Consumerist
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rate decreases
Michigan Utility Company Must Refund $39 Million To Overcharged Customers
In Michigan, utilities can increase rates without first getting approval, but that means the Michigan Public Service Commission can later reduce them. That's what happened on Monday, when the Commission ordered Consumers Energy to refund about $39.6 million to customers it overcharged since last May. More » -
marketing
Certified Pre-Owned Cats: Inspected, Detailed, Better Than New!
The problem: thousands of sweet, cuddly, adoptable adult cats languishing in shelters. People gravitate toward tiny kittens, which are plentiful in the summer months, leaving adult shelter cats without humans to own. A possible clever solution: Clever marketing ploys. Which is the origin of the Michigan Humane Society's Certified Pre-Owned Cats campaign.
With $0 down and 0% financing, you can bring a brand new (to you) cat home today! More »
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gambling
Crafty Michigan Credit Unions Implement A Lottery Worth Playing
Save to Win gives Michigan residents the chance to win the lottery simply by purchasing a certificate of deposit. Here's how it works: residents who contribute at least $25 into a Save to Win CD are automatically entered into monthly drawings for a $400 raffle, and an annual drawing for a $100,000 jackpot. Even if you don't win, you still have an interest bearing CD. More » -
followups
No Charges In Case Of Utility Freezing 93-Year-Old To Death
No charges will be filed in the case of a 93-year old Michigan man who froze to death after the utility company put a malfunctioning electricity limiter on his house. More » -
employment
Where Are New Job Opportunities? Try Wyoming, North Dakota, Virginia
As unemployment grows, MainStreet looked at where in the U.S. there are actually new job opportunities. Ranked #51 is Michigan. #1? North Dakota.
Note that the statistics don't talk about the type of jobs, so don't pack your futon and your BA in comp lit and move to North Dakota.
(Photo: TMQ.st.louis)
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recession watch
America's 10 Fastest Dying Towns
Here's a bleak list from Forbes — America's 10 Fastest-Dying Towns. Many of the towns have something in common — manufacturing jobs moving overseas or to cheaper, more rural, areas. More » -
bad consumer
Seinfeldian: Some Consumers Really Do Drive Their Cans And Bottles To Michigan
Remember that episode of Seinfeld where Kramer and Newman attempted to drive a mail truck full of cans and bottles to Michigan in order to profit from the $0.10 bottle deposit? Well, apparently, people really do this. And it's no fun for Michigan. More » -
There's a pretty nasty e. coli outbreak going on in Michigan and Illinois — apparently "industrial" sized bags of lettuce from a Michigan company called "Aunt Mids" have been contaminated. Among those affected were students at Michigan State and the University of Michigan and some inmates at Lenawee County Jail. [Michigan Department Of Community Health & Progressive Grocer] (Thanks, Alex!)
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mortgage meltdown
Houses For $1: "My 14-Year-Old Son Could Buy a Block of Detroit Property"
Things are looking pretty bleak in parts of Detroit these days. In fact, you can get a house for $1. Yes, that's right. A house. More » -
sex
Spirit Airlines' Customer Service Number Leads To Phone Sex Line
When you fly an ultra low budget airliner, you expect ultra low service, but even under that business model, it seems reasonable to assume that calling customer service won't take you to a phone sex line. Reader Barbara would agree. She writes:
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whoops
How Do The Detroit Lions Feel About Season Ticket Holders? "F—- 'Em"
Kevin Furlong is a season ticket holder with the Detroit Lions. As masochistic as that sounds, it seems that Kevin didn't appreciate an email that the Lions inadvertently sent him concerning a problem with his tickets. The email read: "Lance...he is not talking about you here. Mark was asked to speak to these people and he said no. F... 'em until next year." More » -
scams
Traveling Gas Sellers Rip Off Homeowners In Michigan
Universal Gas & Electric, a Canadian company, sends out door-to-door salesmen who lie to homeowners about the imaginary "savings" they'll enjoy if they switch gas suppliers, when in reality Universal is currently about 50% higher than the default supplier. One former Universal employee says, "I'd have people ask, 'What am I paying now?' and they'd look at the bill and it's right there in front of them and they don't know where to look and I would avoid telling them that." More » -
trans fats
Coffee Shop Accidentally Forwards Embarassing Internal Emails To Customer
Reader X sends us an internal email chain that was accidentally forwarded by some executives at Beaner's Coffee.
The customer was writing in to inquire as to when trans fats would be eliminated from Beaner's products. In addition to a cheerful reply, said customer was also treated to the internal email chain instructing the Vice President of Operations on how to "sidestep the question." More »
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bad consumer
When Shoplifting $300 Worth Of Hunting Knives, Try Not To Impale Yourself On Them
A Michigan man was caught shoplifting $300 worth of hunting knives from Meijer after he scuffled with security guards and fell forward, impaling himself. He'd hidden the knives in the waistband of his pants. More » -
trademarks
Starbucks To Sue Small Michigan Coffee Shop For Trademark Infringement
Better not use a green circle for your coffee shop logo because Starbucks has lawyers and they'll sue ya. Conga Coffee & Tea, a small two-store operation in Michigan, is being threatened with a lawsuit because their logo bears "striking resemblance" to Starbucks' famous mermaid logo. At least that's what Starbucks says. 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 » -
mergers and acquisitions
Bank of America To Layoff 4,000 In LaSalle Bank Merger
LaSalle Bank customers won't just see a name change at their local bank branches, Bank of America has announced plans to layoff 2,500 workers in Illinois and 1,500 in Michigan as part of the merger, according to Portfolio. More » -
fair wages
Starbucks Busted For Union Busting
Another week, another round of Bad Employer news about Wal—oh wait, we mean Starbucks this time, which actually has a lower rate of insured employees than the discount chain (42% versus 47%). Last Thursday, the National Labor Relations Board accused Starbucks of "unlawful anti-union activity" at a store in Michigan, similar to the charges it's currently on trial for in New York. More »
michigan
New York, 9:09 AM
Tue Nov 10
22 posts in the last 24 hours
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