Credit card companies are using information gained from the data of transactions to predict large life events that might impact consumer acitvity. One of these large life events is divorce and credit card companies want to predict when that might happen.
Credit card companies have accss to large amounts of data about the people who use their cards. All manner of transactions go through the systems of these companies, and they use this information to their advantage.
When it comes to divorce, if a credit card company can predict when a consumer might be nearing a divorce, they can better evaluate whether someone is going to be paying off their credit bill or missing payments or leaving a balance. People going through domestic troubles are more likely to have an impact on the credit card company and its financial interests, therefore, they want to be able to predict it. Divorce is a potentially serious risk to companies that specialize in and depend on risk management.
Credit companies want to sell more services and products, and they want to know the liklihood of consumers paying off their debt. They are willing to use the data they receive from previous transactions to achieve this goal.
Author and professor at Yale Law School, Ian Ayres, discusses the strategies used by credit companies in his book “Super Crunchers”. He told the Daily Beast that “credit card companies don’t really care about divorce in and of itself– they care whether you’re going to pay your card off.”
Confidential and tightly guarded methods are used to track the information used by crdit companies. Visa told The Daily Beast that it “does not tract or monitor cardholder marital status, nor does it offer any service or product that predicts potential divorce.”
Easily accessible data is increasingly enabling companies to predict the lifestyle choices and behaviors of consumers. Predictive modeling can use one set of data to answer a seemingly unrelated question. for example, purchasing information could provide information about whether a consumer has recently relocated. This data could then be used to offer products aimed at consumers who have just moved.
Credit card marketing partnerships can be well-served by knowing such biographical details about potential consumers. For example, if a customer has just moved, the credit company could infor a marketing aprtner that might be a home refurbishing business.
“There’s a whole market out there that has tried to predict whether someone has jsut moved, and to be first with the offers,” according to Bob Grossman, the director of the Laboratory for Advanced Computing at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Crunching numbers for strategic purposes is a trend taking hold in business at large, and credit card companies are early adopters. Tools to analyze data are more sophisticated, and therefore more insights and analysis are being drawn from the data.
Wheter or not credit companies can predict an impending divorce, one can be sure that they are working hard to make the information at their fingertips profitable.

When you are charged with a traffic ticket, whether it is for speeding, wreckless driving, or careless and prohibited driving, it does not mean you will automatically be found guilty. This is especially true in cases where the officer did not observe you driving, but is basing his ticket on what he observed after an incident or accident. Many times if the officer is not sure who is at fault, he will write everyone a ticket and then let the Court straighten everything out later. This recently happened to one of my clients who was charged with Careless and Prohibited driving. When we showed up for Court prepared to defend our case with phone records (to prove we were not talking on the phone), pictures of the scene (to prove witness could not have seen what he claimed to have seen) and witnesses ready to testify on behalf of my client, the Court dropped the charges.
The important point is that if you are charged you have the right to a trial. The state has to prove that you are guilty. Even a speeding ticket can have a negative financial effect on you, such as increased insurance rates, possible loss of company car, or even loss of your job. If you have been charged with a traffic offense and you do not think you are guilty, demand a trial and defend yourself, if you need help or have a questions contact me, Aaron Jones, at www.aaronjoneslaw.com or call me at 501-315-0092

according to the US Supreme Court “When a defendant testifies in support of a motion to suppress evidence on Fourth Amendment Grounds, his testimony may not thereafter be admited against him at trial on issue of guilt unless he makes no objection” Sinnons v. United States 390 U.S. 377. Therefore if you are charged with a crime it is improtant that you full prepare your testimony for the suppression and if you loose that you object to any use of it at a trial on the merits of the case.

Here is a common scenario: Husband and wife divorce with two children. At the time of the divorce husband is making $100,000 a year. The couple reaches an agreement on child support based upon the husbands income. However, two years later, the husband loses his job and his new job only pays $50,000 a year. The question is whether he can get his child support reduced given his income is 50% less than what it was when the child support was originally calculated. The short answer is yes. In Arkasnas child support can be modified if it can be shown that the reduction in income was not voluntary and could not have been anticipated at the time of the original child support order. However, in order to get the child support reduced, the spouse paying child support must file a modification of child support with the Court or get the ex-spouse to agree to the modification and have the Court approve it. In either case, the Court must approve the reduction in child support
In a recent case, I representted a mother who suffered a dramatic reduction in her income. She called me soon after her income was reduced. We filed a Motion for Modification, had a hearing and the judge ruled in our favor. While the action was pending, the mother continued to pay the previous amounts owed so she was not found in contempt.
Unfortunately, I receive a lot of calls from non-custodial parents who have lost their job or had their pay reduced. In many instances, they have gotten behind on child support payments. While they can still seek a modification for future amounts owed, the child support already owed cannot be modified.
If you have lost your job or had your pay cut at work and you pay child support, act quickly in seeking a modification. Waiting and missing child support payments will just cost you more money and could result in stiffer penalties from the court.
Aaron Jones represents individuals in Arkansas who are divorcing or involved in child custody and child support modifications. Contact us now at 501-315-0092 to schedule an appointment to discuss your legal rights.

I had a cleint walk in my office last week and tell me that. No, no one acutualy pulled a gun a took his money, in stead, his wife left and while he was waiting and hoping to work things out she went to the bank and cleaned all of the money out of there Joint accounts. Prior to filing for divorce, when certian restraing orders come into play, the money in a joint account is just that , Joint. I always advise my cleints to protect them selves and open new checking accounts to deposit pay checks and retirment money into. I also advise them to remove 1/2 of the money from any joint checking account and place in seperate accounts. While the Court my ultimatly rule that some of the money should be paid to your spouse, it least you will know where it is if the court gives it to you. If there is a large sum in joint account it may be prudent to hold that money, and not spend it, untill the court issue an order as to whose money it is. In short, when you think you are about to get a Divorce, always GET THE MONEY

DWI checkpoints are legal in Arkansas, But only of the officers follow the law. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that roadblock is a permissible violation of your 4th amendment right of unlawful search and seizure. To be constitutional check points must comply with the following requirements

1. Checkpoints can not be random. They must be part of a larger program to deter DWI

2. Police officers manning the checkpoint must be following a plan approved at the supervisory level that follows a certian pattern. For example stopping every 4th car.

3.There must be advance notice of the checkpoint time and location given to the driving public.

4. There must be adequate signs and lighting as to advise approaching motorist they are approaching a DWI checkpoint.

5.The checkpoint should not unduly burden the traveling public with delays.

These are just a few of the most common requirements that Police officers fail to follow. If you are cited for DWI/DUI as the result of Checkpoint, you should consult an attorney to see if your Constitutional rights have been violated.

When involved in a Divorce, Child Custody or other family law case the first advise I give a client is to make sure they are very carful what they post on sites such as Facebook or MySpace. In a recent study as many as 40% of divorces are as a result of information posted on a social network site. Do not assume that just because only your friends can see your profile that no one else can. I always look on Facebook and MySpace as part of my case preparation. If the information is hidden to everyone but “friends”, there is always someone who is your friend that is willing to share your information with you ex.