December 5, 2009 --

LPR, for some time, has been calling attention to the "predatory" practices that seem to represent today's business mainstream. Well, a New York Times editorial, November 14, put the "predatory" tag on the banking practice of charging customers $35 fee to cover an overdraft.

As it happens, this writer got a bill from Capital One demanding $35 for a $25.90 overdraft. How's that for vigorish?

(LPR remitted the underlying charge and called the Times editorial to the attention of Capital One.) Federal Reserve people -- where are you?