Day 138:
Day 128 or so:
Posts Tagged ‘banks’
Know Your Daily Wells Fargo Bank Mortgage Protest on the Steps of the State Building – NoJusticeZone – Day 140
Wednesday, August 1st, 2012Suffer the Nevius: San Francisco’s Very Own Forrest Gump Goes Full-Maudlin Over “Occupy Bernal” and Foreclosures
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012Leave us begin with “Occupy Bernal succeeds in stalling foreclosures.”
Take it away, CW Nevius:
“An organization founded by a porn performer, a Summer of Love radical, and a guy named Stardust Darkmatterji, is challenging the eviction of homeowners in their Bernal Heights neighborhood. For the past week the group has been staging very polite, but noisy, demonstrations next to the steps of City Hall to disrupt bank auctions.
SO BLOWING WHISTLES TO STOP SOME LEGAL ACTION SOMEBODY DOESN’T LIKE IS NOT ONLY “POLITE” BUT “VERY POLITE?” THAT DOESN’T SOUND VERY NEVIUS, DOES IT?
And as offbeat as they are, their ’60s street theater is actually getting results.
ACTUALLY? HERE THE NEVIUS SIGNALS THAT THIS WILL BE ONE OF HIS MAUDLIN COLUMNS, THE KIND WHAT ALLOW HIM TO NOT CONSIDER HIMSELF A SAN FRANCISCO-STYLE REPUBLICAN. LET’S SEE IF HE GOES FULL-MAUDLIN.
Of course, the issues of bank meltdowns, the mortgage crisis and defaulting homeowners are complicated. But it seems every neighborhood knows someone who wasn’t served well by his bank. When responsible homeowners find themselves underwater on their mortgages, there’s a sense of hopelessness.
UH WTF, NEVIUS? AREN’T YOU A FUCKING SUBURBAN REPUBLICAN, YOU KNOW, FUNDAMENTALLY? SO LET’S SEE HERE, SOMEBODY BUYS A HOUSE USING A SUBSIDY FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND THEN WHEN THE PRICE OF THE HOUSE GOES DOWN AND IF THE HOMEOWNER IS A “RESPONSIBLE” ONE, AND IF HOMEOWNER, THE SAINTED HOMEOWNER SOMEHOW WASN’T “WELL-SERVED” (WHATEVER THE HELL THAT MEANS) BY HIS OR HER BANK, THEN SAID BANK SHOULDN’T BE ABLE TO CUT ITS LOSSES, YOU KNOW, THE WAY IT’S ALL LAID OUT IN THE PAPERWORK? ALL RIGHT. THAT’S YOUR POSITION, NEVE.
NOW, GENTLE READER, BRACE YOURSELF FOR THE NEXT PART.
Occupy Bernal disagrees,
DISAGREES WITH WHAT, NEVIUS? DISAGREES WITH “…THERE’S A SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS?” USE YOUR WORDS, NEVIUS, USE YOUR WORDS!
…and if it means staging old-fashioned protest marches in front of the residence of the Wells Fargo CEO – as they did in February – or blowing police whistles to disrupt the auction (after first handing out free ear plugs to everyone), they are taking action.
WTF, NEVIUS? DON’T YOU ALWAYS OBJECT TO SIMILAR ACTIONS DONE BY PEOPLE NOT IN YOUR POLITICAL FACTION? SO PLEASE EXPLAIN. WHY THE CHANGE OF HEART ALL OF A SUDDEN? WHAT’S THE DIFF?
Their noisy, funky tactics have been far more effective than the Occupy wannabes marching up and down the city streets and smashing the windows of small businesses.
SO LET’S SEE HERE, NEVE, IN YOUR WORLD, THE “OCCUPY WANNABES” ARE THE LOCAL OCCUPY MOVEMENT AND THE JOHNNY-COME-LATELY, HOMEOWNER-OBSESSED OCCUPY BERNAL PEOPLE ARE WHAT, THE REAL THING? DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE? AND IT’S OK TO BREAK THE WINDOWS OF BIG BUSINESSES BUT NOT SMALL BUSINESSES? DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE?
Granted, some of the auctions involve homeowners who simply borrowed too much…
NOW WE’RE TALKING, NEVE! WE HAD TO WAIT FOR YOUR “TO BE SURE…” GRAF, BUT, YES, SOME OF THESE HOMEOWNERS SIMPLY BORROWED TOO MUCH. ACTUALLY, ALMOST ALL OF THEM DID. PERHAPS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN PUMPING UP THE REAL ESTATE MARKET ALL THESE YEARS AND DECADES? YOU EVER THINK OF THAT, NEVE? YOU EVER THINK THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD STOP SUBSIDIZING THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY AND GET RID OF PROP 13 AND STUFF LIKE THAT?
…however, some are trying to take responsibility.
BY WHAT, PAYING THEIR MORTGAGES AS AGREED?
Particularly vexing is “double tracking,” which is where foreclosure proceedings are taking place while the owner is in the process of refinancing.
ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT THAT’S ILLEGAL OR SOMETHING? IT’S NOT, NEVIUS, ACTUALLY. MAYBE THESE UNDERWATER PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE ON AND BECOME RENTERS SOMEPLACE. MAYBE THAT’S AN OPTION?
A report from San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting found that 84 percent of a sample of foreclosures in the city included at least one legal violation. Some were minor infractions, but even so.
AND I’M SURE THERE’S A REPORT SOMEWHERE, PERHAPS FROM THE PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE, WHAT FINDS THAT 84% OF SAMPLE ARRESTS AT OCCUPYSF LAST YEAR INCLUDED AT LEAST ONE LEGAL VIOLATION. RIGHT? SO, “YES I TOSSED A BUNCH OF PAINT AT THAT COP BUT NOBODY SIGNED MY ARREST WARRANT SO THAT MEANS MY ARREST WAS ILLEGAL SO PLEASE PROTEST MY INCARCERATION.” WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE, NEVIUS?
“The tactics are a sign of the frustration almost everyone is feeling with the current system,” Ting said. “The current system is broken. Hopefully, given all the dialogue and action going on, we will see more underwater families being able to refinance their loans and take advantage of these record-low interest rates.” That’s the dream, and Occupy Bernal, although older and grayer, stands ready to fight until a modification can be made.
SO, NEVE, ARE YOU NOW ON THE RECORD SUPPORTING ILLEGAL TACTICS TO DRAW ATTENTION TO ISSUES? IT SURE SEEMS THAT WAY.
“If you’d told me six months ago I’d be working with Annie Sprinkle and a guy named Stardust,” said Bagot, “I’d have told you I haven’t done acid in a long time. But now, well, it may sound a little cocky, but we feel like we’re the future of the Occupy movement.”
WAIT FOR IT, WAIT FOR THE STINGER.
Righteous.
HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD DO, NEVIUS, IN THIS SPECIFIC ORDER:
1. LEARN HOW TO CRAFT AN ARGUMENT SUFFICIENT TO ACTUALLY SWAY OPINION.
2. SOMEHOW BECOME A BIG-CITY NEWSPAPER REPORTER AT AN OUTFIT WHAT TURNS AWAY HUNDREDS OF SUMMER INTERN APPLICANTS WHAT ARE ALL SUBSTANTIALLY SMARTER THAN YOU.
YOU’VE GOT THE SECOND PART DOWN, NEVE, SO NOW IT’S TIME TO WORK ON THE FIRST PART.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIME THIS DECADE BEFORE YOU RETIRE, OR GET RETIREDNESS THRUST UPON YOU, WHICHEVER.
Justin Herman Plaza Update: 2011 Had OccupySF, Opposing Bank of America, But 2012 Has “Bank of America Sunday Streets”
Monday, March 12th, 20122011:
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And this was yesterday during the kick-off of “Bank of America Sunday Streets* 2012″
You see, back in 2011, we opposed Bank of America, but now everything’s A-OK, it would seem.
2011 was bad for BofA, but spending a few thousand dollars on Sunday Streets makes up for that, the thinking goes.
“Financial partners include… PG&E, Lennar, Park Merced…”
Oh well.
*Kind of lackluster, actually. People don’t seem to care as much about this event as much anymore. It’s become more kind of a private-public, corporatist, corporate sell-out these days. Anyway, you can see some of its tents on the left and a few cyclists going past the Ferry Building, if you look hard enough.
Hachi Machi, It’s Time for Bocce! Rec and Park Rolls Out New Grass on Site of Historic OccupySF 2011 in JHP
Friday, January 6th, 2012You see, the Occupiers put their tents on the bocce court grass last year. So that killed the turf.
This was the scene yesterday as the new turf came in:
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All that’s left to do is clean up the Bradley Manning stickers and then, once again, San Francisco’s at-risk Rich White People will have a place to keep busy and stay out of trouble.
You know, there was talk of putting in a playground here, you know, for kids, but RWP didn’t like that idea so much.
Oh well.
Stickers on the Bocce Ball Courts are All That’s Left of OccupySF: “MAKE BANKS PAY” Plus “Free Bradley Manning”
Monday, January 2nd, 2012Are people really going to play bocce here, on the site of OccupySF, again?
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Hurray! Chase Bank Announces it Won’t Charge Customers a Monthly Debit Card Fee – Thanks Chase!
Friday, October 28th, 2011Say what you will about our corporate overlords at Morgan Chase, you can’t deny that they can tell which way the winds are blowing these days.
Proof of that is this announcement, below.
My favorite Chase Bank is the one on Oak and Divisadero. Isn’t it kewl?
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That’s right, it’s hella cool.
On a somewhat serious note, thanks for Chase Community Giving, Chase. That’s better than spending your money on a Super Bowl commercial or whathaveyou.
(But don’t get on my bad side, Chase, else it will be smashy smashy like what happened to your nearby competitor on Fell a couple Halloweens back.)
Anyway, you all can join the boycott,* I don’t care. As long as the Chase customers can have their bank branch on Oak, that’s fine.
Or take your money to a credit union, I don’t care.
And, oh, goran nasai, Amerika no Ginkoo. Mite, mite:
“Chase Announces it Won’t Charge Customers a Debit Card Fee - Consumers Union Calls On Bank of America to Drop its Plan to Charge a $5 Fee for Debit Card Purchases
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 28, 2011 — JP Morgan Chase announced today that it will not charge its customers a $3 monthly debit card fee after testing the charge in Wisconsin and Georgia. The bank announced that it would drop the idea following negative reaction from its customers.
Consumers Union, the nonprofit advocacy arm of Consumer Reports, today commended Chase for its decision and reiterated its call on Bank of America to end its plan to charge a $5 debit card fee beginning in 2012.
“Consumers Union has heard from thousands of consumers across the country who are outraged that Bank of America is instituting the $5 monthly debit card fee,” said Norma Garcia, manager of Consumers Union’s financial services program. ”It’s time for Bank of America to listen to its customers who are saying loud and clear: drop the fee or we’ll drop you. All banks that are considering debit card fees should ditch those plans.”
SunTrust has also started rolling out a similar debit card fee and Wells Fargo has been testing one in select markets. Earlier this month, Consumers Union called on Chase, Bank of America and these other banks to abandon plans to charge customers a fee for debit card purchases.
“It’s unfair for banks to stick consumers with a monthly fee just to use their own money,” said Garcia. ”The banks that charge debit card fees risk losing customers who are fed up with financial institutions that got bailed out that are now turning around and hiking fees.”
Consumers Union has published a set of tips for consumers who want to switch banks.
Saturday, November 5, has been dubbed Bank Transfer Day by grassroots activists upset with rising bank fees, including the new $5 debit card fee that Bank of America will start charging its customers in 2012. Consumers are being encouraged by Bank Transfer Day organizers to switch their accounts to credit unions or community banks on that day.
SOURCE Consumers Union”
Oh, there’s an updated version of this release. See it after the jump.
*Facebook, really? Heh. Home of the ephemeral…
Supervisor John Avalos To Hold Hearing October 24th on Local Banking Options and Alternatives to National Banks
Friday, October 21st, 2011Bright and early Monday morning at City Hall:
“Supervisor John Avalos To Hold Hearing on Local Banking Options and Alternatives to Corporate Banks
San Francisco, CA – Supervisor John Avalos, Chair of the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee will hold a hearing on local alternatives to corporate banking institutions.
WHAT: Hearing on Local Banking Options
WHEN: Monday, October 24, 10am
WHERE: City Hall, Board Chamber
WHO: Committee Members, Treasurer Jose Cisneros, Budget and Legislative Analyst Office, Community groups
“Wall Street speculators and large banks crashed our economy and have done little to nothing to help since we bailed them out,” said Avalos. ”As a city, we need to make sure that we are leveraging all our resources and wealth to support our revitalize our economy by supporting our homeowners, small businesses, and students.”
The hearing will include a presentation from the City’s Office of Budget and Legislative Analyst, who has prepared at report on community supportive banking alternatives at the behest of Supervisor Avalos whose District faces one of the highest rates of foreclosure in the City.
The alternatives outlined in the report range from investing in community development banks to creating a Municipal Bank to serve the City of San Francisco in much the same way the Bank of North Dakota has spurred local development in that state.”
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It Will Cost You Five Dollars a Month to Use Your Debit Card Starting Next Year, But Here’s a Call to Stop That
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011Consumers Union is on the case.
They’re trying the old moral suasion - perhaps some enterprising pols will join in?
All the deets:
“Consumers Union Calls on Bank of America & Other Major Banks to Drop Unfair Debit Card Fees
CU: It’s Unfair to Charge Customers When Banks Collect Enough From Retailers to Cover Debit Card Costs
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 18, 2011 — Consumers Union called on Bank of America and other banks to drop plans to charge consumers monthly debit card fees. Bank of America recently announced it would charge its customers $5 each month starting in 2012 to make debit card purchases. SunTrust has started rolling out its own $5 fee and Wells Fargo and Chase are testing debit card fees in select markets.
“Americans are tired of being hit with new banking fees, especially since they’ve already paid to rescue firms like Bank of America, whose behavior helped spark the economic meltdown,” said Norma Garcia, director of Consumers Union’s financial services program. “This debit card fee just adds insult to injury. It’s unfair for the banks to stick consumers with a monthly fee just to use their own money. Bank of America and other banks can still collect enough money from retailers to cover debit card costs.”
Garcia added, “If Bank of America and the other banks refuse to drop the debit card fee, consumers should consider dropping them. There are plenty of banks and credit unions that don’t charge debit card fees that will be more than happy to accept new customers.”
Consumers Union has published a set of tips for consumers who want to switch banks.
Below is Consumers Union’s letter to Bank of America urging it to drop its debit card fee. Similar letters were sent to Chase, SunTrust, and Wells Fargo.”
See the letter after the jump.
Dennis Herrera Throws Down: Announces $5 Million Settlement with Bank of America Subsidiary’s “Arbitration Mill”
Monday, August 22nd, 2011Here’s another victory for San Francisco’s Happy Warrior, City Attorney Dennis Herrera.
All the deets, below.
“Herrera secures $5 million settlement, tough consumer safeguards against BofA credit card subsidiary
Three-and-a-half-year-old case continues to win industry reforms nationwide to protect credit card holders in debt disputes
SAN FRANCISCO (August 22, 2011) — City Attorney Dennis Herrera today announced a major settlement agreement with the credit card subsidiary of the nation’s largest bank, Bank of America, in his three-and-a-half-year-old litigation against a so-called “arbitration mill,” which banks engaged to virtually assure they prevail over their credit card holders in binding arbitration proceedings. Herrera’s suit sought injunctive relief and penalties. The settlement secures $5 million for City taxpayers, and imposes tough, enforceable protections for California’s credit card holders in their debt disputes with FIA Card Services.
Under the terms of Herrera’s settlement noticed with the San Francisco Superior Court today, FIA will make a one-time settlement payment in the amount of $5 million, and agree not to arbitrate consumer credit card collections in California for two years. The credit card subsidiary has also agreed to not use the National Arbitration Forum in arbitrations with its card holders for at least five years, and to refrain from enforcing unconfirmed arbitration awards obtained through NAF, which was among the nation’s most notoriously anti-consumer arbitrators when Herrera filed his litigation in March 2008. FIA is also prohibited from barring consumer class actions challenging FIA’s practices. Herrera won a preliminary injunction against FIA early in his litigation, in April 2008, to halt the company’s practice of disclosing Social Security numbers and other private information of its customers in publicly available court records in San Francisco.
“This is a very significant settlement — not just because of its blockbuster dollar amount, but because it’s another milestone in a case that has helped reform the credit card industry’s abusive practices,” said Herrera. “For most consumers in debt disputes, binding arbitration was a sham that never gave consumers a chance — and major banks knew it. Credit card holders were often also victimized by outrageous attorneys’ fees and costs, which were illegally tacked onto arbitration awards against them. I’m very proud of a public interest lawsuit that continues to send a powerful message to the financial industry, and that has caused even the nation’s largest financial institutions to reform their conduct.”
Herrera initially filed his litigation against FIA Card Services and the National Arbitration Forum in March 2008 for violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law. The litigation would soon after feature prominently in a BusinessWeek cover story entitled “Banks vs. Consumers (Guess Who Wins),” in June 2008, which relied on key facts from San Francisco’s case, including statistics showing that consumers prevailed in just 30 cases out of more than 18,000 arbitrations brought by businesses that went to a hearing — less than two-tenths of one percent.
In July 2009, the National Arbitration Forum announced that it would cease handling consumer credit card arbitration matters after a state attorney general followed Herrera’s lead in filing a separate consumer protection case. A month later, Bank of America agreed to drop its longstanding requirement that consumers with credit card disputes enter into binding arbitration. That change by the nation’s largest bank freed millions of credit card consumers from binding arbitration requirements, enabling them to pursue civil actions in neutral courts. Herrera’s case remains in active litigation with NAF, which his office continues to pursue for financial penalties and other relief.
The City Attorney’s case is: People of the State of California v. National Arbitration Forum, Inc.; FIA Card Services et al., San Francisco Superior Court No. 473-569, filed March 24, 2008.”
