Credit

$7.70 Google Class Action Payout (without proof needed)

If you used Google between 2006 and 2013, Google may owe you some money. The company is settling a $23 million class-action suit that accuses it of sharing users’ searches and information with third-party companies and websites without their consent. Google has denied any liability or wrongdoing. Please note, there is no proof of purchase needed to claim what is owed to you, so no need to go digging through old receipts. The deadline for signing up for this settlement is July 31, 2023. You can claim up to $7.70 with no proof.

How do you file a claim? Go to the site refererheadersettlement.com.

First, click submit claim. If you already got an email about this, you’ll have a class member ID to put in the box. If not, click register. Then you’ll register and get an email with a class member ID. Go back to the form, fill it out completely and that’s it!

Right now, you’re going to get about $7.70, but that number could go up depending on how many people file. You have until July 31 to file.

Some other Class Action Settlements that are still available:

$4.2M Fashion Nova Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$300 Juul Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$29.10 Robocall Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$6.5M Tuna Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$725M Facebook Privacy Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$15 Coors Vizzy Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$110 Discover Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$10 TV & Monitor Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$25 Booster Seat Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$200 Pork Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$125 Equifax Class Action Payout (without proof needed)

Chase to Launch Freedom Rise: A Starter Credit Card for Beginners

Do you want to start building your credit history? If so, you might be interested in a new credit card from Chase. It’s called Freedom Rise and it’s part of the Freedom family of cards.

Chase already has two other Freedom cards: Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited. These are great cards that don’t charge you any fees and give you some money back when you sign up. Freedom Flex also lets you earn more money back on different things every three months.

Freedom Rise is a new card that Chase will launch later this year. It’s designed for people who are new to credit or have bad credit. This means that it might be easier to get approved for this card than for other cards.

We don’t know much about Freedom Rise yet, but we have seen what it looks like. It has a similar design to the other Freedom cards.

Possible card rendering of the Freedom Rise.

Chase mentioned Freedom Rise in a presentation for investors. They said that they will launch the card for new-to-credit customers this year. They also said that they will offer the card in some places first, like their branches. This means that you might have to go to a Chase branch to apply for the card.

Freedom Rise could be a good option for you if you want to start or improve your credit history. We will update you when we learn more about the card and its features.

There are not many credit cards for no credit that are similar to the Freedom Rise card, as it is a new product that has not been launched yet. However, based on the limited information we have about Freedom Rise, it seems like it is a card for people with no credit or bad credit that does not require a security deposit and may offer some rewards.

Some of the current credit card offerings for no credit that are similar to Freedom Rise are:

Most Recommended: Capital One Platinum Credit Card: This card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. It does not offer any rewards, but it gives you access to a higher credit line after making your first five monthly payments on time. It does not require a security deposit, but it may require a credit score or a limited credit history.
Petal 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa Credit Card: This card has no annual fee, no late fee, no foreign transaction fee and no returned payment fee. It also offers up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments. It does not require a security deposit or a credit score, but it uses your income and spending habits to evaluate your application. Your credit limit can range from $300 to $10,000.
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. It also offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase. It requires a security deposit of $49, $99 or $200, depending on your creditworthiness. Your credit limit will be equal to your deposit amount. You can also access a higher credit line after making your first five monthly payments on time.

Discover Card also offers cards for those with no credit:

Discover it Secured Credit Card: This card requires a security deposit of at least $200, but it offers 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. It also matches all the cash back you earn in your first year. It has no annual fee and may review your account for an upgrade to an unsecured card after seven months of responsible use.
Discover it Student Cash Back: This card is for students with no credit or limited credit history. It offers 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. It also matches all the cash back you earn in your first year. It has no annual fee and a $20 statement credit each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next five years.

Our Take

We love the name of the card indicating credit freedom which is what this website has always been about. The Banklady has helped people with their personal credit since 1999. Unless you are a college student you may not get the opportunity to start building credit if you do not take out an auto loan or are given the opportunity to get your first unsecured credit card. Capital One will normally give non-college students a $300 credit on an unsecured card but now Chase may get into the game with the Freedom Rise Card and that is a great development.

Claim Your Share of $6.5M Settlement for Foodservice-Size Packaged Tuna Products – No Proof of Purchase Needed!

If you’re someone who bought Foodservice-Size Packaged Tuna Products (40 oz or greater) from DOT Foods, Sysco, US Foods, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, or Costco from June 2011 through December 2016, then you may be eligible for a class action settlement! The best part? You don’t need to provide any proof of purchase to claim what is owed to you, so no need to go digging through old receipts. But hurry, the deadline for signing up for this settlement is June 21, 2023. While payments may vary, the entire payout is estimated to be $6.5M. So don’t miss out on this opportunity and check it out now!

Some other Class Action Settlements that are still available:

$725M Facebook Privacy Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$110 Discover Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$125 Equifax Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$15 Coors Vizzy Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$10 TV & Monitor Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$50 Juul Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$60 IKEA Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$25 Booster Seat Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$200 Pork Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$25 Xtend Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$50 Dickey’s Barbecue Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$10.50 Thinx Underwear Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$80 South of France Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$6.5M Tuna Class Action Payout (without proof needed)

$725M Facebook Privacy Class Action Payout (without proof needed)

Meta Platforms Inc., which was formerly known as Facebook, has agreed to pay a $725 million class action settlement. This is because it was alleged that Facebook shared or allowed others to access user data and data about users’ friends without their permission. Facebook did not properly monitor or enforce third-party access or use of that data.

If the settlement is approved by the court, Meta Platforms Inc. will set up a fund of $725 million. This fund will be used to pay all valid claims made by members of the settlement class. The settlement class includes people who were affected by Facebook’s actions during a specific time period.

How much each person will receive depends on how many people submit valid claims and how long they were users on Facebook during the class period. The settlement fund will also cover expenses related to notifying people about the settlement and administering the settlement process. Additionally, the fund will pay any attorneys’ fees and costs, as well as any service awards for the settlement class representatives.

Meta Platforms is a technology company that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and other platforms.

Who’s Eligible
All Facebook users in the United States between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022, subject to the exclusions described above.

Potential Award
Varies. Make sure to state which payment you will take whether it be Paypal or Venmo. If you do not have them you can sign up for Paypal or Venmo or just get a Mastercard mailed out to you for the settlement amount.

Proof of Purchase
None.

Claim Form

Head over to FacebookUserPrivacySettlement.com to file a claim.

Claim Form Deadline
08/25/2023

Case Name
In re: Facebook, Inc. Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation, Case No. 3:18-md-02843-VC, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California

Final Hearing
09/07/2023

Didn’t I file for a Previous Facebook Settlement?

This is not the first settlement for Facebook/Meta Platforms Inc. regarding user data privacy issues. In fact, there have been several other settlements in the past related to similar issues.

For example, in July 2019, Facebook agreed to pay a $5 billion settlement to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over allegations of privacy violations related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. In addition, Facebook settled with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for $100 million over allegations that it misled investors about the risks of misusing user data.

In April 2020, Facebook agreed to pay $52 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of collecting and storing users’ facial recognition data without their consent.

So, it’s important to note that this is not the first settlement for Facebook/Meta Platforms Inc. related to user data privacy issues, and it’s possible that there may be more in the future.

The settlement class includes all Facebook users in the United States between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022, inclusive (the “class period”). The settlement class does not include: (i) all persons who are directors, officers, legal representatives, alleged co-conspirators and agents of defendant or its wholly or partly owned subsidiaries or affiliated companies or employees of defendant or its subsidiaries and affiliated companies; (ii) counsel for any plaintiff whose case was consolidated into this MDL and their employees, including but not limited to class counsel for plaintiffs and their employees; (iii) the special master, discovery mediators and settlement mediator who participated in this case and their staff; and the judges and court staff, as well as any appellate court to which this matter is ever assigned; and (iv) eligible persons who elect to opt out of the settlement class.

Claims Administrator
Facebook Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation
c/o Settlement Administrator
1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210
Philadelphia, PA 19103
info@FacebookUserPrivacySettlement.com
855-556-2233

The court has scheduled a final approval hearing for Sept. 7, 2023.

Class members who wish to exclude themselves from or object to the Facebook class action settlement must do so no later than July 26, 2023.

The deadline to submit a claim form is Aug. 25, 2023.

Tiicker Stock Perks: Link Brokerage Account & Earn $71 in Gift Cards

TiiCKER is a new app that helps promote certain brands and companies by encouraging people to become shareholders and investors. You would have to be the age of Warren Buffett to remember back when Wrigley used to give out free packs of gum to shareholders, Dial used to give out soap coupons, Colgate-Palmolive gave out discounts on toothpaste, and Coca-Cola would give out free drinks. While this may be somewhat popular in Japan, from baseball tickets to bags of rice, it is finally back again in the United States.

Link a brokerage with $100 worth of ANY stocks held inside, get $11 Amazon gift card or Visa virtual prepaid debit card.
Link a brokerage with $50 worth of Amazon (AMZN) stock held inside (partial shares allowed), get $10 Amazon gift card or Visa virtual prepaid debit card.
Link a brokerage with $50 worth of Real Good Foods (RGF) held inside, get $50 Instacart gift card. Limited quantities.
Go here for the free Tiicker stock perks

In order to prove your ownership, you must link your existing brokerage account via the Plaid service. Plaid says it does not save nor share your username and passwords with anyone, and with many brokerages, you now log in directly on your brokerage website for authentication.

You can now earn perks with owning stocks in a brokerage account such as Ameritrade.

I can report that I was able to sign-up, link my account via Plaid, and grab the first two bonuses in under 5 minutes. Since this is not a brokerage account, no SSN was required. Gift card redemption was instant and easy. Now, 10 shares of RGF costs about $60 and the perk is a $50 Instacart gift card, so you could technically buy the shares for a while just to get the perk.

You may need to refresh or unlink/relink your brokerage account after buying the shares for it to recognize a new purchase, or possibly wait up to 24 hours. In addition, I have noticed this “RealGood” brand at Whole Foods and Costco and may try it now. Regardless you can just link an existing brokerage account that has AMZN shares for the $11 signup and the $10 in Amazon card perk so that is $21 with simply linking for many of us that do not want to mess with anything else.

I was highly skeptical at first but knowing it is using Plaid to link the brokerage account with Tiicker I got my gift cards an disconnected after just until it comes out with new perks. I am excited to see what all perks they come up with. It was the easiest AMZN and VISA gift card freebie possibly ever!

Millions May Get Big Credit Score Boost This Summer

The summer of 2017 may not only bring higher temperatures but you may also see a higher credit score. Consumers struggling with low credit scores may get a break soon without changing their spending habits. According to the Consumer Data Industry Association, the primary credit-reporting agencies will wipe tax liens and some civil debts from their reports.

The modifications, which are reported to take effect in July 2017, may improve credit scores for millions across the country by excluding that negative information. A report by The Wall Street Journal outlines the plan. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion will implement the changes if that data don’t include a complete list of a person’s name, address, as well as a social security number or date of birth.

Many liens and most judgments don’t include all three or four. This change will apply to new tax lien and civil-judgment data that are added to credit reports as well as existing data on the reports. Roughly 12 million U.S. consumers, or about 6% of the total U.S. population that has credit scores, will see increases in their FICO score as a result of this change.

How the Open Sky Card can build credit

Having poor credit can impact people everywhere they go. This can make it difficult to get financing on a car, buy a home or even get a job. Even for those who haven’t had credit before, they may find that they have a hard time building up credit. One of the best ways to quickly build up credit is to use a secured credit card. With Open Sky, users don’t even have to get a credit check in order to get the card.

This card works by having people put down their own money onto the card, and then use the card and pay it back. It is secured in that people are using their own money, but it gives them the chance to prove to creditors that they will pay back money loaned to them. People can put down the deposit that they want to, so they have complete control over their finances. As users start making payments and using the card, the credit bureaus will get updates every month. The sooner this happens, the sooner a person will begin to build credit.

Those who want to apply just need to go online and fill out a quick application. Then, they need to accept the terms and conditions. Getting this card is easy, and people don’t have to worry about rates, as the rates here are very competitive. Then, they can use the card as they please and make payments toward it. This allows them to prove to lenders that they will use credit responsibly and make their payments on time.

For those who want more information on how to improve their credit, there is also plenty of information on their website that has tips to make it better. Those who may be considering other secured credit cards might take a look at the Horizon Card. This is a similar card, but it does not have all of the same features. It has people put down 500 dollars as a deposit, and the Sky Card allows people to put down many different amounts. Also, Horizon does not have the same wealth of financial information on their website.

Also, those who choose Sky Card will be able to ask for approval to increase the limit on their card. With Horizon Card, this is generally not an option. Having a higher credit limit can also help people to improve their credit, so there is definitely an advantage to choosing this card. Choose a small or large amount of money to use as a deposit, and start making payments on the card as it is used. Then, lenders will be able to see that the user is good about using credit and paying back their debt. This will help to improve credit, and allow people to have more credit options in the future.

No Fee Secured Credit Cards: A Lifeline for a Drowning Society

Secured credit cards, also known as prepaid credit cards, can be used to rebuild poor credit histories because creditors report the consumers’ credit histories to the reporting agencies. The unique advantage of secured credit cards is that users do not create debt when they use these cards because they’re using the money that they’ve deposited on the card in advance of any purchases. Most of these cards can be used anywhere Visa and MasterCard are accepted and there are many secured cards that guarantee approval with no credit check.

Since debt is strangling the life out of most people these days, secured credit cards could prove to be the lifeline needed to help people rise above their financial troubles. There’s a double guarantee against incurring debt because not only are users spending money that they’ve already deposited on the card, but once that money is spent, the card will be useless to them until more money is deposited. This inspires users to exercise control over their spending habits forcing them to think before they act. The only requirements for obtaining a secured credit card is the applicant must be of legal age and they have to be able to load money onto the card. This means that practically every responsible consumer is eligible to receive a secured credit card regardless of their credit history or score.

However, many secured cards have a start-up fee and sometimes these fees can be substantial. While it’s possible to acquire cards with no annual or setup fees, there are still other fees involved like late payment, over the limit, and additional card fees. Some cards have no annual or interest fees but monthly fees are charged if the purchases made are under the required limits. In other words, there are variations on fees that are and are not charged so applicants will have to read the fine print to familiarize themselves with all the terms and conditions of each card.

The following are examples of secured credit cards that require no credit checks, along with a brief listing of their differing terms and conditions.

1) Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Credit Card: One of the favorite choices because there’s no annual fee, no setup fee, and the interest rate is a low fixed 9.99% APR which is considerably lower than most current card interest rates. Deposits made can be from $200 – $5,000. There are no interest penalties on late payments and this card is especially designed for people with low or poor credit histories.

2) Green Dot® Prepaid Master Card® and Green Dot® Gold Prepaid Visa® Card: No transaction fees on U.S. purchases, no overdraft or penalty fees, no interest fees, and no minimum balance required. However, there’s a monthly fee for any month when less than 30 purchases are made, and there are fees for replacing lost or stolen cards, and for additional cards.

3) Vision Premiere® Visa® Prepaid Card: No overdraft , annual or interest fees but there are activation, monthly, replacement card, and ATM balance and withdrawal fees.

4) Capital One® Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard®: No activation, interest or overdraft fees, and there are no monthly fees as long as $500 per transaction cycle is loaded.

5) Walmart Money Card? Visa® Prepaid Card and Walmart Money Card? MasterCard® Prepaid Card: No overdraft or interest fees, and fees for monthly maintenance, reload, additional card, and ATM cash transactions are minimal.

6) REACH Visa® Prepaid Card: There are activation, monthly and ATM fees but there are no overdraft, interest or any other hidden fees.

When considering today’s economy and the status of many people’s credit histories, it’s understandable why creditors are unable to issue cards that are completely free of charges and fees. However, creditors are attempting to extend their services to as many people as possible by being as lenient as they can be with their terms and conditions. It’s therefore up to consumers to review all relevant information carefully to make an informed decision when choosing the card that’s most suitable for their lifestyle.

What is the Meaning of an R9 Credit Rating?

When you view your credit report, you will notice status indicators next to each account listed. With revolving credit accounts, they range from "R0" to "R9". The "R" stands for a "revolving" (charge) account. If the account is an individual account, it will show "I", and mortgage accounts will show an "M".

"R9" means that particular account has passed 120 days late, is very delinquent, and has been written off as a bad debt by that company. The bad debt is either charged off or sent on to collections. This does not mean, however, that you do not have to pay this account, or that the company cannot continue to try to collect the balance due.

R9 credit rating remains on your credit report until it drops off after seven years. Until that happens, you will be unlikely to qualify for any new loans or credit accounts. The "R" scale is progressive, from R0 for new accounts, and R1 for current accounts, and up for each period of lateness, or an R7 payment plan, R8 repossession, or R9 charge off/collection. Where you want to be on every account is in the R1 category.

By showing the "R" scale, potential lenders communicate to each other valuable information about your payment history activity, from which they can determine credit worthiness and risk in repayment of any new loan or credit account. You can pay off an R9 account, and request in writing via certified letter to have the company or collection agency notify your credit reporting agency (one of the "big 3" agencies (Experian, Equifax, Trans Union) to remove the R9 rating.

Giving you an R9 credit rating is mean, but it is required of credit card lenders by federal law to avoid inflating company future earnings projections. You earned it by being a poor credit risk and not paying your balance due. It is unlikely that you can get the R9 removed from your account, even after paying off the balance due. Your report may show “account paid” or a zero balance due, but the R9 classification will remain. Therefore it is in your interest to be informed about the “R” system, and avoid being so late that you are marked with an irretrievable R9.

It is valuable to check your credit reports from time to time. You are entitled to a free report from each of the Big 3 (Experian, Equifax, Trans Union) once a year from www.annualcreditreport.com. If you get one report from one agency every four months throughout the year, you can keep a good handle on your report and its accuracy. If you see anything except an "R1" rating, get right on that problem before it progresses further.

Like anything else on the market, credit accounts are a “buyer beware” situation. Use it carefully and benefit from your good credit score, or abuse the system and suffer the negative results. An R9 credit rating will disappear over time, but in the interim, credit privileges may be harmed.

Example of Letter to Creditor?

We all know that our income may change for the worse when we take out a loan. Rough times contribute to many loan defaults. Is this letter a good example of a change in personal finances or loan agreement? I would not be too quick to judge it but I think it needs more specifics (not that we could post those on here anyway).

To whom it may it concern:

This message is to let you know that due to a change in pay periods other issues with my personal finances, I will no longer be able to make the payments as per the original loan agreement. I have noticed different and varied amounts coming from lenders and I am unable to explain the amounts and to cover those amounts as per the original terms.

I have begun the process of counsel and they will be in touch with you soon to make payment arrangements so that this debt can be paid. Please note that I am not trying to avoid payment, I just need to make alternative payment arrangements and I have every intention of doing what I can to ensure that you are paid the fair amount that you are owed. You should expect that my counsel will be in touch with you in the 30 days.

In the meantime, I have notified the bank of my intent and the are aware that I am working on a way to get all of these items paid. However, the money will no longer be available through ACH debit. Also, I will not be able to be reached at my place of employment. If you need to contact me, you may leave a message on my cell phone and my legal counsel will be in touch with you soon to set up the appropriate arrangements.

Again, this is not an attempt to sidestep any debt, I am earnestly working to get this resolved and get you money that you are owed. Thank you for your patience and again, someone will be in touch soon to get this worked out. I hope that didn’t sound to harsh as I do intend to make arrangements to pay off this debt. Please accept my sincerest apologies.