This year the IRS is letting each and every one of us file our taxes electronically free of charge. Didn’t the IRS already let all of us eFile our taxes for free, you ask? No. The IRS has a program called Free File, which provides free commercial tax help to anyone making less than $56,000 per year. This program, enticingly known as Free File Fillable Tax Forms, is different…
Government Policy
Iowa Woman Arrested For Failing To Return Library Book
By 1.24.09
Thirty-nine-year-old Shelly Koontz was arrested for failing to return a copy of the The Freedom Writer’s Diary that she borrowed last April from the Jessup library. The library had tried to reach Koontz through four calls and four letters, one certified, which she refused to accept. Fed up, library officials asked to press charges, leading officers to visit Koontz’s home with three simple options: return the book; pay the library $13.95 so they could buy a new copy; or, go to jail.
Hey, First Generation iPod Nano Owners, Come And Get Your $25
By 1.24.09
Apple has agreed to pay $22.5 million to settle a class action suit brought by owners of the notoriously scratchy first-generation iPod Nanos. Under the agreement, owners of the scratch magnets will be entitled to either a $25 or $15 cash refund, depending on whether or not their Nano included a carrying case.
By 1.23.09
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Remember that Walmart in Wisconsin that made almost 50 people ill? They are still sick, and the FBI doesn’t know why. [JSOnline] (Thanks, Nick !)
Sorry About That Data Breach, Here's 15% Off!
By 1.22.09
As an apology to the millions of consumers who had their credit card info stolen, TJX (that’s T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, and A.J. Wright) is offering fifteen percent off all purchases in stores today only. We suggest that you pay with cash.
By 1.22.09
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Vonage has settled a class action lawsuit over its flaky fax service, but participants can only expect to see between $4-19 repayment. You have until March 2, 2009 to file a claim or an objection. [Bustos Fax Settlement] (Thanks to Klay!)
Claim Your Share ($78) Of The Bank Of America Overdraft Settlement
By 1.22.09
Bank of America has settled a class action lawsuit over its dirty overdraft tricks—things like approving transactions that generate overdraft fees, for example, or clearing transactions in high-to-low order to increase the number of overdrafts. If you’re a former customer of BoA, Fleet, LaSalle Bank or United Trust Company, you can claim your part of the settlement fund.
FCC Investigating Whether Comcast Is Messing With Rival Phone Services
By 1.21.09
A few hours before Republican FCC chairman Kevin “Kevvy” Martin officially lost his job — he launched an investigation into whether Comcast is deliberately degrading rival phone services.
Desperate Debtor Cuts Off Finger In Court
By 1.21.09
A Lisbon man cut off his finger in the middle of court after a judge refused his offer to settle his 170,000 euro ($219,436) debt. “My intention was to tear up all the case papers and splatter them with blood so I could prevent the expropriation order for my land,” said Orico Silva…
Old Man Sues Ripoff Dealership, Wins $41,679+
By 1.20.09
Justice has finally been served to the senior citizen who was not only ripped off on his trade-in vehicle (which is, frankly, to be expected), the dealership also got him to hand over his ATM card and just straight up stole $2000 from his bank account.
By 1.19.09
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Please do not eat the lobster, then glue the shell back together and return it for a refund. [Times Union Albany] [Thanks to Laurie & Brian!]
Hundreds Confused As Hawaii Transitions To Digital
By 1.18.09
Hawaii last week became the first state to transition to digital television, leading hundreds of confused locals to call into the FCC’s help center. Though the transition appears to have been a technical success, the new digital signals mays never reach some of the 20,000 Hawaiians who rely on analog service.
Mark Your Calendars: Massive Cosmetics Giveaway Set For Inauguration Day
By 1.17.09
Americans face a tough choice Tuesday morning: watch Barack Obama’s historic inauguration, or storm department stores to take advantage of a first-come, first-serve cosmetics giveaway worth $175 million.
Everyone Wave Goodbye To Outgoing FCC Chief Kevin Martin
By 1.17.09
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is calling it quits as of inauguration day. The Chairman, who could have served for three more years, is heading to the Aspen Institute, a preserve for endangered spectacles masquerading as a “nonprofit leadership group.” Martin’s tenure was a mixed bag for consumers…
Don't Worry, Reselling Children's Clothing Isn't About To Become Illegal. Probably.
By 1.17.09
Reselling your kid’s used clothing could soon violate federal law. Come February 10, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act will prevent retailers from selling children’s products that haven’t been certified as lead free. Old hand-me-downs, of course, haven’t been certified for anything more than running around the yard. Parents are worried, petitions are being drawn up, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission isn’t doing much to clarify the law.
Court Strikes Arbitration Clause In Case Against Nursing Home That Let Resident Freeze To Death
By 1.16.09
A Michigan court has struck an arbitration clause in a wrongful death case against a nursing home that allegedly allowed one of its senile residents to wander outside and freeze to death.
Tribute Band Scammed By Fake Check
By 1.16.09
Joe’s tribute band was booked by a man named Rodrigues Collin for a gig in San Francisco, but it turned out to be an advance fee fraud. Joe says he discovered that Collin made contact with dozens of tribute bands at the same time, so he’s contacting them himself to warn them. Here’s how it happened to him.
See The Madoff Scandal From A Victim's Perspective
By 1.16.09
Alexandra Penney had been building up her retirement savings for over 30 years, and a decade ago she put her money in the trust of Bernard Madoff’s firm to grow it. You know how that story ends, but in her ongoing series “The Bag Lady Papers,” Penney writes about the emotional toll of seeing your life’s savings evaporate in what seems like seconds, and how she’s been coping since.
