Advice Business Health

Consumers should be careful when accepting free trial offers

28.12.09

By Lucy Sanderson

Try to find a relief of debt is hard enough, but having unwanted charges on account of credit card debt can make it even more difficult.

A number of groups have come together to warn consumers about a particular practice associated with certain offers made online. The Better Business Bureau Federal Trade Commission and Visa have teamed up to alert consumers to the practice of websites automatically by clicking a box that offers onan a consumer would enroll in a program after a free trial.

Through pre-clicking on boxes, these sites may increase the likelihood that a consumer may accept an offer once the trial period is over, which leads to more debt credit card for things they may not want to buy.

"Most electronic commerce sites care about their customers and conduct business fairly, but even a few bad actors can cause mistrust of consumers," William Sheedy, Visa, Group President for the Americas, said.

Source: Bills.com

Onetime foes, companies and activists find ways to cooperate

28.12.09

"It was our decision to approach these organizations with an olive branch," said John Viera, director of sustainable business strategies in Dearborn, Mich. "Our dialogue has been moving around them who were demonstrating against us and we talk not conducive to their subject, Getting in the same room, talking about the areas we disagree on, those we agree and move forward. "

Rainforest Action Network is a group approached Ford. "Our protest signs have begun to be their word press release," said Nell Greenberg, spokeswoman for Ran.Since then, Ford has introduced cars like the Fusion Hybrid and RAN has muted his rhetoric.

For many companies and activists, the old days of confrontation on the picket lines and boycotts have given way to a new era of cooperation, particularly on environmental issues (initiatives of the workforce are less frequent) . Some of these alliances are stronger than others. However, activists and corporations are beginning to realize the benefits of turning enemies into friends.

Source: Christian Science Monitor