Fake check scams are nothing new. In fact, they remain one of the most common types of fraud, so two consumer advocacy groups have joined forces to help educate Americans on how to avoid being taken in by this old yet effective con. Scams that hoodwink consumers into accepting plausible but phony checks and sending [...]
Jun 15
Economy League fast-forwards 15 years to Philly’s future
What will Philadelphia be like in 15 years? For one thing, you can count on PowerPoint presentation becoming obsolete, if the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia is correct. The league has created four possible futures of the region, ranging from “Tight Belts” (the recession never improves) to “America in the Driver’s Seat” (Marcellus Shale gas [...]
Jun 14
Do Your Credit Reports Contain These Three Red Flags?
If your credit reports are riddled with numerous late payments or major black marks – like a recent foreclosure or a fresh bankruptcy filing – it probably comes as no surprise that you’ll have a tougher time getting a loan than someone with perfect credit. But what about those of you who have decent credit [...]
Jun 14
State Rep Threatens Suit Over School Funding Cuts
When Chester Upland School District officials learned their budget for 2011-2012 would be $20 million less than the previous year, they knew the district was in for some radical changes. But maybe not quite the radical change that state Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-159, of Chester, is seeking if the budget that passed the state House [...]
Jun 14
Groupon’s Leonsis Seen by Governance Experts as Having Potential Conflict
Groupon Inc. Vice Chairman Ted Leonsis’ venture firm is an investor in rival LivingSocial and has ties to its board, a relationship that could pose a conflict, according to corporate-governance experts. Leonsis has been a director at daily-deal site Groupon since June 2009 and vice chairman since April 2011. He’s also a partner at Revolution [...]
Jun 14
Do Your Credit Reports Contain These Three Red Flags?
If your credit reports are riddled with numerous late payments or major black marks – like a recent foreclosure or a fresh bankruptcy filing – it probably comes as no surprise that you’ll have a tougher time getting a loan than someone with perfect credit. But what about those of you who have decent credit [...]
Jun 13
Surging college costs price out middle class
What do you get when college costs skyrocket but incomes barely budge? Yet another blow to the middle class. “As the out-of-pocket costs of a college education go up faster than incomes, it’s pricing low and medium income families out of a college education,” said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of financial aid sites FinAid.org and FastWeb.com [...]
Jun 13
Stocks: Losing streak meets economic reports
Wall Street faces a data-heavy schedule this week that is expected to bring more volatility to a market full of investors weary from six consecutive weeks of losses. The government will release its closely watched May retail sales report on Tuesday and consumer inflation data on Wednesday. That’s only two of the dozen or so [...]
Jun 13
9 most annoying bank fees
Given the recent restrictions placed on fees and interest rates, the nation’s banks are looking for extra pennies anywhere they can get them. As a result, it’s now costing you to do everything from redeeming your own reward points to receiving money in your account. “Like any business, a bank has to produce enough revenue [...]
Jun 13
Health-care advocates object to Pa. plan on tobacco fund
With final state budget negotiations set to kick off this week, health-care advocates are making one last pitch to save Pennsylvania’s $339 million Tobacco Settlement Fund. Since 2001, money from a settlement big tobacco companies negotiated with Pennsylvania and other states has funded medical research, health-care programs and prescription-drug plans. Gov. Tom Corbett wants to [...]
