We readily admit that there are places on the Internet other than Consumerist where one can harness the Internet hive mind to solve consumer issues. Ask Metafilter user Jason sought help when his former insurance company wouldn’t stop auto-billing him, and emerged victorious, collecting the $10,000 he was wrongly charged…plus interest!
Maryland Comptroller Unveils "Real Taxpayers Of Genius"
By February 9, 2009
How Many Jobs Did We Lose In 2008? As Many As If We'd Fired The Entire State of Wisconsin
By January 9, 2009
The numbers are in and we lost 2.6 million jobs in 2008, making it the worst year since 1945. How do you picture 2.6 million jobs? Well, by looking at Wisconsin. Or Missouri. Or Maryland.
Sixth Circuit Overturns Arbitrator Who "Showed A Manifest Disregard Of The Law"
By August 21, 2008
Earlier this week, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned an arbitration decision in a dispute between Coffee Beanery and a franchisee. The court found that the arbitrator, hired by the American Arbitration Association, “showed a manifest disregard of the law” by siding with Coffee Beanery.
Giant Foods Cashier Said I Had To Be 30 To Buy Zyrtec!
By June 17, 2008
Reader Amie had an odd encounter with a Giant Food cashier today. As she was checking out the cashier asked if she was 30 because he wasn’t supposed to sell Zyrtec to anyone under 30.
Castle Toyota Rescinds Scholarships After Students Decide To Mourn Their Dead Teacher Instead Of Staging A Commercial
By June 8, 2008
Poor Howard Castleman. All he wanted was a little PR for his car dealership. Castleman planned to give four scholarships to students at Patterson High School in Baltimore, but instead of honoring Castleman’s charity by inviting the media and displaying his dealership’s banner at the senior’s farewell ceremony, the school instead decided to honor a long-time teacher who recently died of a heart attack…
Man Accused Of Gutting Computers, Returning Them To Best Buy So You Can Buy Them
By May 1, 2008
Have you purchased a computer from Best Buy, only to find that it had no internal parts? No hard drive. No video card. No motherboard? If so, you (allegedly) have Joseph Denice of Silver Spring, MD to thank for your gutted PC. His hobby is buying computers from Best Buy, removing the parts, and then returning the empty shell. Best Buy’s employees would then put the computer husks back on store shelves where they would be repurchased by unwitting consumers such as… you.
The Legend Of The $1.549 Gas
By April 25, 2008
Tony was pumping gas at a Maryland convenience store when he noticed something awesome: the gas, advertised for $3.54, was only $1.54. He then did the right thing and told the store about it. “My friends are ridiculing me for informing the store clerk of the error,” writes Tony, “but the way i figure it – I would be complaining if it had been ringing up at $4.54/gallon instead so how would it be any better if i tried to rip them off?” Good point Tony, and good consumering! Though, it sounds like not everyone was honest as Tony. He adds, “By the way, i noticed the place was unusually busy today. I imagine a few people informed their friends who told their friends…” What would you have done? Select your answer from our morality poll inside…
Circuit City Designates Handicapped Parking Spots "Web Order Pickup" Zone
By March 30, 2008
Comcast Fined $12,000 For Having Crappy Customer Service
By January 30, 2008
Comcast has been fined $12,000 for having crappy customer service by Montgomery County, Maryland..
By January 15, 2008
Banks lost the paperwork and checks of a Maryland taxi driver who never missed a mortgage payment, and now, his his fourth appeal and stands to still lose his house to foreclosure. His lawyers have vowed to file more appeals. [Baltimore Sun]
Power Company Apologizes For Charging Customers For Sending Them CFLs They Didn't Ask For
By January 15, 2008
No doubt “taking” the backlash “seriously,” the Maryland power company that sent customers unsolicited CFL lightbulbs, and then silently charged them $.96/month for it, has apologized. The company will appear before the Maryland Public Service Commission tomorrow for a hearing. “We stand ready to take whatever corrective actions are deemed necessary by the commission,” Allegheny Power President said. Yes, they’re probably going to tell you to refund people’s money, you jackasses.
Maryland Electric Company Sends You Unsolicited Light Bulbs, Charges $12
By January 10, 2008
An electric company in Maryland, Allegheny Power, sent its customers some CFL light bulbs as part of a consumer education program. Sounds nice until you find out that they customers were charged $0.96 a month (about $12 a year) for the two light bulbs.
Royal Farms Gas Pump Charges You Even After The Gas Stops Flowing
By January 5, 2008
Royal Farms refuses to fix a broken gas pump that charges customers even after the gas stops flowing. The pump in Abingdon, Maryland has overcharged Tom on five separate occasions, and Royal Farms refuses to issue a promised refund.
Store Found Not Responsible For Wild Goose Attacking Customer
By December 11, 2007
There are legitimate lawsuits and then there’s this:
Best Buy Says Laptop Batteries Cost $500 To Replace
By October 26, 2007
Sean writes:
I am “The Computer Guy” in my family and my mother needed a laptop for work. My wife and I went to Best Buy in Bel Air, MD with her to pick out one that would fit her budget and allowed her to work from home. I found a Compaq for a little more than $700 on sale without rebates. I signaled for an employee and told her the laptop we wanted. The employee got the laptop and went on about needing the service plan. I let her drone on because I wanted to see if it covered accidental breakage (it doesn’t). During the speech she talked about the battery, how it’s like a cell phone battery, and that they would replace it once a year for the length of the contract. She then mentioned that the battery would cost my Mother $500 if she had to buy it separately…
Verizon Doesn't Care If It Eats Up All Your Vacation Days Waiting For Installations
By September 14, 2007
To whom it may concern:
