Roxanne, you don't have turn on the red ATM light or I'll be back… (Photo: Sloshspot)

California is in the middle of a titanic budget crisis, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken it upon himself to pummel any source of wasted funds into submission – including strip club ATMs. The Los Angeles Times reports that more than $12,000 designated for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which is intended for welfare purposes, was withdrawn at various strip clubs across the state from 2007 to 2009. Among the strip clubs noted by name in this ongoing investigation are Sam’s Hofbrau, Seventh Veil and Star Strip, according to the California Department of Social Services.

Strip club welfare ATMs: When you need adult entertainment

The prospect of strip club ATMs being used in a less-than-responsible way by patrons with families to feed and clothe has prompted Schwarzenegger to terminate strip club locations from the list of approved locations where welfare recipients can withdraw emergency money. According to the Times, more than half of casinos and state-licensed poker rooms in California permit welfare recipients to access their quick TANF payday. Department of Social Services spokeswoman Lizelda Lopez said that “common sense” will be used to re-evaluate where emergency welfare cash advance funds should or should not be withdrawn.

Strip club managers ‘shocked,’ were unaware of ATM usage

Strip club managers who were willing to submit to interviews claim that they had no way of knowing that the strip club ATMs were welfare approved. The third-party machines were provided via a California state contract with the Quest ATM network, although as Star Strip manager Joey Mancini put it, no Quest sticker indicating welfare emergency money status was affixed to his strip club’s ATM. Nevertheless, Mancini insists that California officials “must be wrong” about the $1,265 in TANF emergency cash advance funds taken from his machine.

Smile when you say that, Mr. Mancini. Gov. Schwarzenegger is watching.

Sources:

Los Angeles Times

To save or not to save, that is the question…

EPPICard seems simple enough. But consumer experience has been checkered by misplaced funds, service problems and identity theft via online phishing scams. (Photo: http://www.jokqt.qkpy.com/common/imagelib/index.htm/1138_500_250_crop_e6393.jpg)

When you’re unemployed, your unemployment check each week is a real life-saver. Sure, most of us aren’t that far removed from living on the street if our jobs ceased to exist. That’s a disturbing reality that many Americans face in a system that has lost the ability to regulate itself. But what would you do if you had difficulty accessing your government unemployment checks or child support funds. It’s your last line of defense in a financial emergency, and you aren’t eligible for money loans without a job.

That’s what some have faced with EPPICard

EPPICard is a company that was contracted by various state governments to handle the distribution of unemployment and child support monies. The money is placed on a check/debit card that is supposedly easy to use at any retailer or ATM machine. However, this has not always proven true, according to the Web site Consumer Affairs. Not only have some people had difficulty accessing funds at some establishments, but there have been reports of missing money that should have been there and phishing scams perpetrated by individuals outside of EPPICard. Consumer Affairs reports that in 2008, Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter issued an alert about bogus messages via text, voice and E-mail that all claimed to be from EPPICard. Consumers who replied to those messages were tricked into giving up sensitive personal information that placed them in the line of fire for identity theft. The most common method used in the phishing scam was to send EPPICard customers messages claiming that their account had been closed due to “unusual activity.” Carter advises that if said attacks reoccur, consumers do not reply.

The EPPICard Web site (which I won’t link to because my browser suspects the phishing/hijacking is still going on there; see the photo below) states that the company will never ask for social security numbers, card numbers or PIN numbers via text, voice or E-mail. If there is a problem, an EPPICard  holder should call the number printed on the back of the card ONLY.

Other problems consumers have had with EPPICard

This is what my browser told me when I attempted to view eppicard.com. Consumer beware!

Deborah of Kershaw, South Carolina wrote on Consumer Affairs that she cannot access her account information online because the Web site will not accept her username and password. Anita of Atoka, Oklahoma reported that money left over from one distribution period did not carry over to the next period. Her calls to customer service consisted of multiple people telling her there was no balance, even though she kept careful records. Teresa of Henderson, Nevada took issue with the 35-cent charge for customer service calls to the company, as well as the general difficulty of reaching a live person. These people are just three of many who have had difficulty with EPPICard, and I’m sure many have needed money loans to make up for the trouble.

There are reports that EPPICard has worked to resolve these service issues, however. Check out the second YouTube video below. Harold of the “Harold Says” consumer advocacy Web site claims they told him they promise to work to fix the issues that have been plaguing some consumers, that they “take these concerns seriously.” That doesn’t necessarily mean the problems have been fixed, however. So I say consumer beware. Hopefully you don’t live in a state like Indiana that depends upon EPPICard to distribute unemployment and child support funds. If you do and are eligible for money loans, keep the number on speed dial or just click the button below.

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