We're taking a look back at the major payments-related news stories for 2005. We've examined our archives month by month and have culled the the most important and interesting highlights.

Here are the Payments News highlights from May 2005.

Last week, First Data Corp., as part of a series of restructurings and reorganizations now underway following replacement of its CEO, announced that its BidPay Online Auction Payment Service is being shut down later this week. This article explores what lessons might we learn from BidPay's ultimate failure in the market.

Naomi Canton reports for the UK's Norwich Evening News on one family's experience with Christmas time identity theft affecting their credit and debit card accounts.

Joseph Menn reports for the Los Angeles Times on efforts by various data brokers to support federal rules to safeguard personal information - preferring a consistent federal standard vs. a range of potentially tougher and more varied state laws.

Bob Mook reports for the Denver Business Journal on instant card issuance and Englewood, CO-based Dynamic Card Solutions.

Anthony Faiola reports for the Washington Post on growth in the use of e-cash payments in Japan following widespread deployment of e-cash equipped cell phones by NTT DoCoMo.

Scott Reeves reports for Forbes on using credit (and credit cards) wisely.