Maryland Dish Network subscribers will share $325,000 in restitution under a settlement concerning the satellite television company’s marketing and billing practices.

Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler through his Consumer Protection division joined 45 other states and Washington in suing the company for not adequately disclosing all the terms of its contract, making telemarketing calls to consumers who requested not to get them, failing to disclose the availability of rebates, credits and free offers and not telling consumers they were purchasing used equipment.

The company also made inaccurate comparisons to competitors’ prices and charged consumer credit cards and debited bank accounts without proper permission. Under the settlement, Dish Network has agreed to change its marketing and billing practices and make sure consumers clearly understand what they are buying.

It also must change its practice of debiting consumer bank accounts and make sure third parties it hires to market its products follow terms of the settlement. Dish Network also agreed to pay $5.991 million in total restitution to consumers across the country, including the $325,000 to Maryland.

Continue reading "Dish Network settles over billing and marketing practices, to pay restitution" »

Posted by Andrea Walker at 3:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints, Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

UPDATED: KFC said rainchecks for free grilled chicken will be mailed by June 19.

As a number of readers have noted, if you were able to print your free grilled chicken coupons from the Oprah Winfrey Show promotion, KFC will issue you a raincheck instead of giving you free chicken right away, according to a statement on the KFC Web site.

"We expected an enormous response, but we never expected anything like this," said CEO Roger Eaton.

Be sure to bring it to stores before May 19. The coupon can be redeemed at a later date, and it will also be valid for a free Pepsi drink.

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Complaints
        

Anybody who's lived in Baltimore awhile has probably gotten a parking ticket and maybe even been impressed with how efficient the city's parking enforcement agents can be (they even ticket in residential neighborhoods on weekends.)

But there's also another wrinkle: If you don't pay your ticket, the city imposes a $16 monthly late penalty -- in perpetuity -- until you pay up. City officials say they send you three late notices to the last address on file connected to your tag registration.

Now, they're referring delinquent accounts to a collections agency, which shipped off notices in late February to more than 80,000 people who owe. Now comes the sticker shock: the average amount owed is $721. That's a huge percentage increase from the original fine, which is around $23.

Understandably, people are ticked. I wrote about the issue in today's paper, and the full story's on our site. There are many angry folks who wonder why they have to pay such high fines in connection with a little ol' parking ticket. One fellow, Jason Howard of Baltimore, starting a Facebook group called The Baltimore Scofflaws.

Continue reading "Excessive parking fines and late fees in Baltimore?" »

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (30)
Categories: Complaints
        

Auto warranty calls continue to be one of the topics that regularly draw people to Consuming Interests --- calls about warranties for cars you don't own or for which you do not need a warranty. Tons of readers have shared their complaints about auto warranty calls, which seem impossible to shake.

As Dan Thanh Dang discovered last year, if they're calling a number registered with the Do Not Call database, you can take the identity of the caller and the number and file a complaint with the consumer protection division of the state attorney general's office.

And the Federal Trade Commission ruled last year that by December these callers had to give you an option to get off their calling list. 

For those of you experiencing this torture on your cell phone, a Consumerist reader offered this idea to get some relief:

Continue reading "Auto warranty calls to your cell phone? Try this. " »

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cars, Complaints
        

Boy, my inbox --- and Watchdog's --- has been flooded with comments from people all over the Baltimore area with complaints about Comcast cable wires installed through their lawns, driveways and even across roadways.

It even made it to Consumerist, where commenters reminded me that there remains yet another forum for customers and non-customers affected by the practices of Comcast and other cable services to voice their opinion.

Each county and Baltimore city maintains franchise contract with the cable providers that deliver services within their boundaries and so have some limited oversight over them. If you've tried calling Comcast and have not gotten through, perhaps it's time to file a complaint with the franchisee.

Here's the contact information for Baltimore city and the five surrounding counties:

Continue reading "Complaints about your cable service? Tell your local government, too." »

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints, Watchdog
        

Well kids, here goes my last Consumer Sundays post. I just handed in my paperwork at HR, got my boxes packed and am wrapping things up now on this here blog.

Tune in Sunday to find out why Eileen says, in her personal finance column, it's OK to embrace your inner tightwad in these hard economic times.

Liz's Watchdog column tackles a bus that doesn't stop at an unmarked bus stop in Canton.

And me? Well, just for giggles, I looked up the oldest article written by me that I could find in the Sun's archives. Here it is, a story that ran on 3B of the old Maryland section, when I was an intern in 1991:

Catrice Green, a student at Rosemont Elementary School, thought it was just great being a part of a stripe in the American flag."I feel like I am a star," said Shanee Monroe, a senior at City College and president of the student council who was one of the flag's stars. "To be any part of this celebration for the flag is a lifelong experience."

 

    An estimated 3,400 elementary and high school students agreed yesterday that being a part of a human flag was exciting, fun and quite a privilege.

 

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Thanks and Goodbye" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Odds & Ends, Personal finance, Watchdog
        

If you're already cheesed off about all the extra charges you encounter when flying these days, how ticked off would you be if you found out you got charged extra for checking an "overweight" bag because the airline's scale was inaccurate? The Today Show had an interesting segment yesterday about all the inaccurate airline scales they spotted at four different airports.

So many people are in a rush when they're at the airport so how many would actually notice that a scale is off? Most people just lug their bags in, plop it on the scale, show their ID and rush off to wait in the security line. Would you notice if the scale didn't start at zero? I can't say for sure that I would.

Continue reading "Paying for an overweight bag? Is that Airline Scale Accurate? " »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Airlines, Complaints, Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

After all we've told you about Blue Hippo, the Woodlawn-based company that sells computers and other electronics to people with poor or no credit, you'd be surprised to hear people were still having problems with them, right? 

After all, the Maryland Attorney General's office had Blue Hippo pay restitution to wronged customers last year for violations of the Consumer Protection Act, including charging inflated prices and not delivering products.

They also settled with the Federal Trade Commission in February, agreeing to pay $3.5 million to possibly $5 million to consumers for possible violations of the Mail Order Rule, Truth in Lending Act and the Electronic Fund Transfer Act.

Blue Hippo didn't admit any wrongdoing in either case. 

But despite this and other legal actions against Blue Hippo, The Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland warns consumers ...

Continue reading "Naughty Businesses: Blue Hippo still drawing complaints" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Complaints, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Good morning everyone. How was your weekend?

I spent most of it watching football. My team won so it was a good day. Plus, I got to see that great game between the Steelers and the Chargers. How crazy was the last play with the lateral throws that ended up in a interception and touchdown that wasn't? Final score: Steelers 11, Chargers 10.

I can't remember who told me this, but it's supposed to be the first time there has ever been a final score of 10-11 in NFL history. Whether that's true or not, it was still a cool game.

Speaking of football, I sure hope you spent some time with the paper on Sunday catching up on consumer news. What did you think of Patricia Wynn's plight after she won 102.7 Jack FM's Ultimate SuperBowl Contest? Would you have been as patient? Did you wonder what either of these companies were thinking?

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Jack FM, dormant trees and open mutual funds" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Investments, Watchdog
        

Is it live or is it Memorex? Do you remember those commercials? Are they still on anymore? And if they're not, is that a sign of my age?

Anyhoo, that catchphrase popped into my head when Liz told me she's writing about lots and lots of dead-looking, unplanted trees in Druid Hill Park for Watchdog this weekend. Find out for sure if they're alive or if they're dead on Sunday, and why they're lying all over the park.

I'm going to tell you the sorry tale of Patricia Wynn and the oh-so-fabulous Ultimate SuperBowl Contest prize she won from 102.7 Jack FM earlier this year.

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Dying trees, Winning for Losing and Mutual Funds" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 1:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Investments, Watchdog
        

We are all over that. We rant and rave and wag our fingers about what should and should not have taken place. We shake our heads and mutter about the lack of good customer service or good service, period.

But what happens when companies do right? Why is it that we so seldom hear about good customer service? Why is it that it's so much easier to complain about a business than share a good story about one? Think I'm exaggerating?

Check out the Naughty Businesses category to the right of this blog. Then the Complaints category. There are so many posts, I don't have the energy to count them all. Then check out the Above and Beyond category. There are just four posts.

So, if you guys don't mind humoring me today, perhaps you can share a good story, a good encounter, a good experience you had with a business.

Continue reading "When Companies Do Wrong" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Above and Beyond, Complaints
        

Everyone should keep your scam detectors on high alert these days, especially in tough economic times. Why? Because there's always someone out there trying to take advantage of you, even when you're looking for a job.

Last week, the Federal Trade Commission charged a nationwide marketing operation with violating federal law by deceiving consumers into buying materials they thought would help them land federal postal jobs.

A federal judge issued a preliminary order prohibiting U.S. Work Alliance, Inc., d/b/a Exam Services, Tyler Franklin Long, and Brenda Long, all based in Norcross, Georgia, from misrepresenting that they are affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Postal Service.

According to the FTC’s complaint, the defendants falsely advertised that postal jobs paying an average of $20 per hour or $57,000 per year are available. Consumers were told to call a toll-free number in response to the defendants’ ads, answer some questions to “qualify for a position,” and then informed that jobs are open in their geographic area.

Continue reading "FTC Charges Marketers with Running a Postal Job Scheme" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

A jolly good morning to everyone out there!

We know the Obamas are set to visit the White House today. Think they'll talk about taxes at all? Eileen gave us a primer yesterday on what we can expect for our taxes and investments under an Obama administration.

How many people plan on selling investments to avoid higher taxes later? Do you think he'll be forced to raise taxes during the recession?

I'm still wondering what Acer was thinking when it figured putting a customer through eight repairs on a high-end laptop was OK? And then replacing the bad laptop with a just-as-bad refurb... only to completely blow Aaron Shepard off when all he asked for was a refund of the money he spent shipping his laptop back multiple times for repair.

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Bad laptops, Barriers and Barack Obama's tax plans" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Computers, Economy, Investments, Taxes, Watchdog
        

HMIF! Holy Moly It's Friday! Whew. Finally. Happy Friday people!

Now that the elections are over, the whole country is waiting to see what happens next. I keep telling Eileen to use her Magic 8 Ball to guide us, but she says it keeps saying, "Ask Again Later."

So for her Sunday personal finance column, Eileen's just going to rely on experts to tell you what investors can expect under a Barack Obama presidency.

Remember that dude who drove his SUV into the Inner Harbor last week?

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Barriers, Computer Lemon Laws and Investing under Barack" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Computers, Investments, Watchdog
        

You didn't think I'd forget to tell you about a naughty business this week, did you, what with all this election stuff going on? Puhleeze.

A U.S. district court judge has frozen the assets of a Canadian business and ordered a halt to its allegedly billing businesses in the U.S. and Puerto Rico for directory listings they did not order until the matter is resolved in court.

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking to permanently prohibit the defendants from future violations and make them give up their ill-gotten gains.

According to the FTC's complaint filing, the operation deceptively sold Internet business directory listings and Web page hosting services by phone to Spanish-speaking businesses. Consumers were allegedly told that the person was calling from the yellow pages or the local telephone company to verify or update business names, addresses, and telephone numbers. Consumers are told the call is a renewal, although they typically do not mention cost, the FTC says. When asked, the business says the cost will be "the same as last year," although the consumers have never purchased their services before.

Continue reading "Fake Yellow Pages Marketers Bilk Spanish-Speaking Businesses" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Scams
        

Happy Monday, everyone. I don't know about you, but I'm sick of candy already. I was visiting my Mom's and they had all of 9 trick or treaters so they were letting the kids grab handfuls from the candy bowl.

(ahem) I might have snuck a couple Junior Mints and M&Ms into my purse.

Anyhow, so did anyone going to the Waverly Farmer's Market notice how long that light is at Barclay Street? Well, thanks to Liz, the Department of Transportation has a fix set for the end of this month that will make those long car lines leaving the market go away faster. I feel like I need to go around the city and write down all the traffic signals that make me crazy because they're either way too long or way too short. 

There's one near Hopkins Hospital that is an accident waiting to happen since people run the left turn signal ALL the time. 

But I'm going to save my traffic light rant for another time. I don't want to start our Monday ranting... unless you feel like ranting?

Besides, I can't get to uppity since I have a confession to make about Social Security Number requests. I have to tell you that as much as I rail against companies that demand your SSN during a transactiion, I caved recently when I tried to renew my Verizon Wireless contract. The guy at Best Buy said he couldn't sign me up without it and I was pressed for time so instead of standing my ground and saying, "NO," I asked him if I could type it in myself... I hang my head in shame. 

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Green says go, Social Security Numbers and Open Enrollment" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Credit cards, Healthcare, Identity theft, Personal finance, Watchdog
        

Just a taste of what you'll have to look forward to this weekend....

Find out which traffic signal in town was driving people nuts at a local farmer's market in Liz's Watchdog column.

Find out in my Consuming Interests column how American Express drove me nuts when I called them to help with a customer's complaint about a request for his Social Security Number.

Find out what Eileen says you can expect in open enrollment this month so healthcare surprises don't drive you nuts this year.

Tune in Sundays!

 (www.freefoto.com)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Credit cards, Healthcare, Personal finance, Watchdog
        

On Sunday, I wrote about U-Haul's gas policy and how it forces customers into purchasing more gas than they received to avoid a refueling fee. Some people thought I was too hard on the rental company since many companies use the same gas policy.

I stand firm on my position, though, since I think the policy is flawed. Using something as unreliable as a gas gauge and an eyeball test to determine whether a customer has refilled the tank to exactly where the needle was when they picked up the rental is about as inaccurate a measure as you can get. If the truck is on an incline, if the truck is old and the gauge is off, the chances of getting a bad reading are too great.

Continue reading "More U-Haul Complaints" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Complaints, Gas prices, Rent
        

Seriously. How many complaints from consumers need to be filed before the authorities shut down a troubled business?

We told you in February that the Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with BlueHippo over allegations that it took consumers' money without providing the electronics purchased. BlueHippo didn’t admit to doing anything wrong, but agreed to pay $3.5 million to possibly $5 million to burned consumers. Then in May, I told you that complaints are still pouring in to Better Business Bureaus and AG Offices around the country about BlueHippo.

Continue reading "Tennessee AG Sues BlueHippo" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Complaints, Computers, Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Loans, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Welcome back, welcome back! Hope everyone had a good weekend.

So did you catch my column yesterday on U-Haul's gas policy? If you're using an eyeball test on a gas gauge, which in my experience with cars (my dad was a mechanic) become increasingly unreliable with age, how accurate can that be? I wonder who ends up shorted more often? U-Haul or their customers?

The only sure thing I learned from Lauren Klemm's experience is that you should never drop off a rental without someone there to check it in or else you're at risk of finding some surprise charges on your card.

I'd advise bringing a camera with you, too, so you can document the condition of the rental before you pick it up and the condition of the rental afterward... As a precaution, I'd say you should probably start taking a photo of the gas gauge, too, especially if you're renting from U-Haul.

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Finance and Kids & You vs. U-Haul" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Personal finance, Rent
        

I do love Fridays... almost as much as I love the end of Thursdays. Why? Because getting through Thursdays (which is deadline day for the print part of my column) is like defusing a ticking time bomb. I never know if I'm going to finish the job or if I'm going to explode into bits before it gets done.

So the end of the day Thursday is euphoric.

Anyhoo, all the wind-up is just to prepare you for Consumer Sunday! Here's a question I have for you: If the needle on a gas gauge points to the letter "F" and no one is around to see it, does it mean the gas tank is full?

For the answer, tune in to Consuming Interests, the column, on Sunday.

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Noxious Gas Policies and Teaching Kids about Finances" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Personal finance, Rent, Watchdog
        

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a fondness for watching cheezy infomercials.  They used to air late at night, but now there are entire channels devoted to them.

So I often find myself lingering far too long, when I'm channel surfing, on the dozens of client affirmations for Proactiv, Cindy Crawford's buy-these-beauty-products-and-never-age-like-me schtick, and that one doo-dad that makes hot pockets out of any kind of food you want to eat. I have just one word for that last infomercial: awesome.

One infomercial, however, drives me up the wall. Which one, you ask? Any infomercial that involves Kevin Trudeau and whatever book he's shilling on natural cures or weight loss. Why does this dude bother me?

Because a federal judge has banned Kevin Trudeau from infomercials in which he has an interest for three years. He's also been ordered to pay more than $5 million in profits from his book, "The Weight Loss Cure 'They' Don't Want You to Know About." This recent ruling in August confirms a 2004 contempt finding against Trudeau -- the second time he's been found in contempt of court in the past four years.

Judge Robert W. Gettleman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois affirmed his 2007 ruling that Trudeau "clearly, and no doubt intentionally," violated a provision o a 2004 stipulated court order that prohibits him from misrepresenting the content of his books in his infomercials.

Continue reading "The 3-year FTC Ban that Kevin Trudeau Doesn't Want You to Know About" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints, Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Healthcare, Marketing/Advertising, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Did anyone notice that there was a running theme in the Consumer Sunday columns this past weekend? All the issues we covered called for patience and calm heads to get through trying times or problems. 

An unreliable street light in Roland Park was finally shining all night long in Liz's Watchdog column after what residents said was a long wait. After more than a year locked in dispute, a homeowner and a paving company decided to put the past in the past and try resolving their issues again without getting the state involved.

Eileen advised parents to stop wringing your hands over your 401K plans for a minute and take a good look at those 529 college savings plans you started for that college bound kid in your house. The stock market is likely putting a hurt on those 529s, too, but as Eileen told you, you can move that money to a different investment plan or you can put new contributions in a more conservative plan going forward. Has anyone already started doing this or are you going to?

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Calm heads prevail in hard economic times" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Complaints, Economy, Personal finance, Watchdog
        

Happy Friday, people! This week just felt like it was never going to end, huh? We've had lots to do, though, preparing columns and stories for you dear readers this weekend. We've also been busy hammering away here on the blog. Did you check out our redesigned blog with our happy little family of four? Groovy, yes?

First up on Sunday... If you're still feeling a little dizzy and sick to your stomach over the stock market roller coaster ride we've been riding, what better time, then, to hear some sage words of reassurance? Americans living through the Great Depression had Franklin Roosevelt and his Fireside Chats to get them through the Great Depression. Read some of the words that calmed a nation in Money & Life on Sunday.

Eileen doesn't just stop there. She also tells you how the downturn in the stock market has hit college savings plans. Find out what you should do if your balance is down and your child is heaed to school in a year or two. 

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Calming a nation, stock market, traffic lights and contractors" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Economy, Personal finance, Watchdog
        

So you know how we try to tell you about naughty businesses every week? Well, here's an interesting twist on that thought. There's a new Web site out there that wants to tell you about naughty consumers out there.

Instead of complaining about companies, uradeadbeat.com allows businesses to post the names of naughty people. Maybe someone who stiffed them on a bill. Or a customer who refuses to pay even after the court has ordered them to do so. In this little role reversal, instead of customers bad-mouthing a business, businesses can bad-mouth an individual by name, for a fee.

I can definitely see why something like this has popped up. It's very similar to that other Web site we told you about, DoNotRentTo.com, which allows landlords to post the names of bad renters on the Web site. Both sites, of course, allow the other side a chance to vent against bad consumers... and we are firm believers here that there is such a thing as a bad consumer.

With that said, I'm troubled by what I'm seeing on the so-called Deadbeat List.

Continue reading "Are you a bad consumer? uradeadbeat.com might think so." »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Complaints, Debt, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Free money, the Fed bailout and you, Watchdog updates" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Personal finance, Watchdog
        

[That there photo to the right is a Lenovo X300. It's WiMAX ready. We meant to tell you yesterday about the WiMAX gadgets galore available to consumers now, but there weren't enough hours in the day. Without further ado, I'm turning this post over to Gus to tell you more. -- DD]

For now in Baltimore, there have been only two ways to get a taste of Sprint's new XOHM network -- a broadband system that's basically turning the city into one big "hotspot" for wireless Internet connectivity. You could buy a little plug-in device for your laptop at $59.99 -- or a home modem for $79.99 -- and then pick a service plan that suits you over at www.xohm.com.
 
But, at Sprint's big launch party for XOHM yesterday in Fells Point, we learned of several new laptops that will hit the market that will come with the WiMAX chipset already embedded inside. This means, if you buy one of these laptops from Lenovo, Acer, Asus or Toshiba, you won't need to also purchase the $59.99 plug-in device to tap into the Sprint's XOHM in Baltimore.

Continue reading "WiMAX Watch: New WiMAX Laptops Ready for Baltimore" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Technology, WiMAX Watch
        

I thought you might appreciate some insight as to how Comcast is servicing their long-time internet customers. Here's an online chat I had with one of their rep's as I tried to learn how I could monitor my bandwidth usage and avoid being penalized for exceeding their new limit. To summarize - they do not provide customers with access to their current measurements of our bandwidth usage, yet they will penalize us if we exceed it.

Continue reading "Consumer Gripe: Comcast won't tell me what my bandwidth use is" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints, Computers, Technology
        

Happy Monday dear readers.

How many of you out there realized there is a difference between using your credit card and debit card at gas stations, hotels and car rental agencies?

Better yet, do you think I was too tough on the Zulichs? Every parent wants to help their children, though, right? Do you think Elizabeth could have eventually resolved this on her own or do you think it was only resolved because of Dad?

Are you like me? Worried that too many people aren't financially literate?

With today's financial crisis and move toward tightening credit policies, being financially illiterate could really hurt you.  As Eileen told you in her Sunday column, the current credit crunch isn't just affecting auto loans and mortgages, it's also affecting credit cards now, too.

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: credit cards and abandoned cars" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cars, Complaints, Credit cards, Personal finance, Watchdog
        

If I told you I'm working on a story about young love, debit card rules, a beach getaway, enormous security holds and an angry Papa Bear, would you want to hear more?

If the answer is yes, please check out my Consuming Interests column on Sunday.

La Liz tells you the story behind the abandoned SUV that was found with its front fender wrapped around a tree on a grassy median in Park Circle two months ago. If you were wondering about it, too, check out her Watchdog column on Sunday.

Are you breathing a sigh of relief now that the House has passed the financial rescue plan? We're not out of the woods yet.

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: beach getaways, credit and abandoned SUVs" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Personal finance, Watchdog
        

What's a lifelong Yankees fan to do when he doesn't live in the New York viewing area? Thomas Morton signed up for MLB.TV to watch his hometown team a year ago and loved catching the games online. Then MLB.TV upgraded software to stream standard definition TV quality games and Morton's old computer couldn't keep up.

Months of phone calls and letters didn't solve his problem so he contacted the paper. We called MLB.TV on his behalf and within a couple days, MLB techs got Morton back up and running.

My question to you is would this problem have been resolved without the paper getting involved? Morton did everything he was supposed to, but still got no resolution. When the paper got involved, MLB went above and beyond the call of duty to help Morton out. I applaud them for the great effort (it took more than three hours on the phone, talking him through each and every step). But I can't help but wonder if Morton would have gotten satisfaction without us.

What do you think?

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: MLB.TV complaint and city sewer project" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints, Computers, Watchdog
        

We know the regular baseball season is over, but find out in my Consuming Interests column on Sunday whether Major League Baseball's MLB-TV hit a dinger or struck out when I tossed them a customer complaint about his inability to watch his beloved Yankees online.

La Liz is tackling what seems to be a never-ending construction project in the Tuscany-Canterbury neighborhood in her Watchdog column this Sunday. Residents wondering if there is a finish date in sight will be well-served by checking out what Liz found out.

Good news, too, Excellent Eileen will return next week. We hope she's had an enjoyable rest because we've missed her 'round here.

(AFP/Getty Images)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints, Computers, Technology, Watchdog
        

A decision earlier this week in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice means that consumers will be able to find out if an automobile they want to purchase has been stolen or rebuilt after a wreck. U.S. Judge Marilyn Hall Patel ruled Monday that the DOJ has until Jan. 30 to make this information available to consumers in a national database.

Congress originally passed a law in 1992 to create such a database. It took a lawsuit filed in February by Public Citizen, Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, and Consumer Action to make it happen.

The advocacy groups argued that the "agency's unlawful delay in implementing the database was putting consumers at risk. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System will help consumers avoid purchasing a potentially dangerous used car by allowing them to instantly check the validity of the car’s title and mileage and learn whether it had been stolen or was a junk or salvage vehicle," said Deepak Gupta, attorney for Public Citizen.

Continue reading "A National Auto Fraud Database coming" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cars, Complaints, Consumer protection, Consumer safety
        

The House of Reps passed the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights today by a vote of 312-112.

We've told you about efforts to rein in bad credit card practices before, here, and here .

The White House agrees that there are abusive credit card practices, but opposes the cardholders' rights bill for fear that it could further discourage lending.

The American Bankers Association agrees. Edward L. Yingling, ABA president and CEO, said:

“The American Bankers Association is very disappointed by the action today of the House of Representatives. The so-called “Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights” (H.R. 5244), while well-intentioned, will increase the cost of credit for consumers and small businesses across the country, result in less access to credit for consumers and businesses alike, and may further roil the securities markets – all at a time when our economy can least afford it.

Continue reading "House of Reps passes Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Credit cards, Debt, Economy
        

Read my Consuming Interests column on Sunday to find out how a complaint about a cell phone led us to discover a Bermuda Triangle of Lost Calls right here in Maryland.

A perfect teaser to end a wacky week, yes?

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (27)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Complaints, Watchdog
        

See that photo? That could have been the street on my city block a few weeks ago when BGE discovered there was a gas leak underground somewhere near my house and proceeded to jackhammer the road around 1 a.m. to about 3 a.m. on a week night.

The sound was so loud it felt like they were drilling right into my skull. Yea. Fun times. But what can you do? Ask the nice men to keep it down and maybe get to finding and fixing that gas leak later?

So the whole street lost a lot of sleep that night, but we appreciated BGE crews working insane hours to make sure we little people didn't blow up into itty bitty pieces in our sleep. The very polite crew came back the next day and finished the job promptly despite a steady rain that morning.

What made me raise a slight eyebrow, though, was coming home that night to see another BGE truck parked on the street again the next night with the words, "GAS EMERGENCY," emblazoned on the side.

Continue reading "A smokin' gas emergency!" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints
        

Our counterparts over at the Chicago Tribune have put together a consumer guide to help all of us wade through the legions of customer service representatives, store managers and others who stand in the way of consumer justice.

The tips are pretty basic --- keep all receipts, take notes on your calls, get the names of people you speak with --- but can help you get a lot farther in resolving issues with warranties that are not honored or returns that are rejected or other conflicts.

Continue reading "How to solve consumer problems on your own" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, How To
        

Morning dear readers.

If you've gotten a chance to look at the paper and want to learn more about the research I wrote about in my Consuming Interests column today, click on Independent Security Evaluator's link here to watch their video demo and read about the vulnerabilities they found in massively multiplayer online games, Age of Conan and its predecessor, Anarchy Online.

In one of the attacks, ISE analyst Gabe takes over his colleague Dan's character and makes the tough guy dance in a fetching blue bikini. (heheheheh. pretty funny stuff)

And just a thought for players out there, ISE discovered these two serious security flaws because Dan was playing Age of Conan and wondered if he could find any holes in the game. Next thing you know, the analysts found two.

Now just imagine if ISE (and computer whizzes who aren't quite so honest) start checking out other online games for security flaws? I wonder what they would find?

Moving on to Eileen's column, how important is the future of Social Security to you in regards to the coming presidential election? With the details you've read from Eileen, which candidate do you believe will do a better job of shoring up benefits, or making sure there's enough funding there for you when you retire?

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Video of security flaws in Age of Conan and Anarchy Online" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Odds & Ends
        

We wrote about Verizon's Triple Play FiOS offer where they'll substitute DirecTV for customers who don't live in areas where FiOS TV is offered. That works out just dandy for some, but for others it's not quite so great.

Remember Fawn Hartline and her complaint about how she couldn't get her DirecTV to work properly so she canceled it before she ever really got to use it? But for canceling early, DirecTV charged her that big whopping early termination fee. It took Verizon's pressure on the satellite provider to resolve that problem for Hartline.

Then Good Reader Susan wrote in about her own crazy DirecTV experience.

Now Good Reader Roni shares another DirecTV headache:

Continue reading "DirecTV's Demands" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 6:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints
        

Here's the July 2008 list of physicians disciplined by the Maryland Board of Physicians:

George M. Hricko, M.D., License # D05500. Area of Practice: Plastic Surgery (Dover, MA) -- Termination of probationary terms and conditions imposed by the Consent Order dated February 26, 2004. The physician has complied with the terms and conditions precedent. Date of Action: July 2, 2008

Mark Davis, M.D., License # D23760. Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Bel Air, MD) -- Revocation for a minimum of 3 years; the Board will not entertain an application from the physician any earlier than three years from the date of this Final Decision and Order. The physician provided substandard care to patients in his weight management practice and continues to disregard basic medical norms. Date of Action: July 8, 2008

Richard G. Yeron, M.D., License # D41717. Area of Practice: General Practice (Frederick, MD) -- Summary Suspension. The Respondent engaged in a pattern of excessive and unjustifiable prescribing of Schedule II opioid analgesics, that placed his patients at risk for potentia lly serious or life-threatening consequences such as habituation and/or addiction. Date of Action: July 9, 2008

Continue reading "Disciplined Docs in Maryland, Part II" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Healthcare, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

We've told you about naughty attorneys, naughty real estate professionals, businesses fined by the state Department of Environment, and all manner of other businesses misbehaving, deceiving the public or disciplined by various federal and state agencies.

Today, we bring you the physicians and physician assistans who you allow to poke, prod, and peer at you in your most vulnerable state... er... you ladies and gents know what I mean if you've been good about getting your annual exams. Do read this carefully because some of them are a doozy. Let's hope your current doctor isn't among those listed.

Here are the June 2008 sanctions from the Maryland Board of Physicians:

Victoria Bagby, RT, License # M00011. Area of Practice: Radiation Therapy (Baltimore, MD) -- Revocation. The Board found that the health care practitioner violated the Medical Practice Act based on her attempt to provide health care services in a condition in which she was unable to complete her assignment, repeated unexcused absenteeism at two medical employers, refusal of a reasonable and proper order to report for health evaluation, and her false answer on an application. Date of Action: June 25, 2008

Jeffrey R. Beck, D.O., License # H55156. Area of Practice: Emergency Medicine (Edgewater, MD) -- Revocation. the Board will not entertain any application for reinstatement for 10 years; order for summary suspension vacated as moot. The Board found that the physician committed unprofessional conduct when he instructed a nurse to remove 2 CDS tablets from a hospital supply and falsified records; prescribed CDS for a friend without maintaining medical records; for rude and insulting behavior to his patients and other health care workers in the hospital workplace; and used his status as a physician to further a prurient relationship with a person whom he believed to be a fourteen-year-old boy. The Board also found that the physician falsified medical records and fraudulently and deceptively used his license in regard to hospital incident involving removal of 2 CDS tablets from a hospital supply. Date of Action: June 25, 2008:

Continue reading "Disciplined Docs in Maryland, Part I" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 6:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Healthcare, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Hola, my cheeky little monkeys.

So what did you think of our Consumer Sunday triple play? 

For those who missed it, Lovely Liz alerted the city to the missing guardrails on a Fort Avenue bridge leading to Fort McHenry. The city is warning pedestrians and joggers to be careful along that Locust Point area until they can fix it this week. Please do since no one wants anyone to accidentally fall over 40 feet on to the train tracks below.

You should, if you haven't already, find out how much Excellent Eileen says Michael Phelps can spend each year without stressing his budget. (I'll give you a hint: it's way more than what your three consumer bloggers here make in a year.) Do you think you could invest Michael Phelp's money better than the experts she talked to?

As for my column on protecting your personal and financial accounts after a breakup, do you side with Chantel, the Ex or Sprint in this case? Are you prepared to deal with a messy breakup or would you be stuck in the same boat?

Love it, Hate it? Tell us what you think. Got a problem? Share it here. Think we're wrong, wrong wrong? Rant about it here. Just so you know, in our redesign, we will likely republish some blog comments in the paper so we really do want to hear from you. That means that while we encourage all thought and opinions, we are asking everyone to to try your best to be civil, courteous and free of foul language.

Oh yes, the Powers That Be (PTB from now on) are also adding this commenting policy to all the blogs: "All comments must be approved by the blog author. Please do not resubmit comments if they do not immediately appear. You are not required to use your full name when posting, but you should use a real e-mail address. Comments may be republished in print, but we will not publish your e-mail address."

We also won't share your address with anyone else unless we receive authorization from you to do so (some of you who complained about Comcast are familiar with this. But for those who don't know, Comcast and other companies read the blog, asks to get in touch with an unhappy customers, I reach out to unhappy customers to see if you want to hear from Comcast, you say yes, I pass it on. If you say no, I tell Comcast no can do. It's that easy.)

So there you have it. Our first Consumer Sunday in the redesign launch. Questions, Comments, Applause (or er... the opposite of applause if need be... what is that boos?)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 6:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Complaints, Personal finance, Watchdog
        

The Associated Press reported this week that the government is banning phone calls of pre-recorded sales messages unless consumers agreed to receive those calls.

Now, we've told you before how annoying those extended warranty robo-telemarketing threats are, and how Verizon and some Attorneys General are suing those annoying extended warranty telemarketing companies, but how happy are you that the Feds have listened to the barrage of complaints they received about these pests?

The Federal Trade Commission says that by December, all pre-recorded calls must provide an opt-out selection to make it easy for consumers to stop getting those calls. Effective Sept. 1, sellers and telemarketers may place pre-recorded calls only to consumers who have provided signed and written agreements to receive them.

Hallelujah.

The rules won't affect informational pre-recorded messages, which might notify you of appointments or cancellations or things of that nature as long as they're not trying to sell goods or services.

Continue reading "Feds ban super annoying pre-recorded calls" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 6:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Complaints, Marketing/Advertising, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Did you catch Wonk-esse Jamie and her blog post today? It's about people who are angry that "all the housing-related bailouts are handing a bill to taxpayers who played by the rules and are paying their mortgages or their rent."

I've been watching the housing meltdown and the political reaction to it, and I have to agree with the readers on Jamie's site and the people quoted in the AP story. I'm angry, too, that we seem to be rewarding the reckless.

As the story says about the government bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac:

Meanwhile, tens of millions of people pay their mortgages on time, don't max out their credit cards and put money into retirement funds. They may even save a little extra on the side.

In return, they get rates on their savings that don't even keep up with inflation. They also are witnessing the horror of their nest eggs shrinking as the value of their homes plummets and the stock market tumbles.

Washington policymakers seem more focused on rescuing those who behave badly by putting at risk taxpayers who have played by the rules.

Continue reading "Rewarding the reckless" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 6:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: College/Financial aid, Complaints, Debt, Economy, Loans
        

I know naughty business postings usually run on Tuesdays, but this one warrants a post don't you think? Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger's son is being sued by the Pennsylvania Attorney General for allegedly violating the Do Not Call law.

The Penn AG accuses CA "Cory" Ruppersberger's company of making more than 500,000 illegal mortgage solicitations by phone between 2005 and 2007.

The Congressman from Baltimore County, who voted to authorize the federal law, says he has no involvement with his son's business and the Penn AG's Office agreed since they did investigate to make sure there was no affiliation.

Continue reading "Ruppersberger's son violates Do Not Call law Dad helped pass?" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Complaints, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

So last week, a bill that would abolish unpopular credit card industry practices passed a key U.S. House committee test late Thursday, moving it toward a vote by the full House.

According to this creditcards.com story, the bill:

targets credit card companies and seeks to ban practices such as retroactive interest rate increases, except under certain conditions, and limits "double-cycle" billing, which increases the ability of card issuers to impose interest charges.

Under the proposed legislation, consumers would get a minimum of 45 days' notice of any interest rate increases and have at least 25 days between the date of the monthly statement and the due date to pay their bills. Last-minute amendments to the bill added provisions to block credit cards issued to people under 18 years of age and ban over-the-limit fees caused by "holds" placed on the credit card account.

But while that should be good news, Chuck Jaffee of MarketWatch warns that it could spell hard times for all cardholders since:

Continue reading "An end to credit card tricks and traps?" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Credit cards
        

We've told you about shrinking ice cream cartons, less paper towels and toilet paper in packages, and reduced beer glass sizes, now your chips are getting nipped.

In case you missed it in the comments, Reader Anon pointed out:

"The conspiracy grows, and it's just not with beer."

Anon, of course, is referring to the smaller packaging for those tasty, orange-finger-staining Doritos.

Michael Brush, from msn's Money Central writes:

Does it seem you run out of Doritos, orange juice or mayonnaise faster than you used to?

Your mind is not playing tricks on you.

Slammed by the skyrocketing costs of agricultural goods and energy, many companies are quietly shortchanging their customers by putting a little less into bags, jars and boxes.

Continue reading "Holy Frijoles, shrinking Doritos." »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Complaints, Economy, Food, Marketing/Advertising, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

In a recent AAA Mid-Atlantic Web Poll that posed the question “Who’s to Blame for High Gas Prices?,” commodity speculators were ranked the No. 1 evil behind driving up gas prices.

Poll respondents also blamed Congress, Big Oil and unrest in the Middle East.

“It’s a question with no clear, concrete answer,” AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Ragina C. Averella said. “What is clear is that motorists are frustrated with increased costs and the lack of a near-term solution; thus creating plenty of blame to go around.”

Respondents were given seven choices and asked to pick only three. The list of choices followed by the percentage of people who selected each are:

Continue reading "Who's to Blame for high gas prices?" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Complaints, Energy/Utilities, Gas prices
        

Reader Laura is wondering if anyone else has had problems parking in city garages run by Central Parking?

I used to use a parking garage in Baltimore City run by Central Parking. For convenience sake (because I never carry cash), I used one of the garages that accepts credit cards. Only used it once in a while because I telecommute.

Then, months ago, I stopped altogether because of the price of gas. I take the light rail.

Two weeks ago, as I prepared to go on vacation, I checked my bank account. Central Parking Baltimore had hit my acount 5 times, all in one day, the day before. I called to dispute the charges with the bank. The original Customer Service person was so dumb she said, "Well, you must have parked there, I see you used your card in between trips to the garage."

First of all, who would make five trips in and out of a city garage at 9 bucks a pop each time? Secondly, I asked her, did you get the part about the garage being in Baltimore and those 'in-between' charges I actually made at the grocery store, etc., being in Annapolis? The next rep was a little brighter, saw the disparities and disputed the charges.

But those of you who use Central Parking, beware. They apparently store your credit card info. I can only guess that a worker figured out a scam to charge my card a number of times and 'refund' cash to themselves.

You gotta watch. all the time....

Excellent point, Laura. Anyone else notice shenanigans with city garage parking?

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cars, Complaints, Technology
        

When I'm confronted by a problem I don't always know how to solve myself, I always try to find someone with more knowledge, power or leverage to assist me when I want to Get-R-Done, a handy phrase coined by that lovable Larry the Cable Guy.

In the case where I was getting annoying telemarketing calls about extended auto warranty offers on my cell phone, out of curiosity, I contacted my provider and asked them if they received a lot of complaints from their customers about these calls.

What Verizon's Leigh Schachter told me, warmed my heart.

Turns out, these auto warranty calls annoy A LOT of Verizon Wireless customers, which in turn, annoys Verizon Wireless a great deal, too, said Schachter in a phone interview with me yesterday. Schachter is assistant general counsel for ligitation for Verizon.

How annoyed is Verizon? Annoyed enough to file suit in state and federal court to stop these shenanigans.

Continue reading "Verizon hates annoying auto warranty calls, too: Part Two" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Complaints, Consumer protection, Marketing/Advertising, Warranties
        

I was so glad to hear I'm not the only one annoyed by pesky extended auto warranty offers in my mail, my home phone and cell phone. After the column ran, my colleagues here in the office were quick to send me the numbers annoying them, too.

Marvelous Marcia over on the Metro Desk received several. She's been taking down numbers:

562-288-7125

517-931-2516 (not warranty, but low cost healthcare)

866-788-9833

The great and wonderful Real Estate Wonk-esse herself, Jamie, sent me this number: 402-562-8737. "Please don't make the mistake of driving without a warranty," the recorded voice urged.

Steve from North East said he got rid of one company, but now he's getting a number from outside of the country: 011-50622377029 Costa Rica!!!

Continue reading "Lots of people hate extended auto warranty calls, Part One" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (44)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Complaints, Consumer protection, Marketing/Advertising, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Warranties
        

In today's Q&A on a complaint about T-Mobile's payment policy, reader Patricia Hall was told she needed a Social Security Number and driver's license to pay her daughter's cell phone bill.

When Hall asked why, she was told something about an FCC law, but couldn't get a clear answer from T-Mobile. So I tried and received a muddled response from some unnamed person at T-Mobile USA Public Relations. Since I couldn't get T-Mobile to respond, I contacted other cellular companies to try to make sense of what Hall encountered.

Well, someone higher up at T-Mobile noticed the less-than-stellar response we received and contacted me this morning to offer help should we receive complaints about T-Mobile in the future.

Sounds like Hall received bad info from the Marley Station T-Mobile store. Here's the proper policy, according to Graham Crow, account director Waggener Edstrom, the PR firm for T-Mobile, who also apologized for the person who didn't answer the question more clearly the first time:

It turns out the information provided at the store was simply a misunderstanding of T-Mobile's policy. We have reached out to the store to correct that.

Continue reading "T-Mobile responds to payment policy complaint" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Complaints
        

We recently wrote about Comcast moving Washington D.C. channels from analog to digital for the Howard County and Carroll County areas, and had quite a few people express anger about losing those channels. But Voelker believes he's been losing channels in Baltimore County, too.

I am a Comcast subscriber who lives in Towson, and have noticed that in the past couple of months, I have lost ION, CMT, and this past weekend, AMC. None of those channels are essential to me, but I was always able to find something to watch on them as an alternative to the reality shows and the formulaic programming that can be found on the network stations that I can't stand watching.

Like one of your readers pointed out, I am now paying the same price as I always have for fewer channels and that infuriates me. Do you know of any alternatives so I can dump Comcast once and for all? I always receive junk mail from DirectTV and one other similar company, but they don't seem to be offering me anything different for an extra $10/month (not including all the upfront costs).

Continue reading "Comcast changes in Baltimore County?" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints
        

Right on the heels of my Sunday column on those pesky extended auto warranty calls people all over the country have been receiving on their home phones, work phones, cell phones and mailings, the Office of the Attorney General issued a warning on them today.

The OAG says to be "wary of a marketing campaign attempting to sell extended auto warranties that is targeting countless citizens nationwide on their cellular phones and landlines, as well as through postcards, letters and emails. The marketers offer to sell expensive extended warranties, and often 'phish' for personal information about the consumer.

Just hang up if you're getting unwanted telemarketing calls, the OAG says. Beware of extended warranty offers.

Continue reading "Maryland Attorney General says BEWARE extended car warranty offers" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 5:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Complaints, Consumer protection
        

In last week's Q&A, we covered Comcast Cable moving Washington D.C. channels from analog to digital. Apparently, there are quite a few people who weren't too happy about the switch. We heard from several.

Liz Hartley wrote in to say:

Re your column of 7/08/08 about Comcast push to digital, they are doing the same thing in Anne Arundel County. In effect, they have removed four stations (3 of which I watched most of the time) but are still charging the same monthly fee. And, in order to get these channels, they want to charge us $48.00/yr more!

Continue reading "Comcast moves Washington stations to digital, subscribers angry" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints
        

I often joke that if businesses stopped screwing up, I wouldn't have a column to write anymore. But I hope you know from reading Consuming Interests columns, that I'd just as soon take a consumer to task for bad decisions as I would a business. Everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt and a chance to correct the record.

That's why I was glad Loyal Reader Beverly wrote in recently to say this:

Continue reading "Do you have a good customer service experience you want to share?" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Above and Beyond, Complaints
        

How many out there know that Montgomery Ward went out of business in 2001? Now, how many know that a catalog company bought the Wards name brand out of bankruptcy in 2004? If you did, I'm awarding quality points to you. Bravo.

Now here's the bad news for anyone doing business with Wards.com and six other affiliated sites that includes three Sears brands (SearsHomeCenter.com, SearsShowplace.com and SearsRoomforKids.com). At least 51,000 records were breached at the parent company of those brands, Direct Marketing Services Inc.

Someone hacked into and stole consumer credit card information, according to DMSI, which informed its payment processor and Visa and MasterCard, and filed a report to the U.S. Secret Service.

Continue reading "Direct Marketing Services doesn't tell consumers about data breach" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Credit cards, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Shopping
        

Reader Jeffrey Hudson thought I was being quite clever when I ended my Sunday column on Hank Larsen and his beef with the Oregon Grille in Hunt Valley by letting readers decide who was being petty and wrong in this complaint.

Upon reading the ending again, I have to agree with Jeffrey that it may lead people to interpret it differently. I really wasn't trying to be clever. It was unintentional. Here's what I wrote:

But the bottom line in this case is that Larsen could have chosen to dine anywhere that night. Given that he chose the Oregon Grille, that he has consistently visited the restaurant every year for eight years, and that he spent $350 on dinner that night, one would think that quibbling over a $7 price difference for a drink is more than just petty.

It's downright ridiculous.

Continue reading "The $7 quibble at the Oregon Grille restaurant" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Complaints
        

Do your eyeballs pop out of your head every time you fill up the gas tank? Are you afraid to look at the price signs to see how much fuel is going to cost you next time you pull up to a pump? Do you need a release for some of that anger?

Settle down, people. I am NOT advocating violence.

ConsumerWatchDog, formerly The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, launched a campaign last week to get you to send a consumer letter to elected officials to let them know what each driver paid for the last fill-up, the price per gallon paid, and the family’s estimated monthly fuel bill.

The idea, CWD says, is to get the attention of "Washington’s elected officials, who rarely have to use their own money at the gas pump. With gasoline prices at or within a penny of their all-time highs, families are at the breaking point, while elected officials are in a bubble until they hear from constituents."

Continue reading "Gas prices got you angry? Good. Tell Congress." »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Complaints, Energy/Utilities, Gas prices
        

Computerworld reported this week that Dell Inc. will charge customers up to $50 for factory-installed Windows XP on some PCs after Wednesday, June 18.

For those out there who aren't crazy about Vista, you're going to have to pay up if you want to install the older XP on your new computer.

Computerworld says, "Buyers of the low-priced Vostro line of desktops and notebooks will pay $20 to $50 more for Windows XP Professional installed as a 'downgrade' from Windows Vista Business or Vista Ultimate than they would for Vista only."

Check out the story for more details.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Complaints, Computers, Technology
        

Remember when we told you that the Humane Society of the United States found downer cows at auctions in Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas?

And then we told you that the Westminster Livestock Auction Market owner, James Horak, was charged with four counts of violating State Animal Health regulations?

Yesterday, the Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson said in response to those charges, Horak signed a consent agreement regarding violations of the Maryland Animal Health law at the auction on April 22 and 23.

“A very deliberate investigation has revealed that a ‘downer’ cow was not treated in a humane manner and the market was not prepared to handle downer animals that night,” said Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson. “Under the terms of the consent agreement, Mr. Horak, while not admitting guilt, is not contesting the charges filed against him and has agreed to a number of actions to assure that animals in his custody will be treated humanely and in accordance with State law. Even before signing the agreement, Mr. Horak already had instituted a number of these actions.”

Continue reading "NBotW Update: Westminster Livestock Auction Operator Signs Consent Agreement" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Food, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Apparently, PB plumbing was installed in about six million homes between between January 1, 1978 and July 31, 1995, the dates for installations covered by the settlement.

More than 330,000 homeowners have had their plumbing systems replaced under the free program so far, but tens of thousands more may be eligible for the free plumbing replacement.

Continue reading "Polybutylene Pipe Class Action" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Complaints, How To
        

Edward Lampert has a lot of work to do on his hands. If you don't know, he's the chairman of Kmart, which is the company that bought Sears. If you also don't know, Sears is struggling.

According to CNNMoney's Fortune blog, Sears recorded a first quarter loss as "sales in established U.S. Sears stores dropped nearly 10% from a year ago. The Hoffman Estates, Ill., retailer lost $56 million, or 43 cents a share, for the quarter ended May 3, reversing the year-ago profit of $223 million, or $1.45 a share. Revenue slid to $11.07 billion from $11.75 billion a year earlier."

Blogger Colin Barr says, "Since investor Ed Lampert took control of the company several years ago, Sears has been content to watch sales drop as the company focuses on boosting profit and buying back stock. But weakening consumer spending and tough competition have thrown a wrench into that strategy, and shoppers have grown exasperated with the company’s failure to update its stores - all of which explains why Sears shares have lost half their value over the past year."

That decision to run with a non-customer service strategy also helps explain why Sunday's column on Sears struck such a chord with readers who flooded me with e-mails and calls about their own bad Sears experience.

Continue reading "Sears: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Part Two" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Complaints, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Shopping
        

If you didn't catch it, I wrote about Michael Burnett and his complaint about Sears after a 37-inch LCD Sylvania TV he purchased there stopped working after 2-1/2 months. Boo on Sylvania for not even bothering to call me back about Burnett's problem with their TV, but the brunt of his anger was directed at Sears for canceling service calls and giving him the runaround about fixing the set.

Boy, that column must have hit a nerve because I heard from more two dozen readers yesterday by e-mail.

Dorene Schmidt scolded me for only telling the bad story about Sears:

It seems unfair that you wrote such a derogatory article on Sears without seeking the other side.

In 1997 we purchased a 54" screen. We had a few problems in the first few months but they were quickly fixed. NINE YEARS later, we began to have one problem after another, having a repairman out to fix it. We maintained a service policy on our television and were told since they were out three times in a few months our television would be REPLACED. Although television similar to our were now selling for less then half of what we paid for it on sale, we were told to go to the store and pick out a TV for the price our television originally sold for! We ended up with a very nice 52" LCD television. We have never had problems with Sears in the 35 years we have dealt with them.

So if you're going to print ONE bad news story, making Sears look bad, than you need to do a story on the GOOD side of Sears.

No, I don't own Sears stock and am not being paid to e-mail this to you.

Continue reading "The Good Life at Sears?" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Shopping
        

On Sunday, I wrote about BlueHippo and the unending complaints that are still coming in about the Woodlawn-based retailer that sells computers and other electronics to people with poor credit.

Maria Allwine of Baltimore wrote in to say:

How about a story on who owns Blue Hippo and its history. I think publishing the names of the owner(s) and the history, finances, etc. of this company might be helpful.

The bad news is that I didn't include that information because I only have 25 inches of space to work with for my Sunday column. The good news is that The Sun and fellow blogger (a.k.a. Financial Guru) Eileen wrote a terrific story on this very question back in 2006.

But, being the generous, thoughtful soul that I am, I'm going to copy and paste the lengthy article after the jump instead of making you search and pay for it in our archives like my bosses would like for you to do. Why? Because it's all about you readers, that's why.

Continue reading "BlueHippo Blues" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Complaints, Computers, Consumer protection, Debt, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

I know I've told you that I'm a recovering spender so the urge to spend without thinking is always with me. I'm much better about shopping around for big-ticket products, but the one area where I still mindlessly spend is the grocery store. I have to constantly remind myself to pay attention to prices or else suffer sticker shock at check-out.

Just ask my Mama about the time she sent me to the store to fetch a frozen duck. Like a dope, I paid $30 at the Giant's for the same duck that Food Lion sold for $12. Oooh, my Mama was mad at me.

Now, I find out it's not just prices I have to pay attention to these days. I also have to keep an eye on the net weight and package of products I'm buying, says Mouseprint.org, a sister site of ConsumerWorld and MrConsumer.

Mouseprint, which exposes the fine print in product labels and contracts, has found that ice cream manufacturers have downsized their ice cream containers from 56 ounces to 48 ounces.

Continue reading "The incredible shrinking ice cream" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Complaints, Food, Marketing/Advertising
        

So for the last few weeks, I've been getting a weird e-mail every week from some guy I don't think I know, saying, "Hi, I looked for you on Reunion.com, the largest people search service -- but you weren't there."

The e-mail then directed me to click on a link to see who had been searching for me.

First of all, I didn't really remember anyone by this guy's particular name. Second, I'm incredibly suspicious of weird e-mails asking me to click on links.

So, of course, I just routinely delete weird e-mails for fear of bugs, scams and other possible nefarious schemes. Turns out I was smart to do so. According to our sister paper, The LATimes, the e-mail is part of Reunion.com's misguided and super-annoying attempt to sign up more members.

Continue reading "Annoying reunion e-mails" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Computers, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Technology
        

Did you catch my column yesterday on the credit card industry and how Congress is trying to rein in abusive practices? Here's some of the issues that the Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights would deal with:

•Universal Cross Default Clauses: If you are declared in default by any other creditor, be it your landord, utility company or a library fine, then that automatically represents a default on your credit card. You can be charged penalty interest rates even if you have been making payments on-time to the card issuer.

•Arbitrary Interest Rate Changes: Carry a balance too close to your credit limit and wham, your interest rate goes up. Open up another credit card and wham, your rate goes up. Pay late once and wham, your rate goes up. Sneeze and your rate goes up. Why? Because your contract includes a clause that says, “Any term can be changed at any time for any reason, including no reason.”

Continue reading "Credit Card Reform" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Credit cards, Debt, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

The OAG's Consumer Protection Division is calling on all Maryland consumers who purchased, but did not receive, goods and services owed to them from Pennsylvania-based company, LA Weight Loss Centers, Inc. and Pure Weight Loss, Inc. Don't ask me why they're based in PA, but their name says "LA." I don't know, maybe companies from LA sound more chic or purportedly know more about losing weight?!

In any case, the OAG is investigating the closing of 18 facilities owned and operated as LA Weight Loss and Pure Weight Loss. In December 2007, the business told consumers that its facilities would close on January 4. As a result, the OAG's CPD is asking you to fill out and return a claim form if you are owed refunds for goods and services not provided to you prior to the closing of the Maryland facilities.

Consumers may download the claim form from the Attorney General’s website at www.oag.state.md.us/Healthclub/LAWL.htm. Consumers may return their completed claim forms either by faxing the forms to (410) 576-6566 or mailing them to:

Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
200 St. Paul Place, 16^th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
Attn: Barbara Jefferson

Consumers without internet access may call the Pure Weight Loss Telephone Line at (410) 230-1711 to have a form mailed to their homes.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints