Tuesday
Apr212009
Russell Simmons Tells us to "Kiss His @$$"-In a DESPERATE BID FOR ATTENTION (Rushcard Straght to Hell!)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 9:31AM The Blogmother 
So have you noticed I haven't had one of my fabled Hip Hop/ CRIC/ BEE rants in a while? I've been focusing on other long term strategic goals in combating the War on Black Women. So the least the Regime of Bullets Booty and Bling could do was leave me to my long term strategizing. But OH NO!
I'm minding my own business plotting the demise of The Regime when all of a sudden this verboten piece of email cyber sewage lands in my inbox courtesy of Russell Simmons PR handmaiden. For the RECORD, while I have a generalized contempt for all things Russell Simmons, I don't recall any recent criticism of Russell Simmon's “Rushcard” on this blog, so I don't know why I was on the list to receive this foolishness from Russell Simmons' PR Flack, telling the critics of Russell Simmon's predatory pre-paid debit card to Kiss his @$$ and demanding that critics offer up an alternative. I shan't be getting anywhere near the hind quarters of a septuagenarian, but I shall be offering an alternative. The entire letter and my response after the jump.
Hi Gina,
I hope you are doing well… The following is an open letter from Russell Simmons regarding the RushCard. Let me know if you have any questions.Thanks,
****
Russ tells critics to kiss his @ss, invites them to compete with RushCard, Walmart and others to find more innovative solutions for underserved communities.
Since April is financial literacy month I feel this is a perfect time to set the record straight concerning comments I have been reading online about the RushCard.
Although a recent NY Times article was not judgmental about the RushCard, I'm disappointed that they did not do any research when quoting critics who say the RushCard pushes people into debt. The RushCard is a prepaid card, NOT a credit card. It gives people the convenience of a credit card without the debt. [For 19.95 activation, 1.00 per transaction convenience fee, 1.95 inactivity fee and so on] Financial literacy month is when people should know the truth about options to manage their money, not when misinformation should be spread to keep the underserved communities suppressed. [The truth is you charge some of the highest prepaid debit card fees in the industry]
I have watched with pride the way RushCard has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people giving them respect and dignity. It gives underserved communities the tools to get their money right. [By teaching them to pay a POOR tax for services available to them by other prepaid providers as a fraction of the cost.]
The RushCard helps struggling Americans who find themselves without access to bank accounts or credit. They have to tackle difficult and expensive obstacles [that would be the Rushcard]every day when they need to pay their bills. When they go to a check cashing place they are forced to pay a huge fee just to get their money and pay fees. Typically, 10% of their paycheck goes to these fees and they spend 8 to 10 hours a week to go pay bills in person. They cannot pay bills without standing in line, and it’s difficult for them to rent a car or shop online. This separates them from part of the American Dream that other Americans are free to enjoy. [Isn't the American Dream property ownership- not paying bills?]
Some people pay a lot to have a bank account. The average US household pays over $340 a year in bank insufficient fund fees. [Solution- Don't write check for more than your current bank balance. ]In fact, most of these are paid by members of underserved communities totaling over $1,300 per year per household. I have read that we are somehow trying to take advantage of people by charging high fees. It¹s a very competitive space and even Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, has followed us with their own prepaid card. [Walmart charges less than half of what you charge and no activation fee at all with Direct Deposit- you sir are no Wal-mart. ]
We¹ve built many innovative tools to help people save money. Over half of the RushCard members who use these tools say they save more than $300 a year. 30% say they¹re saving $600/year. We¹re constantly adding new features to help people.[They could save twice as much if they used another pre paid debit card provider that didn't run commercials 24-7 on cable tv. ]
I needed to do something to help the underserved. [You wanted to do something to continue to exploit the community that made you rich.]It had to be an entrepreneurial venture to make it grow fast enough. [No it didn't you could have mirrored the Appleseed program or other non profit. community banking models. ]In five years we have over 1.5 million members and the biggest source of new members is from current members talking about the card. The people who need the card and use it really understand its value. Our biggest advertisers are our members themselves, spreading its value by word of mouth to their friends and family.[that makes me incredibly sad]
In short, I have no interest in building companies that don't have empowerment components for communities in need. The focus of all my businesses will always be to serve. Scripture says, "do not forget the poor" [DID HE JUST QUOTE THE BIBLE?]so I will always make it my job to help relieve the suffering of others whenever possible. I am thrilled to see the RushCard is doing just that.
I invite critics to compete with RushCard in this space. This will help us all find better solutions for underserved communities.
You mean to tell me, you call yourself the head of a financial institution and you are sending out mass emails telling people to kiss your @$$? But Before i go further, I can't get over him quoting scripture to justify exploiting the poor. I can't say he's Hell-bound, but he is certainly in line to purchase a ticket.
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Deut. 15:7. If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.
Is the Rushcard generous?
Lev. 19:19ff. Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.
Is Russell Simmons sharing the fruits of his vineyard or turning the poor into Rushcard Sharecroppers?
Is. 10:1-3. "Woe to those who enact evil statutes, and to those who continually record unjust decisions, so as to deprive the needy of justice, and rob the poor of My people of their rights... Now what will you do in the day of punishment, and in the devastation which will come from afar?"
Prov. 29:7. The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor; the wicked does not understand such concern.
Luke 6:33ff. "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same."
Prov. 19:17. He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed.
Prov. 14:31. He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
Which means, you don't exploit the poor you demon! You treat the poor as you would want to be treated. You treat the poor as you would treat Christ. Would you charge Jesus a $19.95 activation fee? And if you did, WWJD? What would Jesus do? He'd likely be turning over some tables up in the Russell Simmons temple. So as I don't intend to ever pay a bank $20 for the privilege of holding my hard earned money, I can't in good conscience hock predatory pre-paid debit cards.In other words, PLEASE don't bring the Bible into any of your greedy pursuits. You run the Rushcard to make money and exploit the poor.
My Name is not Boyce Watkins
I'm assuming Grampa Russ is upset that Dr. Boyce Watkins ( I hate to write the name Boyce Watkins because that dang blasted your Black World Ad is going to park itself on this page for the day.) I digress... Dr. Boyce Watkins when discussing the RushCard on the Radio in New York on a show called The Take Away, called Russell Simmons a pimp. ( Somebody likely has a book due out, but please I try not to confuse the casting of aspersions in a single blog post.) focus.focus.focus.
The Prepaid Visa RushCard, marketed by Unirush Financial Services, claims to have no hidden fees. True, its “convenience” fee isn’t hidden; it’s clearly listed among the other fees, including a $19.95 sign-up charge. But users of the card have to dig deep into the fine-print Terms and Conditions to discover that the convenience fee means you’re charged $1 each time you use the card. On the plus side, the RushCard caps the convenience fee at $10 a month. And it doesn’t charge for services like phone inquiries. But you’d better use the card regularly, because after just three months of inactivity, you’ll be charged $1.95 a month. Consumer Reports
Let me be clear, I don't have a problem with 'pre paid" services. I don't have a problem with offering people an alternative. The problem I have is charging them an IMMORALLY high fee, quoting scripture and then trying to pass yourself off as being philanthropic. Just concede that you're a money grubbing exploiter of the poor and be done with it.
Comparison Shopping
If you are a RushCard Customer, here are some numbers by comparison:
AccountNow charges no activation fee if you sign up for direct deposit Walmart's "Money Card" does the same. Upside Access charges a $4.95 activation fee, a 99 cent monthly membership fee and 99 cents each time you add money from a checking or savings account. Upside Edge charges an annual membership fee of $24.95, there’s no activation or monthly fees, and loads from checking and savings are free. Bankaholic.
I'm not telling you this to encourage you to go out and get a prepaid card, but to encourage you to be an informed consumer and recognize when someone is exploiting you.
I am so sick of these rich Black folks peddling products they wouldn't use themselves. I am so tired of the Black Elite Establishment attempting to turn all the rest of us into their perpetual share croppers. I still can't believe Russell Simmons had the AUDACITY to quote scripture in the same letter where he told people to Kiss his @$$. What kind of Peter Pan foolishness is that mess. Grow up! If you are old enough to collect a Social Security check, you ought to know better than to send out business correspondence about "financial literacy" urging your critics to kiss your @$$ is that the best your PR team could do? Was “kiss my grits!' Taken? Was “talk to the hand” overused?
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Reader Comments (22)
Sister, thanks for letting people know about this. The commercials for his cards run often here, on BET and TV One. (Figures, rights?) Does the NAACP actually know what Simmons' card does to consumers?
Oh well, just another hustle of our people, right? :(
I've never even heard of this card; I still don't get what it is.
However I don't think Simmons is old enough to collect social security, since he's younger than I am.
But he's old enough not to email folks to kiss his backside.
He's got more nerve than a toothache in these economic times to shill something like this; so may people are in trouble now because of credit card debt. I guess the reason I've never seen the commercials is I don't watch BET, thank goodness.
Thank you for exposing this snakeoil salesman for what he truly is and shame on Ben Jealous for his dupliciity. Russell Simmons shame on you for scamming the least of these
Oh wow that was cold, Hu$tle Simmons made a mistake went he sent that email to you. It was actually another blog that put the Rush Card on blast, I hope she puts his ridiculous email on blast too. I bet he already wishes he never sent it.
I really don't see the point of these cards. Unless you are trying to buy something off the internet. But with all those fee's you are better off asking a good friend with a check card or a credit card to get it for you and you give them the cash.
I mean it could be b/c you don't feel safe carrying cash but the Rush Card is robbing you anyway. Walking around with cash you might be robbed, the Rush Card is a guarenteed robbery.
And how much on average is someone putting on this card? I think it would be a good guess to say that if someone is financially illiterate enough to buy this card that they are probably putting no more than like $200 on it, you pay 20% in up front fee's already! The bank ONLY charges you if you bounce the check. My bank doesn't even charge you overdraft fee's if you have money in your savings account they just take the money out from there.
And how are you helping a poor person if there is an inactivity fee? He is creating a penalty for a poor person not going out and spending more money!
Whatever happened to carrying around cash? As long as a person is working there are plenty of banks and credit unions that offer terms that wouldn't bankrupt a person. I mean the "poor" could scrape together $500 to put into a bank account, and make a debit card work since they have no fees.
People get nickled and dimed these days, until they have nothing left and then owe some.
Too many people, especially Black people continue to victimize other Blacks. In someone's twisted mind, he should be given a 'free ride' because he is Black.
We have so far to go....
This is Rush Simmons, Bob Johnson's "pimpin the black community's" cousin. So, I'm not surprised. Russell Simons is a disgrace on a lot of levels. He has no respect for black women. He is very unprofessional and berates women who interview him. You should listen to how he talked to a female interviewer on NPR 1 -2 years ago. He was soo verbally abusive. He's an ike turner that hasn't been caught.
Besides, he has made a fortune off selling black negative images to the masses. So, this Rush card or anything else he does, doesn't surprise. I'm just glad Kimmora made him look like an ass in front of everybody and took the company he started.
This is a new low, even for him. Wow, that's so greedy. Wow, I think he's got to be deluding himself about his true intentions. At least be honest that you're victimizing the poor.
How about using his influence to help folks learn about managing bank accounts? A grown person with a job should be able to maintain a bank account and not overdraw on the regular. Once in a while it can happen but you pay your fee, learn your lesson and move on.
I hate all things "pre paid" (except some cell phones) because they underserve the underserved. They are keeping people locked into a mentality of operating "outside" of mainstream financial institutions. A lot of these people end up getting pre paid card after pre paid card because they rack up fees on those too.
I bet you Russell Simmons would have NEVER, EVER used a pre-paid debit card, even when he was just hustling.
He is such a g*ddamn snake, I really can't stand him.
I must say I agree with the author on this one, although most of the fee issues have never been brought to my attention. Thankfully I've had several bank accounts since I was in highschool and good credit.
It's hard to take this post seriously (I do) because I'm laughing so hard. Palpatine and septuagenarian all in the same post is hilarious. Seriously though I read the HuffPo article by Ryan Mack and the excuses from people in the comment section sound all too familiar to the ones people give about the state of the black community. Now why would Simmons' PR flunkie start something knowing it's going to get discussed here. I know in CA they have second chance bank accounts with guaranteed approval so there's absolutely no need for Rushcard or check-cashing places. Mack made many valid points telling people to stop looking for the easy way out and to evaluate what got them into financially precarious situations.
@faith I saw Ryan over there dueling in the Huffpo comments section. Bless his heart. I've never seen people fight so HARD to stay enslaved. It's crazy, but now I know what Harriet Tubman had to go through.
And didn't he fight Kimora when it came time for her getting her 'fair share'? If he feels this way and shares these views with the pulic, there's no telling what she had to endure behind close doors.
Not only greedy, but selfish as well. Definitely no prize.
Why not just call it a business venture rather than a supposed attempt to help the poor.
There are communities were philanthropists actually give interest free loans to their poor in need. (usually they need three prominent people vouching for the integrity of the poor person, and saying that they'll help pay the loan back if the person can not in the end.)
Some how we've got to get to a point of mutual desire to truly help one another. (or some how find out who among us are at that level and ready already. )
I agree with Hollywood Blackout.... financial education is the key..
At a local credit union you don't have to pay ANY of those fees for a debit card.
man, he is slick. I told folks about Hustle Simmons
Ironically, he doesn't even give numbers for HIS card.
wow
What I have learned is that some black folks are falling for all types of hype from poverty pimps like Russell. I remember this fool talking about this "pre-paid debit card" over five years ago when I was living in Los Angeles. His type makes my skin crawl. But I've gotten to the point where I don't waste my energy warning black folks about poverty pimps like him because they usually don't want to hear it and try to bite my head off for pointing out the obvious. For many people the fact that Russell is rich and "successful" is all the proof they need to believe he has their best interests at heart. Russell is a poverty pimp, that is his business. If you are poor you better believe that Russell is going to try to pimp you.
As with any philanthropists, it's not about what you give but the amount that you keep.
I think that his people got their blogs mixed up and came after yours by mistake, who cares, you still told the truth. As I said on the Blog that this was intially on. Who would want this? Only an financialy uneducated person would pay for this nonsence.
Man, this guy is something. First he degrades black women, exploits black people.. now he's dating a white girlfriend to live happily ever after.
i am very happy to see you address this idiotic behavior, for the last 4 years i have only had the Village Voice article to point to regarding the RUSHcard and its high fees. Now i have you and your research thank you G.!
Gem2001,
I just had to drop something on this. I concur that the “Star Wars” art had me laughing all day!
But what really got me were the references to Ryan Mark at Huffpo, and ‘battling away’. So, I got curious, looked it up … and … I’ll say … some people, geez.
I cracked up when he had to go right down to the “envelope budget plan”. LOL. God, that’s like Kindergarten Economics. And the resistance to it, lol!
Funny thing about that “envelope plan”? I USE it! It is so easy/effective. Mind you, I’m like totally the ‘enemy’ here, professional white guy, last time I checked credit score over 800, money in the Checking account, back-up cash in Savings, funds in several CD’s, blah, blah, blah. OK. But, you best believe I do the envelope thing. So easy, each week/2 week period I drop the cash in those bad boys (got “Groceries”, “Eat-Out –Play”, etc.). I just look in there, “Yep, got money to eat out tonight kids!”, or “Grab that Ragu, I’m boilin’ some noodles. We dry”. It’s so easy, you know what you got, what you are spending and can make weekly ‘on the fly’ adjustments. All other bills are fixed, so I can monthly know what’s coming. Nice and simple.
Folks, it ain’t THAT hard, is it? Especially if I can do it, lol.
Great article. I've never liked Russell Simmons. Maybe because he looks a lot like THE GRINCH THAT STOLE CHRISTMAS. And I would never own a RushCard. If you're that poor--then you don't need these sorts of cards. People need to stop letting others exploit them--especially the new black capitalists--they appear to be as bad as or worst than the white ones.