Consumerist
how to
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clingy
TiVo Can't Let Reader Go, Keeps Billing Thrice-Canceled Account
Over a year ago, Michael didn't want TiVo service anymore, and he called them to cancel. This would have been a perfectly reasonable request. The problem, he tells Consumerist, is that TiVo refuses to acknowledge his multiple cancellations, and now won't let him call and try canceling again until he pays the balance that has accrued since his credit card expired. More » -
unauthorized charges
I Lost My Job, Then My DirecTV, Then $680
Mary says DirecTV stuck it to her after she missed a payment. Not only did it cancel her service, but she says it charged $680 to her checking account for unreturned equipment — never mind the fact that she still had time left in her seven-day period to return the stuff. More » -
there's no app for that
AT&T Can't Provide Service, Won't Let Customer Cancel
Malcolm moved to a building in an AT&T Wireless dead zone, and hoped to get out of his contract, being that he can't use the service he pays for monthly. More » -
victories
Senate Protects Employee Rights With Forced Arbitration Ban
Yesterday, the Senate adopted an amendment that will prevent federal funding from going to any contractor that requires its employees to use mandatory binding arbitration, instead of court, for sexual assault and civil rights claims against the company. More » -
etfs
Frontier Communications Has To Pay Back Early Termination Fees
If you signed up for Frontier Communications' Price Protection Plan—a combo phone and broadband package—between January 2007 and September 2008, and you canceled the agreement and were charged an early termination fee (ETF), you may be getting some cash back. More » -
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good news
Washington Redskins Relent, No Longer Bankrupting Elderly Season Ticket Holder
Good news! The Washington Redskins are no longer suing a 72-year-old grandmother and real estate agent who was unable to pay for her season tickets after falling on hard times. The team has vacated the $66,364 judgment against her. Yay! More » -
contracts
Don't Have $5,300 For Season Tickets? The Washington Redskins Will Sue You Into Bankruptcy
UPDATE: The Redskins have vacated their judgment.
Good news for fans of the Iggles and Football Giants and um, that other team with the crazy owner, it's apparently "Washington Redskins Are Evil" day on Consumerist. Moving right along, this time we find our villain suing season ticket holders who find themselves too broke to continue buying season tickets. More »
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new and exciting products
Magic Auto Additive Makes Your Service Contract Refund Disappear
Auto service companies in St. Louis have found a way to avoid issuing refunds when customers cancel vehicle-protection contracts: by selling warranted vehicle additives in place of service contracts. More » -
gyms
Gold's Gym Applies Fitness Shrink Ray To Membership Privileges
Most complaints that we receive about gyms involve memberships that refuse to die (even when the customer does), but Laura in Indiana has a different problem. Her local Gold's Gym is changing its services and membership structure with no regard for the facility's current members. More » -
funny
Bas Rutten Does Not Like Cell Phone Contracts
Here's a funny commercial starring Bas Rutten for some prepaid cellphone company. You probably shouldn't try this with your own cellphone company, but that doesn't mean you can't be thinking like Bas while disputing that ETF. More » -
cancel the account
Gold's Gym "Misplaces" Serviceman's Deployment Letter, Keeps Billing For Membership
Gold's Gym in Oxnard, California won't stop billing Molly's brother for membership, even though both he and his mother have repeatedly sent the gym copies of his deployment orders to Afghanistan. Two months later, the gym claims that it has "misplaced" the deployment orders, and is still billing for services Molly's brother can't use. More » -
followups
"60 Days Notice Required Before Dying" Landlord Loses Appeal
The sun has set for Sun Harbour Apartments in their attempt to steal money from a dead man's family. Court documents obtained by Consumerist indicated the landlords recently lost their appeal in a case where they tried to charge the estate of the late Arthur Zissenfor the 3 months left on the man's lease, as well as taking his security deposit. The apartment complex have a 60 days advance notice required before vacating the premises policy and not even a swoosh of The Reaper's scythe could break it, Sun Harbor believed, erroneously. Inside, the local newscast from when the case first went to court. More » -
early termination fees
Landlord Asks Mother To Pay "Early Termination Fee" After Son Fails To Honor Lease By Dying
Debbie Eckert cleaned out her son's apartment after he died in a February fight, but the landlord, CCRT Properties of Brookfield Wisconsin, thinks she should pay several months rent and an early termination fee. The Wisconsin Department of Consumer Protection says that CCRT can pursue the 24-year-old teacher's estate, but that they have no right to heartlessly badger his mother. More » -
iphone
iPhone To Be Sold Contract Free, But Costs A Fortune And Still Ties You To AT&T
AT&T has announced that starting next week, it will sell the iPhone 3G to current AT&T customers sans 2-year contract, possibly in an attempt to move inventory. Unfortunately, the conditions of the sale are such that it's not worth it unless you're determined to own a brand new, out-of-warranty (i.e. jailbroken) iPhone 3G that you intend to use on another network. (Note: our readers point out that even that route is far cheaper if you buy with contract and pay the ETF.) Otherwise, you'll still be locked to AT&T and you'll still have to buy the more expensive smartphone data plan, which doesn't include text messaging. For no-contract bragging rights, you'll have to pay $600 or $700 depending on the model.
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science says
Consumers Don't Read Contracts, Even Ones That Scream "Danger: Do Not Sign!"
Almost nobody reads consumer contracts before signing, according to two separate academic studies. One study from NYU included a sample contract that bound the signer to stay until dismissed, do push-ups on command, and shock other participants, even if they "screamed, cried, and asked for medical assistance." 95.6% considered the contract for an average of two seconds and then gladly signed.
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happy endings
Sprint Helps You Deal With Your Deadbeat Brother
Reader B. probably shouldn't have used her credit to help her less-than-creditworthy brother get a cellphone, but this story has a happy ending thanks to some helpful customer service from Sprint. More »
