Consumerist
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you're a criminal
Never Follow A Security Guard Into The Back Of The Store
Here's some advice for you, the regular customer who doesn't shoplift: never go into the back of a store with a security guard, store manager, rent-a-cop, etc. Never. Someone posted the following story in the Janesville, Wisconsin CraigsList over the weekend. Because the poster cooperated in good faith with the security personnel at her local Menards home store, she had to pay $150 to avoid having the police called on her. More » -
fee traps
Chase Sets Early Payment Trap, Customer Falls Into It
Daniel's Providian/WaMu credit card was recently absorbed into Chase's swollen belly, and they welcomed him to their family by catching him in a technicality that cost him $39. Here's a good example of why you need to pay attention to statement cycles, even if your bank won't tell you to. More » -
verizon
Verizon, NYPD Don't Care About Fires
Once again, Verizon has been caught leaving its vans parked in front of fire hydrants.
More »
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payola
FTC Says Bloggers Can't Hide Endorsement Deals
For the first time since 1980, the FTC has updated its rules about endorsements and testimonials, and they've added blogging to the books. Now bloggers who don't disclose that they've been somehow compensated—either with cash or with free services or products—can be fined up to $11,000. More » -
fines
Target Must Pay $600,000 To Settle Lead Paint Charges
Looks like the CPSC can afford donuts tomorrow for their office: Target has agreed to pay $600,000 for selling toys with too much lead on them from May 2006 to August 2007, reports Reuters. The fine "resolves allegations" over the issue, so now Target can focus on what it does best, which is act crazy. More » -
spirit in the sky
Spirit Air Hit With $375,000 Fine For Really Screwing Up
Spirit Air, home of fees for everything from buying your ticket online to being a victim of a plane crash (OK, they dropped that one), has been hit with a record $375,000 fine from the Department of Transportation for, among other things, false advertising, adding extra fees to its fares (toldja) and taking as long as 14 months to compensate passengers for lost luggage. Spirit's response? Some perks are bound to fall by the wayside when you're an "Ultra Low Cost Carrier." More » -
fines
Delta Fined $375,000 For Bumping Passengers
The Department of Transportation smacked Delta with a $375,000 fine for ignoring federal laws that require airlines to offer bumped passengers adequate compensation and an explanation of their rights. Inside, a listing of your options if an airline tries to bump you off their flight... More » -
fines
Lead Paint To Cost OKK $655,000
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. More » -
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mattel
Mattel Will Pay $2.3 Million Penalty For All Those Lead Toys
Remember back when lead toys were all the rage? Oh, those dangerous days, when you couldn't lick a Dora the Explorer doll without fear of memory loss! Well, Mattel and the Consumer Prouct Safety Commission (CPSC) have reached an agreement on how much Mattel should pay for importing toys that exceeded U.S. lead safety guidelines, and the amount is $2.3 million. Maybe now the CPSC can use some of that money to grease the DC wheels and get their new chair nominee confirmed.
"Mattel to Pay $2.3 Million Penalty for Toy Hazard" [Bloomberg]
(Photo: IntangibleArts) -
good news bad news
Deli Owner Who Took Pity On Thief Now Faces Fine For Selling Bongs
It's been a busy few weeks for Mohammad Sohail, a Pakistani immigrant who owns and operates a Deli in Long Island, NY. On May 21st a masked man tried to rob him, but Sohail pulled a rifle on the guy. Then he made him promise to never rob anyone again, and handed him $40 and a loaf of bread. More » -
fines
Blockbuster Busted For Overcharging Customers, Must Pay $300k
What do you do when the foundation to your business is crumbling and bankrupcty lurks like the Grim Reaper just outside your drop box? If you're Blockbuster, apparently you charge customers more at the register than what's displayed on the product, at least in California. More » -
cvs
Massachusetts CVS Stores Regularly Overcharge Customers
The Boston Globe reports that, at least in Massachusetts, CVS leads the pack in overcharging violations. Not only do they overcharge more than anyone else, but they beat Walgreens in violations by about 1000 percent:
More »The number of overcharging violations - defined as charging more at the register than the price in an advertisement, on a shelf sign, or on the item itself - soared to 711, from 425.
By comparison, rival Walgreens had 71 violations for overcharging.
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busted
Comcast Fined $900k, DirecTV $2.3 M For Do Not Call Violations
The FTC has announced that Comcast and DIRECTV, will be paying some fines for ignoring Do Not Call regulations. Ouch. More » -
cheapskates
Austin Jiffy Lubes Too Cheap To Dispose Of Oil Properly, Keep Dumping It In City Sewer System
Heartland Automotive Services, Inc., which runs 31 Jiffy Lubes in the Austin area, has to pay a $300,000 fine after admitting to pumping used oil into the city's sewer system instead of recycling it. Normally shops are paid by the gallon for used oil, but in this case a damaged wall let water seep into the oil collection area and create a toxic mess that couldn't be sold—so instead of paying to remove it, they pumped it down the drain. More » -
bad consumer
No, You Should Not Pay Your $206 Speeding Ticket With Urine-Soaked Coins
47-year-old Washington resident Michael Lynch tried and failed to pay a $206 speeding ticket with a plastic bag filled with coins and urine. Surprisingly, his special payment for doing 54 mph in a 35 mph construction zone didn't violate any laws... More » -
follow up
Metrolink Addresses Confusing Wording Regarding Monthly Passes
It looks like someone at Metrolink in Southern California reads The Consumerist, because their communications manager responded today to yesterday's post about some potentially confusing language on their website. He even posted a suggested revision to the language in an attempt to clear it up, and is asking for reader feedback. More » -
Metrolink
SoCal's Metrolink Monthly Pass Doesn't Work The Way You Probably Think
Dillon is in college, and he tried to save money by buying a monthly pass on the Metrolink transit system in Southern California. The problem is that Metrolink does a terrible job of explaining how the monthly pass works, and their own staff gives out incorrect information to customers buying the pass for the first time. Now Dillon faces a $250 citation for fare evasion because it turns out he could only use his pass for the upcoming month. More »
fines
New York, 7:15 AM
Wed Nov 11
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