“Frontline” documentary examines the present and future credit card industry
The New York Times and the PBS program “Frontline” have
joined forces once again to produce an expository documentary about the credit
card industry and its latest developments.
The joint reporting project, which debuted on Nov. 24, 2009, also includes a series of articles available on the New York Times’ website.
Whereas the previous collaboration entitled “The Secret
History of the Credit Card” focused on the history of the industry, this new collaboration
entitled “The Card Game” focuses on the present and future. In the beginning, the documentary follows the
same formula as the previous feature released in 2004, highlighting specific
cases in which customers were abused and confronting industry experts for an
explanation. Later, it explores how the economic collapse triggered credit card
reform, which Harvard Law professor Elizabeth Warren explains “won’t change the
game”. It ends by revealing what to expect in the near future.
I strongly encourage you to watch the documentary and to view
the extra footage. You will receive a great
overview of the issues and hear from some of the major players in the “game”. "Frontline" correspondent and producer, Lowell
Bergman, does a thorough job as he always does, interviewing consumers, industry
experts, politicians, and government officials. However, if you are searching
for anything more than that, your time is better spent elsewhere. It does not
even scratch the surface of the immense complexity and skulduggery of the
matter.
What did I get from the program? Not much. But, above all, a
final comment made about government officials and politicians by a former
Providian executive stuck with me: “Tell me the rules, and then I’ll outsmart
you all, because none of you are smart enough. You make the stupid rules, and
I’ll comply, and I’ll make money”. The retired
executive said that his statement sums up the prevailing sentiment of abusive
bankers who have the deck stacked in their favor.
In short, the game continues, and we are losing.
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 
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