Credit score focus of new celeb-backed debit card

Personal finance media personality Suze Orman is thinking big. She's the first out of the gate in the fast-growing prepaid debit card market with a card that aims to help its users build a credit score. It's a gamble that could pay off, if it can help create a way measure the creditworthiness of millions who function outside the traditional financial system.

ConsumerMan: Prepaid credit card tricks

They’re the debit cards you can buy at a drugstore or supermarket and use wherever major credit cards are accepted, even online. You don’t need a bank account, since these cards are not linked to one (even though they have a Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express logo). There’s no minimum balance required. And best of all, no credit check.

ConsumerMan: The great rebate debate

Do you want paper or plastic? We’re not talking grocery bags here, we’re talking retail rebates.

Western Union testing prepaid cards in Missouri

Money-transfer agent Western Union is testing a new service that allows customers to send money overnight without requiring the recipient to go to a Western Union location.

ConsumerMan: Prepaid phone cards probed

Gus West uses prepaid calling cards to keep in touch with friends in Nicaragua. Other than the Internet, this is the cheapest way to call internationally.  “But you never know how many minutes you’ll get out of a card. Some don’t even work,” he says.