• Quote of the week: “Dismissing this case at the outset would sacrifice liberty for no apparent enhancement of security.” [HoustonChronicle] “Judge Refuses to Dismiss EFF’s Spying Lawsuit Against US Government”
verizon
Spanish Tele-Scammer’s Pinata Busted by Verizon
By 7.20.06
Back in April, we were obsessed by a Miami telemarketing company scamming people, in Spanish, on their cellphones, using a robotic autodialer. After pounding the e-pavement, our efforts to angle in on the bastiches fizzled, since we were neither a telephone company processing the calls, nor an aggrieved recipient, we couldn’t do much about it, except advise people to report it to the police. Just last week we received a few complaints.
The News; Enron Curses All Who Penetrate Its Tomb
By 7.13.06
• Personally, we’re a slut for love. [NYT] “The Taming of the Slur”
Can You Hear Me Whisper Now?
By 7.5.06
n marquee boldface, a revised Verizon customer agreement arrived in customer’s email boxes last night, screamed that contract language was changed as part of settling a class-action lawsuit and that, “UNLESS YOU TELL US THAT YOU PREFER YOUR EXISTING CONTRACT LANGUAGE, HOWEVER, THIS NEW CUSTOMER AGREEMENT WILL REPLACE YOUR EXISTING CONTRACT LANGUAGE.”
Time To Look Up Attorneys In Verizon SuperPages
By 6.30.06
It’s nice to tell Verizon they can’t have any more of your money. Less nice? When they decide to just take it anyway.
Verizon To Loosen Grip on Fees, Balls
By 6.29.06
Saying goodbye need only be as proportionally painful as the depth of the relationship, Verizon Wireless announced Wednesday. Starting this fall, the termination fee charged on its two-year contracts will be pro-rated. This is a further goodwill gesture in addition to Verizon’s lower cancellation fee, $175 versus a standard $200 or even $250.
The News; Home-Wreckers
By 6.20.06
• Bernanke should commission Bob the Builder to sing them a cheer-up song. “Builders’ confidence lowest in 11 years” [CT]
Best Posts Ever, This Week
By 6.16.06
• How To Get Your Phone Fixed: Make It A Pay Phone. Sweet phreak, just don’t get carried away and start blowing kazoo sounds in like Captain Crunch, that shit doesn’t work anymore.
Be a Customer Service Ninja
By 6.1.06
Inspired to by Mike D’s Vonage story, Austin writes in a hot tip for all of looking to pole vault low-level CSR and reach the Valhalla of customer service.
Vonage Bleeds, Consumerist Feeds
By 6.1.06
The buzz this morning is that Vonage could be a sweet “acquisition target” i.e. dismembered whale lumbering through shark waters i.e. their recent stock drop could have takeover kids licking their mandibles. Maybe their new daddy is someone willing to give their call centers a hot beef injection? (We mean that in the best way possible…)
Are Identity Thieves Targeting Idiot Employees?
By 5.23.06
Consumer Affairs raises an interesting question in its summary of the theft of 26 million social security numbers on a burgled laptop: are these targeted thefts?
UPDATE: Win $1000
By 5.22.06
We want you to have $1000 and will give you a prize for just trying to collect it.
