Here’s an idea, don’t use your phone to send 300 texts a day at school. Not only will your parents not get a bill for $4,756.25, you won’t go from As and Bs to Fs and you also won’t get your phone smashed with a hammer.
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![Last Day To Vote For Round 1 Worst Company In America Match-Ups](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/wciasmall_011.jpg?w=168&h=164&crop=1)
Last Day To Vote For Round 1 Worst Company In America Match-Ups
Today is the final day to vote for all your favorites in the Worst Company In America contest, round 1. We will update the bracket with the winners tomorrow and begin round 2.
![CircuitCity.com Threatens To Rise From The Ashes](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/4-8-2009_8-05-08_am.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
CircuitCity.com Threatens To Rise From The Ashes
A mysterious message can be found at the website of recently-defunct retailer Circuit City.
![IGN Says Capcom's "New Content" For Resident Evil 5 Is Already On The Disc](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/040709-004-resident-evil-5-gouging.png?w=158&h=158&crop=1)
IGN Says Capcom's "New Content" For Resident Evil 5 Is Already On The Disc
Update: Several commenters have pointed out that the size of the download seems to indicate that your $5 gets you new code, not just an unlock key. The original post is below.
![Rogue's Gallery Of ATM Skimmers](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/cardskimmer1.jpg?w=300&h=162&crop=1)
Rogue's Gallery Of ATM Skimmers
Since you guys liked yesterday’s post where a reader found an ATM skimming device so much, Network World has got a bit of “Rogue’s Gallery” of the credit card-number stealing machines so you’ll better know what to look for out in the wild. For instance, this photo shows how thieves will mount a camera on the ATM so they can record you typing in your PIN. It’s placed over the statement dispenser using plastic that matches perfectly with the “host” ATM. Sneaky.
![Worst Company In America: Starbucks VS Bank of America](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/wciastarboa.jpg?w=300&h=148&crop=1)
Worst Company In America: Starbucks VS Bank of America
Expensive coffee that “tastes burnt”? Or the owners of Merrill Lynch and Countrywide?
![Virgin Mega-Liquidation: All Sales Final, Even On Defective Merchandise](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/4-7-2009_1-57-28_pm.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Virgin Mega-Liquidation: All Sales Final, Even On Defective Merchandise
Regular readers of the site already know this, but we will tell you again anyway — in a liquidation “all sales are final” means just that. You will not get an exchange if your item is defective. Period. You lose. Good day, sir!
![How To Shut Webloyalty Down For Good](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/jerkwads.jpg?w=158&h=132&crop=1)
How To Shut Webloyalty Down For Good
A retail insider tells us why Webloyalty/Reservation Rewards stays in business, and how you can stop them by cutting off their juice at the source:
![Comcast Slams The NFL For Pulling Their Football Channel](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/4-7-2009_12-12-52_pm.jpg?w=300&h=135&crop=1)
Comcast Slams The NFL For Pulling Their Football Channel
On May 1st, the NFL is pulling its cable channel from Comcast’s cable line-up over a dispute about the cable company’s sports tier. As the deadline looms larger and larger, the company is taking their case to the people. David L. Cohen, an executive vice president of Comcast Corp, wrote the following opinion piece for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
![Salmonella Found In "Critical Areas" Of Pistachio Plant](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/4-7-2009_10-51-41_am.jpg?w=300&h=207&crop=1)
Salmonella Found In "Critical Areas" Of Pistachio Plant
The pistachio recall has been expanded after FDA inspectors found salmonella contamination in “critical areas” of Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Calif.
![Chase and Citi Shut Door On Mortgage Brokers](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/wiseuseofcredit.jpg?w=158&h=125&crop=1)
Chase and Citi Shut Door On Mortgage Brokers
You’re cut off! JPMorgan Chase and Citi announced they’ll no longer accept mortgages submitted by mortgage brokers. The move seems to be a way for the banks to exercise more control over the loans they undertake. At first blush, this sounds like a good thing, for banks to be looking their borrowers in the eye, a throwback to the days when credit was earned instead of splooged out like candy in a parade (days epitomized in this 1950’s short, “The Wise Use of Credit,” posted inside…) On the other hand, it could be more just a way to snag market share and shut out the competition, which can lead to higher interest rates, borrowing costs, fees, and lower service.
![Worst Company In America: AT&T VS Circuit City](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/wciaattcc.jpg?w=300&h=150&crop=1)
Worst Company In America: AT&T VS Circuit City
The death star vs a bankrupt, liquidated retailer in its final year of eligibility? Who makes you angry?
![Worst Company In America: Dell VS Chrysler](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/wciadellchrysler.jpg?w=300&h=150&crop=1)
Worst Company In America: Dell VS Chrysler
Dell hell? Or another car company being propped up by the government? Which is worse?
![Beware The 7 Sins Of The Marketplace](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/7sins.jpg?w=158&h=92&crop=1)
Beware The 7 Sins Of The Marketplace
Here’s seven different sneaky ways companies snag your cash, a little series CBC is calling “The Seven Sins Of The Marketplace.” There’s the sin of Addition, Omission, Creation, Salvation, Assurance, Persuasion, and Deception. What do those mean? Well, for instance, the Sin Of Creation is when a company invents a need you never knew you had, and then sells you a product to fulfill it. For the rest of ’em, check out CBC’s cool video.
![Lucky Charms Is Promising More Than It Can Deliver](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/4-6-2009_1-29-27_pm.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Lucky Charms Is Promising More Than It Can Deliver
Reader Jon thinks General Mills is overly optimistic about the efficacy of Lucky Charms‘ newest feature.
![CVS Gave Me The Wrong Pills! Is This Common?](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/4-6-2009_12-10-54_pm.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
CVS Gave Me The Wrong Pills! Is This Common?
Reader Pattie got the wrong pills from CVS and luckily, she noticed before taking them. She has no idea what they were, but is wondering if this sort of mistake is common.
!["Iceland Is No Longer A Country, It's A Hedge Fund"](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/4-6-2009_11-37-38_am.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
"Iceland Is No Longer A Country, It's A Hedge Fund"
Vanity Fair’s April cover story is on Iceland’s banking massacre — detailing how the the tiny, well-to-do country committed “one of the single greatest acts of madness in financial history.”