#credit card comparison

[ahandhiman]

Learn the key features to consider when comparing credit cards, including annual fees, reward programs, interest rates, exclusive benefits, payment flexibility, and security. Make an informed choice and pick the best credit card for your needs.

[netincomesource]

Complete Guide to the Salon Centric Credit Card for Salon Professionals

Managing expenses is crucial for salon owners and beauty professionals, and the Salon Centric Credit Card offers an excellent solution. Designed specifically for the beauty industry, this card provides exclusive financing, discounts, and other unique perks that help salon professionals save while enhancing their business. This guide will walk you through the features, benefits, application…

[paisainvests-1]

Best advisor of Credit cards in Gurugram

Gurugram, a thriving hub of business and lifestyle, offers numerous financial opportunities. With a plethora of credit card options available, making the right choice can be daunting. This is where a trusted advisor comes in, and Paisainvests stands out as the go-to expert in this realm.

Why Seek an advisor of Credit cards?

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What Makes a Great Credit Card Advisor?

A great advisor of Credit cards should possess deep knowledge, integrity, and a client-focused mindset. They should be able to provide personalised recommendations based on your financial goals and lifestyle.

Paisainvests: The Best Credit Card Advisor

Paisainvests has emerged as a leading advisor of Credit cards in Gurugram, renowned for its expertise and dedication to clients. Their mission is to simplify the credit card selection process and offer unbiased advice.

Expertise in Credit Card Options

With an extensive portfolio of credit card options, Paisainvests ensures you have access to the best deals and features, whether you are looking for rewards, cashback, or travel benefits.

Personalized Consultation

Paisainvests provides personalised consultations, taking into account your spending habits, income, and credit history to recommend the most suitable credit cards.

Client-Centric Approach

At Paisainvests, the client always comes first. Their approach is centred around understanding your needs and providing solutions that align with your financial aspirations.

Transparency and Trust

Transparency is at the core of Paisainvests’ services. They believe in clear communication and honesty, fostering trust and long-term relationships with their clients.

Suggested Articles: Best Insurance Advisor in Gurugram | Best Credit Card Advisor in Delhi

Paisainvests’ Unique Features

What sets Paisainvests apart are its innovative tools and resources, such as comparison calculators and expert blogs, which help you make well-informed decisions.

Success Stories

Paisainvests has a track record of helping clients achieve their financial goals. From first-time cardholders to seasoned professionals, their success stories are a testament to their expertise.

Comparing Credit Cards in Gurugram

Gurugram offers a wide range of credit cards, from premium options to basic cards. Paisainvests simplifies the comparison process, highlighting the features and benefits of each.

How Paisainvests Simplifies the Process

The team at Paisainvests takes the hassle out of credit card selection by offering comprehensive guidance and support, from application to approval.

Tips for Choosing the Right Credit Card

Consider factors like interest rates, annual fees, rewards, and your spending habits when choosing a credit card. Paisainvests helps you weigh these factors to find the best fit.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid common pitfalls like overlooking fees, not reading the fine print, and choosing a card that doesn’t match your spending habits. Paisainvests help you steer clear of these mistakes.

Suggested Articles: Best Insurance Advisor in Gurugram | Best Credit Card Advisor in Delhi

Conclusion

In the bustling financial landscape of Gurugram, having a reliable credit card advisor like Paisainvests can make all the difference. Their expertise, client-centric approach, and commitment to transparency make them the top choice for credit card advice.

By Paisainvests.com

[paisainvests-12]

Best advisor of Credit cards in Gurugram

Gurugram, a thriving hub of business and lifestyle, offers numerous financial opportunities. With a plethora of credit card options available, making the right choice can be daunting. This is where a trusted advisor comes in, and Paisainvests stands out as the go-to expert in this realm.

Why Seek an advisor of Credit cards?

What Makes a Great Credit Card Advisor?

A great advisor of Credit cards should possess deep knowledge, integrity, and a client-focused mindset. They should be able to provide personalised recommendations based on your financial goals and lifestyle.

Paisainvests: The Best Credit Card Advisor

Paisainvests has emerged as a leading advisor of Credit cards in Gurugram, renowned for its expertise and dedication to clients. Their mission is to simplify the credit card selection process and offer unbiased advice.

Expertise in Credit Card Options

With an extensive portfolio of credit card options, Paisainvests ensures you have access to the best deals and features, whether you are looking for rewards, cashback, or travel benefits.

Personalized Consultation

Paisainvests provides personalised consultations, taking into account your spending habits, income, and credit history to recommend the most suitable credit cards.

Client-Centric Approach

At Paisainvests, the client always comes first. Their approach is centred around understanding your needs and providing solutions that align with your financial aspirations.

Transparency and Trust

Transparency is at the core of Paisainvests’ services. They believe in clear communication and honesty, fostering trust and long-term relationships with their clients.

Suggested Articles: Best Insurance Advisor in Gurugram | Best Credit Card Advisor in Delhi

Paisainvests’ Unique Features

What sets Paisainvests apart are its innovative tools and resources, such as comparison calculators and expert blogs, which help you make well-informed decisions.

Success Stories

Paisainvests has a track record of helping clients achieve their financial goals. From first-time cardholders to seasoned professionals, their success stories are a testament to their expertise.

Comparing Credit Cards in Gurugram

Gurugram offers a wide range of credit cards, from premium options to basic cards. Paisainvests simplifies the comparison process, highlighting the features and benefits of each.

How Paisainvests Simplifies the Process

The team at Paisainvests takes the hassle out of credit card selection by offering comprehensive guidance and support, from application to approval.

Tips for Choosing the Right Credit Card

Consider factors like interest rates, annual fees, rewards, and your spending habits when choosing a credit card. Paisainvests helps you weigh these factors to find the best fit.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid common pitfalls like overlooking fees, not reading the fine print, and choosing a card that doesn’t match your spending habits. Paisainvests help you steer clear of these mistakes.

Suggested Articles: Best Insurance Advisor in Gurugram | Best Credit Card Advisor in Delhi

Conclusion

In the bustling financial landscape of Gurugram, having a reliable credit card advisor like Paisainvests can make all the difference. Their expertise, client-centric approach, and commitment to transparency make them the top choice for credit card advice.

By Paisainvests.com

[freesandwichmoon-blog]

5 Compelling Reasons to Get a Capital One Walmart Credit Card Today!

Are you searching for a credit card that offers unbeatable rewards, outstanding perks, and unparalleled convenience? Look no further than the Capital One Walmart Credit Card! Here are five compelling reasons why you should get one today: Generous Rewards: With a Capital One credit card, you’ll earn rewards on every purchase you make. Whether it’s cash back, travel miles, or points towards…

[ahandhiman]

Compare Top Credit Cards from Indian Banks Easily

Looking for the best credit card that matches your needs? With so many options from Indian banks, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. That’s where comparing top credit cards becomes essential. Whether you’re looking for rewards on shopping, cashback offers, travel benefits, or fuel discounts, compare top credit cards from Indian banks easily to find the perfect fit.

When comparing credit cards, focus on features like annual fees, reward programs, interest rates, and exclusive perks. Some cards provide higher cashback, while others cater to frequent travelers with complimentary lounge access and air miles. Consider your spending habits to identify the card that offers maximum value.

For instance, HDFC, ICICI, and SBI credit cards come with distinct advantages such as reward points, EMI conversion options, and special discounts on partner brands. Don’t forget to check if the card provides flexibility for payments and added security features.

Start your comparison today and unlock the best offers suited for you. Choosing the right credit card can make managing your expenses rewarding and hassle-free. Happy exploring!

[netincomesource]

Fintechzoom Credit Cards: A Game-Changer for Modern Financial Management

When I first started exploring credit card options, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices available. Traditional banks offered the usual benefits, but I was looking for something more tailored to my needs. That’s when I came across Fintech Choosing the right credit card is a key step in managing your personal finances, especially with the vast array of options available today. Whether…

[paisainvests-1]

Best RuPay Credit Card in India 2024

So, you’re on the hunt for the best rupee credit card in India for 2024, huh? With a plethora of options available, it can be quite a task to choose the right one. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the top RuPay credit cards available in India, scrutinising their features, fees, and eligibility criteria. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of which card suits your needs the best.

Why Choose a RuPay Credit Card?

First off, why would you want a rupee credit card? Well, RuPay cards are Indian domestic cards launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). They often come with lower transaction fees and are accepted widely nationwide. Plus, they’re perfect for anyone looking to support the Indian economy while enjoying some fantastic perks.

HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card

Features

The HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card is a stellar choice for those who frequently use UPI payments. You can link this card to your UPI ID and enjoy seamless transactions.

UPI Integration: Link your card to your UPI ID for hassle-free payments.

Rewards: Earn reward points on every transaction.

Cashback: Attractive cashback offers on online and offline purchases.

Security: Enhanced security features with tokenisation.

3% CashPoints: Earn up to 500 points per month on PayZapp transactions, groceries, supermarket, and dining spends.

2% CashPoints: Earn up to 500 points per month on utility spends.

1% CashPoints: Earn up to 500 points per month on other purchases, excluding rent, wallet loads, EMI, fuel, and government spends.

Redemption Rate: 1 CashPoint = Re. 0.25 or 0.25 Airmile.

Annual Fee

The annual fee for this card is ₹500, which is quite reasonable considering the features on offer.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this card, you need to be an Indian resident aged between 21 and 60 years. A good credit score and a stable income are also essential.

Suggested you can read: RBI Credit Cards Rules | Best Credit Card Advisor in Gurugram

Myntra Kotak RuPay Credit Card

Features

If you’re a fashion enthusiast, the Myntra Kotak RuPay Credit Card is perfect for you. It offers exclusive benefits on Myntra and other partnered stores.

Myntra Offers: Exclusive discounts and cashback on Myntra.

Reward Points: Earn reward points on all purchases.

No Cost EMI: Convert big purchases into easy EMIs at no extra cost.

5% Cashback: Earn cashback on spends at partner merchants, including Swiggy, Swiggy Instamart, PVR, Cleartrip, and Urban Company.

Unlimited 1.25% Cashback: Earn cashback on other category spends.

Instant Discount: Receive a 7.5% discount on every transaction at Myntra.

Complimentary Membership: Get Myntra Insider Membership at no additional cost.

Welcome Voucher: Receive a Rs. 500 Myntra voucher upon completing the first transaction worth Rs. 500 or more within 30 days of card issuance.

PVR Tickets: Get 2 complimentary PVR tickets every quarter by spending Rs. 50,000 or more in a quarter.

Lounge Access: Enjoy 1 complimentary domestic lounge access per quarter.

Annual Fee

This card comes with an annual fee of ₹499, which is waived off if you spend over ₹50,000 annually.

Eligibility

Applicants should be between 21 and 65 years old, with a stable income and a decent credit history.

Suggested you can read: RBI Credit Cards Rules | Best Credit Card Advisor in Gurugram

HDFC MoneyBack+ RuPay Credit Card

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Features

The HDFC MoneyBack+ RuPay Credit Card is designed for those who love to shop and get rewarded for it.

Cashback: Up to 5% cashback on all online spending.

Reward Points: Earn 2X reward points on grocery and utility payments.

Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Enjoy a waiver on fuel surcharges.

Earn 10X CashPoints on purchases from Flipkart, Amazon, Swiggy, Reliance Smart SuperStore, and BigBasket.

Get 5X CashPoints on EMI spend at participating merchant locations.

Accumulate 2 CashPoints for every Rs. 150 spent in other categories.

Receive 500 CashPoints upon payment of the joining and renewal fees.

Enjoy gift vouchers worth Rs. 500 when you reach quarterly spending of Rs. 50,000 or more.

Benefit from up to 20% discount at partner restaurants through Swiggy Dineout.

Annual Fee

The annual fee for this card is ₹500, but it’s waived off if you spend more than ₹1 lakh in a year.

Eligibility

To qualify, you must be between 21 and 60 years old with a stable job and a good credit score.

Suggested you can read: RBI Credit Cards Rules | Best Credit Card Advisor in Gurugram

Tata Neu HDFC RuPay Credit Cards

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Features

For Tata brand loyalists, the Tata Neu HDFC RuPay Credit Card offers some exciting perks.

Tata Neu Coins: Earn Tata Neu Coins on every spend, redeemable across Tata brands.

Exclusive Offers: Get exclusive offers on Tata products and services.

Travel Benefits: Special travel deals and discounts.

Get up to 5% back as NeuCoins on non-EMI purchases from Tata Neu and partner Tata brands, including Air India and Westside.

Earn up to 1.5% back as NeuCoins on non-Tata brand purchases and any EMI transactions.

Enjoy an additional 5% back as NeuCoins on transactions made through the Tata Neu app or website, after downloading the app and registering for Tata NeuPass.

Access up to 8 domestic lounges per calendar year (2 per quarter).

Receive 4 complimentary international lounge accesses per calendar year (1 per quarter) with a RuPay Card.

Annual Fee

This card has an annual fee of ₹499, which is quite nominal given the benefits.

Eligibility

Applicants need to be Indian residents aged between 21 and 65 years with a stable income and a good credit score.

Suggested you can read: RBI Credit Cards Rules | Best Credit Card Advisor in Gurugram

IRCTC SBI RuPay Platinum Credit Card

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Features

If you’re a frequent traveller on Indian Railways, the IRCTC SBI RuPay Platinum Credit Card is a fantastic choice.

Railway Ticket Discounts: Get discounts on booking railway tickets.

Reward Points: Earn reward points on all transactions.

Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Enjoy fuel surcharge waivers at petrol pumps.

Earn 350 bonus reward points on a single transaction of Rs. 500 or more within 45 days of card issuance.

Receive 10% value back in reward points when booking AC1, AC2, AC3, Executive Chair Car, and Chair Car tickets via the IRCTC website or mobile app.

Enjoy a 1% transaction fee waiver on railway ticket bookings through IRCTC.

Accumulate 1 reward point for every Rs. 125 spent on non-fuel retail purchases.

Benefit from 4 complimentary railway lounge accesses each year.

Annual Fee

The annual fee is ₹500, but you can get it waived off by spending ₹2 lakh in a year.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must be between 18 and 65 years old with a stable income and a good credit score.

Suggested you can read: RBI Credit Cards Rules | Best Credit Card Advisor in Gurugram

IndianOil Axis RuPay Credit Card

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Features

The IndianOil Axis RuPay Credit Card is tailored for those who spend a lot on fuel.

Fuel Points: Earn fuel points on every fuel purchase at IndianOil outlets.

Cashback: Get cashback on fuel purchases.

Reward Points: Earn reward points on all other spends.

Earn 4% value back on fuel purchases with 20 reward points per Rs. 100 spent at any IOCL outlets.

Get 1% value back with 5 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on online shopping.

Accumulate 1 EDGE reward point for every Rs. 100 spent on other categories.

Receive EDGE reward points worth up to Rs. 250, equivalent to the value of your first fuel spend made within 30 days of card issuance.

Enjoy a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions ranging from Rs. 400 to Rs. 4,000 per month.

Save 10% on movie ticket bookings through the BookMyShow app or website.

Annual Fee

The annual fee for this card is ₹500, waived if you spend ₹30,000 annually.

Eligibility

You should be between 21 and 60 years old, with a stable income and a decent credit score.

Suggested you can read: RBI Credit Cards Rules | Best Credit Card Advisor in Gurugram

ICICI HPCL Super Saver RuPay Credit Card

Features

For those who often find themselves at HPCL petrol stations, the ICICI HPCL Super Saver RuPay Credit Card is a great fit.

Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Enjoy a surcharge waiver on fuel purchases at HPCL outlets.

Reward Points: Earn reward points on all transactions.

Cashback: Get cashback on fuel and non-fuel purchases.

Earn 2,000 reward points when you spend at least Rs. 5,000 within 45 days of card issuance.

Get Rs. 100 cashback on a recharge transaction of Rs. 1,000 or more through the HP Pay app.

Receive 4% cashback, up to Rs. 200 per month, on fuel purchases at HPCL pumps.

Enjoy 5% back in reward points on grocery, departmental store, and utility bill expenses.

Accumulate 2 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on retail purchases.

Gain an additional 1.5% savings with 6 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on fuel at HPCL outlets when paying via the HP Pay app.

Benefit from 1% cashback on the fuel surcharge for all fuel purchases up to Rs. 4,000.

Avail 25% off when booking at least 2 movie tickets through BookMyShow or INOX.

Receive 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge access per quarter when you spend Rs. 5,000 in the previous calendar quarter.

Annual Fee

This card has an annual fee of ₹500, which is waived if you spend ₹50,000 in a year.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you need to be between 21 and 60 years old with a stable income and a good credit score.

Suggested you can read: RBI Credit Cards Rules | Best Credit Card Advisor in Gurugram

What is a RuPay Credit Card?

RuPay, an Indian domestic card scheme, was launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It’s designed to fulfil the Reserve Bank of India’s vision of a domestic, open, and multilateral system of payments. In simpler terms, it’s a home-grown alternative to Visa and Mastercard, offering similar functionalities but with added perks for Indian users.

Benefits of Using RuPay Credit Cards

So, why choose RuPay over other options? Here are some benefits:

Localised Benefits: Tailored for Indian customers, often with lower transaction fees.

Security: Enhanced security features tailored to Indian regulatory standards.

Acceptance: Widely accepted across India, with an increasing global presence.

Government Incentives: Often linked with government schemes, offering extra perks.

[merchantservicesarticles101]

Merchant Credit Card Machines

[merchantservices444]

What is a Merchant Processing Gateway?

[endlessdreamworld]

God, I finally caught up on the HSR story and I'm so down bad for this man, this traumatized guy, my poor little meow meow.

So here's some yan! Aventurine X gn! reader headcanons that have been rotting inside my brain for the past few days. Bark bark bark rate up soon please haha!!

In the early stages of your relationship, his behavior matches his superficial self, the shell he shows everyone. One of his first gifts to you would be a credit card attached to his personal bank account. 'Don't ask! Just spend.' He'd get a hit of endorphins every single time he sees a charge coming through from you. He knows it's you because he named the profile attached to that card with some corny pet name with a slew of emojis beside it, taking up an obnoxious amount of space on the screen of his phone.

It doesn't take long for him to be utterly obsessed with you. How could he not? You're just so... everything! His everything. It's at this stage, the mask slips off. Material gifts are no longer enough, and the gifts he gives you are pieces of himself. He'll overrule whatever pet name you gave him in favor of honey -- a reference to his heritage.

And speaking of heritage, he's prepared quite the gift for your one year anniversary. Once the sun had long set on a sinfully indulgent all-day date, and after some desperate and incredibly needy sex when the two of you are tangled up in a knot of your sweat and burning feelings, he'll give you his present. Kakavasha, he'd mutter into the sensitive skin on the side of your neck mirroring his commodity code. It's one of the few things he owns that truly matter to him, and he can only hope you'll accept his humble gift.

He's needy, so very very needy in general, about everything, always, in every single way. Pathetically so. He can't hold your hand like a normal person, your fingers must be laced. Kissing? There's rarely a moment when you're not being kissed, and he's generous with the sheer variety he provides you with. Sometimes it's little soft sweet kisses that are more like whispers against your flesh. Other times, he'll kiss you on the hand or face only to never pull away as if he's moving into the real estate on your bare skin wherever he can find it.

And after a particularly horrible day, he'll return home without greeting you in his usual cheerful way. You'll immediately know something is up, even more so when he puts you into a vice grip, kissing you in such a way where it's like he's trying to suck the air out of your lungs. It's as if he believes you can baptize him with your spit and turn him into something worthy of walking around other human beings, a luxury he can never afford himself. On days like this, he feels so utterly unworthy of the life he's taken from the people who have been unfortunate enough to cross paths with him, one stolen day at a time. Of course, he's shameless enough to steal from you of all people -- the sweet little giving thing that you are.

He dreams about working up the nerve, or maybe stooping so low as to ask for your hand in marriage. Whichever comes first. It's something he would have thought a lot about up until that point. He's got more money than he could ever spend in his lifetime, even if one of his hobbies was lighting huge stacks of credits on fire just for fun. With that in mind, any gem no matter how priceless would be a bauble in comparison to what you deserve for putting up with him. Of course he could carve off a piece of his cornerstone, a piece of him, and give you a fragment of God to decorate your finger. But if life on Sigonia IV taught him anything, it's how quickly your most precious belongings can be taken.

So naturally, there's only one thing he could think of that would be more valuable than that, only one thing comes to mind that can't be taken. The idea came to him in passing, an idea that's quite literally staring him in the face.

He's tried getting rid of his commodity code in the past, but even with all of his money, there's nothing that can make it go away without leaving some sort of mark. It was just easier to accept it and it slowly faded into the background over time.

So what would be more valuable than a piece of him, a piece of God? Why, eternity of course, something truly priceless. It would only be proper to get your wedding band's tattooed. You'd even be considerate enough to encourage him to pick an Avgin pattern.

While the idea of a ring as a symbol of your bond is nice, a ring is an object. Objects can be stolen -- or worse, taken off. Countless times were the things he held dearest taken from him. Although those days are long gone, and even though he's a gambling man, he wasn't about to take any chances. Not now. Not with this.

Having your promise to love one another until death do you part sealed onto your skin would give him tremendous comfort. If anyone wanted to take this away from him, the symbol of his vow to you, they'd have to peel it off of his cold, dead body. But first, they'd have to manage to kill him, of course.

Aventurine is hard to get a read on, which is just how he likes it. He's been many thing: a scoundrel, a villain, a confidante, a friend, a rival, a whipping post, a beggar, a tool, a whore, a hound, a pawn, a con artist, and a killer; all things he wouldn't hesitate to become again if the situation demands it. It's in his nature to adapt to what he needs to do, and who he needs to become. But no matter how much of a shapeshifter he pretends to be, the core of his being is unchanging and inviolable, for better or worse.

He's still that scared, lucky, little shivering Avgin boy no matter how hard he tries to play dress up. He needs you to find Kakavasha underneath all of the masks and bullshit he hides behind.

Every day he bets on you to find him, the real him, and love him. The wager? Just the usual -- his life.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The CFPB is genuinely making America better, and they're going HARD

On June 20, I'm keynoting the LOCUS AWARDS in OAKLAND.

Let's take a sec here and notice something genuinely great happening in the US government: the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau's stunning, unbroken streak of major, muscular victories over the forces of corporate corruption, with the backing of the Supreme Court (yes, that Supreme Court), and which is only speeding up!

A little background. The CFPB was created in 2010. It was Elizabeth Warren's brainchild, an institution that was supposed to regulate finance from the perspective of the American public, not the American finance sector. Rather than fighting to "stabilize" the financial sector (the mission that led to Obama taking his advisor Timothy Geithner's advice to permit the foreclosure crisis to continue in order to "foam the runways" for the banks), the Bureau would fight to defend us from bankers.

The CFPB got off to a rocky start, with challenges to the unique system of long-term leadership appointments meant to depoliticize the office, as well as the sudden resignation of its inaugural boss, who broke his promise to see his term through in order to launch an unsuccessful bid for political office.

But after the 2020 election, the Bureau came into its own, when Biden poached Rohit Chopra from the FTC and put him in charge. Chopra went on a tear, taking on landlords who violated the covid eviction moratorium:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/20/euthanize-rentier-enablers/#cfpb

Then banning payday lenders' scummiest tactics:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/01/29/planned-obsolescence/#academic-fraud

Then striking at one of fintech's most predatory grifts, the "earned wage access" hustle:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/01/usury/#tech-exceptionalism

Then closing the loophole that let credit reporting bureaus (like Equifax, who doxed every single American in a spectacular 2019 breach) avoid regulation by creating data brokerage divisions and claiming they weren't part of the regulated activity of credit reporting:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/16/the-second-best-time-is-now/#the-point-of-a-system-is-what-it-does

Chopra went on to promise to ban data-brokers altogether:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/13/goulash/#material-misstatement

Then he banned comparison shopping sites where you go to find the best bank accounts and credit cards from accepting bribes and putting more expensive options at the top of the list. Instead, he's requiring banks to send the CFPB regular, accurate lists of all their charges, and standing up a federal operated comparison shopping site that gives only accurate and honest rankings. Finally, he's made an interoperability rule requiring banks to let you transfer to another institution with one click, just like you change phone carriers. That means you can search an honest site to find the best deal on your banking, and then, with a single click, transfer your accounts, your account history, your payees, and all your other banking data to that new bank:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/21/let-my-dollars-go/#personal-financial-data-rights

Somewhere in there, big business got scared. They cooked up a legal theory declaring the CFPB's funding mechanism to be unconstitutional and got the case fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, in a bid to put Chopra and the CFPB permanently out of business. Instead, the Supremes – these Supremes! – upheld the CFPB's funding mechanism in a 7-2 ruling:

https://www.scotusblog.com/2024/05/supreme-court-lets-cfpb-funding-stand/

That ruling was a starter pistol for Chopra and the Bureau. Maybe it seemed like they were taking big swings before, but it turns out all that was just a warmup. Last week on The American Prospect, Robert Kuttner rounded up all the stuff the Bureau is kicking off:

https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2024-06-07-window-on-corporate-deceptions/

First: regulating Buy Now, Pay Later companies (think: Klarna) as credit-card companies, with all the requirements for disclosure and interest rate caps dictated by the Truth In Lending Act:

https://www.skadden.com/insights/publications/2024/06/cfpb-applies-credit-card-rules

Next: creating a registry of habitual corporate criminals. This rogues gallery will make it harder for other agencies – like the DOJ – and state Attorneys General to offer bullshit "delayed prosecution agreements" to companies that compulsively rip us off:

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-creates-registry-to-detect-corporate-repeat-offenders/

Then there's the rule against "fine print deception" – which is when the fine print in a contract lies to you about your rights, like when a mortgage lender forces you waive a right you can't actually waive, or car lenders that make you waive your bankruptcy rights, which, again, you can't waive:

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-warns-against-deception-in-contract-fine-print/

As Kuttner writes, the common thread running through all these orders is that they ban deceptive practices – they make it illegal for companies to steal from us by lying to us. Especially in these dying days of class action suits – rapidly becoming obsolete thanks to "mandatory arbitration waivers" that make you sign away your right to join a class action – agencies like the CFPB are our only hope of punishing companies that lie to us to steal from us.

There's a lot of bad stuff going on in the world right now, and much of it – including an active genocide – is coming from the Biden White House.

But there are people in the Biden Administration who care about the American people and who are effective and committed fighters who have our back. What's more, they're winning. That doesn't make all the bad news go away, but sometimes it feels good to take a moment and take the W.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/10/getting-things-done/#deliverism

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - Why so much on right now?

Organized, in each category, with ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

NOV 2024 Week 4

Ongoing Series - Thai

Your Sky (Sun iQIYI) ep 1 of 12 - Classic old school Thai BL. Of course I love it. Naïve sunshine freshman vs strict older protective boy (who already likes him but refuses to show it). Is he grumpy or just gay and tired of all of these women? We don’t know. We don’t care. We just want to see them fake a relationship. And that’s what we’re getting. I love it. I also love the friendship group, and that the younger brother is in it and he has some of the same magic BL-hottie superpowers as his older brother. It’s great.

Love Sick 2024 (Sun iQIYI) ep 10 of 15 - Phun actually turns into dangerous babygirl when he is flirting, who knew? (Dangerous Babygirl is a new archetype I have just invented by the way. Yes, I am pleased with myself.) Noh, who is a nice boy, doesn’t stand a chance. Neither does Jeed, since this new babygirl superpower gives Phun a damn near perfect “back off bitch” face.

The arm drape public claiming, it gets me every time. Has done since SOTUS. Nong Mick is hero-level in this version, hands-down my favorite character this time around (and a non-entity last time). I love him so much I can’t stand it. I haven’t updated my 1:1 comparison yet this week, didn’t have time to rewatch 2014, but I will later tonight.  I'm chronicling my experience with 2024 as compared to 2014 here. 

Kidnap (Fri Gaga) ep 12 end - What an absolutely excellent final episode. Smiley kisses! 

Conclusion 

A cute if patently absurd little show about a stuntman who is somehow convinced to kidnap a rich kid except they fall in love. It takes itself a little more seriously than it deserves for such a silly plot and some crappy stunts and contradictory content, but it was a pleasantly romantic experience all around, and I enjoyed myself. Extra credit for Q in that perfect blue color throughout. No complaints, a solid BL. 8/10 

The Heart Killers (Weds Gaga) ep 1 of 12 - Jojo directs FirstKhao & JoongDunk in an action romcom about assassin brothers (Khao & Joong) who meet a tattoo artist (First) and a cocky mechanic (Dunk). I'm highly amused that Joong plays the older brother to Khao and that we have a take on the Taming of the ShrewBL. This has all GMMTV's best chemistry in one BL and some fresh concepts that I've only seen tackled in m/m romance novels (check out Amy Lane's Racing for the Sun, thank me later). My only quibble is Jojo, I like his style but his characters can get unreliably messy so…... this gonna be interesting.

Buckle up buttercups I got thoughts:

Frankly, I haven’t decided if this is good or so bad and so camp that it’s good? The latter I suspect. Either way, I’m enjoying it very much, but I had very little doubt that I would. This falls into so many of my wheelhouses. Not just the premise but the casting and the approach and the script. They pretty much knocked it out of the park with the first episode: one night stand + safe sex + linguistic negotiation = I’m in! During the opening sequence I spent the entire time worried about how many fingerprints Bison was leaving everywhere. And then I realized this show is going to require DEMAND we turn our brains entirely off.

We are in KinnPorshce / The Sign territory people. Take emergency precautions! Do not engage brain meats!

Kiss Me Kate only gay and hitmen? Frankly, it sells itself. The music is extremely stupid though. (Brain, stop it!) I gotta say that FirstKhao are good because…… FirstKhao. But JoongDunk are absolutely perfectly cast. Like: couldn’t be a better pair in these roles. Dunk, in particular, is slaying. I did not have Dunk as Petruchio down on my “best casting choice of all time” BL bingo card, but apparently there he is. Awesome. 

Fourever You (Thurs YT) ep 8 of 16 - I’m warming up to the second couple a little bit. I actually don’t mind a bully romance the way some do. But this isn’t quite hitting the notes that I want from one. Still, I found this week more engaging than last week. 

Secret Love (? YT?) 1-12 of 81 eps - They dropped 12 eps at once randomly on YT totaling about 20 min. So of course, I watched it. Because I have no self-control and STEPBROTHERS! Adopted into a rich family, boy falls in love with heir. But when he is made the heir instead, everything goes wrong. Now enemies the two boys reunite and sparks! I hate this format but dammit I love this utter dross. It’s very early Chinese BL feeling but from Thailand. I don’t care. It’s so stupidly great. This is my kind of BL.

Caged Again (Fri Gaga) ep 3 of 10 - There is something sweetly innocent and earnest about this show. It reminds me of Takara and Amagi or even Light On Me but less stiff - this one is quintessentially quirky and casually Thai about it. It’s interesting that this has an 18+ rating, which means it’s either gonna go very violent or sexy or both. Right now I can’t imagine that, it doesn’t suit. But I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes. Junior with his Mean Girl crop top moment is the goddess of the week though. Fierce queen penguin.

Perfect 10 Liners (Sun YT?) ep 4 of 24 - I love the side couple so damn much. How are they so adorable? Still not wild about the mains, and not likely to get there anytime soon. That said, I did like seeing the “sleeping in your boyfriend‘s class while he gives you his jacket” trope drop. We haven’t had that one for a really long time. My Engineer maybe?

Every You Every Me (Mon Gaga) ep 7 of 8 - I did find this installment kind of boring. I just don’t like actors as main characters. Much as I’m enjoying this show and I think the actors are doing a good job, I really do wish it was more like what we had been sold on: Connected reborn characters fated to be together over and over again. Not this weird little mishmash of whatever. I’m now annoyed by a format I was initially charmed by. 

Jack & Joker (Mon IQIYI) ep 10-11 of 12 - still on hold until it ends or I can cope with the pain.  I just can’t go into darkness right now.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Our Youth AKA Miseinen: Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu (Japan Tues Gaga) ep 3 of 11 - SNIFF TEST! But done by Japan so it’s that much better and more kinky. The way H looks at M pretty much defines naked lust. “I got extra beat up so you’d take pity on me and then I admitted it to you” is so damn warped I can’t even with this boy. This feral kid is gonna drive me feral. The power and the control and the execution of this show is just spectacular. I keep thinking about it after its done and telling people IRL about it. (I rarely talk BL IRL.) It’s classy. I do love it when Japan does classy BL for us. 

See Your Love (Taiwan Weds Gaga) ep 6 of 13 - so completely and utterly adorable. The learning sign language thing! I loved it so much.

Love is Like a Poison AKA Doku Koi: Doku mo Sugireba Koi to Naru (Japan Tues Netflix?) 10 of 12 eps - Possibly one of the best confessions of the year I have to say. Also a wonderful character growth arc for our lawyer. Exactly as one might hope. The plot twist was slightly predictable but still adds a delicious note of tension to our final episodes.

Blue Canvas of Youthful Days (China Sun iQIYI) eps 7-8 of 12 - You don’t want me but you won’t let anybody else have me either. The song of the repressed seme. I did like the irrational jealousy moment and a few other bits, of course the crying kiss. You know I love a crying kiss. Even if it’s a somewhat censored one. But this is also leaning a little bit darker than I want at the moment. This being China, I anticipate the darkness and doom getting worse not better.

Teenager Judge (Vietnam Sat YT) ep 9 of ? - The incredible migrating lip injury continues. Could we please get on with the BL aspect of this show? I’m getting frustrated as well as slightly bored at this juncture. Pacing darlings. Pacing.

Love in the Air: Koi no Yokan (Japan Sat Gaga) ep 4 of 10 - Still not sure. I think I like this better than the original, but I’m confused. I did make disgusted scoff noises and say “oh dear” a couple of times. Which makes me sound like a World War II grandpa (only the housemate's cat noticed), but is also classic me when profoundly disappointed by a piece of media. That’s said, the sex scene was pretty good. In the end, I wasn’t as frustrated by this version of these characters, but they didn’t have as many highs or lows as the original. So first half probably works out about the same in my all-purpose rating system. The true proof in the pudding is going to be couple number 2 tho......

It's airing but......

Winter Is Not The Death of Summer (Weds YT) ?? eps - Criminals who meet in prison fall in love. I did find it on YouTube, but I did not find any English subs for it. The first episode seems to be only six minutes long. It is very pulp. But it is intriguing. So I hope it gets some sort of international or something at some point. for now I’ll put it to the wayside.

Bad Guy My Boss (Thai Sun Gaga) 10 eps - I DNF'd at ep 7, I couldn't make it. I am weak. Life is hard enough right now, this show is making it harder. It’s not what I want from my entertainment.

Bad to Bed (Taiwan Sat YT) 10 eps - This is a little too low production value even for me + just very very odd. DNF

In Case You Missed it

Love for Loves Sake got some kind of special on 11/9. Not sure what, why, or where. Only the rumor that it...... is. I'll believe it when I see it...... literally. Let me know if you found it.

The Bangkok Podcast covered Marriage Equality in Thailand: More Complex Than it Seems. They missed some of the point and all of the queer perspective. But it's a local lawyer talking about it and how it was implemented, which is quite interesting.

Dominant Yakuza and Wimpy Corporate Slave AKA Ore-sama Yakuza to Hetare Shachiku: Kuni wo Koeta Jingi Naki Dekiai, Japan YT. A 30 min slice of ridiculousness. This mini walked out the back of one of my 1999 yaoi (you know those little shorts they always had along with the main story?) and randomly got cut together by some helpful malcontent, tumbled into my YT feed like a Taiwanese prat fall, and I couldn't be happier.

This is the Cliff's notes of a story that could have been amazing, but I adored it anyway. Basically what it says on the tin: office cutie from Taiwan working in Japan runs across hot AF mafia hit man beating up lesser thugs. Falls instantly in love, turns out so does the yakuza. They end up together for...... reasons? (one is cute and the other is cool?) That's it. It's dumb and I loved it. 7/10 because it really isn't good, but it lives on in a very warped corner of my shriveled old heart.

Next Week Looks Like This:

Still to come:

11/28 Spare Me Your Mercy (Thai Thurs iQIYI) 8 eps on OneD (no word on inter) - Increased rates of deaths in terminal patients has a police captain investigating the palliative care doctor with whom he's fallen in love. Their relationship deepens but the mystery persists, driven by mistrust. Adapted from the novel "Euthanasia" by Sammon (Triage, Manner of Death) stars some old guard BL actors: Tor Thanapob from Hormones as the doctor and (fuck me YES) Jaylerr from Great Men Academy and goddamn Grean Fictions as the captain!

Upcoming BLs for 2024 are listed here. This list is not kept updated, so please leave a comment if you know something new or RP with additions.

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

We stan a smitten seme who's too reserved for his own good. Sunshine is gonna have this boy wrapped around his little finger in no time. (Well in 12 eps, but we know what we like!) Your Sky

King behavior.

Dangerous Babygirl behavior.

Both Love Sick 2024.

(last week)

The tag BLigade: @doorajar @solitaryandwandering @my-rose-tinted-glasses @babymbbatinygirl @babymbbatinygirl @isisanna-blog @mmastertheone @pickletrip @aliceisathome @urikawa-miyuki @tokillamonger @sunflower-positiiivity @rocketturtle4 @blglplus @anythinggoesintheshire @everlightly @renafire @mestizashinrin @bl-bam-beyond @small-dark-and-delicious @saezurumurmurs

[laurentidal]

Catalogue

When the catalogue arrived at the house, Renee thought it was a prank. Someone had signed her up for some bizarre joke magazine like when she used to sign up her neighbors for Playboy under the name "Jack Mehoff." She opened up the flimsy paper catalogue, trying not to chuckle at the name Slaveseeker.

The paper was light. Almost like tissue paper. It was like holding a magazine printed on brown public bathroom paper towel. The comparison to Playboy had been apt, apparently. Each page contained a single naked woman and a listing of her features: blue eyes, red hair, 40DD, submissive. Finally, at the bottom there was a price tag. She sighed and threw the escort advertisement away, and it was out of her mind the second it hit the bin.

But then the next month, another copy arrived. Slaveseeker June edition. And this time it was a little nicer. Gone was the flimsy almost-see-through material from May. It looked like they'd been able to spring for real paper this time. She smiled and thought, "Good for them." She supposed enough people had called and hired an escort that they'd managed to scrounge together a proper printing operation. But again, she threw the magazine away.

July. August. September. All brought a new copy of Slaveseeker Monthly. By October, the magazine was positively glamourous. The paper was glossy. The pictures of the models were obviously professional quality. And the descriptions were more… in depth.

Listing No 724-A: Melinda Esthridge Eyes: Green Hair: Blonde

Renee stared at the woman in the image. She'd be lying if she said she hadn't touched herself flipping through the magazine last month. The arrival of the catalogue had become something of a guilty pleasure. Renee had never dreamed of hiring an escort before, but when you're given the option again and again. And this woman - Melinda Esthridge - she was new. Renee double checked September's copy that she'd stashed under the end table.

Something about this woman called to her. And the cost wasn't bad for a night.

Maybe if she hadn't been in such a dry spell. Maybe if she hadn't had that extra glass of wine with dinner. Maybe if she hadn't flipped to just the right page with a model that looked so much like…

Anyway, there were a lot of maybes, but none of them mattered. In the end, horny and a little tipsy, Renee called the number on the last page of the catalogue and told the sweet voice on the other side of the line that she'd like to purchase 724-A for an evening. The woman took her credit card information and assured her that Melinda would be there within the hour.

While she waited, Renee read more of the woman's profile. The simple "Submissive" that they'd included in that first shitty edition had expanded greatly. Now there was a comprehensive list of Melinda's like and dislikes and fetishes and their strengths. And last, just above the price, there was a Willfulness Rating, which the first page told her was a indicator of how easy it would be to make Melinda want or do things anathema to her above listings. Melinda's was quite low.

A knock on the door, and Renee almost ran to open it. In front of her, to her shock and dismay, stood her sister-in-law, Mary Ann. The church-going goody-two-shoes housewife that her brother had married was almost unrecognizable under the makeup and in the revealing clothing, but here in person, Renee could see what the picture only suggested.

"Mary Ann?" Renee asked, as the woman walked into her house. She didn't react. Instead, she sat on the couch, eyes glazed.

"Hello," she began to recite with robotic precision. "Thank you for selecting me from Slaveseeker Monthly. I am your slave for this evening. Our time expires at 4:00 AM, no matter what time I have arrived. Until then, I am yours completely. Any damage incurred will be met with hostility and substantial charges to the card on file."

Then, she blinked, and seemed to return to life. "Renee?" she asked, puzzled. Then a look at sheer panic filled her face. "Oh my god. Oh my god. You bought me? Renee what the fuck?"

"What the fuck yourself? What are you doing in an escort magazine?"

"It's not…," Mary Ann trailed off. "This isn't supposed to be possible. They swore when I signed up."

"What was that big speech you gave? You said you are my slave."

That glassy look returned to Mary Ann's eyes. "Yes, Mistress. I am your slave for the evening. I will obey all commands." She blinked again and came back to reality. "Fuck I need to go. This can't happen."

"Stop," Renee said forcefully, and Mary Ann froze on the spot. "Strip."

"Yes, Mistress," she answered immediately and began to obey. But as she peeled her clothes off, she begged Renee to let her go. And as she stood there, naked and helpless, she told Renee that it wasn't supposed to be possible to get family.

"But you're not family," Renee said with a sly smile. "You're Melinda Esthridge."

Melinda relaxed, allowing the persona to sweep over her. The worry melted away, replaced with eager lust for the task at hand.

After that, Renee didn't need to call the catalogue anymore. The editions continued to come, but so did Renee. The family dinners were much more exciting. Melinda was ever her secret plus one, no pretense or hypnosis needed - they both knew what had been unlocked that night - and she didn't even have to prepare another plate. Melinda ate a different dinner from everyone else; quickly and quietly in a back bedroom, where no one could hear the need in Mary Ann's voice as her personality changed in the blink of an eye.

Thanks for reading! If you are a fan of my work, consider buying me a coffee. Any contribution is insanely appreciated. 💖

[genericpuff]

Are there any characters from LO that you actually like/don’t mind

I have a lot more appreciation for Minthe now with all the hindsight that Hades and Persephone are often way worse than she is. She still had a lot of issues on her own end that she didn't deal with well, and while I would have liked to see her actually develop properly beyond her struggles both internal and with Hades, I think the best thing we could have asked for was Minthe being written out of the story the way she was. At least then Rachel couldn't continue to use her as a punching bag (she just tagged in Leuce for that, sigh)

Helios is great, zero issue with him. This scene is a lot funnier and more relatable to read in hindsight:

like ofc Helios is gonna rat on her, he's the fucking sun who's been around for thousands of years, why would he put any more of his limited freedom on the line for macaroni art LMAO (and yes, Rachel herself confirmed that Persephone made macaroni art cards for Helios, it's like... yeah okay it's cute but Persephone and Demeter still hid a crime from Zeus, the sentimental value of the birthday cards have no bearing on that LOL)

Thanatos is also in the camp of "characters I appreciate more in hindsight and wish got better character development". Adding in the 'twist' that he was Hades' adoptive son after we just spent nearly two seasons watching Hades treat him like just a lowly employee who didn't deserve his respect was certainly... a choice. And I don't think I should have to explain why it was a very very BAD one LOL

Hephaestus is also great, I know he's an extremely minor character whose only real role was to delete the blackmail photos from Apollo's phone but, like. look at him???

amazing. precious. sweet boy. and it has absolutely nothing to do with my absent older brother issues why would you say that- (｡•́︿•̀｡) that said, there are still flaws in his design (his prosthetics especially because he's constantly wearing running blades for every occasion which I feel like Rachel only chose because they "looked cool" and were "easier to draw" but like. his poor hips and back, that's gotta be uncomfortable 😭) but even just his face on its own is ironically one of the most unique character designs across the entire cast, not for any sort of outstanding or creative reasons, you just can't possibly mistake or color swap him with anyone else LMAO and though I can't feasibly give credit to Rachel for writing a neurodivergent character - because I have no clue if that was her intention here, afaik she's never really talked about it - I can wholly relate to him being the introverted computer guy who just wants to be left alone with his work and his airpods, like that's literally just me LOL

And of course nothing Rachel could ever do would make me hate Demeter, I think it's so ironic and tone deaf that Rachel claimed she "didn't get" why Demeter was so hated by the fans and didn't "agree" with the comparisons to Mother Gothel, but like... Rachel literally wrote her that way. And while she did "resolve" it, it wasn't with any actual empathy towards Demeter's own side of things, it was just bandaids on top of bandaids and then going "yep! She's all better now! That's character development!" Out of all the characters who deserved better, she was the one who deserved the most 😔💓