Computershare is WAY better than BNY Mellon

Recently, I wrote about BNY Mellon’s inept handling of 2010 1099-OIDs for Israel bonds, my relief that the State of Israel had decided to replace BNY Mellon with Computershare as the fiscal agent for Israel Bonds purchased in the U.S., and my hope that Computershare would be better than BNY Mellon. Less than 12 hours… Read More: Computershare is WAY better than BNY Mellon »

HSBC takes its cue from the “we’re a large corporation and we don’t care about you” playbook

I’m not going to bother to reprint the response I received from HSBC to my recent complaint. Instead, I will reproduce the response I just sent them: February 26, 2010 [name elided] Executive Liaison Office of the President HSBC Card and Retail Services P.O. Box 80026 Salinas, CA 93912 Dear Ms. [name elided], I have… Read More: HSBC takes its cue from the “we’re a large corporation… »

Thank God Israel Bonds kicked BNY Mellon to the curb

My wife and I own a number of Israeli Bonds purchased over the course of many years (typically after annual High Holiday appeals). Many of these bonds are Original Issue Discount (OID) bonds. Dispensing with all the technical details, the general idea of an OID bond is that you get a 1099-OID statement every year… Read More: Thank God Israel Bonds kicked BNY Mellon to the curb »

Welfare moms should go commando style

To the editor: What a relief to see our elected officials finally getting tough on the aid recipients who spent 0.002% of last year’s welfare funds on underwear (“Pol gets tough on welfare abuse“, Feb. 15). How dare these women buy high-quality, inexpensive undergarments from Victoria’s Secret? Wal-Mart should be perfectly fine for poor people.… Read More: Welfare moms should go commando style »

HSBC figures out clever money-making strategy: don’t email statement until after payment is due

My wife and I have a Jordan’s Furniture charge account issued by HSBC NV, a somewhat shady subsidiary of HSBC with a history of predatory lending and suspicious practices. They issue “private label” charge accounts for Jordan’s and many other retailers. We have a balance on the account under one of their frequent “buy now,… Read More: HSBC figures out clever money-making strategy: don’t email statement until… »

Disastrous snow handling in Boston

(Simulblogged.) February 1, 2011 Mayor Thomas M. Menino 1 City Hall Square, Suite 500 Boston, MA 02201-2013 mayor@cityofboston.gov (617) 635-4500 Dear Mayor Menino, On the brink of yet another major snowstorm, I am writing to complain about how incredibly bad the city’s handling of the snow has been this winter.

Citizens Bank credit card dispute idiocy

I recently sent Citizens Bank, the issuer of our primary credit card, a letter disputing a charge on the card. Being eminently familiar with the rules surrounding such disputes, I included in my letter all of the required information. A week or so later, I got back this letter: