The Chicago Public School system has given ... [Sucker State]

The Chicago Public School system has given a car to a 12-year-old in recognition of her perfect attendance over a three month period. "By attending school every day within any one of three time periods, a total of 189,115 students were eligible for the Dodge Caliber, which was donated to CPS by Clear Channel and South Chicago Dodge." We suppose giving cars to 12-year-olds is one way to advertise your car dealership. [ Chicago Tribune ]

IRS Increases Business Mileage Deductible From 50.5 To 58.5 Cents [Mileage Deductible]

To help ease the pain of higher gas costs, starting July 1st the IRS will increase the allowable business deductible for business vehicles from 50.5 to 58.5 cents per mile. The IRS is also going to raise the rate for calculating computing deductible medical or moving expenses from 19 cents to 27 cents a mile, also starting July 1st. The rate for charity services, requiring an act of law to change it, remains at 14 cents per mile. If you've been meaning to claim business mileage deductions, July 1st will be a great time to begin. Here's info on how to get started .

(Photo: beebo wallace )

Chase Shrinks Credit Due Dates Without Warning, Profiting Off Fees [Chase]

Got a Chase credit card? Check your bill to see if the due date shrunk. For the past ten months, the due date on reader NDphoxylady's four Chase credit card due date was the fifteenth. Then, without warning or notice, it became the tenth. NDphoxylady only noticed when she was charged a $39 late fee and a $20 finance charge. When she complained to Chase, they told her that simply changing the due date on the bill was adequate notice. Nu-uh

Both NDphoxylady and I know that that doesn't count. The credit card company needs to send you an additional kind of disclosure notice. She has paperless billing, which may explain why she never got it. In any event, that still doesn't excuse their non-notification. Three times she called Chase. She asked for supervisors each time and was directed to voicemail, which she never got a call back from. We told NDphoxylady it was time to escalate to executive customer service and pointed her to the Chase numbers on our site . Within a few minutes of calling, Chase waived the fee. NDphoxylady was happy about that, but still pissed that it happened in the first place.

She wrote, "Now, we pay everything on the 12th, and I do not have the time to check every month that my due date is going to change...I feel like closing my account with them.

I mean to me it's the principle that matters, they could have charged me three bucks and I would still be pissed off. It's their manipulative behavior, and I doubt many people called to get these fees removed. They probably thought it was their fault and never reported it to chase

Is anyone trying to control these companies? I mean can't government regulate something?"

We told her if that she really feels strongly about it, to write a letter to her elected representatives. This excellent post shows you the most effective way to write to Congress.

"Who will protect the customers," NDphoxylady asked. " It's like we have to stick up for ourselves and for other people."

It's always a good idea to scrutinize your monthly bills. You never know when they're going to try to sneak in a new fee.

(Photo: Getty )

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