Promising legislation introduced in Maryland to stop consumer profiling
I am excited and pleased to announce that Maryland State Representative Saqib Ali introduced promising and unprecedented legislation on Feb. 13 in the Maryland General Assembly to prevent the type of consumer profiling to which American Express reluctantly admitted only after tremendous public pressure.
Ali’s bill is the first legislative attempt on either a state or federal level to curb the discriminatory practices brought to light in large part by this campaign. If passed, the bill will be a major step toward holding companies that engage in this behavior accountable.
The bill, “House Bill 1292 Consumer Protection – Blacklist Prevention”, prohibits blacklisting by adding to Maryland’s commercial law. In short, the bill prevents companies from using where a customer shops or the company with which he or she has a mortgage to adjust contract terms, and it requires consumer contracts to disclose any prohibited provisions that will cause an adjustment in terms adverse to the consumer. Furthermore, any changes to the contract adverse to the consumer will require the consumer’s prior written consent.
A hearing will take place on Mar. 11 in Annapolis, Maryland. I will be there to support the bill and testify. Proponents of the bill expected to testify include representatives from the Maryland Retailers Association, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, and others. Opponents likely to testify include representatives from the Maryland Bankers Association, American Express, and Bank of America.
[ Read the bill. ]
Note: If you are a Maryland cardholder affected by consumer profiling, please contact me. Click on the E-mail Me link above in the navigation bar.
Greetings! I’m Kevin D. Johnson, a business owner who has recently assumed the role of consumer advocate and internet activist. Atlanta, Georgia is my home.
Upon returning from my wonderful honeymoon in Jamaica in October 2008, I received what I thought was an ordinary American Express bill, but to my surprise it was a disappointing letter informing me that my credit line was reduced by about 65% for a highly suspicious and discriminatory reason. Considering my excellent credit score and pristine payment history, it just didn’t make sense. However, what does make sense are the unfair and insidious policies that I have uncovered when asking why. It is time to change them.
I created this web site to document and share my challenging journey to change what is wrong, unfair, and unjust in the credit card industry. The ultimate goal of this web site is to inform consumers of ways to stand up for themselves against treacherous business practices and to educate consumers about how to improve their credit. Finally, I hope to encourage a more open dialogue with credit card companies about their policies–good and bad.
I am proud to say that this blog's unyielding demand for change led to an important 
We can all assist Kevin by writing the legislators in our state and requesting similar legislation. In addition, if Kevin posts the best federal office to write, let's campaign for federal legislation.
Posted by: Sylvia Landis | March 02, 2009 at 07:12 AM
Looks like SOME progress is being made. Now all you have to do is get it passed. Then you will really get the Federal Government's attention...
Posted by: Jason Allen | March 02, 2009 at 06:00 AM