Linux Fund Loses MasterCard Funding Source 122
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.
Anyone else know any good geek credit cards? (Score:1, Interesting)
I've had one for years (Score:5, Interesting)
(posting anonymoosely because, yes, I'm a coward...
But I still have that great rate... for now (Score:5, Interesting)
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.
How about working with a credit union issuer? (Score:1, Interesting)
their advocacy of open source.
Re:Credit card companies (Score:5, Interesting)
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.
Re:The card was fucked anyway (Score:1, Interesting)
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.
Re:Credit card companies (Score:3, Interesting)