It’s not uncommon for someone to steal your credit card and ring up some huge charges on the account. This is why there are such strict limits on liabilities for fraudulent transactions. The protections are not as stiff for debit cards, but they do exist. Regardless, a thief shouldn’t be able to walk into a bank and walk out with $6,500 of a customer’s cash after the debit card associated with that account has been reported stolen. [More]
Retail Services
Public Shaming Does The Job: Bank Of America Gives Army Vet His $25K Back
By 4.6.12
It’s not that we love the act of shaming a big, greedy bank into doing the right thing — wait. Scratch that. We totally love it, which is why we’re happy that Bank of America finally refunded over $25,000 in fraudulent debit charges to a U.S. Army reservist. All it took was years of fighting, a little public flogging and collective indignation. [More]
Discover Accidentally Steals From Foundation To Pay My Credit Card
By 4.6.12
Phil (no, not the one who works here) had to make a payment to an art foundation, and learned that he could use his Discover card to do so. Neat! So he put the payment through, and all was well…until he learned that somehow the transaction went through backwards, transferring the money from the foundation’s bank account to pay his Discover bill. Oops. This seems like it would be easy enough to reverse, but Discover won’t do anything unless the foundation calls them up and nicely asks for their money back. [More]
Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Get A Dog
By 4.6.12
If you’re thinking about bringing a dog into your life, you’ve got some homework to do to make sure you set yourself up for success. Before you choose your new best friend, it’s a good idea to take an inventory of your lifestyle to determine the traits you’re looking for. [More]
Federal Judge Signs Off On $25 Billion Mortgage Settlement With Top 5 Banks
By 4.6.12
It’s just like reality TV, but not at all — America, here are your top five big greedy banks, and here is the $25 billion mortgage settlement they’re all going home with, now that a federal judge has approved it. That’s their load to carry, after allegations of foreclosure abuses and misconduct in servicing home loans. [More]
Lots Of People Want Encyclopedias Now That They're Dead
By 4.6.12
Encyclopedia Britannica’s announcement that this year’s run of books will be its last has jolted demand back to life, helping the company sell all but 800 of its 4,000-set run. [More]
DOJ Reportedly Close To Deal That Would Lower E-Book Prices
By 4.5.12
Ever since Apple got into the e-book business, publishers have been determining their own prices for titles, meaning that e-books, in spite of having minimal overhead costs, are often sold for higher prices than their print counterparts. But it looks like the Justice Dept. antitrust investigation into this so-called “agency pricing” model is nearing an end — and may result in more affordable e-books for everyone. [More]
Should I Be Warned About A Deaf Cashier?
By 4.5.12
During Jon’s last trip to Target, he noticed something unusual: a sign in his checkout lane advising customers, “Cashier Is Hearing Impaired.” He found the sign unnecessary and potentially embarrassing for the employee. What do you think? [More]
The Voters Have Spoken: EA Is Your Worst Company In America For 2012!
By 4.4.12
Whether it’s on a console, a PC, a smartphone or tablet, hundreds of millions of people play video games every day. Yet most mainstream media covers the industry the same way it treats adult dodge ball leagues and cat fashion shows (both noble ventures, but neither of them multi-billion dollar industries). And the only time you hear legislators discuss video games is when some politician decries them as the death knell for all things righteous in the world (hint: they’re not). Now, after years of being ignored and relegated to steerage, game-players have voted to send a message to Electronic Arts and the gaming business as a whole: Stop treating your loyal customers like crap. [More]
There's Still Time To Vote On Worst Company In America Final Death Match
By 4.3.12
A record number of voters have turned out to choose between Bank of America and Electronic Arts for the winner in the Worst Company In America 2012 tournament, but there’s still time to have your say in which business walks away with the Golden Poo. [More]
AT&T Caps Off Crappy Year With Third-Place Worst Company In America Finish
By 4.3.12
This sort of epitomizes the last 12 months for AT&T. First it attempted to leap-frog to the head of the wireless pack by swallowing T-Mobile whole, only to fail miserably after many months and at a cost of several billion dollars. Then it came tantalizingly close to vying for the coveted Worst Company In America Golden Poo trophy, only to be given the smack-down by a video game company. At least it won’t be leaving the tournament empty-handed. [More]
Expenses That Mortgage Calculators Don't Tell You About
By 4.3.12
When you’re shopping for houses, you can get giddy when you plug your numbers into a mortgage calculator and discover your dream home has a surprisingly low monthly payment. It’s lying to you. Mortgage payments are only part of the myriad costs home ownership heaps upon you. [More]
10 Ways Blu-ray Is Letting Movie Lovers Down
By 4.3.12
Studios have had nearly six years to perfect the manufacturing, packaging and selling of Blu-rays, yet they’re still having trouble getting it right. The dwindling amount of movie lovers out there who still buy their movies in physical form — rather than rent or stream them — put up with quite a few customer-unfriendly practices. [More]
Soldier Says Bank Of America Won't Help Him Get His Stolen $25K Back
By 4.2.12
While we’ve heard enough bad things about Worst Company In America finalist Bank of America to fill some kind of super ginormous complaint bucket, it’s never surprising to hear that they continue to not learn from their mistakes and treat customers like poo. A U.S. Army Reservist who was stationed in Afghanistan says BofA is shirking any responsibility for $25,000 stolen from him while he was on “R & R” in Greece. [More]
Target Using Its Signature Funny Math To Trumpet Questionable "Value"
By 4.2.12
We’ve seen a lot of odd examples of “great deals,” “saving” and “new low prices,” but when it comes down to it, Target really takes the cake with what they call math. Hey, at least they’re consistent, right? In this latest example, Target says a four-pack of Lean Cuisine pizzas is a “great value,” when really, it’s cheaper to buy four individual pizzas. [More]
Worst Company In America Final Death Match: Bank Of America Vs. EA
By 4.2.12
Here they stand, surrounded by the carved-up carcasses of their fallen competitors. “Make us proud… Win the poo,” the ghosts of the vanquished call out from another realm, demanding that these two remaining contenders for Worst Company In America prove that all this bloodshed was not in vain. [More]
Worst Company In America Consolation Round: AT&T Vs. Walmart
By 4.2.12
As we announced on Friday, for the first time in Worst Company history, readers will have the chance to vote on a third-place finisher from between the two companies eliminated in the Semifinal round. This means that either Walmart or AT&T will end up being honored with the coveted Bronze Poo trophy. [More]
Third-Place Worst Company In America Winner To Be Honored With New Bronze Poo!
By 3.30.12
Last year, when Bank of America lost by the narrowest of margins to BP in the Final Death Match of the 2011 Worst Company In America tournament, we listened to readers who called for the creation of the first-ever Silver Poo trophy. That honor will remain in place for the 2012 tourney, and will be joined by a Bronze Poo for the company coming in third — or rather, “turd” — place. [More]
