EPPICard is designed to make it easy to claim unemployment or disability benefits, but it hasn’t always been so easy. The ATM card-style distribution system was designed to make it easy for the unemployed to access their benefits money. Unfortunately, numerous media reports have indicated that the program failed to go off without a hitch. As outlined by the Fayetteville Observer, hidden fees plague the entire EPPICard system.
EPPICard is far from epic when it comes to fees
The EPPICard debit card system has had trouble with a phishing scam or two in the past, and identity theft has been a concern. Many of these issues had supposedly been addressed already. It is all good unless you mistype your EPPICard PIN or have to go for quick quick cash multiple times. One Fayetteville Observer reader reported that making more than two EPPICard cash payday withdrawals per month from his bank of choice (Wachovia) produced an “excess use” fee of $ 1.50. In reality, those are serious fees. EPPICard makes such potential fees apparent up front, but that certainly doesn’t make them right.
Charging the unemployed for state benefits
Larry Parker of North Carolina’s Employment Security Commission told the Observer that there are “plenty of ways” to use EPPICard without being charged additional fees for a instant money. But the existence of the fees within 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
Yet another fee is generated when a customer calls EPPICard with a question. That’s the case in all 19 states where EPPICard is used. As numerous sources – Personal Money Store integrated – have suggested, possibly EPPICard should go back to the future with paper checks and direct deposit, rather than ATM cards that charge consumers excessively.
Citations:
Fayetteville Observer
fayobserver.com/articles/2010/06/20/1007753?sac=Home
