Sitemap - 2014 - The Red Tape Chronicles
The five new scams and hacks you should watch for in 2015 (and some old favorites, too)
Don't max out your credit cards -- even for one month
'Staggering' -- half of negative credit report entries involve unpaid medical debt
A great book is the gift that keeps on giving; here's a cool last-minute guide to book gifting
U.S. to hit back at N. Korea over Sony -- but how? Cyberwar favors the weak
Sony hackers sound like al-Qassam Cyber Fighters; and where's the gloating, Guardians of Peace?
Archive: Why your bank's website might go down soon, and why hackers seem unstoppable
Sprint accused of being complicit in massive hidden-fee, 'gotcha' cell phone cramming
Hackers start to hit Sony where it hurts -- press events canceled after real-world threats issued
The Sony hack, and why your email might be next
A token effort to keep your credit card accounts safer
Will Big Data mean big reforms, or Big Brother, in our schools?
The four words that explain the Gotcha economy: 'No material financial impact'
Comcast sued over controversial hotspot 'sharing' -- and consumers can't seem to avoid it
Supreme Court to Amazon: It's OK to force employees to stay at work without pay. You might be next
She lives in a 'sane circle' -- a 70-mile commute, but life in rural Wisconsin isn't restless
The AT&T bill that wouldn't die; why would the telco giant send 3 collection firms after $70?
The $200 Starbucks 'silver' card, which doesn't even really work, is sold out online. Sigh.
Sirius XM nabbed for playing the automatic renewal game; file to get your refund, now!
Comcast modem upgrade acts like a computer virus email; some complain about surprise fees
Pinners panic as Pinterest boards disappear, then reappear scrambled
Black Friday has retailers seeing red; Can Cyber Monday save them?
Sane places to live in America? This one map will show you
How to spot a work-at-home scam
One income, zero hope: Not with two kids and one (big) student loan -- The Restless Project
Poor self-control in kids linked to low credit scores, early heart disease later in life
Americans keep falling for fake online car, boat sale ads -- to the tune of $20 million
The 20 most affordable places with jobs and good schools
Can your credit score predict when you'll die?
Drone snaps pic of woman in g-string sunbathing in backyard; photo used in real estate ad
Hey Americans -- you deserve a lot better ($) than this
'We've lost control,' say 9 out of 10 Americans
Hey eggheads: Part-time work is the new normal, and that's horrible
Is prison a better investment than college? Are you student loans worth it?
The Restless Project: Is loneliness the new health epidemic?
Facebook to give users more control over their news feed
Home Depot hack even worse: 53 million email addresses stolen, too
Universal minimum wage hike support is no surprise; Americans know they're underpaid
One third of Americans use the same password everywhere, and don't use antivirus protection
Sustainable journalism: A manifesto of sorts (what I'm up to)
Just how often *should* you change your passwords? Surprise...
Scary for Halloween: Zombie checking accounts can come back to haunt you
Budget from 1987 tells the tale: Americans are severely underpaid
Tweet while watching TV? Your brain is probably smaller (your heart, too!)
New: ID thieves don't steal your identity; they just 'invent' one
Debt collection files: Harassed for bills you don't owe
We never know how far the ripples of anger reach
The Restless Project: $60k income doesn't cut it for my family
Uber offers to take flu shots, nurses to you
Want to own a home? You'd better have at least $2,000 a month in many American cities
Student loan borrowers still left hung out to dry; private lenders offering 'no flexibility'
White House orders use of credit cards with chips; safer plastic slowly becoming a reality
What your zip code says about you, indeed; a map to play with, and ponder
Of bee stings, Ebola, data abuse and the contagion that's spreading fast: Fear
The Restless Project: She has a good job, but will she have to leave New Orleans?
Yes, you should ask for a raise. All of you. Often.
M&T Bank's "no strings attached" checking account had strings attached
AT&T pays $105 million to settle cramming charges; mobile phone customers to get refunds
What? *Another* replacement credit card? Why database hacks are becoming a real, and costly, hassle
Sex harassment rampant in restaurants, but you knew that
If the unemployment rate is so great, why do you still feel so bad?
Amtrak website, network out for most of Sunday; train travel impacted nationwide
Big data, kill switches, Facebook stalking -- debt collection goes high-tech
For 40 million Americans, $100k income required to buy an average home; 1 in 5 need at least $75k
Mark Cuban pen tests himself (he told me); why you should do that, too
Red tape that stalled mortgage relief was systematic, CFPB says
Why they're restless: Everything is fine, when there's overtime
After debt garnishments, her $800 paycheck sinks to $400
Doing well at $125k, but still losing sleep over money
Birthday special: I'll mail you a signed copy of my book!
My baby is 1 year old, and I couldn't be prouder
New alleged scam begins when victims find money deposited into checking account
Food, water, shelter, and ... protection from debt collectors
Home Depot says 56 million account numbers compromised
So restless, you can't stop emailing after midnight. How bad is that?
The Scottish Independence vote: Is the U.S. next?
The Great Delay: Will I have to live with a roommate forever?
U.S. well-being ranks below Panama, Sweden, Uruguay...
Insulting customers good for sales? Maybe for those poor HENRYs
Why should Big Data have more right to privacy than people?
One man, one bike ride, and a lot of hacked networks
The debt collectors won't stop ... calling the wrong number
Home Depot hack leading to ATM cash thefts; the case against debit cards
Dozens of state AGs ask: Why can't telecoms use tech to stop robocalls?
Can't get by on $60k, $80k, or even $100k per year? Tell me how the costs add up
Home Depot confirms credit card hack; shoppers from April-present impacted
'Video, or it never happened!' - Ray Rice, and the NFL's horrible, awful message
It's not too late to take a vacation! (It's even good for your career)
Here's what happened when I got the Windows tech support scam phone call
How big is Home Depot hack? We're still waiting for official word, but....
He sued a debt collector, and walked off with cash. You can too
Apple implies celeb photo hack wasn't its fault, but neglects to mention iCloud flaw
Home Depot probes 'unusual activity' -- expert says hack might be bigger than Target
Do you live on under $60,000 a year? Tell me how
On Labor Day, a thought: Does your overwork cause unemployment? And would a 21-hour week fix things?
If the JPMorgan hack is a Russian protest, why was it done in secret?
After DQ, there's 998 credit card hacks to come; and why you need to watch for $5 and $10 charges
Most Americans own less -- a lot less -- than they did in 2005; half own less than in 2000
Why does it feel like you are working more and more to get less and less? That's easy: You are!
Is it right to watch James Foley's gruesome death online?
When his debt came back from the dead, he sued
Uh-Oh: One segment of consumer spending down to 1970s level
Hospital chain announces Chinese hackers stole 4.5 million patient SSNs
Can 'luck school' teach you good fortune? Why worry, and data, are bad luck
Massive grocery store chain credit card hack announced
Frustrated by customer service? Maybe it's your email address
The land of the $0 parking ticket vs. the land of Gotcha Governing
Depression is a silent killer. So is money trouble.
Restless Project: Will a robot take your job? Or just cut your pay? A 'recipe for instability'
New ongoing series: The Restless Project
First sanctions, then hack attacks? Would Russia unleash hackers against the West?
Here's why a hotel might try to force a smoking room on you, and what to do
Why is your smartphone being so slow? It might be intentional; could carriers reveal more?
A billion stolen passwords? No reason to freak -- just take these reasonable steps
What's an appraisal, anyway? CNN criticizes church property values, which are indeed ... theoretical
What are the top 5 fastest-growing scams? And the newest scams?
My favorite secret stop: Break Espresso, in Missoula. Where is yours?
Nine hotel gotchas for summer road-trippers
How much does it cost to drive across country?
Day 6: From the Rockies to the Pacific Ocean -- don't be jealous, just gas up!
Day 5: Colorado to Utah to Montana -- when the end is near
Day 4: Nebraska to Aspen, the Highway to Heaven, and Explore Bookstore
Day 4: A smoking room, and a consumer with smoke coming out of his ears (ok, me)
Day 3: Chicago to Grand Island, Nebraska -- stop making fun of the Heartland!
Road Trip Day 2: Cleveland to Chicago -- and two more Rustys
Rusty and me: Life inside a farmers' market in Ohio
Light bulbs hacked; it's funny, but it's not
Road trip 2014: Where Rusty and I are going, and why (hint: #AmericanMoneyStories)
ROAD TRIP: What's your money story? Have coffee with me
Your resume has 6 seconds; are you wasting that time?
In World Cup of debt, Americans are winning (and the Dutch are getting hammered)
Facebook violated FTC order, EPIC says, news feed algorithm should be made public
You just got a job -- 11 things you must do (after celebrating)
Facebook study critics 'shooting the messenger;' users part of the Facebook experiment since day 1
'You'll never work in this town again!' -- now what?
Hey you: Stop being so rude! It's costing us both money
Facebook study outrage: Is there anything social media giant won't do?
Wondering if the government spied on you? Fed tumblr page reveals all (and nothing)
Why Americans don't take vacations? We hate coming back to work
Once mistaken for a waitress, we 'vowed we would not go unnoticed'
Net neutrality? Zzzzz.....it's about the competition, stupid (and cable company f###ery)
Yo, the two-letter message app raced out in a day, hits security iceberg
Samsung phone thefts soar 51 percent (and Apple's 'kill-switch' is blamed)
50 years ago, the World's Fair promised a life of leisure. We're still waiting
Dog, lost two years in forest, found sleeping on his old blanket
Fire Phone: Can Amazon solve its one big problem by making you a mobile cash register?
Nine surprising ways identity theft can hurt you
The seven reasons you will fall for a scam artist, from 20 years' experience
Facebook says it will track websites, apps you use -- because you asked for it
I like my coffee with milk, sugar, and a little eye contact, please
New feature: Outrage of the day! Why does it take 90 days for data broker to respond to requests?
Can a former employer prevent you from getting a job? Why, in America, yes! Now more than ever
Woman in tech: GenX'r on the importance of mentoring millennials
Town considers forcing bars to install always-on cop cams, Bill of Rights yells "LAST CALL!"
How did The Plateau Effect help the Miami Heat repeat? The same way it can help you
Ground hog's day: Sprint purchase of T-Mobile would be consumer disaster
Verizon Wireless wants your most personal data, offers yucky auction points in return
Are you a perfectionist? Take the test...and start making changes now!
The Right to be Forgotten vs. the Digital Scarlet Letter, and the world we don't want to create
It's the wages, stupid: Consumer spending down because Main Street left behind by Wall Street
Snowden is sexy, but this is the privacy invasion that should scare you
What it feels like to get a call saying the IRS is sending you to jail (it's a scam)
Facebook manager throws stones at journalists from glass house
Failing slowly, the just noticeable difference, and how cruise control steers you off the road
Facebook adds 'option' to know what you're watching and listening to
Women in tech: A new 'voices' project
Medical bill nightmares unfairly sink credit scores, says consumer agency
Americans brainwashed, now think stress is good for them
ARGG!! Two thirds of U.S. adults want to quit, 76 percent working in the wrong field
Squirrel! Why distractions can ruin your future (I'm sorry, what were you saying?)
EU Court: Right to be forgotten trumps right to know; Google must remove search results on request
If you post to Facebook and no one likes it, does the post really exist?
Hidden 'gotcha' fees are bad enough, but how does a 'credit' become a fee?
A mother's hope, dashed? Most career paths stink now. How do you steer your kids?
Why your friends make the best hackers (Or, why your friends are a hacker's best friends)
Why would I want to rip my screen from my keyboard? And where can I buy a normal laptop now?
I'm no Big Data hater. Some of my best friends are 1's and 0's. But....
Another turbulence incident injures airline passengers; what we should do about choppy air
Are you stuck forgetting names, or test answers? The spacing effect could be your magic potion
Music as it's meant to be -- live. In New Orleans.
The Greedy Algorithm could be ruining your morning commute (or your life!)
I 'give them food, and clothes, and cars, and houses' -- America's Sterling problem
Why you can't smell the flowers any more, and how that makes you crazy (and stuck)
I think we're alone, for now, unless Supreme Court rules cell phone searches OK
What is The Plateau Effect, and how will you Get Unstuck?
Why the gender pay gap fight should be about overwork
Secret confessions of a hotel/timeshare telemarketer
Why everyone should care about AOL email hack
I chatted with a very persistent hacker today; and I'm worried about you
Why stop at Cheerios? Fine print is like a virus attacking consumers' and their rights
Cheerios maker apologizes, waves white flag on fine print controversy
Cheerios maker digs deeper fine print hole: Protesting misinformation, GM offers another Gotcha
Say it ain't so, Cheerios! Coupon fine print now means you surrender your rights
Cell phone theft doubles, but 'kill switch' is finally on the way. Will it stop crime?
Self-employment tax will crush America by 2020, when 40 percent will be freelancers
Senate bill would require free credit scores, easier credit report fixes
Guess which airlines attract the most complaints!
Heartbleed -- the quick, dirty, and reasonable what-to-do story
Bank of America slapped for sneaky fees, but the real risk is mixing security and sales pitches
In a 24/7/365 world, who has time for the profound anymore?
Starbucks after dark? Not quite - but Starbucks evenings are here
I played a small part in winning a big award: NBC wins Peabody for 'In Plain Sight' series
The CNBC/Lewis debate: When a Wall Streeter says, 'You don't understand,' be very scared
Meet the man Edward Snowden said is rescuing your privacy (and get the free software)
Are you paying more than everybody else when you shop online? Dragnet Nation explains
Would you borrow money from your boss? The privacy impact of 'Big Data' loans
Three things Facebook users can do right now for better privacy
Screens OK for babies after all? Doc says so, but I'm worried
When will Americans get chip & pin credit cards? Visa's chief risk officer tells me
Roughly 30 million Americans chased by debt collectors, and they misbehave often, feds say
In my new NCAA bracket over-rated index, Duke is clear champion
Don't like whiskey? It's probably the people you drink with (a Paddy's Day ode to 'water of life')
Stadium beer cup outrage: Small ($4) and large ($7) are the same size!
Now at $99, should you quit Amazon Prime? It's more expensive than you think
Expansion of overtime rules overdue; the important history of eight hour work days
Yikes! Yik Yak, new chat tool for kids, a serious problem for schools, parents
Senator: It's OK for CIA to hack Americans, just not me! How hypocrisy frames privacy debate
Does social media encourage eating disorders?
Three thoughts on Snowden's SXSW appearance
Guest column: How am I supposed to survive this layoff? Not with cliches...
Don't read this story! Go play outside. At least for one night, says the National Day of Unplugging
Question for Snowden: Did the NSA lose anyone's credit card number?
Newsweek outs Bitcoin founder -- and his children, his wives, his employers...
Twitter says account hack warnings, password resets were sent in error
N.J. teen sues her parents to force them to pay for college
Bank: Don't use credit, debit cards in Chicago taxis
Where did all the credit card Gotchas go? Hard to find those hidden fees now
Cell phone use while driving illegal, but smartphone use OK, court says
Where Bob Sullivan is quoted by Reuters using the word 'stinks'
Finally: Feds say credit scores should be free to all
ITT Tech tricked students into high-interest loans, feds allege
Airline miles value sinking faster now; use them or lose them!
Take the 30-Day Getting Unstuck challenge, or buy the book
The happiest place in America is ... the place where it's easiest to get a job
Under-30 and plastic free: Growing ranks of young adults reject credit cards
We're No. 3! We're No. 3! Why a bronze medal is better than silver, and how this can save you money
Pew: Spouses partners share passwords, email, social media accounts
Capital One should be ashamed of its fine print bullying tactics
This vs that, or why we're fat: One pepper costs the same as a family-size carton of juice
Kickstarter picks Saturday to tell users they've been hacked
What can you do to stop ID theft? Nothing, really. But you can contain the damage
Time Warner and Comcast? That's like letting the Joker and the Riddler merge
More Americans fighting over smartphones (they sext and make up, too)
Sure I'm working to death, but at least I have a Cadillac!
Congress Looks for Answers on Big Data Breaches
13.1 Million Americans Hit By Identity Theft in 2013
Ordering flowers online for V-Day? The price might be 50% higher than you think
Just how safe is Sochi? As threats fly, and phones are tapped, a tense Games begin
The five reasons hackers had their way with Neiman Marcus for months
What is 'hyperbolic discounting,' and how can it save you money?
Confessions of TSA agent: They laugh at us, but it's not funny
Helpful reminder: Scan your credit card bills for small charges
Work more than 11 hours a day? Your increased risk of a heart attack is ... (with video)
Who's next? Michaels stores hacked: Really, can't the rest of you fess up now?
Are you binge working? The question is deadly serious
Neiman Marcus says 1.1 million credit cards hacked; low fraud rate isn't actually good news
Nobody lives a life of quiet desperation on Facebook. That’s why I quit.
How did that charity get my address? Why Europeans know, and Americans don't
Chilling txt msg: 'You are a registered participant in a mass disturbance'
I got that e-mail from Target about my credit card; now what do I do?
Refrigerator hacked, used to send out spam, ushering in era of 'ThingBots'
How long after you wake up do you check your e-mail?
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Which credit card issuers attract the most complaints? A top 10 list
Target e-mails victims, releases details about free credit monitoring
Exclusive: Hackers had access to Neiman Marcus systems for nearly three months, source says
Listen to someone you disagree with, and it might make you rich
Target hacking scandal widens; what we know now, and what we still don't know
Yes, the Hudson did freeze -- even in NYC
She said no to the FBI; but you say yes every day
IRS warns tax return ID theft a 'growth industry'
Are your kids part of the Vanishing Web? Better find out
Snapchat's 4.6 million phone number leak; 2014 begins with a privacy bang