Jim over at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity closed his Bank of America account after a teller forced him to fill out a deposit slip. Jim doesn’t care for deposit slips, calling them “a wasted branch on a tree we’d otherwise like to keep around,” and likes tellers to double-check his math. Even though Jim yielded and started to fill out a slip, the teller tapped a reserve of rudeness that inspired him to close his account.
Retail Services
Let Best Buy 'Professionally Install' Your XBox Games
By 4.20.08
Tipster Michael writes:
Apparently the local Best Buy has an unbeatable service option for you. Looks like they will come to your house and insert your game to your 360 for you. Wonder how much they would charge to turn it on and put the controller in my hand?
Fie on anyone who says these signs are misplaced. This is a revolutionary new service that will do for game installation what Game Genie did for gameplay. Just you wait and see…
Caliber Collision Center Damages Car Brought In For Repair
By 4.19.08
Sean’s car had a blowout over the Easter weekend, and he had it towed to Caliber Collision Center for repair.
Walmart, Nalgene To Cut Back On Bisphenol A
By 4.18.08
Reacting to the news that Canada may classify Bisphenol A as a heath hazard, and following a new report from the U.S. National Toxicology Program that suggested BPA may “cause behavioral changes in infants and children and trigger the early onset of puberty in females,” Walmart announced yesterday that it would suspend the sales of all baby products that contain the chemical.
Amazon Screws Up Refund, Charges $2,288.44 for $750 Of Gym Equipment
By 4.18.08
Reader Craig ordered some gym equipment from Amazon, but he accidentally used his debit card instead of his credit card. Realizing his mistake, he immediately tried to correct the problem. He went through the change payment process right away and figured all was well. Of course it wasn’t, and he ended up getting charged $2,288.44 for $750 worth of equipment when Amazon got the refund process backwards. Twice. See how it happened after the jump.
Round 26: Gamestop vs Monster Cable
By 4.18.08
This is Round 26 in our Worst Company in America contest, Gamestop vs Monster Cable. Vote which sucks more, inside…
Bank of America To Stop Making Private Student Loans
By 4.18.08
Bank of America, the nation’s largest bank and one of our largest student lenders, today announced that it would stop making private student loans and instead “do more lending under a federally guaranteed program,” says the Wall Street Journal.
Morning Deals
By 4.18.08
Best Buy: Hitachi external 1 terabyte hard drive BB 127.49 YMMVDell: Nokia N800 N-Series Internet Tablet for $199.99 + free shippingLowes: $10 off $25+ when you use a VisaHighlights From DealhackNew York & Company: Spring Clearance: Save up to 70% off Women’s FashionApple: Save $200 to $400 off…
Should The Government Set Up A "Do-Not-Track" List?
By 4.18.08
One of the most popular sentiments expressed by readers on our blog is “be a smart consumer.” Now two privacy advocacy organizations are calling for the creation of a “do-not-track” list that would protect registered users from online data collection. They argue that a list is needed because too many consumers won’t or can’t understand the methods behind online tracking. To illustrate, one of the organizations “pointed to a 2005 University of Pennsylvania survey in which only 25 percent of respondents knew that a Web site having a privacy policy doesn’t guarantee that the site refrains from sharing customers’ information with companies.” But a do-not-track list is overkill, and a fearful reaction against emerging technologies.
BillShrink Finds Your Optimal Cellphone Plan
By 4.18.08
BillShrink is a new site that analyzes your cellphone use and shows you the plan from all the carriers that will save you the most money. You can either manually enter your zip and how much you’re paying monthly, or the more security cavalier can get more detailed results by offering up their cellphone number and carrier site password. I tested it out and while some parts of the website had to be tried a few times to get them to work, overall it was a good ride. They told me I could save $205 a year by switching to Tmobile. I’ll think about it.
By 4.18.08
../../../..//2008/04/18/this-guy-says-he-saves/
This guy says he saves $500 a year on groceries by buying the whole cow from local farms. [Lifehacker]
Round 25: Bank Of America vs Toys R' Us
By 4.17.08
This is Round 25 in our Worst Company in America contest, Bank of America vs Toys R’ Us. Vote which sucks more, inside…
Banks Canceling All App-O-Rama Player's Credit Cards?
By 4.17.08
Are credit card companies cracking down on “app-o-rama” (AOR) gamers, those folks who do a slew of credit card applications at the same time for to get as many bonus offers, credit lines, and 0% balance transfers as they can? After some of these FatWallet forum members did an AOR, all their credit cards were closed with one bank. For one guy, stook2001, this meant five new Citicard credit card accounts as well as three already existing Citicard accounts in good standing. The only reason given for the closing was the number of inquiries on his credit report. AOR thrived when credit card companies were throwing all sorts of enticing promotional offers in a desperate drive to get more customers. Now that credit card defaults are rising and credit card companies are trying to get rid of customers that might end up as liabilities, AOR could be just as on its way out as a no-doc stated income interest-only option-ARM mortgage.
It's Impossible To Cancel Arcot's SecureCode On Your Mastercard
By 4.17.08
Be wary of Arcot, a credit card security company that’s devoid of customer service.
Nels had to sign up for Arcot’s SecureCode to complete an online purchase. Now he wants to cancel it, but can’t find anyone at Arcot who can help him. The web pages he’s sent to are dead ends, and he left messages with Arcot’s executives that were never returned.
Morning Deals
By 4.17.08
Kripsy Kreme: Buy a dozen donuts, get a dozen freeWoot: Refurbished HP Pavilion Elite m9040n Desktop Computer for $649.99Sam’s Club: April 18-20, no 10% surcharge for non-membersHighlights From DealhackBrooks Brothers: Golden Fleece Charity Sale: up to 25% off ClothingMusician’s Friend: Rogue Grand…
Warranties: "It's Been 3 Weeks. I Don't Have Hot Water, And Sears Doesn't Care"
By 4.16.08
Reader Christina has a (broken) water heater from Sears. It’s covered under a warranty, but Sears isn’t willing to replace it. She’s been without hot water for 3 weeks and Sears just doesn’t care.
Sears Offers 10% Bonus To People Who Convert Stimulus Checks Into Gift Cards
By 4.16.08
Sears is pretty desperate for that stimulus check money. They’re offering a 10% bonus to anyone who converts their stimulus check into a Sears Gift Card.
Sprint's "Nucking Futs" "Jessica" Fired
By 4.16.08
benpopken: How did the company track down which “Jessica” it was?
