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Linux Fund Loses MasterCard Funding Source
An anonymous reader writes "The Linux Fund was established in 1999 to provide grants to free and open source software projects from funds raised via a credit card featuring a picture of Tux, the Linux penguin. This credit card was offered through MBNA America Bank, which was purchased in 2006 by Bank of America. Last week, LinuxFund credit card holders received mail from Bank of America informing them that the LinuxFund card would be discontinued. Linux.com has a few details about the end of the credit card including statements from executive director David Mandel, assuring that the LinuxFund will look different but will continue. In the past, the LinuxFund provided one-time grants of $500-$1,000 USD to many projects including SDL, FilmGimp, Xiph.org Foundation, CrystalSpace, K12LTSP, and Kismet. The LinuxFund stagnated in 2003, and in 2005 it was revitalized by new leaders and by 2006 provided a stable $6,000 per year contribution to a number of larger projects including Wikipedia, Blender, Debian, Gentoo, and OpenSSH." Linux.com and Slashdot are both part of OSTG.
There's an Apple card, although it's not that distinctively Apple. NBC Universal/Sci-Fi has a Battlestar Galactica card, and there are the Yoda/Darth Vader cards. Anyone have any others?
I've had one of these for years. I work for Microsoft. It's mildly amusing to pay for stuff in the company store with the cards (though I probably wouldn't do that if Balmer or Gates was behind me in line, not that it's likely to happen...).
;-) )
(posting anonymoosely because, yes, I'm a coward...
I too got one of these letters, and was disappointed that the Linux Fund program was dropped and converted to their lame "World Points" card. I've had 2 specialty cards that were previously MBNA (AOPA and Linux Fund), and both were changed somewhat with the BofA purchase. The AOPA card went from FBO rebates to double points @ FBO's, and now Linux Fund Card isn't supporting Linux and other F/OSS projects. Fortunately, for now, I still enjoy a 7.9% rate on the card which is the only reason I haven't canceled it (that and I enjoy the occasional remark on the Penguin logo on the card). When the card expires, I'll probably cancel it as there's no additional benefit and I hate the idea of letting BofA make money off of me.
If (or I should say when) BofA changes that single lasting benefit of having one of the lowest non-promotional non annual fee consumer credit card rates around, I'll drop the card. In the mean time, I too look forward to a new Linux Fund (or similar) branded CC from someone else, provided it has reasonable terms and rates.
$ man woman *
-bash:
The credit union would get a new subscriber base, more accounts, and would be able to advertise
their advocacy of open source.
Chase made my list of 'never do business with them' companies when my credit card account with them was getting fraudulent charges from someone inside Chase, and they refused to do anything about it. When I called their fraud account services, all I would get was "There is no way that could happen.", "I highly doubt that.", and "That is a pretty serious accusation." Here are some of the reasons I believe it was an inside job:
1) I found out about the charge when I went to use the card and it was 'locked' due to suspected fraudulent activity. The only charge that was with a new company was a $30 charge to a dating service. This hardly seemed like a suspicious enough activity to block an account without first contacting the account holder.
2) More charges were made AFTER the account was locked. If I cannot make charges with the card, it is highly suspicious that someone else can.
3) When they sent me a new card with a new number, charges showed up from before before the card was created and the account number was assigned.
4) When I called Chase to point this out, they sent another card, and locked me out of being able to see the second cards charges online, even though I could still see the first card, and any previous cards I had held with Chase. 5) By the third card, the dates on some of the fraudulent Charges had changed.
Given that some of the problem would have actually required access to Chases computers to make happen, it was clear that it was an internal problem. I understand that there is no way for a company to guarantee that every one of it's employees is honest, but when they lie to me badly to cover up an internal problem instead investigating an fixing it, it is time to take your business elsewhere.
And, most importantly, if they are going to lie to me, they should at least have the decency to tell a half decent lie.
I normally NEVER have anything useful to post, but this chaps my ass. I have had an MBNA card for years with my high school. It was supposed to give them money on what I purchased... They never sent me a new card so I paid off the card. Then send me a how ya' doing' letter saying we have raised your interest to 21.9% and limiting you to 1000 dollars because of late fees... I was okay fine. I won't use you card anymore. I have had a 12,000 dollar limit since I was 23... I can't believe they are doing this to their customers. And well, since I am lazy, I would be willing to join a class action law suit if someone else started it, but I just would rather not do business with them. So it is no surprise to me whatever you say they are doing.
Too bad that no one will see this post cause my karma is so bad... And I don't know what I did to deserve that... Maybe it was my spelling or grammar... Or I guess this isn't really useful either. I will go cry now.
Chase are a bunch of goddamn lying thieves who claimed we always sent our mortgage payments late and tried to make us pay late fees. Lo and behold, when we started sending the payments by certified mail, suddenly like a miracle, they started receiving them on time. Go figure.
Fuck Slashdot