| Standard Chartered unveils new card
Dubai: Standard Chartered on Monday launched a business credit card in the UAE primarily targeted at the small and medium enterprise (SME) segment. The 'Gold Business Credit Card', co-branded with Singapore Airlines, offers business-centric benefits such as automatic membership to KrisFlyer - the loyalty programme of Singapore Airlines, the flexibility to convert business rewards from the credit card to KrisFlyer miles, preferential rates and offers from leading international hotels and discounts on office supplies, equipment and courier services. "Our Business Credit Card is aligned with our ongoing drive to deliver first-class services to all our valued customers above and beyond their stated needs," said Chris De Bruin, head of consumer banking chartered for the UAE.
Wickes Furniture gives up hope of reorganizing
It appears the 20 Wickes Furniture stores in the Chicago area may have a short future. The Wheeling-based Wickes Furniture Co. announced Tuesday it has abandoned hopes of reorganization and agreed to put itself on the bankruptcy auction block before the end of the month, according to court papers. Citing ''operating losses and liquidity concerns,'' Wickes said Monday it would seek bankruptcy court approval to sell all its assets by Feb. 29. The company said it would be sold either as an operating business or piecemeal in a liquidation. Wickes Furniture stores are currently selling merchandise in the store and in the warehouse, but taking only credit-card payments. Back orders may be subject to a refund. Merchandise was still being delivered and serviced on Tuesday, a service representative said.
When flights go awry, get refund information in writing
Q: I would like to request your help in resolving an issue with AirTran Airways. I flew from Atlanta to Savannah, Ga., recently. But my return flight to Atlanta was canceled for mechanical reasons, and I was offered two options by a station supervisor. I could either spend the night at a hotel at AirTran's expense and fly out the next afternoon, or I could rent a car and drive to Atlanta, again at AirTran's expense. Since I had a morning business meeting the following day, I chose the second option. The following day I mailed my receipts for $124 to the station supervisor by certified mail. I also called the number on his card and left numerous messages. For two weeks I received no response from him or AirTran. Then a credit for $39 — the cost of the return flight — showed up on my American Express card.
Woolworths shares jump on huge profit result
THE nation's largest retailer Woolworths has booked a 28 per cent increase in first-half profit to almost $900 million, sending its shares back over $30. Woolworths this week confirmed that it expects net profit for fiscal 2008 to grow by 19 per cent to 23 per cent. The company also announced that it would partner investment bank HSBC to launch a branded credit card late in calendar 2008. Woolworths booked a $891.3 million net profit in the 27 weeks ended to December 30, compared to $695.6 million in the prior corresponding period. Investors were happy with the result. Woolworths shares jumped 3.62 per cent, or $1.05, to $30.06 by 11.01am AEDT. "This is clearly a strong result and one that reflects the momentum for sustained profitable growth that exists in our business," chief executive Michael Luscombe said.
As the going gets tough, DJs aims higher
UPMARKET department store David Jones is aiming even higher in a move to insulate its business from the expected downturn in retail spending over the next few years. The retailer's 2009-2012 strategic plan released yesterday is aimed at using the spending slowdown to cement its position at the head of the pack ahead of an forecast upturn in the retail environment from 2011. DJs said a greater focus on cost cutting and margin growth would allow it to maintain annual profit growth of 5-10 per cent despite flatish sales growth throughout the three-year period. The centrepieces of the plan are a credit card alliance with American Express, the opening of four to eight new stores in high spending locations, and refurbishment of up to 14 of its most profitable stores.
Merchant Risk Council Recommends Businesses Incorporate Extended ...
SEATTLE, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Merchant Risk Council (MRC), the retail industry's premier trade association for preventing online fraud and promoting secure e-commerce, announces the organization's recent incorporation of Trustwave's Extended Validation SSL Certificate to the Merchant Risk Council's Web site. Trustwave is a Certificate Authority (CA) and has issued SSL certificates to thousands of businesses worldwide. SSL is used to protect confidential information, such as credit card numbers or passwords, sent between Web users and Web sites. SSL, which stands for Secure Sockets Layer, Extended Validation (EV) certificates provide an additional layer of protection through a strictly defined issuance process to ensure that the certificate holding entity is validated as the entity they claim to be.
Understanding Your Rights When Debt Collectors Call
For 2005, collection agencies ranked No. 6 on the BBB's list -- with more complaints than banks, phone companies, credit card issuers and auto repair businesses. The matter has become so bad that on Oct. 10, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to end private collection of U.S. tax debts, citing the abusive tactics collectors sometimes use and the fact that government employees will be both cheaper and easier to rein in. According to the National Consumer Law Center, 97 percent to 98 percent of consumers pay bills on time. But those among the 2 percent to 3 percent who fall behind -- or people wrongly accused of owing payments -- can suffer from constant calls from debt collectors. Since 1977, the United States has enforced the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to protect consumers from shady debt collection tactics.
Jones Beach to weigh in on divisive Trump project
Steve Schwimmer, who thinks Trump on the Ocean would be good for his Bohemia credit-card transaction processing firm as well as Long Island, has sent 6,000 e-mails to business contacts urging them to come out and support it.
Civic activist Patricia Friedman, who considers the Jones Beach catering hall and restaurant an abomination, has been busy calling sympathetic individuals and groups such as the Audubon Society to get them to send alerts to their friends and members.
Galvanizing Friedman, Schwimmer and others: a hearing scheduled for Tuesday at which a review board will consider, and likely rule on, Donald Trump and partner Steve Carl's application for a variance from the state building code's prohibition on building a basement in a floodplain.
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Hang Seng Bank Selects VeriFone Contactless Solutions
SAN JOSE, Calif. - (Business Wire) VeriFone Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PAY) today announced it has been selected by Hang Seng Bank of Hong Kong to provide contactless payment solutions in support of the enJoy Card rollout. The Hang Seng enJoy Card is a co-branded credit card with retailer Jardine Matheson and the first credit card in Hong Kong to use the Visa payWave contactless payment technology, allowing cardholders to enjoy the convenience of fast and secure payments. VeriFone will supply the EMV-certified QX110 contactless reader and NURIT payment systems for use at merchant sites in the Jardine Matheson Group. "With the broadest product line of contactless solutions, VeriFone is well positioned to support this and other projects where contactless is being implemented throughout the region," said William C.
CSI: TCP/IP
LOCATED ON THE LESS FASHIONABLE north end of the Las Vegas strip, the Riviera Hotel and Casino has seen better days. Even the girls in posters for the hotel's topless revue could use a makeover. But hey, it's cheap. Which is why 6,000 hackers have descended upon it for DefCon, billed as the "largest underground hacking event in the world." So while the hotel is no doubt happy for the business, it's also – in classic Vegas fashion – hedging its bet. Employees received a memo warning them to be on the lookout for people skimming guests' card numbers. Credit card processing has been suspended in the food court. The Riviera doesn't need the grief. .
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