Here's another very funny ad that Mastercard paid a lot of money for, no doubt, but doesn't say anything about their product. Here's another one I posted earlier.

Labels: Big Plastic, Debt Ads on TV, Debt Propaganda, Funny

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This is too funny... or not.

I found this while digging through my files looking for my kids birth certificates that they needed to sign-up for baseball... The post-mark is November 1, 1997. I don't know what the state of social security was in 1997, but it still rings wrong to me.

Labels: Funny, Rant, Social Security

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I was surfing AutoTrader.com looking for what price-range I should be saving for - for when I want to buy my next car... and saw this ad... It is funny how they assume that you can't make a major purchase without going into debt.

Labels: Credit Score Hype, Debt Propaganda

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I've been listening to the Dave Ramsey Show for a couple years now. Since I'm not able to pick-up the local radio station from my desk... not to mention that I'm usually too busy at work to get the whole show in, I download the MP3s (without commercials) from www.MyTMMO.com and listen when I have time. I supposed I could listen to the live stream that is offered on his site, but, again, I would not be able to get the whole show in... So I do the MP3 thing.

What's cool about all these listening options is that so many people can listen to the show. Not just from a town where a local radio station plays the show, but from anywhere in the world where Internet access is available.

There was a caller the other day that was calling from the most bizarre location I've heard to date. Click the play button to hear the call. If you can figure it out before the call is over!

Labels: Dave Ramsey, Funny

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Great 10 minute spot... For more go rent the movie "Maxed Out" if you haven't seen it!

Labels: Big Plastic, Credit Cards

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Besides the obvious garbage this ad purveys (we need credit cards, plastic is safer), people who think they want to use products like this need to be aware of the details... First, let's understand what Green Dot is, exactly. It is a debit card on a checking account that does not use checks. So what makes it so special? The fees, baby, the fees!

First, to get one you have to buy the card... The MSRP is a one-time $9.95. That's kinda like going to a bank and being charged to open an account.

Then, you have a $4.95 monthly fee. That's not too crazy - a lot of banks charge a monthly service charge - but then-again, a lot of banks don't. It is very easy to find one that doesn't and save yourself $60/year.

Here's where the fun starts: to load your card (except for direct deposit) they ding you with a suggested $5.95 fee. That's five bones every time you put money in your account. Again, something a regular bank would not charge.

So, why wouldn't you want to use direct deposit to fund your Green Dot card? Well, they don't let you write checks. You don't get access to your account for ACH transactions (a lot of places like utilities, etc use ACH for automatic monthly payments). You don't get a statement!!!! They even say that it isn't good for recurring and "open end" transactions such as online bill payment or renting a car or booking a hotel... The list goes on.

Fees? You should name your new card Fifi... because using it sounds like this, "Fee Fee, Fee Fee Fee, Fee, Fee Fee."

ATM Fee: $2.50 (plus whatever the ATM operator charges) and $3.00 if it is an international ATM.

Cash Advance: $4.00

Balance Inquiry & Transaction History: If you have to call the automated line: $.75, however, if you have to talk to someone they charge $.41/minute up to a max of $1/call.

Balance Inquiry @ the ATM: $.50
ATM Declined: $.50

If you have an authorization hold you need released, $10.

Card Research & Special Requests: $25 (free if involves a billing error or unauthorized transaction)

All this stuff you get at a bank for free... except some ATM charges. So why would someone choose to use this type of service? Because the ad says to! Because everyone knows that plastic is safer than cash! But in the end if you stay away from these high-fee cards, you'll have more of your cash left over. If you're carrying $500 cash in your pocket and get mugged, you lose the $500. If you use this card very long, you'll lose a bunch in fees. But what are the chances you're going to get mugged? Minimal. And what are the chances you will get killed with fees? Maximal, if you use this kind of card. This doesn't even bring the fact that people spend more when they swipe vs. when they pay with cash. Studies say that people who swipe spend 18%+ more than those who pay with cash... And I heard (I think on the Dave Ramsey Show) that McDonalds found that spending went up by as much as 35% when they started accepting plastic.

As for the "safer than cash" claim, check out this FAQ from their website:

Question: What if someone steals my Card or uses it without my permission?

Answer: You should treat your Card as if it were cash. Guard the account number the same way you would cash or any credit card. Do not share your Card number with anyone. If you lose your Card or believe it to be stolen, you must immediately contact our lost or stolen Card hotline at 1-877-434-3578. We will cancel your old Card, transfer the remaining balance to a new Card and then mail it out to you at the address on file. Fee applies.

Labels: Big Plastic, Credit Cards, Debt Ads on TV, Debt Propaganda

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Once you watch this ad you might find yourself asking what the thing was about! They don't say anything about their product or service... These ads are just a form of branding... They are not about anything in particular, just about getting the MasterCard brand out in front of as many people as possible - also putting a celebrity's face on the ad makes people who like said celebrity (hopefully) feel loyalty to the brand being pushed.

All that aside, these are very funny ads.



Click here to see another.

Labels: Big Plastic, Credit Cards, Debt Ads on TV, Debt Propaganda, Funny

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Here's a snippit from "The Dave Ramsey Show" where Dave talks about what a few people did with regards to Big Plastic's on-campus hunting at their school. This is a good example of people taking action to help solve a problem rather than just looking the other way.

Click the play button to listen.

Here's some links to this story on the web:
Ohio AG sues Citibank, 2 Restaurants
Selling Students into Credit-Card Debt
Citibank, others sued over giveaway at OSU
'Free food' come-on prompts lawsuits
Gimme a Sandwich With a Side of Debt
Ohio AG Sues Credit Card Marketers Over Ohio State "Free Burrito" Event

Labels: Big Plastic, Dave Ramsey

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When I saw this, I was glad to see that Disney did not use a Citi or Mastercard or Visa card. That at least shows that there's a chance that they didn't sell out to "Big Plastic" by teaching our kids to worship credit. This does, however, show how the first credit card has become a rite of passage to adulthood. AND still, even though they didn't (obviously) sell out out "Big Plastic" it does brainwash kids into thinking how cool credit cards are and how their use as an emergency fund is normal.

Also, to Disney's credit, it was not a show about using credit responsibly... It was just about how the girl got in trouble and tried to hide it from her dad... and in the end got caught. The moral of the story was that coming clean early on with a problem is better than hiding it. Again, it could have been much worse by being about the acceptable use of credit, especially by teens - but it wasn't. Still, my kids don't and won't watch this trash. She'll probably be the next Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan.

Things to think about: Why couldn't the dad give them cash to use in case of an emergency? How did the rest of us grow up not having our parents' credit cards "for emergencies" only? I mean really? "Would a cruel, cruel father give you..." credit cards? I say yes. That would be cruel.

Labels: Big Plastic, Celebrity Finances, Credit Cards

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One more of many ads where "Big Plastic" is making you think cash is not acceptable as a form of payment. Cash (and check writing) exclude "Big Plastic" from making money on the transaction - why else would they push so hard to make their form of payment the only one you'd want to use, be-it credit or debit!

If I were going through a check-out line and were thrown my change - I'd have a word with the manager.

Labels: Big Plastic, Credit Cards, Debt Ads on TV, Debt Propaganda

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This is just another example of a "note-lot" car lot ad. The name of the company tells you a lot about where they make their money - Notice that it isn't Neil's Car Plaza.

Labels: Debt Ads on TV, Note Lots, Rip Off Loans

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While they don't specifically mention debt in this ad, they're making it look like you have a better chance of reaching your dreams if you use them. Now, what are they best known for? Their debt products or their investments?

Labels: Debt Ads on TV, Debt Propaganda

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Another example of how Big Plastic is trying to make everyone think that any other form of payment is unacceptable.

Labels: Big Plastic, Debt Ads on TV, Debt Propaganda

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Hey Rockford, are you using this product? I bet not!

Labels: Celebrity Finances, Debt Ads on TV, Debt Propaganda, James Garner, Reverse Mortgages

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