Chief Marketer Staff

• Minnesota AG Investigating Fingerhut Credit Program

  The Minnesota attorney general is investigating whether Fingerhut Cos. Inc. improperly imposed late fees on customers after changing installment payments to a revolving credit plan, reports said.

• Standard & Poor’s Lowers Deluxe’s Long-Term Credit Rating

  Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services lowered its long-term corporate credit rating for Deluxe Corp. to single-‘A’ from single-‘A’-plus. Deluxe maintained

• Short Cuts

  Costa Mesa, CA-based Experian has formed a new division dedicated to providing fraud prevention and detection systems for financial services companies.

• Mazda Taps Harte-Hanks for Loyalty Efforts

  Mazda North America has tapped Harte-Hanks Inc. to create and execute a loyalty marketing program among new and current owners. Specifically, Harte-Hanks

• Lou Dobbs to Keynote DMA Fall Conference

  Lou Dobbs, anchor and producer of CNN’s MoneyLine, will present ht opening keynote address at the Direct Marketing Association’s 85th Annual Conference

• Lyris to Acquire Sparklist

  Lyris Technologies will buy Sparklist.com Corp. to boost its customer base and its capability to manage e-mail lists for an undisclosed sum, according

• Career Education Corp. Chooses Acxiom for Data Services

  Acxiom Corp., Little Rock, AR will provide Career Education Corp. with data center and network management services for CEC’s 42 campuses, schools and

• DIRECT Listline

  E Response E Response has named MKTG Services as manager of its new postal address and e-mail database files. These permission-based lists contain the

• American Eagle Chooses NewRoads for Fulfillment Services

  American Eagle Outfitters, Warrendale, PA, has signed a multi-year contract with NewRoads Inc., a fulfillment, customer care and supply chain management

• Loose Cannon: Marketing Poetry, For Better or Verse

  Ask and you shall receive: Two weeks ago I presented readers with the text from a set of refrigerator word magnets TransUnion had sent out touting a new