Tennessee Consumer Affairs says EMV Card Technology arrives ahead of ‘Black Friday’ Holiday Shopping

Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s (TDCI) Consumer Affairs Division reminds Tennesseans to be aware of changes in credit card technology as this holiday season will be the first year retail stores will be required to become compliant with EMV credit card technology.

EMV (which stands for Europay, MasterCard and Visa) is a new global standard for cards equipped with computer chips and the technology used to authenticate chip-card transactions.

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ShopSmart Reviews Discount Financial Services

Out-of-the-ordinary offerings from BJ’s, Costco and Walmart to buy, consider, or skip

Yonkers, NY – These days, shoppers can find more than big bags of Doritos and giant jars of peanut butter, at discount retailers such as BJ’s, Costco, and Walmart.

The July 2013 issue of ShopSmart magazine, from Consumer Reports, features an up-close look at seven financial services including credit cards and mortgages offered by these discount giants and reveals if they are worth the expense. [Read more]

ShopSmart reveals How to Nab a Free Flight

Tips for earning the most free travel over time; Plus, airline and bank cards that go a long way toward a free flight

Yonkers, NY – Airline credit cards and bank cards often offer points toward free air travel, but some will earn card users more free travel than others over time.

The April 2013 issue of ShopSmart magazine, from Consumer Reports, features tips for deciding which card to use when looking for discounted travel and highlights some of the best airline and bank card reward formulas currently available. [Read more]

Consumer Reports: Five Holiday Shopping Traps to Avoid

Plus a Tip Sheet on Holiday Tipping

Yonkers, NY – Finding the right gift at the right price can be challenging, especially during the holiday season when deep discounts and door-buster sales abound. The latest issue of Consumer Reports highlights five traps holiday shoppers can avoid.

“Knowing how to navigate sales, comparison shop, and cut through salespeople jargon is half the battle to stress-free holiday shopping,” said Tod Marks, senior editor at Consumer Reports. “Shoppers need to take precautionary measures before purchasing gifts to make sure they are getting the right product, for the right price, with no strings attached.” [Read more]

Consumer Reports Survey finds Credit Card issues improving in wake of Credit Card Act of 2009; but some Perils Linger

Report identifies some good cards, and bad.

Yonkers, NY – With the protections of the Credit Card Act of 2009 in full effect, a nationally representative survey shows a slightly lower level of dissatisfaction among Americans with their credit cards than last year. However, credit cards remain one of the lowest-rated services Consumer Reports has ever analyzed; only 45 percent of respondents said they were completely or very satisfied with their cards.

The survey, conducted in July by the Consumer Reports National Research Center also shows that consumers are carrying less credit card debt, with median balances of $3,793— $1,100 lower than in 2009. [Read more]