Consumerist
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personal information
Your Credit Report Isn't The Only Report You Should Monitor
When an insurer decides whether to offer you a new policy, or whether to raise rates on a current one, he most likely pulls a CLUE report that lists any homeowner or automobile insurance loss claims (or sometimes even just inquiries) that you've made over the past 3-7 years. Hopefully you monitor your consumer credit report for errors, but as you can see, that's not the only one you should keep an eye on. More »
10:53 AM on Wed Nov 11 2009
By Chris Walters
4,862 views, 20 commentsMost discussed shepd: I've ordered my auto insurance report, and it still had accidents past the mandatory date of expiry for my province. more »
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testing the water
Is Bank Of America Of Trying To Skirt The CARD Act With New Annual Fees?
In a series of recent posts, WalletBlog has accused Bank of America of breaking the spirit of its "no new fees" promise and of potentially breaking the law next year, after it announced it will introduce annual fees on some existing credit card accounts in 2010. More » -
psas
Call Consumerist's New Tip Hotline: 347-422-6695
Consumerist has a new hotline you can call to leave tips by voicemail. Just call 347-422-6695 or 347-42C-ON95 and let it fly. It's hooked up to a Google Voice account so we can easily embed and play your voicemail in a post. Of course, if you rather the tip be on background and not used for direct posting, just ask for that in the message. We even already have a message since putting up the number in the sidebar yesterday: More » -
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 » -
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maclaren
1 Million Maclaren Strollers Recalled After 12 Finger Amputations
Following 12 reports of accidental finger amputation, stroller company Maclaren is recalling 1 million strollers. Every single Maclaren stroller sold since 1999 is included in the recall. More » -
health insurance
Health Care Reform Bill Passes House - What's In It?
The House version of the health care reform bill passed the House on Saturday night. Now it needs to be merged with some sort fo Senate version of the bill and signed by the President to become law. So how does this reform bill actually affect consumers? More » -
subscriptions
Seattle Coffee Direct Decides You Need $40 Worth Of Coffee Per Day
If you've been tempted by Facebook ads promising cheap "introductory" offers from Seattle Coffee Direct or World Bean Cafe, located in the world coffee capital of Evanston, Illinois, readers Adam and Ivan say, "don't do it!" The ads promise t-shirts or a free coffee grinder as an incentive to sign up, or tempting introductory offers. But you're really signing up for a coffee delivery service for close to $80 per month. Or more, as reader Ivan learned. He says that the company accidentally billed him for, and sent, two bags of coffee per day. More » -
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walmart is your god now
Walmart Goes Crazy On Couple Suspected Of Shoplifting
Walmart can try to spin itself as being on the side of good all it wants, but if it ever suspects you of shoplifting, you may find that you're powerless to fight back. In the case of a couple accused of shoplifting some Bic lighters in Niles, Michigan this past August, Walmart detained them, the police came and cuffed one of them, their two kids were taken to a security room, and—after a review of security footage proved the couple's innocence—they were banned for life from all Walmarts. To top it off, Walmart's legal team has sent the couple a letter asking to be reimbursed for 10 times the value of the lighters, even though the police determined no shoplifting had taken place. More » -
taking advantage
Bally Reps Drove Developmentally Disabled Man To Gym, Signed Him Up
Family members of a developmentally disabled 49-year-old man told 6 News in Indianapolis that two men from Bally Total Fitness showed up at the man's apartment, drove him to a Bally location at Pike Plaza, and signed him up to a monthly membership. When the man's family asked Bally to invalidate the agreement, the gym refused. More » -
inappropriate
Hospital Sends $29,000 Bill To Parents Of Murdered College Student
Not only did the UC Davis Medical Center send a $29,186.50 bill to the parents of college student who was beaten to death by his roommate, they also sent a letter letting them know that their son was considered indigent and was no longer welcome at the hospital if he needed further treatment. He doesn't, of course, because he is deceased. More » -
recession watch
Unemployment Hits A 26-Year High Of 10.2%
The pace of job losses has slowed significantly, but the economy still divested itself of 190,000 jobs in October, sending the national unemployment rate to 10.2%, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It should be noted that the unemployment rate only tracks people actively seeking work. More » -
eating out
50 More Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do
As promised, here is part II of the NYT "Stuff Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do" series. The list was written by a fellow who is opening a seafood restaurant in Bridgehampton, NY. We've grabbed the most debate-worthy of them for your enjoyment. More » -
minihome solo
Live In The Mobile Home Of The Future
Would you live in a mobile home? No? What if it were solar and wind powered, and tricked out with the latest modern conveniences and looked sharp? More » -
happy endings
Perkins Is Really Genuinely Concerned That Your French Dip Sandwich Sucked
Reader Stephanie's brother recently started a blog dedicated to reviewing French Dip sandwiches. To that end, he ordered, and reviewed, a French Dip at a Perkins in Madison, WI. Unfortunately, his sandwich came on regular bread, instead of typical French Dip bread. More » -
parody
Ford Announces Solution To America's Car Woes: The 1993 Taurus
Here's a video from The Onion that pretty much sums up our nation's automobile situation. The added incentive of a free Primus tape is really what sold me. More » -
t-mobile
T-Mobile Surprise Porn Not An Isolated Incident
After we posted yesterday about a T-Mobile customer being greeted by pictures of topless women when he logged into his account to pay his bill, some of you asked, "What's the problem?" Several readers' stories answer that question. (Censored but not exactly tasteful pictures inside.) UPDATE: T-Mobile response inside. More » -
lawsuits
NY AG: Intel Is An Illegal Monopoly That Uses "Bribery And Coercion"
Andrew Cuomo, the Attorney General of New York, has filed a lawsuit against Intel, claiming that the company is an illegal monopoly that engages "in a worldwide, systematic campaign of illegal conduct - revealed in e-mails - in order to maintain its monopoly power and prices in the market for microprocessors." More »
