Consumerist

Royal Caribbean: Give Us $800 Or Find Another Ship [Extortion]

Carey — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:00:43 EDT

Royal Caribbean told Mary Hoefs at check-in that her family wouldn't be allowed to board unless they paid $800 on the spot, even though Mary had paid for the cruise in full four months earlier. Royal Caribbean later refunded $400, but why did they choose to kick off Mary's cruise with extortion? The answer, inside...

[Royal Caribbean's] records indicate that this booking was not created in-house, rather, through a travel agent. During the booking process, the guests from Texas were booked as being residents of West Virginia – with a promotional discount that was being provided to residents of West Virginia at that time. When the guests were unable to provide government issued ID that showed they were residents of West Virginia, the discount had to be removed, thus, the additional charges.

In other words, Hoefs' family had used a discount that can only be used by West Virginia residents. When they couldn't prove they lived in West Virginia, they had to pay a fare difference.

I shared this information with Hoefs.

I paid for the two from West Virginia $1,787, which was the "special rate." The family from Texas, I paid $3,275. And from here in Arizona, the price was $3,275. So the Texas family did NOT have a special rate. Regardless, I booked and paid in full on December 16th, 2008, the cruise was not until March 14th 2009. If there was a discrepancy, they had plenty of time to notify me before rather then wait till we were standing in line to board the ship. If they did not feel they were in the wrong, then why did they return half of the $800?

Tripso recommends confirming that you are actually eligible for any discounts appearing on your itinerary, which yeah, is definitely good advice, and not just for cruises. Unfortunately, when an obstinate travel company demands money at the start of the trip, you really only have two options: walk away, or pay up and dispute the charge later.

"Pay an additional $800 or you can't board the ship" [Tripso]
(Photo: Rennett Stowe)

Now In Farmed Fish: Mad Cow Disease?! [Seafood]

Carey — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:00:53 EDT

Three scientists worry that feeding cow parts to farmed fish could expose seafood consumers to mad cow disease. The scientists published their findings in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and called on the government to ban cow meat and bone meal from appearing in fish feed.

"We are concerned," Friedland and colleagues write, that eating farmed fish may provide a means of transmission of infectious proteins from cows to humans, causing variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease.

"We have not proven that it's possible for fish to transmit the disease to humans. Still, we believe that out of reasonable caution for public health, the practice of feeding rendered cows to fish should be prohibited," Friedland said in a prepared statement. "Fish do very well in the seas without eating cows," he added.

Mad cow can incubate for decades, so proving a connection between seafood and the disease isn't exactly easy. Even without the brain-wasting disease though, it still seems like a bad idea to feed fish remnant cow parts.

Risk of mad cow disease from farmed fish? [Reuters via Dvorak Uncensored] (Thanks to DK!)
(Photo: rfc1036)

Chinese Discount Airline To Sell Standing Room Tickets [New And Exciting Products]

Carey — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:00:17 EDT

Spring Airlines, a discount Chinese carrier, plans to ask the government for permission to sell standing room tickets. The plan will likely win approval, since Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang was recently quoted as saying: "for a lower price, passengers should be able to get on a plane like catching a bus, with no seat, no luggage consignment, no food, no water, but very convenient."

The idea isn't so farfetched. Airbus, the European aircraft maker, has been studying the safety issues of standing passengers for years.

Passengers would be strapped to a bar-stool-like stand during takeoff and landing, a Spring Airlines spokesman said.

"It's just like bar stools. The safety belt is the most important thing. It will still be fastened around the waist," airline spokesman Zhang Wuan said, adding that Airbus had told the carrier that the proposal was safe.

The news is a huge disappointment, mostly because it's coming from Spring Airlines and not RyanAir.

Anyway, standing on a plane: a good way to save money and spice up your trip, or a means to the bathroom? Decide in the comments.

Chinese airline may offer cheaper fares to passengers who stand [The Los Angeles Times]

What, You Expect Comcast To Stop Billing You Just Because You Canceled Your Account? [Cancel The Account]

Carey — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:00:54 EDT

Look, Comcast, when you take back someone's equipment and give them a receipt confirming that their account has no balance, it's not unreasonable for them to think that their account is canceled. Don't keep billing them for service and equipment rentals, and don't tell them that you "can keep [the account] active and [bill] indefinitely until [you] decide to disconnect it." Because if you do, they're going to call their state Attorney General's office. At least that's how Paul convinced Comcast to finally cancel his account.

Shannon, Paul's girlfriend, writes:

I have had an unusually bad experience that is still unresolved with Comcast Cable.

My boyfriend, Paul, canceled his Comcast account over three weeks ago, returning all of the company's equipment and obtaining a receipt that reflected a zero balance.

Comcast has since continued to send bills for future service and rental for the returned equipment. Three customer service representatives have told us that it is company policy that they can keep your account active and bill you indefinitely until they decide to disconnect it. You have no real power to cancel your own account.

The disconnection appears to be scheduled each day for the current day and is automatically rescheduled at the end of every day for the following day when it is not done.

In addition to speaking with customer service reps over the phone, we have attempted to contact them through email to no avail.

He has filed a complaint with the attorney general of our state because he believes Comcast is using his old account information to maintain a fraudulent account.

I just wanted to warn other customers of this company policy.

Shannon later sent us an update:

I wanted to let you know about the conclusion of the story (I hope).

I had filed a complaint with the Connecticut State Attorney General's Department of Public Utility Control and they called Comcast on my behalf.

As a result, Comcast resolved the dispute and pro-rated the last month of service.

The actual disconnection was finally performed, possibly related to the fact that I filed a complaint with the FCC for leaking RF signal, though I do not know this for sure.

So, it was not a normal channel for resolution, but it's resolved nonetheless.

Radio Shack Is Levying The Wrong Sales Tax In New York City [Tax]

Carey — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:00:46 EDT

Radio Shack is charging New York City consumers an extra half-percent of sales tax, even though the State hasn't approved a new tax rate. Before descending into a chaotic mess of embarrassing inaction, the New York State Senate was widely expected to hike the sales tax New York City's local sales from 8.375% to 8.875%. That never happened, a minor detail that isn't stopping Radio Shack from collecting more tax, as reader Jeff discovered...

He writes:

Just came back from my local Radio Shack and when I got home noticed the sales tax was set at 8.875 instead of the usual 8.375. You see the tax rate was supposed to go up on July 1st but because our State Senate has been in a stalemate for the last few weeks nothing has been done, including passing the new sales tax.
I called a friend of mine who happens to manage a Radio Shack and asked him what was up and he told me that the computers are programed from the district office and he had called them to let them know of the error a day ago but it has not been fixed yet.

So just let shoppers in NY to keep an eye out for the tax rate while shopping at Radio Shack this weekend.

RELATED: City Council Endorses Sales Tax Increase [The New York Times]

Get The Best Seat When Flying Coach [Seating]

Carey — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:00:27 EDT

Snagging the best plane seat doesn't always require an upgrade, thanks to a few handy tips from Condé Nast Traveler. Inside, how to avoid the dreaded middle seat and keep yourself entertained on the flight...

In-Flight Entertainment: Call before booking and ask which of your potential flights has AC power or AVOD (Audio Video on Demand) built into the seats.
Look At The Plane Type: Thanks to its configuration, a 767 can be 86% full before anyone gets stiffed with the middle seat. Look for domestic flights configured for international travel, the ones out of major hubs that then connect to international destinations.
Ask For An Aisle Seat In The Back: Airlines start at the front and move backwards to fill middle seats. Asking for an aisle seat towards the rear boosts your chance of sitting next to an empty seat.
Book The Damn Seat! If you can't reserve a seat in advance after consulting with a site like SeatGuru, then call the airline directly and ask for a particular seat assignment. Once you get to the gate, talk to the agent and see if something better isn't available.

How do you snag the best seats and make the most of your flights? Share your tips in the comments.

Getting Comfy in Coach [Condé Nast Traveler via Lifehacker]
(Photo: FlyGuy92586)

Radioactive Chinese Drywall Is Stinking Up U.S. Homes [Chinese Poison Train]

Carey — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:00:38 EDT

The government thinks radioactive industrial waste from China is responsible for a recent sulfur stench that has plagued hundreds of Florida homes. Demand for Chinese drywall spiked during the housing boom, but federal regulators believe the drywall contained phosphogypsum, a banned waste byproduct that features prominently in Chinese construction. When used in drywall, the probable carcinogen can corrode "air conditioners, mirrors, electrical outlets and even jewelry."

The health risk of phosphogypsum is uncertain, but industry specialists say they are troubled by its widespread use and the possibility it was exported, especially in light of recent incidents in which other Chinese imports such as pet food, toys and candy were found to be contaminated with toxic or unsafe substances.

"Considering the fact that phosphogypsum can cause corrosion, something should be done," said Ding Dawu, a geoscientist and an authority on gypsum processing in China. "Right now," he added, "there are no complaints [in China] because most people don't know much about gypsum board and there are no standards against it."

[...]

Huge phosphogypsum dump sites can be seen in all corners of China. Near the banks of the Yangtze River in central China's Wuhan area, raw phosphogypsum is spread over 20 acres and packed 65 feet deep into the ground. The smell of sulfur permeates the air. Workers at the site said the material was given away to anyone willing to pay the transportation costs, a mere $1.75 per ton.

No one knows how much phosphogypsum board from China was shipped abroad. But in 2006, Chinese exports of drywall to the U.S. totaled a record 503 million pounds valued at more than $25 million, according to Chinese customs' statistics. That's enough for 32,000 homes.

The EPA, Customs, and the Department Commerce all say they aren't required to test drywall, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission says they only ask Customs to inspect items for which there are mandatory testing requirements. So, as usual, it's up to the Chinese quality protection agency to keep us safe.

Chinese drywall blamed for odors and corrosion in U.S. homes [The Los Angeles Times]
(Photo: The County Clerk)

How Much Does That $12 Chain Restaurant Sandwich Really Cost? [Restaurants]

Carey — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:00:56 EDT

Chain restaurants are trying to lure in recession-weary diners with deep discounts, but franchisers worry that if you suddenly start paying half-price for sandwiches, you won't be willing to pay full price when the economy recovers. We're all accustomed to chain restaurant sandwiches costing $8 and up, but how much do those sandwiches really cost restaurants to make?

The heavy discounting is leading to tensions between the people who, as independent franchisees, operate many of the restaurants, and the corporate officers who control the brands, menus, advertising and strategy. The franchisees agree that discounts can get customers in the door, but wince at what they can do to profit margins.

A T.G.I. Friday's promotion in April and May offering $5 sandwiches and salads led to a small-scale revolt among franchisees. Ross Farro, who has seven T.G.I. Friday's restaurants in Ohio and Pennsylvania, said the promotion included salads that normally sell for as much as $10 and a steak sandwich priced at $11.89 on the regular menu. The ingredients alone for each steak sandwich cost about $4, he said.

The promotion brought in a flood of customers, but Mr. Farro said he could hardly afford to feed them. Within days of the promotion's start in late April, many franchisees began complaining to the chain's parent company, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide.

Franchisers also complain that thrifty consumers don't order profitable extras like soda or dessert. Have you been lured in by any recent restaurant deals?

Discounts Have Restaurants Eating Own Lunch [The New York Times]

15 Ways To Protect Your Money While Traveling [Travel]

Carey — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:00:32 EDT

Bankrate shares 15 tips to protect your stash of cash while traveling abroad. Before leaving, strip down your wallet to the bare essentials, including a backup credit card, and make copies of all financial documents. While abroad, stash the copies and the backup card in your hotel safe, and take common-sense precautions like sticking to legitimate bank ATMs, and avoiding crowds. Hit the link for the rundown of all 15 tips.

15 ways to protect your money on vacation [Bankrate]
(Photo: isfullofcrap)

Geek Squad: Sorry We Accidentally Hosed Your Motherboard. Here's A Vastly Inferior Replacement [Repairs]

Carey — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:00:51 EDT

Geek Squad tried to repair a broken fan in Brian's Sony laptop, but somehow managed to instead break the laptop's motherboard, processor, and much of the internal cabling. Though Geek Squad replaced all the damaged parts, Brian soon realized that the laptop's new processor was slower and cheaper than the original model...

Geek Squad only fessed up to installing an inferior chip after Brian got Sony on the phone to confirm that they didn't use the replacement model in their laptops.

Brian writes:

A couple of months ago, I brought my laptop to my local Best Buy for repair. After being told it would be no more than two weeks before I had my laptop back, I left the store content. The only problem with the laptop when I turned it in to Geek Squad was a cooling fan that was starting to go bad.

A month and half later, I finally got my laptop back. They had replaced the cooling fan, the motherboard, the processor, and most of the cabling. Apparently, I was told, they had inadvertently damaged the motherboard and processor during the repair of the cooling fan. That's a kind of silly mistake, but I can forgive them for it. However, they replaced my processor with a model that was inferior to the one the laptop had in it to begin with. The laptop had an Intel T7500 processor, they replaced it with a T7300. It took several days of arguing with them. I finally had to call Sony (they manufactured the laptop) and get them to confirm that the laptop had indeed had a T7500 processor in it.

Eventually Geek Squad agreed to fix the mistake. However, I can't help but wonder how often this type of "mistake" happens. By replacing my processor (which they damaged) with an inferior T7300 model, they saved about $100 on the repair. Your average consumer would never have caught this "mistake." I've been searching message boards to see if anyone else has had a similar problem and have thus far not found anything exactly like my situation. However, there is an overwhelming amount of negative comments regarding Geek Squad's service.

(Photo: dooleymtv)

Need An Ambulance? If You're Overweight, It's Going To Cost An Extra $543 [Kansas]

Carey — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:00:59 EDT

An ambulance ride with American Medical Response in Topeka, Kansas will soon cost an extra $543 for folks weighing 350 pounds or more. Though AMR already owns cots that can support up to 500 pounds, they claim that because of rising demand from so-called "bariatric patients," they now need to buy winches and "extra large and reinforced cots."

Keller said AMR needed to increase its charge for bariatric patients to pay for more manpower and transportation equipment. The bariatric equipment includes extra large and reinforced cots, as well as a winch to help technicians load the patients into the back of the ambulance.

"These people have special needs during transport," Keller said of the bariatric patients. "Many of these people don't fit our standard cots. Our normal cots will hold over 500 pounds, but when you max out the ability of the cot, you put the patients at risk. Having these resources means a little less manpower and a much safer way to lift the patients."

Keller said as a general rule, AMR will begin charging patients the increased bariatric fee if they weigh more than 350 pounds. He said the technicians, however, would use their discretion and consider the overall size of the patient in determining if they are bariatric. "We look at the length and width," Keller said. "A patient could be 325 or 275. We will look at the qualifiers of the patient and the special needs, and then we submit them to the insurance and see if we agree."

AMR previously charged $629 to transport overweight and critical care patients. The price for Medicaid and Medicare patients will hold steady, and the new $1,172 fee will only apply to patients with private insurance.

What do you think? Should extra-large or sick patients have to pay more for an ambulance ride?

Some overweight Topeka patients to pay more for ambulance use [Wichita Eagle]
AMR rates rising for obese [The Topeka Capital Journal]

Morning Deals [Sales]

Carey — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:30:18 EDT

Woot!: Mr. Clean AutoDry Carwash System

Highlights From Buxr

The Container Store: [Storage] The Container Store coupon: 25% off online w/ coupon CLUTTERCREW and printable coupon
Zip Zoom Fly: [Hard Drive] Hitachi Deskstar 1TB Hard Drive for $68.99 after $10 rebate w/ Free shipping
New Egg: [Kitchen Appliance] Continental Electric 8-Cup Rice Cooker for $16.99 w/ Free shipping

Highlights From Dealhack

eBags: [Luggage] Save an Extra 20% off Most Luggage & Bags Store-Wide
Amazon: [Anywhere WiFi] Sprint MiFi 2200 Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot 1 Cent Shipped
Best Buy: [HDTV + DVD] Insignia 26-inch LCD HDTV/DVD Player Combo $380

Highlights From Dealnews

iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] App Store Freebies: NMobile: Speed Traps, Bill, Rise&Shine, JumiMouse, more
~~eForCity: [iPod Accessories] Universal Cassette Adapter for 25 cents~~
Lenovo: [PC Laptop] Lenovo IdeaPad S12 VIA Nano 1.3GHz 12" Widescreen Laptop for $395 + free shipping

Highlights From Techbargains

Sams Club: [Computer Speakers] Bose Companion 2 2ch Multimedia Speaker System $69.83
Buydig.com: [Plasma HDTV] LG 42PQ30 42 inch Plasma HDTV (720p) $619 Free Shipping
TireRack: [Tires] Tire Rack Deals: $50 to $80 Rebates on Dunlop, Goodyear, BFGoodrich, Continental Tire Sets

Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers. Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.
If you have a tip for Morning Deals, send it to tips@consumerist.com, and be sure to put "morning deals" in the subject line.

Morning Deals [Sales]

Carey — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:00:31 EDT

Woot!: Carlisle 3 Piece Luggage Set

Highlights From Buxr

Buy.com: [TV] Memorex 32" HDTV (Recertified) for $369.99 after $30 rebate w/ Free shipping
Office Depot: [Office] $20 Off $75 Purchase w/ Coupon 11189658
Comienzos Saludables: [Home and Garden] Free Baby's First Year Calendar

Highlights From Dealhack

Newegg: [USB Flash] Corsair Voyager 16GB USB Drive $25 & Free Shipping
Dell Home: [Noteboook PCs] Inspiron 15 Widescreen Notebook PC $399
Newegg: [WiFi Wireless] Linksys USB 802.11b/g WiFi Adapter $15 Shipped

Highlights From Dealnews

Sierra Trading Post: [Clothing & Accessories] Sierra Trading Post Summer 2009 Summer Blowout: 60% to 90% off
Nordstrom: [Men's Apparel] 33% to 50% off The North Face men's jackets at Nordstrom: Deals from $42 + $8 s&h
LEGO Shop at Home: [Toys & Hobbies] LEGO Shop at Home Sale: Temple of the Crystal Skull for $56 + $9 s&h, more

Highlights From Techbargains

Buy.com: [Headphones] Sennheiser HD 555 Stereo Circumaural Headphone $98.86 Free Shipping
Newegg: [GPS] Garmin nuvi 255 Portable GPS Navigation (3.5in, Text to Speech, Traffic Updates) $139.99 Free Shipping
Walmart: [Toys] Titan Blast 7 Foot Hydro Powered Inflatable Rocket $25

Ticketmaster Pays $50,000 Fine, Closes More Than 100 Deceptive Site [Tickets]

Carey — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:00:44 EDT

Ticketmaster will pay a $50,000 fine and shutter more than 100 deceptive brokerage sites as part of a wide-reaching agreement with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Madigan's office accused Ticketmaster's always shady subsidy, TicketsNow, of creating sites that masqueraded as local venues selling tickets at face value. The settlement also requires TicketsNow to wait until after Ticketmaster puts non-sporting events on sale before hawking tickets at outrageously inflated prices.

As part of the agreement, TicketsNow will cease operating any Web sites that have misleading domain names and will refrain from affiliating with any Web sites that use similarly deceptive tactics. As a result of Madigan's investigation, TicketsNow has already disabled more than 100 suspect Web sites.

"Our investigation revealed that consumers who purchased concert tickets at TicketsNow Web sites often believed they were purchasing tickets from the actual event operators for their original value," Madigan said. "This agreement will substantially impact how the TicketsNow online brokers market popular event tickets so that consumers clearly understand that they are making purchases from a ticket reseller at marked-up rates."

In the course of the investigation, Madigan's office determined that TicketsNow, which is based in Rolling Meadows, Ill., was operating hundreds of affiliated ticket resale Web sites with misleading domain names that incorporated into the Web site URLs unique names of local venues, sports teams or performers. The TicketsNow-affiliated Web sites failed to clearly state that they were ticket resellers and had obtained tickets from secondary sources, such as season ticket holders, event promoters and venue operators, in advance of the public sale. As a result, consumers did not realize that they were ordering marked-up tickets from a TicketsNow-affiliated reseller.

The wires aren't yet saying how long TicketsNow will need to wait before reselling tickets at inflated prices.

This isn't the first time Ticketmaster has been pressured into abandoning questionable business practices. Back in February, Ticketmaster settled a complaint from New Jersey's Attorney General by agreeing to stop linking directly to TicketsNow. It just goes to show how many questionable practices Ticketmaster exploits.

MADIGAN: TICKETMASTER AGREES TO SHUT DOWN DECEPTIVE TICKET BROKER WEB SITES (Press Release) [Illinois Attorney General]
TicketsNow, Illinois Atty Genl Reach Agreement On Marketing [The Wall Street Journal]

Frontier's Computer System Lands Unaccompanied Minor In Security Room For An Hour [Children]

Carey — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:45:02 EDT

Ok, here's a crazy idea: if you're an airline, and you have a form with room to list two adults who are authorized to pick up an unaccompanied minor, wouldn't it make sense to have room for both names in your computer system? Because whoever is running Frontier Airline's system doesn't seem to think so! Kayla's mother spent a frantic hour, IDs in hand, trying to prove that she was authorized to meet her 13-year-old daughter at the gate. The form accompanying her daughter clearly had both her and Kayla's father listed, but the computer listed only the father's name. While Frontier sorted out the confusion, Kayla spent an hour waiting in Denver Airport's security room.

Our tipster writes:

My 13 year old daughter Taylor's best friend Kayla moved to Colorado last year. As Taylor and Kayla were saying their goodbyes we told them we would have Kayla out for a visit someday.

So this summer Kayla's parents arranged for Kayla to come visit my Daughter here in California for a week in June. Kayla's parents flew her out via Frontier airlines and paid the extra $100 unaccompanied minor fee. My wife picked Kayla up from the airport without a hitch and everything was fine.

Fast forward to the day of the return trip a week later.

Kayla's flight was scheduled to leave from San Diego at 2:59PM. I called Frontier Airlines around 11:00 AM to make sure the flight was on time and to see how early we needed to arrive at the airport and to verify her reservation. While talking to the agent I found out that even though Kayla's mother had put me on the list of people authorized to receive a gate pass so I could walk Kayla to her departure gate, I was not showing up in Frontiers computer system. After a few phone calls to Kayla's Mother and to Frontier we straightened this out and I was placed on the approval list in Frontiers System.

We showed up 2 hours early to the airport for her flight. While checking Kayla in I was required to fill out Frontiers standard unaccompanied minor request for carriage form which contains all the contact information on who is dropping the minor off and who will be picking the minor up from the destination airport. The form was filled out completely with both kaylas mother and father being the recipients. Kayla bags were checked in and I was given a gate pass.

After waiting an hour and a half at the departure gate the same ticket agent that checked us in called Kayla's name to board early. We walked up to the gate and gave the agent the paperwork we had along with the request for carriage form. The agent took the paperwork, said thank you and immediately turned and started walking down boarding ramp with Kayla. I stopped the agent and asked, "dont I get a receipt or anything?! " The agent stopped and looked at the other agent at the gate. "I guess we could give him our copy" she said to the agent behind the check in counter. She then flipped through the FIVE duplicate pages on the form and pulled out a canary colored copy and gave it to me. I commented to her that I just gave her a very precious passenger and to be careful with her. I also told Kayla that if she was taken off the plane for any reason to immediately call me. I called Kayla's mother and let her know that her daughter was on the flight and was on her way home and to call me as soon as she had Kayla in hand.

So fast forward 3 hours later and I get a call from Kaylas Mother. I was expecting to hear that she had Kayla but instead she asked who's name I had filled out on the request for carriage form. She had been getting the run around at the Frontier check gate in Colorado. Even though she was the legal guardian and had the proper forms and I.D. Frontier would not let her have a gate pass to meet and pick up her daughter at the gate. When I talked to her she was frantic. I checked the receipt that I insisted the agent in San Diego give me. Her mother was listed first and then her Father.

So I called Frontier airlines and explained the situation. They told me that they didn't know why her mother was not on the list but that her father was listed and there is only room in the system for one name. They said it was corrected and I called Kayla's mother back to inform her. At this point the plane had been on the ground for some time and through text messages we found out Kayla was taken to a security station at the denver airport and placed in a holding room. It was about an hour before she was finally reunited with her mother.

In my opinion this is inexcusable. Not only did her mother have to pay an extra $100 unaccompanied minor charge to the airline, but the airline dropped the ball and didn't get it right. They left a mother in a panic for an hour in a busy airport and scared the heck out of an innocent 13 year old girl by placing her in a security room. All the agents had to do is look at the request for carriage form that was with her.

I'm writing this because I think Frontier Airlines needs to carefully review and revise their procedures to insure that this never has to happen to another parent of child flying with them again. I think they also owe Kayla's mother a refund for at least $100 for the unaccompanied minor fee and a huge apology .

(Photo: ATIS547)

The Pirate Bay Bought For $7.7 Million, Plans To Evolve Into Legitimate P2P Service [File Sharing]

Carey — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:40:49 EDT

The Swedish gaming company Global Gaming Factory X AB has purchased The Pirate Bay for $7.7 million, and plans to transform the embattled file sharing site into a legitimate peer-to-peer service. "We would like to introduce models which entail that content providers and copyright owners get paid for content that is downloaded via the site," the buyers said in an ambiguous statement. The Pirate Bay's current administrators did offer up one undeniable truth to comfort the site's fans...

If the new owners will screw around with the site, nobody will keep using it. That's the biggest insurance one can have that the site will be run in the way that we all want to. And - you can now not only share files but shares with people. Everybody can indeed be the owner of The Pirate Bay now. That's awesome and will take the heat of us.

Ars Technica sheds a little more light on the site's future path:

In addition to The Pirate Bay assets, GGF will acquire Swedish company Peerialism, which has developed a "new data distribution technology" that is also backwards-compatible with BitTorrent. The Peerialism code will form the basis for the new version of The Pirate Bay,
While The Pirate Bay name comes mired in legal uncertainty, it's still one of the world's best known domains, and GGF is acquiring it for under $8 million-a bargain if it really does have a workable plan for crafting a P2P version of iTunes out of the site.

Pirate Bay users, would you ever consider paying for legitimate version of the site, or would you seek out new coves to fulfill your torrenting needs?

Pirate Bay sold, to become more like Carnival Cruise Lines [Ars Technica]

FDA: Hey America, Stop Overdosing On Painkillers! [Drugs]

Carey — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:00:21 EDT

Look, we know this recession is tough and all, but you've gotta lay off the NyQuil and Theraflu or the FDA will stuff them behind a counter, ok? Seriously, an advisory panel is meeting today, and already voted to reduce the maximum daily dose of Tylenol and other painkillers. They might even slap scary "black box" warnings on all over-the-counter painkillers to dissuade you acetaminophen addicts from overdosing.

The Food and Drug Administration's panel voted 21-16 to lower the current maximum dose of nonprescription acetaminophen, which is 4 grams, or eight pills per day. Taking more than that can cause potentially fatal liver damage.

Despite years of educational campaigns and other federal actions, acetaminophen is the leading cause of liver failure in the U.S., sending 56,000 people to the emergency room annually, according to the FDA.

The drugs that could be pulled off shelves are combination medications, such as Procter & Gamble's NyQuil or Novartis' Theraflu, which combine acetaminophen with other ingredients that treat cough and runny nose.

The FDA says patients often pair them with a pure acetaminophen medication, like Tylenol, exposing themselves to unsafe levels of the drug.

Drug makers Wyeth and Johnson & Johnson are rushing to defend your right to take the edge off life, but the FDA is still likely to follow the advisory panel's recommendations. Next time your head starts to hurt, pour a nice big glass of water, and resist the urge to pop a few happy pills. Your liver will thank you.

FDA panel recommends smaller doses of painkillers [AP]
FDA may put restrictions on Tylenol [AP]
(Photo: inhisgrace)

Here Comes The Consumer Financial Protection Agency! [Consumer Protection]

Carey — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:00:54 EDT

Shhh, everyone, gather near and listen to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner deliver the most beautiful, wonderful mandate we could give to a new federal agency: "The agency will have only one mission—to protect consumers." And with that, the Treasury Department sent to Congress legislation that will create the brand new Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

The agency will have broad powers to regulate any firm that offers a consumer financial product, including mortgages, credit cards, and other loans. Armed with subpoena power, the agency's regulations will set a minimum standard for financial products, and won't preempt states that chose to write tougher rules.

The new independent agency would be called the Consumer Financial Protection Agency and would be overseen by a five-member board. The administration's proposal would allow the new regulator to levy annual fees or assessments on the financial industry to help pay for regulation, and would create a new "victims' relief fund" to accept any civil penalties the agency collects from firms.

The consumer financial regulator would be able to force testimony and obtain information under the new regime, and would be able to broadly assess potential risks to consumers. To ensure that rules enacted by the agency are having the desired effects, the agency would also have to do a self-assessment of any significant rule it passes within five years.

The Treasury also said the agency would work with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Reserve on efforts to eliminate unnecessary mortgage-related paperwork, among other things. It would enforce recently-enacted credit card legislation and ban unfair practices such as "yield spread premiums," which are side payments from lenders that encourage mortgage brokers to push consumers into higher priced loans.

The 152-page bill will now head to the House Financial Services Committee. The full House is expected to vote on the measure by the fall.

Administration's Regulatory Reform Agenda Moves Forward: Legislation for Strengthening Consumer Protection Delivered To Capitol Hill (Press Release) [Treasury Department]
Obama Unveils Consumer Protection Agency Legislation [The Wall Street Journal]
(Photo: HeatedGroundPhotography)

Eat Out And Save [Meals]

Carey — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:30:36 EDT

Eating out is one of the fastest ways to burn a hole through your wallet, but with a few tips from Five Cent Nickel, you can still enjoy a good meal without breaking the bank.

Choose Lunch Over Dinner: Skip past dinner plans and instead meet your friends for lunch. The meals are almost always cheaper, and you can usually find worthwhile deals.
Hunt For Specials: Look for local places with lunch or brunch specials, or two-for-one entrees.
Free Bread = Leftovers!: Our father used to warn us that we were going to ruin our appetite gorging on bread, and he was right—though we didn't care, and he certainly didn't mean it as a saving tip. Load up on whatever freebies you can get—bread, chips, salad—and bring part of your meal home as leftovers.
Skip Appetizers And Dessert: Both are usually overpriced and unnecessary, considering the size of most entree portions. Skip them and save.

Eating Out Without Breaking Your Budget [Five Cent Nickel]
(Photo: colros)

Morning Deals [Sales]

Carey — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:35:44 EDT

Woot!: Corona Clipper Fusion Handheld Multi-Tool – 2 Pack

Highlights From Buxr

Amazon: [Console] Guitar Hero World Tour Band Kit - All Consoles for $89.99 w/ Free shipping
Borders: [DVD] 30% Off List Price of One DVD or CD w/ Coupon DVD30HNM and CD30CVB (includes printable coupon)
Overstock: [Cookware] Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set for $43.29 w/ coupon 141908 + $1 Shipping

Highlights From Dealhack

Geeks: [Camera] Kodak EasyShare 10.3MP Digital Camera + Free 4GB & Kit $80
Chefs: [Kitchen] Save up to 80% off Kitchen Gear & 1/2 off or Free Shipping
Reebok: [Sports] Save 20% off Major League Baseball Fan Gear

Highlights From Dealnews

Cabela's: [Men's Apparel] Cabela's Men's Apparel Roundup: Wrangler Jersey Polo Shirt for $3 + $6 s&h, more
American Eagle Outfitters: [Clothing & Accessories] American Eagle Outfitters Clearance Sale: Jeans from $15 + $7 s&h
iTunes Music Store: [iPhone] App Store Freebies: arXiv, Wookiee Translator, TwitPic, BikePRO, more

Highlights From Techbargains

BestBuy: [LCD HDTV] LG 47LH40 47 inch LCD HDTV (1080p, 120Hz) $1097.99 Free Shipping
~~Buy.com: [Tablet PC] Nokia N810 Internet Tablet PC w/ Touchscreen, Wifi, GPS $179.99 Free Shipping~~
Newegg: [Cell Phone Stereo Headset] Plantronics MHS213 Stereo Mobile Wired Headset $5.99 Free Shipping

Lead Paint To Cost OKK $655,000 [Fines]

Carey — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:45:59 EDT

The OKK Trading company has agreed to pay a $655,000 fine for violating the federal ban on lead in children's toys. Over the past two years, the California-based company has issued six recalls spanning almost 18,000 toys and baby products.

The recalled items include:

The penalty settlement, which has been provisionally accepted by the Commission, resolves CPSC staff allegations that from November 2007 through August 2008, OKK Trading knowingly imported and sold toys with paints that contained lead levels that exceeded legal limits. In 1978, a federal ban was put in place which prohibited toys and other children's articles from having more than 0.06 percent lead (by weight) in paints or surface coatings. Lead can be toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health consequences.

The settlement also covers staff allegations that from May 2007 through December 2007, the company knowingly exported noncompliant toys in violation of federal notification requirements.

When asked to comment, OKK acknowledged that their conduct had not been OKK.

OKK Trading To Pay $665,000 Civil Penalty for Violating Federal Lead Paint Ban and Other Child Safety Rules [CPSC via Consumer Reports]

Sears: Lose Your Job, Keep Your Purchase, Forget The Debt [Recession]

Carey — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:10:26 EDT

Acknowledging that skittish consumers are still unwilling to buy big-ticket items, Sears tomorrow plans to unveil a bold new guarantee: if you lose your job after charging a purchase worth $399 or more to your Sears card, the retailer will credit 1/12th of the purchase price to your account for each month you are unemployed. If you stay jobless for one year, the debt is entirely forgiven, and the appliance is yours to keep.

"This was born out of listening to our customers," said Kevin Brown, chief marketing officer/home appliances. Customers were saying, "We're just in a spot where we're deferring major purchases due to our concern about our personal economy and the national economy."

For the moment, the program will only apply to purchases made between July 6 and August 1.

We're skeptical of these recession guarantees, which seem more like clever marketing than a fail-safe that consumers find useful. And since it's Sears, we'd definitely want to see the fine print before believing anything.

Sears to modify payments if appliance buyers lose their jobs [The Chicago Tribune]
(Photo: raindog808)

Psht, Bank Of America Doesn't Need Your Consent To Give You A Credit Card [Surprises]

Carey — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:15:18 EDT

Hector didn't know whether or not he was going to accept Bank of America's offer of a new credit card with a $3,500 limit, so the bank made his decision easy by issuing the card without his permission. When Hector discovered the surprise credit line, he called Bank of America with two requests: explain how they could open a new account without his consent, and keep the account open until he could figure out the new line's impact on his credit score. Of course, without a peep, Bank of America immediately canceled the new credit card, leaving Hector wondering what might happen to his credit score...

Hector writes:

On Tuesday June 23 I went down to my local bank to deposit some money. Things started out weird right away with the teller I got, as she didn't seem to have a working computer, and as so she had to go into the back to place a money. She also ended up putting my funds into my checking account, instead of a savings account but hey, no biggie. When she came back with my deposit slip she informed me I was approved for a 3, 500 credit line. The interest she quoted me was actually lower than the one I had in one of my credit cards, so I was kinda interest. I asked her how long the interest held up for and what the interest would be after the initial offer. She couldn't give me that answer, so she waved a personal banker over to answer that.

The personal banker gave me the information I needed, and I told her I would think about it and would come back I I decided to take up the offer. Please keep in mind that at no point did I agree to anything, nor did I sign any paper or such. The total time I spent discussing this credit line was about five minutes.

I didn't think about BOA and their offer until Thursday evening when I logged into their website to check my funds. This is when I found a powermaster visa card now under my name, with a 3,5000 credit limit. To say I was surprised was an understatement.

I instantly called up BOA customer support, who told me that the card was opened by the bank location on June 23. I then I asked about filing a complaint and wanting to find out how exactly this happened. The woman on the phone was more than happy to take my complaint, but told me that the only answer I would receive would be through mail two to three weeks from now. I asked if I could have anyone phone me or email me, as I didn't want to get some sort of form letter and she told me that there was no way to do that.

On Friday morning I headed to the bank and asked to speak to a manager. I ended up speaking with a Tony, who sat me down on the personal banker side of the location. I gave him all my information and he once again verified that yes, a credit was opened under my name. I told Tony not to do anything with the account yet, as I needed to find out whether this would affect my credit. I also told him that I wanted someone to contact from their location to provide me with some answers.

I have not heard from anyone yet, but I just logged into my BOA website and see that the card is no longer there. I'm slightly bothered by the fact that they just closed the card even though I told them I first wanted to be contacted and find out whether this would affect my credit.

Repair Your Tattered Rags With Office Supplies! [Clothes]

Carey — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:20:51 EDT

Wise Bread tells us that office supplies can quickly and easily help patch-up ailing garments. In a hurry, staples can save skirts and cardigans by holding together fragile hems and clasps. Markers can even be tasked to help clear scuff marks from leather shoes. Still, it never hurts to stash an extra set of shoes and accessories in the office, just in case your repair calls for more than just office supplies. How do you fix your clothes in a pinch? Share your secrets in the comments.

Cheap and Easy Repairs for Wardrobe Malfunctions [Wise Bread]
(Photo: Tengaport)

E.U. Agrees To Universal Standard For Phone Chargers [Jealous]

Carey — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:15:59 EDT

Ugh, next time those snooty Europeans come over to blanket us with their Euro-gold, they'll have one more reason to be all smug and superior: ten of the world's largest telecoms have agreed to make a universal phone charger that can charge any phone sold in the European Union.

"People will not have to throw away their charger whenever they buy a new phone," said EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, estimating that unwanted phone accessories accounted for thousands of tonnes of waste in Europe each year.

The Commission said the agreement would involve the creation of an EU norm, and that the new generation of mobile phones would use a standard micro-USB socket to ensure compatibility.

So this is what happens when a consumer-minded regulator forces large companies to do the people's work.

At first, new phones will come bundled with the universal charger, but eventually they will be sold separately. If we're lucky and patient, the universal charger will hopefully bleed its way into the American market.

Telecom firms back standard phone charger in Europe [Reuters]
(Photo: Iain Farrell)

100% All Natural Plumped Chickens Are Stuffed With Water And Salt [Your Health]

Carey — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:45:00 EDT

Do you like overpaying for salt and water? Then "100% All Natural" chicken breasts might be for you! Just look for the labels that boast "enhanced with up to 15% chicken broth," and you can be sure you're overpaying for the saltiest, most water-logged chicken that industrial food processors can design. So how does all that chicken water get into the chickens, you ask? Hit the jump for the delightfully graphic description...

Processors use multiple-needle injectors or vacuum-tumblers, which force the sodium solution into the muscle. Binding agents in the solution prevent the added salt and water from leaching out of the meat during transport, in grocery stores and during cooking, says Kenneth McMillin, professor of meat science at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center in Baton Rouge.

[...]

Raw chicken breast can contain as little as 50 to 75 milligrams of sodium per 4-ounce serving. But much of the chicken on the market in the U.S. is "enhanced" — injected with a salt solution, or broth, during processing. Sodium levels often reach well over 400 milligrams per serving — nearly one-third of the maximum daily intake of 1500 milligrams recommended for people at risk of high blood pressure (including African Americans and older adults).

Ew!

We don't want needles or vacuum-thingies anywhere near our dinner plates, and neither should you—especially since chicken water can cost you up to $60 per year.

Plumped Chickens: You Are Paying for Water [Mouse Print]
The hidden salt in chicken [The Los Angeles Times]

Morning Deals [Sales]

Carey — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:15:00 EDT

Woot!: iRobot Roomba 530 Robotic Vacuum with Virtual Wall

Highlights From Buxr

The Popcorn Factory: [Food] $25 Off $50 Purchase + Two More Couponstu13
New Egg: [Shaver] Panasonic Men's Pro-Curve Wet/Dry Shaver for $8.99 after $10 rebate w/ Free shipping
New Egg: [Phone] Vtech Cordless Phone Answering Machine System with 3 Headsets for $29.99 w/ Free shipping

Highlights From Dealhack

MacMall: [HDTV] Vizio 37-inch LCD 1080p HDTV $530
Dell Home: [Networking] Save 25% off Routers & Other Networking Gear
Backcountry: [Outdoor Sports] 4th of July Sale: Save on Apparel, Shoes, & Gear

Highlights From Dealnews

Target: [Clothing & Accessories] Target Clearance Sale: 65% to 75% off clothing, accessories, more
Overstock.com: [Watches] Men's Clip Watches from $17 + $1 s&h
Best Buy: [DVDs] DVD Movie 2-Packs for $5 + $2 s&h

(Photo: Jessica N. Diamond)

Car Rental Firms Create Artificial Shortage, Boost Prices [Rental Cars]

Carey — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:00:57 EDT

Car rental firms have cut their fleets by almost 15% in the last year, creating an artificial shortage that has helped to raise prices. Inside, a few tips that can help lower the cost of your next car rental...

Start Early: The best way to find the best deals from the best locations is to lock in your booking as early as possible.
Skip The Airport: Renting from the airport is almost always more expensive than renting in town.
Upgrade! Since everyone wants a small, fuel-efficient car, ask for a better deal on a larger, roomier car.
Use Independents: Smaller rental firms can sometimes undercut their larger competitors by up to 30%.

These posts can also help you save a few dollars:

The Soaring Cost of Car Rentals [The New York Times]
(Photo: Marike79)

G.M. Agrees To Remain Responsible For Shoddy Cars After Bankruptcy [Liability]

Carey — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:00:53 EDT

General Motors has reached an agreement with the government to let consumers file what are known as product-liability claims after the company escapes from bankruptcy protection. The big win for consumers means that if a manufacturing defect in an old G.M. causes injuries in the future, consumers will still be able to sue G.M. in state court.

The chief concern for G.M. and the government is whether customers who have claims about existing products but have not yet filed lawsuits can sue the company in state courts. Because bankruptcy case law is murky on the matter, G.M. and the auto task force chose to assume the liability instead of risking a delay of the company's emergence from bankruptcy.

[...]

Courts typically allow companies under bankruptcy protection to leave claims behind in bankruptcy and emerge with a clean slate, a precedent G.M. and the government are relying upon. Chrysler, which completed a government-backed restructuring this month, left both product liability claims and unwanted dealers with its old estate, now known as Old CarCo. Claims left behind in bankruptcy generally have a slim chance of being paid.

G.M. set aside almost $1 billion last year to settle product-liability claims. Anyone with an existing product-liability suit against the company is probably out of luck, as G.M. still plans to shed those claims when it exits bankruptcy.

G.M. to Maintain Legal Liability for Claims [The New York Times]

Billy Mays Dead At 50 [Deaths]

Carey — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:00:04 EDT

You have to wonder if before going to sleep last night, pitchman Billy Mays thought of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Ed McMahon, and said to himself one last time, "but wait, there's more!"

The OxyClean pitchman was found dead this morning in his Tampa home. No foul play is suspected, although the wires are reporting that Mays might have hit his head yesterday when a U.S. Airways flight he was on blew out a tire while landing.

Born William Mays in McKees Rocks, Pa., on July 20, 1958, Mays developed his style demonstrating knives, mops and other "as seen on TV" gadgets on Atlantic City's boardwalk. For years he worked as a hired gun on the state fair and home show circuits, attracting crowds with his booming voice and genial manner.

After meeting Orange Glo International founder Max Appel at a home show in Pittsburgh in the mid-1990s, Mays was recruited to demonstrate the environmentally friendly line of cleaning products on the St. Petersburg-based Home Shopping Network.

Commercials and informercials followed, anchored by the high-energy Mays showing how it's done while tossing out kitschy phrases like, "Long live your laundry!"

Recently he's been seen on commercials for a wide variety of products and is featured on the reality TV show "Pitchmen" on the Discovery Channel, which follows Mays and Anthony Sullivan in their marketing jobs. He's also been seen in ESPN ads.

His ubiquitousness and thumbs-up, in-your-face pitches won Mays plenty of fans. People line up at his personal appearances for autographed color glossies, and strangers stop him in airports to chat about the products.

"I enjoy what I do," Mays told The Associated Press in a 2002 interview. "I think it shows."

His emphatic gesticulations will be missed.

TV pitchman Billy Mays found dead in Tampa home [Tampa Bay Online] (Thanks to everyone who submitted!)

What Happens When Your Life Insurer Kicks The Bucket? [Insurance]

Carey — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:00:31 EDT

Life insurance polices are backed by state guarantee associations, but the coverage offered varies drastically from state to state. Some products, like variable annuities, can be recovered in full because of the way they're structured, but if you have term life insurance or a universal policy, you should know the limitations of your state's coverage...

Typically, insurance guaranty associations cover up to $300,000 in death benefits, up to $100,000 in cash-surrender values on whole and universal life policies and up to $100,000 in the present value of an annuity, said Peter Gallanis, president of the National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations.

But that varies. California's guaranty association essentially imposes a deductible, saying it will pay the lesser of 80% of the failed insurer's contractual obligation or up to $250,000 in death benefits. It will also pay up to $100,000 in cash-surrender or withdrawal values.

New Jersey, on the other hand, provides up to $500,000 in coverage for death benefits and annuity payments, without the deductible. Arizona's guaranty association fits neatly into the industry standard — up to $300,000 in death benefits and $100,000 for annuities and cash value — but it doesn't pay for guaranteed investment contracts at all.

Generally speaking, you would be covered by the guaranty association in the state where you reside. However, if you bought an insurance policy through a company pension plan — as some people buy guaranteed investment contracts through a 401(k) — you could be covered by the association in the state where the plan is domiciled, Gallanis said.

Check out the National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations for a full listing of all state protections.

National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations
How to check your life insurer's health [The Los Angeles Times]
(Photo: JasonRogersFooDogGiraff eBee)

RyanAir: Bye Bye, Checked Bags And Airport Check-In. Hello, Gambling! [Ryanair]

Carey — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:00:43 EDT

RyanAir this week announced that they will soon eliminate all airport check-in counters and require passengers to carry-on their luggage. Starting early next year, passengers will need to schlep their bags through airport security and drop them at the steps of the plane for checking into plane's cargo hold. Once aboard though, there will be gambling!

A spokesman from the safety regulation group at the U.K.'s Civil Aviation Authority said that although there are no explicit rules that prohibit such practice, there were logistical and security issues. More luggage would lengthen security screening times while some baggage might not even fit through scanners, he said.

Under Ryanair's proposed policy, passengers would not be allowed to pack liquids, razors and other items now prohibited in carry-on baggage, despite having the luggage stored in the aircraft's cargo hold.

Ryanair did not specify whether personnel responsible for loading and unloading baggage would be Ryanair employees or members of an independent baggage-handling service.

The airline expects to debut their in-flight gambling service within five years, even though the U.K. Gambling Association says that "all forms of commercial betting and gaming are illegal on aircraft." Whatever. Norms and rules are for other airlines, not RyanAir. No, they'll never abandon their zealous mission to become the first successful airline with the motto: "Bring Your Own Plane!"

Ryanair To Ban Check-In Baggage And Airport Check-In [Dow Jones]
(Photo: scalleja)

Unlicensed Cabbie Welcomes Tourists To New York With High Speed Police Chase [Transportation]

Carey — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:00:53 EDT

Jean-Jacques Dulugat learned yesterday why you should never let an unlicensed cabbie give you a lift from the airport. Police tried to stop Dulugat and his family as they got into a van driven by a pair of known solicitors, but the duo took off and led cops on a high-speed chase through Brooklyn...

It is further alleged that Port Authority police pursued the van in a marked vehicle with their lights flashing and sirens blaring and were assisted in the chase by at least 10 other police vehicles. During the chase from the airport, the defendants allegedly swerved through traffic, forcing vehicles and pedestrians to jump out of the van's way, and at times ran stop signs and red lights and traveled at speeds of 60 miles per hour on crowded residential streets.

In the course of the chase, the five tourists – Esther Mamane and her mother Claudie Mamane, 60, and Gwenaelle Dulugat and her parents, Michele Dulugat, 61, and Jean- Jacques Dulugat, 62 – were allegedly locked in the van and the defendants refused their pleas to stop as they cried and screamed to be let go.

Additionally, it is alleged that when the defendants were confronted by a dead end street, they turned the van into a postal facility at 1050 Forbell St. in the East New York section of Brooklyn and jumped out, fleeing on foot as the vehicle continued to move with their five screaming passengers locked inside.

Rick Seaney has a few tips to help you avoid getting trapped in a runaway cab like the Dulugats:

Avoid "gypsy cabs" and other non-licensed vehicles: the legitimate cabs are all lined up at the curb. If your cabbie claims to be licensed, and it's a hike to his vehicle, he isn't. By the way, these taxis can cost just as much as the legit ones.
Check out the transportation choices before you arrive: JFK, for example, offers many alternatives to taxis including trains and a bus system that takes you directly to Grand Central for $27 roundtrip.
Consider a private car service: it need not be a limo - and it can cost just a few bucks more than a taxi fare.

In New York, we ignore Newark and take either the M60 to LaGuardia or the AirTrain to Kennedy. Even with New York's range of options, it's still easy to overpay if you're not careful: take the Long Island Rail Road instead of the subway to the AirTrain and you could end up paying $12 instead of $5.

As for the Dulugat's, they received an apology from the Mayor's office, along with free Broadway tickets and passes to the Museum of Modern Art.

DA: JFK Hustlers Held French Tourists Captive [North Country Gazette]
Day after their ride from hell, French family lives American Dream in NYC [NY Daily News via Rick Seaney]

Trade In Your Clunker, Get $4,500. Maybe. [Cars]

Carey — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:00:58 EDT

The government is offering a $4,500 credit to anyone willing to trade in their old clunker for a new fuel efficient car, but there's a catch. Well, several catches...

To qualify, consumers must turn in a vehicle that is no more than 25 years old and has a combined city and highway fuel economy rating of no more than 18 miles per gallon, as calculated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The E.P.A. lists vehicles' ratings at the Web site FuelEconomy.gov.

The old vehicle must be drivable, and it must have been insured by and registered to the same person for at least the last year, preventing shoppers from buying an old car and flipping it to get a discount on a new vehicle. The credit cannot be applied toward a used vehicle or toward new vehicles that cost more than $45,000.

To get the full $4,500 credit, consumers must buy either a new truck or sport utility vehicle that is rated at least five miles per gallon higher than the scrapped vehicle or a passenger car that is rated at least 10 miles per gallon higher than the scrapped vehicle. Because the old vehicle will be destroyed, the credit is given instead of the regular trade-in value - not in addition to it - though some dealers might compensate customers for the vehicle's scrap value.

By contrast, programs in Europe practically boast "if you can haul it in, you get cash!"

According to one Texas dealer, a similarly restrictive state program helped sell only about an extra car each month. And, of course, domestic automakers manufacture only 8 of the 48 cars Consumer Reports recommends that are eligible under the program. Still, do you have an old jalopy you would consider dragging in for the credit?

Rules May Limit Cash for Clunkers Program [The New York Times]
(Photo: The Consumerist)

Southwest Is Coming To LaGuardia. Hello, Price War! [Travel]

Carey — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:00:36 EDT

Starting tomorrow, Southwest will fly out of New York's LaGuardia airport, which hopefully means that flying between New York, Boston, Chicago, and Washington is about to get a whole lot cheaper.

The move is part of the airline's attempt to cater more towards business customers, who don't always want to fly into the second-tier airports Southwest usually favors.

[CEO Gary C. Kelly] has been fine-tuning the Southwest model since becoming CEO in 2004. In pursuit of business travelers, he bent the traditional "first come, first serve" seating rules with "Business Select." Passengers pay a few bucks more to get a spot at the front of the boarding line, an extra frequent-flier award and a free drink. He also pushed Southwest into the kind of huge airports it once spurned. The strategy has worked in Denver and Philadelphia, where Southwest has grown rapidly.
Now it needs the big Eastern cities to buttress its service at Chicago's Midway Airport, Southwest's second-busiest hub, with more than 200 daily flights.

"If we're holding ourselves out to Chicagoans saying, 'We want to be your business airline,' we've got to be able to take them" to New York, Boston and Minneapolis, Kelly said.

New Yorkers will be able to catch five flights daily to Chicago's Midway airport, and three flights to Baltimore/Washington International. Starting in mid-August, the airline will also start flying from Boston's Logan airport.

Though LaGuardia is notoriously congested, it's still nice have another quality discount airline flying out of New York.

Southwest means business as it comes to New York [AP]
(Photo: dooleymtv)

Turns Out Buying Furniture Is Not A Good Way To Get Free Grocery Gift Cards [Promotions]

Carey — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:00:50 EDT

Thousands of St. Louis furniture buyers are clamoring for the free $25 grocery gift cards they were promised in exchange for buying more than $500 worth of furniture and then spending more than $100 per month at a grocery store. The complicated if not weird promotion was managed by BBZ Resource Management, an Arizona-based company that doesn't seem to have any intention of sending out the promised gift cards.

Steve Phillips, an owner of five St. Louis area Ashley stores and another in Columbia, Mo., said his stores have been deluged by complaints from customers who say they are waiting for gift cards to purchase groceries at local supermarkets.

[...]

Ashley has filed a complaint about the firm with law-enforcement authorities in Arizona, Phillips said.

No one at the Arizona company could be reached for comment. The firm's voice mail does not allow callers to leave messages, and the outgoing message says the company communicates only via mail and e-mail. A reporter e-mailed the company, but did not receive a reply.

The Better Business Bureau lists several hundred complaints against BBZ Resource Management, and gives the company an "F" rating.

Ashley furniture plans to honor the promotion, but they're going to partner with a different company, and anyone already waiting for a gift card will be forced to re-register.

Furniture buyers still waiting for free grocery coupons [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
(Photo: boost ventilator)

Four Financial Tools All New Parents Need [Babies]

Carey — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:00:22 EDT

The baby's on the way! You've got a crib, toys, and a rapidly approaching delivery date. So what else you do need? Kiplinger shares the four must-have financial tools that no new parent should go without...

1. A Budget: Yeah yeah, you've already read one of our numerous guides and written a budget, but a baby requires a wholesale re-write. Figure out how you're going to pay for day-to-day necessities like diapers, while starting to save for long-term budget-busters like college.

2. Life and Disability Insurance: If something happens, you're not going to be the only one to suffer. Take out life insurance worth four to eight times your annual salary, and consider disability insurance that can covers your whole salary in case of an accident.

3. Health Insurance: Make sure you have health insurance and don't forget to add your new child to your policy! Check your spouse's policy and see whose will best accommodate your new baby. Without insurance, delivering a baby can cost more than a semester at college.

4. A Will: Even if you have life, disability, and health insurance, you're still going to die. Hopefully it won't happen anytime soon, but if it does, you don't want a court deciding who's going to raise your kid. Hire a lawyer and name a guardian to raise your kids and manage your estate.

Crib? Check. Toys? Check. Don't Forget a Budget, A Will and Insurance. [Kiplinger]
(Photo: darabidduckie)

EECB Convinces Jiffy Lube To Pay For Repairs After Damaging Car [Success Stories]

Carey — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:00:42 EDT

Jiffy Lube agreed to pay Alison over $250 after botching routine work that forced her to interrupt her road trip for emergency car repairs. Alison's mechanic said that Jiffy Lube's attempted transmission fluid flush could have caused "catastrophic car damage" if left unfixed. Jiffy Lube denied all responsibility until Alison fired off an Executive Email Carpet Bomb to C.E.O. Rick Altizer, who agreed not only to reimburse for the repairs, but refunded the original cost of the transmission fluid flush, and tossed in a few coupons for free oil changes.

Alison writes:

I know Jiffy Lube gets a bad rap but I've never had any problems with them and have been taking my car in for regular oil changes there for years. That is until a few weeks ago when my husband took our '94 Corolla in for an oil change at a local Madison, WI Jiffy Lube before a big trip. They suggested flushing the transmission fluid. I don't think we'd ever looked at the transmission fluid and we figured it could use some attention, so my husband agreed. The next day we drove to Chicago to visit my parents before driving on a few days later to Louisville, KY for a wedding. My mom immediately noticed something leaking under car. We were able to get our car in to see a mechanic who told us that the transmission drain pan plug was completely stripped and we were just a bump or two away from losing it, losing our transmission fluid, and having catastrophic car damage. He repaired the damage and we were on our way, although miffed about all the money we just spent. When we finally returned home I drafted a complaint email and submitted it via Jiffy Lube's website. I actually submitted several emails over a period of about a week because we never heard back from them, or so I thought. We did find out later that they were trying to contact us via our landline phone fairly regularly (we don't use it and it's not hooked up to an answering machine). Their phone calls were showing up as Heartland Automotive and after reading about car warranty robo-callers on your site we didn't answer, thinking it was one of them. Doh!
Another couple weeks go by and I start getting ready to craft an EECB. I do some research and find that Jiffy Lube's CEO, Rick Altizer, has done a YouTube video on Jiffy Lube's commitment to service which lists his email address. I also find out that my Jiffy Lube is actually owned by Heartland Automotive Group "America's Largest Jiffy Lube Franchisee." The email addresses for CEO's at Heartland Automotive Services were relative easy to find with a Google search. I sent my email out and that night we get a call (coincidentally or not) from the manager of the Jiffy Lube store (this time we realize who's calling from Heartland Automotive and pick up the phone). He was polite and spoke with my husband about the situation with our car. Not surprisingly they denied all damage and gave an excuse that is too lame to repeat here. After confirming with our mechanic that his excuse made no sense, I re-sent the EECB with a follow-up regarding the phone conversation and expressing my continued disappointment with how the situation was being handled. That was this morning and by this afternoon I had a reply email from the CEO of Heartland Automotive Services assuring me that they were taking this matter seriously and apologizing for what happened. They also will be reimbursing me for the original transmission fluid flush, the repair for our car (that's about $250 total) and throwing in a coupon for a free oil change. I've already had someone contact me about getting the reimbursement rolling. I couldn't be happier with their response to this matter.

Thanks Consumerist for helping empower me as a consumer—EECB's totally work!

Learn how to craft your own Executive Email Carpet Bomb by reading this post.

(Photo: Gregg Sperling)

Verizon C.E.O. Ivan Seidenberg Reveals The Telecom's Future [Interviews]

Carey — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:00:54 EDT

The future of Verizon lies in bundled apps and global domination, according to C.E.O. Ivan Seidenberg. Verizon's head honcho appeared last week on Charlie Rose to chat about a range of things, including FiOs, the decision to build a CDMA network, and the future of your cellphone service. If nothing else, it's nice to put a calm, seemingly rational face to the grotesque anti-consumer corporate monster that we all loathe. Hit the jump for the full interview.

Ivan Seidenberg [Charlie Rose]

Gourmet Settings Dishes Out Excellent Customer Service [Above And Beyond]

Carey — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:00:23 EDT

Jeanpaul wanted to buy several replacement spoons for his Gourmet Settings flatware set, but the company didn't seem to sell the pieces individually. After fruitlessly searching both the company's site and eBay, Jeanpaul wrote in asking if there was any way to replace just his missing spoons. Rather than turn him away spoonless, Gourmet Settings asked for Jeanpaul's address and then offered to send the replacement spoons free of charge.

He writes:

A few years ago I'd purchased stainless steel flatware at a wholesale club, and was impressed by how stylish it was. Since that purchase, I'd lost a few spoons, and after a dinner party, realized I needed to try and buy some of the lost pieces. I found the company's website, Gourmet Settings, and found my pattern, but they didn't seem to have any sections about buying things piecemeal, so I thought I was out of luck. I searched ebay and some specialty services to complete flatware sets, but they all seemed really expensive.

I finally emailed Gourmet Settings through their website to find out if I could buy certain pieces of my pattern, and their CS rep, Jane, was quick to write back that they didn't have my pattern as an open stock item. I expected this. What I didn't expect was that Jane then asked which pieces I needed, and offered to send them to me free of charge. I've attached the emails below.

Today my shipment from Canada came in, free of charge, with all of the pieces I asked for in perfect condition. I now have a complete set of flatware, and am blown away. I know the next time I buy flatware I will definitely be getting it from Gourmet Settings.

Jeanpaul initially wrote:

I have two 45 pc settings of the Frame design, and over time Ive discovered that Ive lost a few pieces, specifically the small spoons and one of the serving spoons. Is it possible to buy individual pieces of the Frame design to complete my set? I dont see a place on the website for that, but Im hoping that your company has something in place for piece meal orders.

The company replied the same day:

Thank you for your inquiry.

We don't stock the Frame pattern as an open stocked item – only as packaged sets.

However – I'm sure I can find some teaspoons / and a serving spoon in our ‘odds & ends' bin.

Please send me your full mailing address – and I'll send you what I can spare – with our compliments.

Best Regards,

Jane - GS -Customer Service

Jeanpaul responded:

Wow, that's amazing. I didn't expect to get a response back today, since it's a holiday. Thank you for your quick response.

I'm just missing 5 small spoons, one serving spoon, and one regular spoon.

Here's my mailing address...

To which the company once again replied:

Good morning – I'll see what I can find and get them in the mail to you this week.
We are actually in Canada – no holiday for us…….. so sad!!!
If you need anything else – just let us know.

Thanks.
Best Regards,

Jane - GS -Customer Service

Great work, Gourmet Settings!