavier Daniels, truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

Both Williamson and Daniels were married to different people when they met in Daniels’ cigar lounge. They started an affair, and she started working at the cigar lounge. Somewhere in the midst of Las Vegas trips and destroying their marriages, the details started getting murky.

According to Williamson, Daniels claimed that he had been diagnosed with cancer and didn’t have health insurance. Williamson helped Daniels get set up with numerous credit cards, and between all the cards, he charged more than $80,000, none of it for medical expenses. Daniels says that he never claimed he had cancer and that the credit cards were used for business expenses for his cigar lounge. Either way, Williamson’s credit history and credit score have suffered as a result.

From what I’ve read about Williamson and Daniels, these are both terrible human beings. They destroyed their marriages pursuing an extramarital affair. Also, I don’t know which is dumber, faking cancer to get a credit card or trusting a man is cheating on their wife (obviously not trustworthy) with a joint credit card. For their supreme levels of stupidity, I am jointly awarding the Navin R. Johnson award to Vivian Williamson and Xavier Daniels. You two deserve each other.

To learn more about responsible credit use, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation today.

College Seniors Most Likely to Pay Late, Max Out Credit Cards

I regularly check out CBS’s financial website MoneyWatch.com, and one of my favorite bloggers on the site is Dan Kadlec, best known for his column Bank of Dad. I enjoy his writing because he focuses a lot of his columns on financial education for young people and shows parents how to teach their kids responsible credit card usage.

Last week, Kadlec dedicated his column to college students and credit card debt, and he cited a study by the Take Charge America Institute that I wanted to share here. Some of the findings in the study are very surprising and don’t bode well for college students with multiple credit cards.

As you can see, college students are more likely to have credit cards problems by the time they reach their senior year. College seniors have more credit card debt, use credit cards more often, don’t pay on time, max out their credit cards, and have more credit cards than their underclassmen counterparts.

I don’t think that college seniors are less financially savvy or irresponsible with how they use their money. Yes, there are students maxing out their credit cards at the bar, but even responsible students are faced with a dangerous combination of rising tuition costs and credit card companies targeting students with the help of the schools themselves. I haven’t even mentioned that with the rise in unemployment, many students are paying their own way through school without any help from parents or guardians.

This study is frightening to me because it means that young people will be leaving college with a pile of debt and a damaged credit score, and depending upon what degree they received, they might not be able to pay off that debt anytime soon. There is some good news, however, for students falling behind on payments or graduates with poor credit scores. My Credit Specialist can help put young people back on the right track through credit repair and education. They can look over your credit history for mistakes or outdated items, and once they get those items removed, My Credit Specialist will sit down with you and help you put together a budget to keep you out of debt.

To read more credit education articles, go to http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation.