false advertising

Alamo, Rudely, Doesn't Honor Costco Discount

Alamo, Rudely, Doesn't Honor Costco Discount

Due to the Costco membership second driver discount, I suggested that my parents use Alamo on their trip to visit me. When my mother told the rep on the phone and again at airport pickup that she was a Costco member for the free additional driver, they told her there was no such thing and they had never heard of it. I have used this discount, and it was the only reason I recommended Alamo. Rather than contacting someone else who might know of the partnership discount or listening to their customer, they were rude to my mother and she left with no second driver rather than pay the additional $9/day they were asking for.

Q-RAY Bracelet Investigated For False Claims

Q-RAY Bracelet Investigated For False Claims

CBC Marketplace investigated the Q-RAY, a bracelet whose “ionization” is supposed to “balance your chi” and provide chronic pain relief. The FTC sued Q-RAY for false advertising claims and ordered the makers to return $87 million to it customers. Now Q-RAY only says it improves “well being” and “performance” in its infomercials, but stores themselves still market it as a pain relief product. And when Marketplace took the bracelet to a lab, they found the darn thing wasn’t even ionized. [More]

Verizon To Pay $1 Million To Customers After Falsely Advertising Data Plans As "Unlimited"

Verizon To Pay $1 Million To Customers After Falsely Advertising Data Plans As "Unlimited"

According to NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Verizon Wireless has agreed to reimburse $1 million to customers for wrongful account termination after falsely advertising their wireless plans as “unlimited,” when in fact the company sets limits and terminates the accounts of heavy users.

FTC Asks For Diet Pill Spammer's Assets Frozen

FTC Asks For Diet Pill Spammer's Assets Frozen

OMG, HGH isn’t raised by “Hoodia” pills promoted by spam? Still, the FTC ordered a restraining order and asset freeze. That’s good. Only thousands of more spam-kings to go, two of which spring up every time you shut one down. [FTC]

Reader Forces Verizon To Sell Her Phone At Advertised Price

Reader Forces Verizon To Sell Her Phone At Advertised Price

Kim just wanted to buy a Samsung i730 smartphone for $199 with $100 rebate, just like Verizon advertised.

Full Copy Of Coke's "Fat-Burning" Enviga Study

Full Copy Of Coke's "Fat-Burning" Enviga Study

We’ve got a a copy of the study Coke based its controversial fat-burning claims for Enviga, the quaintly titled, “Effect of a Thermogenic Beverage on 24-Hour Energy Metabolism in Humans.” The study, published in the February issue of Obesity, says it,

Enviga's Own Study Undermines Calorie Burning Claims

Enviga's Own Study Undermines Calorie Burning Claims

The study on which the Coke’s “negative calorie” drink Enviga are based was finally published this month in the journal Obesity. The publication’s editors were quick to question the strength of Coke’s deductions.

ConEd Takes Lying ESCOs Like IDT Energy Super Seriously

After seeing our post, “What ConEd Thinks Of IDT Energy Slamming Its Customers,” spokesman Alfonso Quiroz called back to say “your statement is incorrect.”

What ConEd Thinks Of IDT Energy Slamming Its Customers

ConEd spokesman Alfonso Quiroz let us know that they, “always encourage customers to shop around.” He pointed to poweryourway.com as a great place to find alternate energy service companies or ESCOs.

Help! Roommate Signed Us Over To IDT Energy

Pete got switched over to IDT Energy by a scammy door-to-door salesman, thanks to his sleepy and ignorant roommate, and now he wants help.

IDT Energy At Your Door? Call 212-416-8000

According to the NY Attorney General’s office, they’ve never heard any complaints about IDT Energy. Bryan writes:

IDT Energy Continues To Con New Yorkers

Door to door marketers working for IDT Energy are still preying upon New Yorkers, pretending to work for ConEd in an effort to get residents to switch over electrical service to the energy reseller.

Coke & Nestle Sued Over Enviga's Bogus Calorie Burning Claims

Coke & Nestle Sued Over Enviga's Bogus Calorie Burning Claims

Eviga, the so-called “calorie burning soda” has landed Coke and Nestle in some hot water, as the The Center for Science In The Public Interest has filed suit against both for false advertising claims — the same we mocked back in October.

Xenadrine, TrimSpa, CortiSlim, One-A-Day Makers to Pay $26 Million

Xenadrine, TrimSpa, CortiSlim, One-A-Day Makers to Pay $26 Million

    Bayer AG and several smaller companies agreed to pay the U.S. government almost $26 million to settle allegations of false weight-loss advertising claims, the Federal Trade Commission said on Thursday.

Home Depot Touts Crappy GE SmartWater Boiler As “High Efficiency”

Home Depot Touts Crappy GE SmartWater Boiler As “High Efficiency”

Home Depot markets the GE SmartWater water heaters as “high efficiency.” But when you read the government energy guide on the side, it turns out the boiler is inefficient for its class.