 (Source: natfed.org)
 (Source: wareseeker.com)
CapitalOne singled out for offering different interest rates based on browser
What's
on your computer may determine what's in your wallet. The
browser you use could impact the price of a product or service
purchased online.
If you're looking for a
lower auto interest
rate from money lender CapitalOne for example; having
Google Chrome as
your web browser could provide a lower overall cost while
using Firefox
may generate a higher rate.
According to
some online reports, a reader
on the popular consumer watchdog website The
Consumerist,
wrote in to complain about discrimination
by browser after placing an online order for a new electric car,
the Nissan
Leaf.
A week before he placed the order,
CapitalOne sent reader Devin an email offering him an interest rate
of 3.10 percent. After placing the order and receiving a final price,
he decided to re-check his interest rate. At that point, Devin
learned that his rate had changed to 3.5 percent.
Devin
deduced that the switch resulted from using Firefox; his default
browser and he decided to experiment. After downloading
fresh browsers, Devin discovered that by using different
browsers, his interest rates varied.
"I tried to use
their little payment calculator, but the Flash-based widget wouldn't
work properly in the Firefox Beta so I loaded up Safari to try,"
Devin explained.
The web browser Safari generated a 2.7
percent interest rate, while Opera garnered him a rate of 3.1 percent and
Google Chrome earned him an interest rate of just 2.3 percent.
"I modded down, down, down, and the flames went higher." -- Sven Olsen
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