Every American in every crack and crevice of the country was affected by last week's tragic events in New York and Washington. The unprecedented, horrible events were so distracting for everyone, that some forgot to send in their credit card payments on time. Others who did send their payments on time, may have missed the card issuer's cut-off date due to the nationwide slowdown in mail delivery. The fact is ALL Americans, not just those in the New York City and Washington, D.C. metro areas may have had their credit card payments affected in some way. However, major credit card issuers, do not see it that way.

Many of the top issuers have announced they will waive late fees for those cardholders located in the geographic areas centered around New York City and Washington, but not for others. Metris Companies and its subsidiary Direct Merchants Credit Card Bank, a major card issuer to consumers with less than perfect credit, announced it will waive late fees for cardholders in directly affected areas that have payment due dates from Sept. 11 to Oct. 11. Bank One/First USA said earlier this week it will sort through payments and determine who gets the fee waiver and who does not. Discover, the first to announce fee waivers, said it is was eliminating all late fee charges until normal mail service is restored. Discover acknowledged that the air travel stop affected the mail throughout the country following the terrorist attacks. Most all major VISA/MasterCard issuers, as well as American Express, have announced they will waive late fees to some extent and in some cases they will boost credit lines for those in the affected areas.

Banks have a long standing reputation of being greedy and heartless. The current situation is an opportunity for banks and credit card issuers to demonstrate they do have compassion. The reality is that under these tragic circumstances it appears inappropriate, perhaps even unpatriotic, to penalize customers for missing payments this month. If any late fees are inadvertently collected during this period, then they should be forwarded to a fund assisting victims of the tragedy.

C'mon guys (and gals)! let's cut ALL Americans some slack, if only for one month.

TAXI CARDS

Credit cards in taxis is finally coming to the Big Apple. USA Technologies announced this month it will install 15,000 e-Port credit card terminals in taxis and limousines operating in New York City over the next three years. The deal was signed with the United Taxi Alliance. The e-Port card reading device will be fitted in the front of the cab or limousine. Passengers pass their credit cards to the driver who then swipes the card through the device to activate the transaction before the trip begins. At the end of the trip the driver passes the passenger a complete receipt that itemizes the distance traveled and cost, and can also include the tip. An interactive screen can be fitted in the back of the cab for convenient viewing. The first of several thousand e-Ports could begin appearing in New York cabs and limousines in January 2002. Last month, the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers approved a credit card program for livery cabs. About 29,000 livery cabs provide service in areas of New York where yellow taxis don't operate for economic, safety, and sometimes racist reasons. Partners in the livery cab program, which utilizes wireless credit card terminals, include Cynergy Data, Lipman USA and U.S. Wireless Data. There are approximately 6,300 taxi companies transporting 1.4 billion passengers annually in the U.S.

CD CARD

An Omaha firm has come up with a payment card that inserts into a personal computer CD-ROM drive. Media Services says the new, patent pending, multi-use payment card, will offer the same confidence as a card present transaction. The cards will contain a mag stripe, signature stripe, smart chip, along with the customer name/account number printed on the face of the CD card. The CD-R portion of the card also has enough capacity for advertising and promotional use. Card issuers could create splash screens, and audio/video promoting other products and services.

BANKRUPTCY FRAUD

An anonymous nationwide survey of bankruptcy judges, administrators, trustee, and lawyers conducted by Kessler International, found that 31% of those polled knew of flagrant abuses of bankruptcy laws in cases they have handled. More than 60% stated they knew of some abuse and only six percent stated that they thought bankruptcy laws were followed and each filing was honest. Kessler noted that according to statistics obtained from the U S Department of Justice only 188 cases of bankruptcy fraud were prosecuted in 1999. More than 400,000 cases were filed during the second calendar quarter, the highest number ever filed in one quarter. According to data released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, a total of 400,394 petitions were filed between April 1 and June 30 of this year, a 24.5% increase over the 321,729 cases filed in the same period last year. Kessler International is a forensic and investigative accounting firm based in New York City.

VISA DOUBLE DIP

Hilton HHonors and VISA are offering double miles this fall. Through November 15, members can earn twice as many airline miles for each Double Dip stay after one initial Double Dip stay during the promotion availability period. In addition, travelers who charge their Double Dip stay to their VISA card will earn 1,000 HHonors bonus points for each of these additional stays at all HHonors hotels worldwide. Participating hotels include Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton. All HHonors airline partners are participating in the promotion.

MASTERCARD INCENTIVE

American Airlines Vacations and MasterCard are offering something extra for travelers who use MasterCard to purchase Hawaiian vacation packages. Travelers who book five-night stays through American Airlines Vacations' Web site at participating hotels on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and The Big Island of Hawaii by Sept. 30, 2001, will receive a $100 MasterCard Prepaid card per booking. Travel must begin Sept. 1, 2001, and be completed by Dec. 15, 2001. In addition, American Airlines Vacations will award 3,000 AOL AAdvantage bonus miles per booking. All payments for vacation packages must be purchased using a valid MasterCard. The card must be valid for six months from the date it is issued and must be valid wherever the card is honored. The MasterCard Prepaid card will be received 6-8 weeks after travel has been completed and verified.

DINERS GOLF

Diners Club announced this month Executive Golf Club, a premier benefit of the Diners Club Carte Blanche Card. Executive Golf Club gives cardholder access to more than 200 of the world's most prestigious private, semi-private, and upscale public golf courses - like St. Andrews Old Course and Hotel in Scotland and Poipu Bay Golf Club (host of the 2001 PGA Grand Slam of Golf) in Hawaii. Members simply contact the Carte Blanche Executive Golf Club at least 72 hours in advance to arrange a tee-time on one of the legendary courses. Executive Golf Club membership is automatic upon becoming a Carte Blanche cardholder. Members receive a complimentary tee reservations service, use of member facilities and a leather-bound directory detailing each participating course.

TRIPLE MILES

Alamo Rent A Car is awarding triple AAdvantage or AOL AAdvantage Miles and a free upgrade to corporate customers and members who rent through Quicksilver between now and December 18. Quicksilver counterless kiosk service provides a fast, efficient way to get customers on the road in 60 seconds or less. By simply inserting a pre-registered credit card in the Quicksilver kiosk, busy travelers will receive a contract and the location of their rental car within seconds. Alamo serves customers at 109 locations in the USA and Canada, and more than 400 international locations in Europe and Latin America.