Consumerist
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countrywide
The Chicago Public School system has given a car to a 12-year-old in recognition of her perfect attendance over a three month period. "By attending school every day within any one of three time periods, a total of 189,115 students were eligible for the Dodge Caliber, which was donated to CPS by Clear Channel and South Chicago Dodge." We suppose giving cars to 12-year-olds is one way to advertise your car dealership. [Chicago Tribune]
perspective
Well, Gas Is Still Cheaper Than The Champagne Of Beers...
With gas prices topping $4.00 a gallon in Chicago, Chicagoist started wondering how much gallons of other liquids cost. Turns out gas is still cheaper than the Champagne of Beers... More »
Attention all you liver lovers, Chicago has reversed its foie gras ban. [Chicago Tribune] (Thanks, William!)
mergers and acquisitions
Thanks, Bank of America: "I Deposited A Check That Dosen't Exist, And I Have A Receipt."
It seems that everything isn't going so swimmingly during the transition from LaSalle Bank to Bank of America. One reader says that a check he deposited and has a receipt for has mysteriously disappeared... More »
complaints
Chase Closes Bank Account, Hold Money Hostage
What makes the next story about reader Pavel trying to get satisfaction from Chase executive customer service so interesting is that Pavel himself is Executive Assistant to the President of his company. He knows how executive customer service is supposed to work. As he puts in, he has the ability to "walk on water" within in his company. Which makes his experience with Chase, where they closed his account for having a zero-balance for less than a week, and then held his money hostage, all the more frustrating... More »
sick
Suburban Chicago Hospital Will Close After Being Crushed By Too Many Uninsured Patients
If you're in the market for an excellent 410 bed hospital, the Chicago suburb of Blue Island has one that it'll let you have for free, says the Chicago Tribune.In a stunning development underscoring the plight of non-profit hospitals struggling with the increase in uninsured patients, the Catholic ownership of St. Francis Hospital & Health Center on Wednesday said it will shutter the hospital because nobody would buy it.More »
lux
Are You Ready For The $35 Movie Ticket?
What recession? A group on investors think Americans are ready to pay $35 for a movie ticket, says Variety: More »
open box
Best Buy Charges $2 Premium For Inferior Open-Box Mouse
complaints
Mugger Used Our Credit Card, Now CapitalOne Sued Us Without Us Knowing For $1200 And Won
Andrew's wife got mugged, the thief rand up purchases on her credit card, and now CapitalOne has sued them for $1200 and won. How can this be? Andrew writes:In May of 2005 my wife was mugged at one of the elevated train stations in Chicago. After calling the police and filing a police report, she started calling each credit card company to cancel each account. Except she forgot about one card, her CapitalOne card. A card hardly ever used and only had a $500.00 limit...More »
settlements
CVS To Pay $36.7 Million For Improperly Switching Medications
CVS has settled a lawsuit that alleges the pharmacy giant improperly switched customers to a more expensive form of their medication in order to collect more money from Medicaid. More »
The top 10 most common complaints received by the Illinois Attorney General's office during 2007 were:1. Identity theft: 6,388 complaintsYikes, that's a lot of ID theft complaints. You should really consider shredding all of your paper garbage before you throw it out and all that other good stuff—whether you live in Illinois or not. [Sun-Times]
2. Credit/financial services: 5,267
3. Promotions and schemes: 3,168
4. Construction and home improvement: 2,714
5. Telecommunications: 2,537
6. New and used auto sales: 1,487
7. Mail order: 1,390
8. Utilities: 908
9. Auto repair: 748
10. Business fraud: 722
As more states ban smoking indoors, the "smoking shelter" business is booming. [Chicago Tribune via Fark]
legal
Should GameStop Charge Sales Tax On XBOX Live Memberships?
Reader Dave asks an interesting question. Should GameStop be charging sales tax on an XBOX live membership card? Generally speaking, only "tangible goods" are subject to sales tax, though every state is different. More »
lead
Toy Maker Reluctantly Agrees To Recall Leadly "Jammin Jenna" Dolls
A toy-maker who refused to issue a recall for its lead-tainted toys has reversed its position. TY made some "Jammin Jenna" dolls with that were found to have more lead than 600 parts per million Illinois state limit. In response to recall requests, TY said it didn't have to because they said federal law supersedes state law. However, the state AG and federal CPSC responded that states are allowed to adopt more restrictive laws in the absence of federal regulation. TY will pull the Jammin Jena dolls and replace their leadly shiny red vinyl shoes with cloth ones.
Ty takes high-lead doll out of stores [Chicago Tribune]
PREVIOUSLY: Toy Makers Refuse To Recall Leaded Toys
insurance
Owner Still Has To Pay For Dead Cat's Banfield Health Plan
Sarah Harper was surprised to learn she would have to keep making payments on her cat's "wellness plan" even after the cat was dead. She was told that she had signed a one-year contract and would have to honor it. Though the service sold by Banfield pet hospitals is packaged like and sounds like insurance, it's not, it's a payment plan. The media kit Banfield sends to reporters explicitly says "wellness plans are not insurance policies." The contract does say that owners will still have to make payments even if the animal has passed away. However, brochures provided to consumers don't say anything like that, instead saying things like it's, ""the best preventive care your pet needs to maximize its life," and that after you enroll, "your pet is on its way to a happier, healthier and longer life!" Catveat emptor.
Up a tree over dead cat's health plan [Chicago Tribune] (Thanks to David!)
complaints
Matt writes:
Best Buy Forbids You From Buying Assassin's Creed, Insists You're Buying It For A Minor
Matt writes:Yesterday I went through the horror of taking my 15 year old brother to the Best Buy in Orland Park, IL on LaGrange Ave. I had close to $100 in Best Buy Gift Certificates given to me for Christmas. My brother and I were en route to dinner and we decided to swing by the aforementioned Best Buy to pick up a video game, Assassin's Creed, and XBOX Live Gold. We entered the store. I browsed the camera aisle looking for a cable to possibly purchase for our flat screen then headed to the video game section. I picked up the said items and headed to check out where hell will shortly ensue.More »
arbitration
