Consumer Warning Network Report: FSU Profits Off of Student Credit Card Debt

TAMPA, Fla., July 10, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ ----The Consumer Warning Network has just released a report exposing secret details of a marketing agreement between Florida State University and credit card giant Bank of America.

At the same time Florida State University is warning students in a slick video to avoid the "credit card monster," the university is funneling their names and addresses to credit card giant Bank of America. The bank then uses that information to market credit cards to those very same students, as part of an "exclusive" deal allowing the bank to use FSU's official colors and symbols.

Consumer Warning Network has obtained a copy of the contract between the Seminole Boosters, FSU's athletic fundraising arm, and Bank of America. The deal, which FSU endorsed in a side letter, was supposed to remain confidential.

Under the secret terms of the agreement, FSU pockets a piece of every dollar charged by students and alumni under the program, with a guarantee of more than $10 million over 7 years. That money goes directly to the private Seminole Boosters, FSU's athletic fundraising arm, which among other things helps pay the multi-million dollar salaries of coaches like Bobby Bowden.

The card marketed to students by Bank of America has less favorable terms, like higher interest rates, than its non-student credit cards.

Students on campus were troubled by their school's role in the deal. "It's like they're setting us up for failure," said Yari Alpizar, a freshman from Marathon, Florida. "I don't think they should be allowed to do this. It's an invasion of privacy."

FSU is not alone. Bank of America has acknowledged it has arrangements similar to the one with FSU with more than 900 participating schools and colleges. Congress and some State Attorneys General are investigating these relationships between credit card companies and Universities.

To read the entire report and review the supporting information visit: www.consumerwarningnetwork.com . The Consumer Warning Network is website launched by a team of former Federal Prosecutors, Investigative Journalists and former FBI Agents working together to expose fraud and educate the public on consumer issues.

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