Consumerist

Blogbath Erupts Between Seattle Republican Activist Stefan Sharkansky And Waitress

So up until a few seconds ago I had no idea who "Stefan Sharkansky" is, or that Seattle had any Republicans in it, but apparently they do and you don't want to be a waitress pissing 'em off by helping anonymously pen a partially facetious blog complaint that they let their child loudly run around the restaurant and then only tipping 10%...

UPDATE: In response to a storm of criticism, Sharkansky has posted a new rebuttal. More »

Best Buy's Geek Squad Scours Stores In Person For Stolen Porn N' Stuff

In addition to having Best Buy Geeks Squad locations hook up store computers to headquarters to check for porn and music stolen from customer's computers, and pirated software, they're also sending "audit teams" to investigate hard-drives at the stores in-person, reports an insider.

Geek Squad has also enacted a new "Open and Honest" policy, encouraging Geeks to step forward and report on employees found violating customer's privacy and such, along with a special email address and phone number for anonymously reporting concerns. Furthermore, the use of personal flash drives has been strictly forbidden.

Says the tipster, "I'm guessing this is due to the recent outbreaks of Geek Squad privacy issues."

(Photo: Maulleigh)

Reach Wachovia Executive Customer Service

Wachovia calls them the "Corporate Service Solutions Team," but it's the same as any other members of executive customer service team; high-ranking customer service employees equipped with superhuman powers to address problems and complaints no matter what their origination or how deeply rooted their cause.

Samuel Hinnant 704-427-8747, VP

Would You Let This Guy Pay You To Wrap Your Car In Ads?

Inside The Countrywide Subprime Lending Frenzy

If You Buy Expensive Electronics, Be Careful. You Might Be Being Followed...

Kroger Illegally Charging Tax On Food Stamps When Used With Coupons

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company Fires Call Center Reps For Routinely Hanging Up On Customers

Nationwide Mutual Insurance fired five Iowa call center workers for regularly hanging up on customers in an attempt to boost their stats, but one of them contends that the practice is widespread and they were only fired so Nationwide could deny their upcoming paid and unpaid leave, reports the Des Moines Register.

"I didn't think about the fact that it could be someone that was needing help right then and there, that their daughter may have just got in an accident and was in the hospital and they were needing help," testified Lindsay Gillum. "I wasn't really thinking about the customer. I was thinking about myself and my stats." More »

Verizon Asks Virginia Not To Hold It To High Standards

Verizon will get a chance at the end of September to argue to Virginia state regulators that the state's dominant phone company should be held to a lower standard for restoring lost phone service.

iCache Is The Credit Card To Control All Credit Cards

Like using different credit cards for different rewards programs but get tired of the bulk? Enter the $99 iCache, an electronic device as thin as a Razr cell phone, that carries all of your credit cards in the writer portion, and then temporarily writes the credit card info onto a card. The card is good for one swipe and then the card goes blank again and ready to be rewritten. The unit is protected by a fingerprint scanner.

Sounds like a device the credit card companies will love. In a few years, we bet they'll be handing these out for free.

All-in-one credit card [CNN Money]
— FREE MONEY FINANCE

Dell Having Trouble Fitting In At Walmart?

UPDATE: Hey Geek Squad, I Haven't Seen My Laptop In A Month

As of July 25, Lorraine still didn't have her original laptop back from Best Buy. It seems to have vanished into the nether of a 3rd party repair center. Inside, you can read the update to her story posted on July 13th

Interestingly, Lorraine got no response, beyond an automated reply, from the super duper executive service lines set up by Robert Stephen to deal with Consumerist Geek Squad complaints. We've heard similar stories of non-responsiveness from this line, which used to be very responsive. Perhaps the coverage of their employee's joy of stealing porn from customer's computers wore out our welcome. Oh well, guess someone was only temporarily committed to providing excellent customer service... More »

Things You Can Do To Prevent Hospital Acquired Infections

How To Never Ever Get In Trouble For Recording Calls With Customer Service

Now you can record your phone call without peeing your pants about whether it's legal to do so in your state, or worrying that the rep will end the call right after you inform them you're recording. Ron Burley starts every customer service interaction with getting the rep's name, employee number, direct line, and call center location. Then he follows up with this

Me: Boy, I sound just like you guys. [Chuckle. Then state clearly:] This call may be recorded for training purposes. [Little laugh.] Maybe you could put in a good word for me?
Representative: [Laughs] Sure.
Me: [Laugh] Thanks. Anyway, here's what's going on with me today...

...He's been informed, and therefore I am within my rights to record the conversation. It's not my problem that the customer service representative might not have taken my statement seriously."

Lawsuits Of The Week