Consumerist
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mortage meltdown
Newsflash: The Next Tsunami Of Aggressively Irresponsible Loans Didn't Magically Disappear
We've been talking about the next wave of the mortgage crisis for quite some time now, and it seems that, as predicted, it's cresting and about to hit. We are, of course, speaking of Option-ARM loans — considered the riskiest of all mortgages due to their ability to grow rather than shrink. Yes, there actually exists a mortgage that allows the borrower to pay less than the interest that is accruing on the loan. More » -
ripoffs
Don't Bother Visiting The Grand Canyon Skywalk
Update: We asked the Skywalk to confirm that they have a "no-refunds" policy. Their answer is at the bottom of this post. More » -
advice
Do Not Back Your Car Into A KFC Employee Because She Forgot Your Condiments
Here's some advice for you. If the KFC employee forgets your condiments, do not back your car into her. This is an overreaction on your part. More » -
travel bug
Scorpions On A Plane: Southwest Passenger Bitten By Venomous Beast, Panic Ensues
Doug Herbstommer and his 10-year-old son were preparing to disembark from a Phoenix flight when a three-inch poisonous bark scorpion dropped from the overhead compartment and bit Doug on the hand. On closer inspection, five more scorpions were found nestling nearby. Passengers started to scream and jump up onto their seats. Why, is there something scary about a bunch of poisonous scorpions whose bite can cause extreme pain, frothing at the mouth, and temporary paralysis??!? More » -
funny
Wells Fargo Teller Explains The Ways Of The Desert To Customer
A misinformed bank teller at a Wells Fargo in Arizona was determined to explain how desert life worked to a woman who just wanted to buy some GPB (pounds sterling, aka British money). More » -
stupid
US Airways Employee Helps Roommate Smuggle Gun Aboard To Avoid Checking It
The AP is reporting that the employee charged with smuggling a unloaded handgun and ammunition aboard a US Airways flight was trying to help his roommate avoid checking it. More » -
fireworks
Arizona May Legalize Fireworks, Putting Fools Throughout The State In Grave Danger
Consumer-grade fireworks are currently illegal in Arizona, but the sate government is considering passing a bill that would give the fire marshal the power to regulate the sale of them. This has caused an outcry from anti-fireworks types who say that even the less powerful consumer-grade products are too dangerous. Unfortunately, one of the most publicized opponents is a guy who was severely burned in 2004 because he was launching mortar-style fireworks from his moving car, and one blew back in through the window and set his stash on fire. More » -
unconfirmed
Comcast To Give $5 To Every Accidental Penis Viewer?
How much would someone have to pay you to have your kids watch a penis? Comcast answers that question by giving a $5 one-time discount to every subscriber in Tucson, AZ who had their cerebellum gelatinized by seeing the porno movie that accidentally cut into the Super Bowl last night, according to a rumor a reporter we know overheard in their newsroom. -
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comcast
Porn Interrupts Comcast Super Bowl Broadcast
Comcast customers in Tucson, AZ watching the Super Bowl saw more pigskin than they bargained for when 30 seconds of a porno movie cut in to the final minutes of the big game. "I was watching the game with my family, Larry Fitzgerald scores the go ahead TD - then bam, penis," writes reader David. A Comcastic Fight Club homage, perchance? More » -
hilarious
Walmart Sells You An Empty Box Instead Of A Laptop — But You Bought It With Stolen Credit Cards
You know how sometimes in football both teams will screw up on the same play and the penalties will offset? We've just found the fraud version of that situation. Three men brought a laptop computer box to Walmart and said that they'd been sold an empty box. Walmart thought they were being scammed, so they called the police. That's when all hell broke loose. More » -
toys r us
Toys"R"Us: You Are Too Young For A Grandparent's Discount
Sorry 49-year-olds, you aren't valid grandparents according to Toys"R"Us. The toy retailer and validator of family roles told 49-year-old Linda Peters that she wasn't old enough to use a 20% off coupon for grandkid-spoiling grandparents. More » -
fees
Broken Scales Help Airlines Profit On Fraudulent Baggage Weight Fees
Before leaving home, Shawn's bags weighed 44 pounds. At Chicago, the airport scale said they weighed 44 pounds. When lifting off from Phoenix, the airport's scales said the bag weighed 52 lbs, incurring at $50 fee. When he landed in Chicago, he weighed the bags again at the check-in counter. 47.5 pounds. "Her bag had lost 4.5 pounds on a 3 1/2 hour flight,” Shawn told Elliot.org. After writing a complaint letter, Shawn received a $50 voucher from American Airlines who defended their fraudulent scale by saying they were in "full compliance with the policies for scale calibrations." So apparently the policy allows for defrauding passengers. The voucher is nice, but I would want my actual money back. And what of all the other travelers who didn't pay attention or didn't complain? Pure profit.
American Airlines offers $50 voucher after being accused of scale ’sham’ [Elliot]
(Photo: Getty)
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bad consumer
Attention Counterfeiters: Don't Put Lincoln On The $100 Bill Or You Will Be Arrested, Tasered
37-year-old Mesa, Arizona resident Scott Martin didn't understand why a shop owner wouldn't sell him a watch in exchange for two $100 bills bearing Abraham Lincoln's watermark. The shop owner gently explained that President Lincoln appears on the penny and the $5 bill. This was enough to start a fight that ended with the shop owner tasering Martin.When fire rescue personnel arrived, they cut off Martin's shirt to treat him, and three more counterfeit $100 bills fell out, the document said.
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sad
Walmart Ignores Widow's Letter Asking Why It Took Employees 9 Hours To Find Her Husband's Body In A Bathroom Stall
Karen Turner wants to know why Walmart employees told her that their bathroom stalls were unoccupied, even though they contained the body of Karen's husband, 41-year-old airline mechanic Steven Turner. Karen needlessly spent hours searching for her husband, who went missing after dropping off his car that morning for an oil change. Walmart has yet to respond to a letter Karen sent in September. No condolences, no explanation. Nothing but silence. More » -
subprime meltdown
45 of 50 States See Increase In Foreclosures
The third quarter foreclosure numbers are in and 45 of 50 states saw increases in foreclosure activity, though some, like Ohio, Michigan, California, Arizona, Nevada and Florida, were much worse than others. More » -
tragic
US Airways Passenger Who Died In Airport Holding Cell Was On Her Way To Rehab
This story just keeps getting sadder. Carol Anne Gotbaum, the passenger who got into a screaming match with US Airways gate attendants and later died in a holding cell after being arrested, was on her way to an alcohol treatment center in Tucson to seek help. She was also the stepdaughter-in-law of New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum. More » -
tragic
US Airways Passenger Dies In Holding Cell After Airport Arrest
A US Airways passenger who was late for her flight and denied boarding by the gate crew became agitated and caused enough of a stir that she was arrested, according to USAToday. More » -
When riding a taxi, it's a good idea to see if the meter has a sealed wire hanging from the meter, which shows the meter hasn't been tampered with, especially when riding in the Wild Wild West of taxi cities, Phoenix. [The Arizona Republic]
arizona
New York, 6:30 AM
Mon Nov 9
6 posts in the last 24 hours
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