EPPICard - Now with more administrative fees

EPPICard is intended to make it easy to claim unemployment or disability benefits, but it hasn’t always been so easy. With the ATM-styled EPPICard, welfare recipients can withdraw available state benefit funds on demand. But as numerous media sources have reported, there have been significant issues with the program. As most recently as June 20, the Fayetteville Observer reported that administrative fees plague unemployed consumers who can ill afford to pay.

Source of article: EPPICard – Less phishing, more administrative fees by Personal Money Store

EPPICard is far from epic when it comes to fees

The EPPICard debit card system has had trouble with a phishing scam or two within the past, and identity theft has been a concern. Many of these issues had supposedly been addressed already. Now welfare consumers can access their pay day funds without worry – unless they have to use their EPPICards multiple times per month or they enter their EPPICard PINs incorrectly. For the exorbitant fee of $ 1.50 each time, welfare customers will be penalized for excessive use, when 50 cents will cover those moments when the PIN slips the mind. Entering an incorrect PIN generates an “ATM denial” fee of 50 cents. While these possible fees for EPPICard cash until payday loan advances are reportedly spelled out on the various state Employment Security Commission sites where EPPICard is used, it is clear that the unemployed don’t need this kind of nickel and dime exploitation that’s passed off as “service”.

Charging the unemployed for state benefits

Larry Parker, an official for the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina, told the Observer that you will find numerous ways to deal with getting a payday cash loans without being hit up with fees. But the existence of the fees in the first place is not legitimized by this. Could state governments and big banks negotiated in better faith for the consumer here?

Don’t call EPPICard on the phone, either

Calling EPPICard, of courses produces an additional charge. That’s the kind of service welfare consumers in 19 states are at the moment receiving, to horrible reviews. Personal Money Store and numerous other financial news outlets have suggested before that simpler, less costly methods like check distribution and direct deposit would be better.

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Fayetteville Observer

fayobserver.com/articles/2010/06/20/1007753?sac=Home