MasterCard hit with billions in fees

Here’s a switch, a credit card company having to pay huge fees for running afoul of an agreement. According to multiple media reports, MasterCard faces a massive lawsuit over claims it defrauded U.K. consumers by charging “illegally high fees” on store purchases. The lawsuit claims the evidence of overcharging goes back over a decade.

The suit is interesting for many reasons beyond the inherent irony. It’s one of the first class action suits of its kind launched in the United Kingdom, and it is going for the throat, demanding MasterCard cough up $18.6 billion to pay millions of Brits represented by the case.

The case also says the higher fees forced retailers to raise prices across the board, hurting consumers, whether or not they were cardholders. According to the lawsuit, 46 million people could have been affected.

This case is one of those classic PR double-edged swords. MasterCard will have to face the legal issues in court…and they will have to face the consumer fallout in the court of public opinion. This dual-sided trouble creates a pitfall question for the company. If they choose to fight this battle in court – where there’s not much precedent to handicap a victor ahead of time – the fight could become prolonged with no declared winner. The longer things go on in the courts, the more times the story will appear in the press. That ratio can create a second narrative in the public, and the longer that lasts, the worse it could be for MasterCard.

The general public is not liable to take much time trying to dissect the legal minutia. They will check the headline and let that impression sink in, sometimes without even realizing it. Then, next time they are offered the choice between to credit cards, they may choose The Competition … and not even be certain why.

At the moment, MasterCard says they plan to fight the case. Saying they would … “take time to review the claim in detail, however, we continue to firmly disagree with the basis of the claim, and we intend to oppose it vigorously…”

This position might play well in the early going, but at some point, they will have to do more than wag their fingers at the millions named in the case.

Eric R. Braverman is a physician based in New York.

6 Ways to Establish Better Mental Health

So many people are caught up with their desire for improvement in one area of their lives or another, when in truth, the main thing that they should focus on improving is their mental health. Building up a strong foundation of mental health will be the key to maintaining the best possible state of being for every other area of personal development. Physical health, financial stability, relationship success and professional skill development are all optimized through achieving a perfect state of mental health through the following techniques.

6 Ways to Establish Better Mental Health

So many people are caught up with their desire for improvement in one area of their lives or another, when in truth, the main thing that they should focus on improving is their mental health. Building up a strong foundation of mental health will be the key to maintaining the best possible state of being for every other area of personal development. Physical health, financial stability, relationship success and professional skill development are all optimized through achieving a perfect state of mental health through the following techniques.

Foods that slow down the Aging Process

Have you ever noticed how some individuals appear to be much younger than their actual age? Perhaps their youthful appearance is directly related to a diet chock full of anti-aging minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. 
There is a variety of different types of food that will delay the aging process. 

Skin's Best Friend: Vitamin C

Aside from being a vitamin found in a glass of orange juice, Vitamin C is a substance heavily responsible for collagen production. Collagen is the protein found in skin that gives it a youthful smooth appearance. 
Vitamin C acts as a powerful antioxidant that destroys free radicals. Peppers of all varieties, green leafy vegetables, kiwi and other fruits are excellent sources of this powerhouse nutrient. 
Vitamin C is even sold in cosmetic products for topical use due to its effectiveness.

The Beauty of Fat

Healthy omega fats can be found in foods such as nuts,seeds, avocados and fish. From the inside out, consuming healthy fat can contribute to the suppleness of skin by adding extra moisture. It can also contribute to healthy shiny, hair. Omega 3 fats found in fish have substantial anti-inflammatory properties that reduce cellular damage as well.

Food that Accelerates Aging

Processed foods that contain high amounts of refined sugar and fat wreak havoc on the skin. Aside from causing inflammation, these foods are known to increase the Ph level in the body, causing it to become acidic from the inside out. Being overly acid internally can cause fatigue, various health problems and can reduce collagen and elastin in the skin. Toxins from food can also contribute to the dryness of hair and cause it to become brittle. It is best to consume whole foods that are not processed with additives and chemicals.

What supplements to consider

It is always best to get the majority of your vitamins and minerals directly from food, as your body absorbs them better.
There are thousands upon thousands of supplements that promise anti-aging properties and only a fraction of them work. Supplements that contain a substance known as MSM (also known as the beauty mineral) can effectively help the skin create new collagen cells and help the hair to grow. MSM taken with Vitamin C can greatly improve the appearance of the skin,
Horsetail is another supplement to consider, as it is a form if silica, which also enhances collagen production and promotes anti-aging. 

The Big Idea

Eating a whole food diet filled with plant foods is the optimal way to slow down the aging process. Avoid processed "junk food" and alcohol. Keep a few supplements on hand, such as MSM and perhaps a few antioxidant supplements and you will be on your way to a more youthful appearance.

Eric R. Braverman is a physician based in New York.

Will Hershey be bought by the owners of Cadbury and Oreo ?

Hershey stock is through the roof on the rumor that the candymaker is about to be consumed by the company that also owns Cadbury and Oreo.When the Wall Street Journal broke the news that Mondelez was interested in buying Hershey, stock jumped more than 20 percent. Another report from NBC put the offer at $107 per share.

Big Win for Chocolate Companies

The rumor set off a chain reaction that helped nudge other food brands up. Kellogg, General Mills, and Campbell Soup all saw 3 to 4 percent increases.
So, on the investment side, it looks like a potential merger between two of the biggest chocolate companies in the world would be a big win,especially if Mondelez keeps its promise to move its headquarters to Hershey,PA.

Employee Impact

But…
How will consumers react to this news, and what sort of branding and PR issues will the potential deal create if it goes through? Right out of the gate Hershey is winning on two immediate concerns. Any time a large company swallows up an American company, workers worry about losing jobs. This can also create a public relations issue that spreads much wider than the workforce and their immediate family. When Nabisco moved an Oreo plant to Mexico, social media freaked out. It even became a major storyline in the GOP primary, as Donald Trump hit on the decision, again and again, battering his opponents who supported NAFTA.

But if the buyer moves to Hershey and keeps the workforce on,potentially growing it, then that’s one possible PR problem that could be turned into a PR bonus.


Iconic Brand

Another issue: name changes. Hershey is one of the most iconic American brands there is. Right up there with Budweiser and Ford. Losing that brand could hurt the candy maker dearly, which is why Mondelez wisely plans to keep it. Remember when InBev came in and bought Budweiser? Beer fans rumbled and grumbled. They didn’t want to lose the King of Beers. And they didn’t. It all stayed, from the brand on down to the heart string-tugging Clydesdales. Hershey and Mondelez would be very wise to follow that path.