Consumer Affairs

The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is launching an investigation into financial product contract clauses that keep disputes out of the justice system. Arbitration clauses in such contracts require consumers to use alternative dispute resolution through a third party organization, thus revoking their right to sue. The CFPB investigation will include a study on the prevalence of arbitration clauses, what types of claims are brought to arbitration and how the “technique” impacts both...Read Full Story

The Tel3Advantage Mother's Day Double bonus special started today and runs through May 18th.  New customers who open a new account during this time will get double the normal sign-up bonus, up to $20.  The bonus money can be used for making calls.  The amount of the bonus depends on the amount of money deposited into the account when the new account is opened.  The following is how it works, there are four choices:1.  Deposit $10 and get a $2 bonus.2.  Deposit $25 and get a $10 bonus.3...Read Full Story

Tel3Advantage is offering a special sign-up promotion for new customers for a 10 day period, from April 3 through April 13, 2012.  In order to get this special offer a new customer must include the coupon code  "EASTEREGG" at check-out.  If you sign-up on-line you will need to look carefully for the place to the coupon code when you check-out, alternatively, new customers can call 1-800-441-0321 and ask for the Easter Special offer.  This is a very good offer that allows new customers to get...Read Full Story

Ghana is a popular calling destination from the USA and other locations.  For those who want to make calls to Ghana there are several money saving options.  Localphone is currently having a promotion on calls to Ghana which lasts until May 24th.  During this promotion they are offering 1/3 off their already low rates.  Callers who are interested should visit 1/3 off calls to Ghana until 24 May 2012 for details.  Localphone has several advantages over other international calling plans.  For...Read Full Story

People who call friends and family in Accra, Ghana from the USA or Canada should try using Tel3Advantage.  It is not only the lowest cost prepaid calling plan we could find, at 4.9 cents per minute, but it also one of the highest quality plans offered in North America.  They have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and have been in the Telecommunications business for about 15 years so they must be doing things right.  Their rates also include all fees and taxes so there are no...Read Full Story

An article in the Harvard Negotiation Program newsletter (summarized here) reflects a common view that mediation and arbitration need to be "sold" more as an alternative to litigation.  In this view, it is seen as a problem that parties to business contracts often do not anticipate the likelihood of conflicts arising in the course of their relationship, and therefore fail to include as often as perhaps they should, clauses providing for alternative dispute resolution in the event of problems...Read Full Story

Tel3Advantage has the lowest rates on calls to the Dominican Republic.  Their rate is only 2.1 cents-per-minute on calls from the USA and Canada.  Unlike many phone cards, this rate also includes all fees and taxes as long as the caller uses a local access number so there are no hidden charges.  New customers will also get up to $10 in Free Calls. So how does this rate compare to other popular prepaid calling plans.  We surveyed found the following rates were being charged by competitors...Read Full Story

Bills go through congress like sand through the hourglass.  The two seem mixed together as well as the Gulf Coast and British Petroleum.  It’s no stretch of the imagination to say that lawmaking in Washington D.C. is anything but a long, slow and expensive process accessible by only society’s “elite” (and not the everymen they may like you to believe).  But every once in a while a good bill actually makes it through to become a law and change America for the better.  Well, it seems like we...Read Full Story

Tel3 has recently launched a new program to recruit agents to sell their popular Tel3Advantage prepaid long distance program in Canada. Until recently only USA residents could sell the program so this is a big change and a good opportunity for those seeking a home based buiness in Canada. Tel3Advantage can be used to make cheap domestic and international calls from any phone in the USA or Canada without changing companies or entering into a contract or long term obligation. It is one of the...Read Full Story

April 25, 2012 - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has decided to put mandatory binding arbitration clauses on its target list. These clauses appear in many forms of consumer contracts - everything from credit card agreements to new home purchase contracts. And when consumers do find themselves in a dispute with one of the companies they do business with, if they are forced into mandatory binding arbitration, consumers almost always come out on the short end of the stick.Read Full Story