- An absent-minded gas station attendant overfills a reader’s tank by $10. Should he have to pay?
- Even though the reader never mentioned he was a married, a contractor refuses to do an estimate without the reader’s wife present. Some other readers chime in and say that happened to them also.
- Ebay falsely accuses reader of “shill bidding” and makes him take a 15-minute course to access his account. You would think an email and an online chat with support would help. Nope.
- Charter sends reader’s account to collection for an overdue modem rental fee, even though the reader never had a modem from Charter.
Consumerist Forums Roundup
By May 20, 2008
Gosh golly, I never even knew there was a separate Consumerist forum.
@Lambasted: Me neither. How long have the forums been up?
The forums have been up for over a year. They are not officially part of Gawker, hence no link on the main site. You can reach them at [consumeristforums.com]
Why do I have to sign up for yet another account in order to post to the forums?
@Jay Slatkin: “They are not officially part of Gawker”
Ah. That’s why.
@Jay Slatkin: Why is that such a big deal when there are plenty of links all over, including in the stories, to other sites.
@Buran: I don’t believe anyone considers it “such a big deal” but that’s the way they want to do it for now so…(shrug)
Ebay accused me of the same crime……shill bidding. Same type situation. I was selling hot wheel cars and you tend to find some of the same people bidding. This person they counter accused bought several cars a year ago and then bid on others. This constituted the shill bidding. I just took the 15 minute course and waited for 14 days to start selling again. Why waste the time trying to “protect” my screen name. Although I will say it makes you feel like you are in second grade and someone is accusing you of stealing a pencil. Ebay is getting old……… this just makes it a little less fun
To avoid gas stations trying that nonsense, I carry cash to pay and hold up the paper bill for the attendant to see and keep it visibly in my hand. If I hold up a $20 and he overfills it, I’m not paying more.
You could record the conversation on your cellphone *before* he starts filling up (if your phone can do this) and before you pop the cap to fill the tank.
oh… so its okay for McDonalds to sell fried chicken on a greasy biscut for breakfast?!?!?!
Regarding the gas situation, I had something similar happen to me. I took my car in to get the oil changed. When they were done, I noticed on the bill they charged me for new windshield wipers they had put on my car.
I never asked them to replace my wipers nor did they get my permission to do so. I told them I wasn’t paying for new wipers and to put my old ones back on my car. They said they had already thrown them away and couldn’t retrieve them. (Yeah right. I guess I had “I’m a woman, take advantage of me” written on me somewhere.)
I called for the manager and told him to either get someone to go dumpster diving for my old wipers or give me the new ones for free. But there was no way I was going to pay for new wipers I didn’t ask for. Otherwise, I was calling the police and filing a police report for theft of my wipers. Additionally, I would be reporting this scam to the Attorney General’s office for possible prosecution.
End result: I drove off with my oiled changed and new FREE wipers.
Doubtful the extra gas was a scam but I would have a hard time forking over money for extra gas I didn’t want or ask for, especially at these prices.
The best way I’ve found to avoid attendant overfills is to not live in New Jersey. The rest is smooth sailing.
@Ash78: But all my stuff is here!