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“I ran out of the house with my baby in my arms,” said Joshua’s mom, Evelyn Rodriguez, 27, of Woodside. “I had to make it to the hospital.”
NEW YORK
By 9.15.08
Lawsuits: American Airlines Loses Wife's Corpse For 4 Days
By 9.9.08
It’s one thing if American Airlines loses your baggage, but what about your wife’s body? What do you do then? One Brooklyn man was faced with this grim dilemma when he arranged to have his wife’s body flown to their home in Ecuador after she passed away from pelvic cancer. American Airlines lost the body, and it went unrefrigerated for 4 days, according to the New York Post.
AT&T: Being Robbed At Knifepoint Will Not Help You Qualify For The Cheaper iPhone
By 9.2.08
Reader Anthony was robbed at knifepoint by a jerk with a 10″ blade, but his real complaint is that he feels that AT&T is robbing him again. After he filed a police report and told AT&T that his new iPhone had been stolen, they told him that since he already bought an iPhone he no longer qualified for the subsidized price of $199.
Most Verizon FIOS Installations Violate National Electric Standards
By 8.30.08
A two-year investigation has concluded that most Verizon FIOS installations fail to meet national safety standards, and could cause fires or electrocutions. FIOS is famous for house fires, but New York’s Public Service Commission first started its investigation back in 2006 after several inspectors discovered improperly grounded installations.
NY Attorney General: 25% Of Gas Stations "Engage In Deceptive Practices"
By 8.29.08
New York’s Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo, is warning consumers after an undercover investigation found that 25% of gas stations are engaging in “deceptive practices, including wrongfully surcharging credit card customers.” The AG says that under New York state law, retailers are not allowed to impose surcharges for using a credit card.
How Newegg Stopped Collecting New York State Tax
By 8.27.08
Reader Chris Schiffner pinged Newegg to see why and how they stopped collecting New York State tax. They sent him an answer, posted after the jump, but here’s the short story: A new New York law would have required internet retailers using affiliate marketing to collect sales tax, so Newegg “restructured its affiliate marketing program.” The new structure somehow avoids having to collect New York sales tax. Shrug. Whatever, New York geeks, rejoice!
Hooray! Newegg Stops Collecting New York Sales Tax
By 8.22.08
Reader Duke has forwarded us an email he got from Newegg explaining that as of yesterday they are no longer collecting New York state taxes. Hooray! Of course, you still have to pay your sales tax… but now it’s your responsibility.
Megabus Might Honor Your Prepaid Reservation, But Only If You Chase The Bus Halfway Across Philadelphia
By 8.17.08
A Megabus driver claimed that Chris’ prepaid reservation was actually a standby ticket, and refused to let him board unless he met the bus at the next stop halfway across Philadelphia. The driver was apparently worried that the bus would be full after the second stop, but he wouldn’t let Chris ride along to find out.
BCBCS Must Think Your Breasts Are A "Pre-Existing Condition"
By 8.7.08
Marc’s girlfriend found some lumps in her breasts, the mammogram and ultrasound came back ok, but BCBS is denying coverage for the biopsy, saying it’s a “pre-existing condition.” The out-of-pocket cost is over $2,000. We’re confused, BCBS. What pre-existing condition? That she has breasts? That she might not have cancer?
Anti-ESCO Scam Bill Proposed
By 8.4.08
We’ve told you plenty about door-to-door salesmen who trick consumers into switching energy service companies. Now, in direct response to the deceptive marketing tactics of these ESCOS, New York Assemblyman Micahel Gianaris wants to pass an Energy Consumer Bill of Rights.
99-Cent ATMs At NYC McDonald's
By 8.4.08
Tip for the savvy traveler visiting New York: all the McDonald’s in New York have ATMs with only 99-cent fees. However you will probably have to put up with a freelance “doorman” bumming for change on your way out.
Those Damn Europeans Are Taking Over New York
By 8.3.08
Have you seen them? The Europeans? They’re everywhere! In our fancy bistros, on line at the Apple store, spending their fancy-pantzy valuable Euros while we suffer through this intolerable non-recession. The patriots at the New York Times finally sounded the warning call over this European “invasion” that’s transforming New York into the “Walmart of hip.”
Help! Are "Free Light Bulbs" From Con Ed A Scam?
By 7.31.08
Reader Fiona wants to know if the people calling from “Con Ed” offering “free light bulbs” are running a scam.
Macy's Confirms It Never Did Business With Queens Sweatshop
By 7.30.08
Last week, news broke that a sweatshop in Queens, NYC was producing clothing for several large U.S. retailers, while overworking its mainly Chinese immigrant employees and cheating them out of wages. At the time, Macy’s announced it was cooperating with New York’s Department of Labor and investigating the matter internally. Now the company has confirmed that it never did business with the sweatshop—in fact, it investigated it twice in 2007 while evaluating potential suppliers and rejected it for shoddy record keeping. Use your crazy Macy’s coupons all you want, readers.
Modell's Beats Any Price, As Long As It's Not On Sale
By 7.22.08
Modell’s own peculiar definition of “low price guarantee, we will beat any ad” surprised reader Randy when he tried to get them to honor it on a baseball glove he bought, as it would even the most casual student of Logic or Semantics. He writes:
DirecTV Installer Faces Seven Years Behind Bars After Stealing $5,400 From A Customer
By 7.20.08
21-year-old DirecTV installer Arthur Christian faces felony grand larceny charges after allegedly stealing $5,400 from a locked safe while working unsupervised in a customer’s basement.
Scammed By Curb-Side Check In At JFK
By 7.18.08
Reader Andy decided to check his bag curb-side at JFK, that wretched hive of scum and villainy, and the curb-side check-in attendant scammed him out of $15 by promising to sneak his “overweight” bag onto the flight for a “big tip.” Naturally, after the deal was done, Andy realized that his bag probably wasn’t overweight and he’d just been scammed. Now he’s writing in to tell his story so that other consumers can avoid a similar fate.
Häagen-Dazs Drink Special Costs Twice As Much With "No Ice" Thanks To Handwritten Mouseprint
By 7.16.08
Reader Joanne is wondering if the tiny handwritten mouseprint on the Haagen-Dazs drink special sign is purposefully misleading. She saw the special and ordered the drink, but when she asked for “no ice” she was told that it would cost twice as much, and that this information was on the sign. Her boyfriend examined the sign (after she got her ice-packed drink) and sure enough, in tiny handwriting at the bottom of the sign was a note that said the drink cost twice as much with “no ice.”
