Consumer Law

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Georgia Sends 202,000 Letters Containing Personal Information To The Wrong Addresses

Posted on July 30, 2008
Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Georgia Sends 202,000 Letters Containing Personal Information To The Wrong Addresses | Consumerist

Everything?s bigger in? Alaska?

Posted on July 30, 2008
Or at least credit card debt is, apparently. Our Partner CFED released this data as part of their annual Assets and Opportunities Score Card, showing that Alaska has the highest median credit card debt per borrower in the nation, at $3,384. (For those of you who slept through math class back in the day, medians [...

Bush signs housing rescue law

Posted on July 30, 2008
“President enacts controversial measure that aims to help borrowers, bolster the housing market and provide a fail-safe for Fannie and Freddie.” Bush signs housing rescue law | CNN Money

$8,000 debt turns credit card couple onto debit

Posted on July 30, 2008
“A study shows more people are doing the same—using cash, not credit. But that kind of fiscal responsibility worries credit card companies.” $8,000 debt turns credit card couple onto debit | CNN

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Debt settlement companies and credit counselors?are they worth the fee?

Posted on July 30, 2008
Perhaps some are. But when NetDebt charges “15% of the amount of debt you bring to their program (regardless of results or the number of creditors it must deal with), plus a ?small? monthly service fee of $50,” I have to wonder. So if a consumer had $20,000 in debt, he or she would owe $3,000, [...

Delta Makes Woman With Muscular Dystrophy Crawl Off Plane

Posted on July 29, 2008
Please please please Sun Country expand your service so I don’t have to fly Delta when they take over Northwest’s routes in Minneapolis. Delta Makes Woman With Muscular Dystrophy Crawl Off Plane | Consumerist

Most People Can Still File Chapter 7 bankruptcies

Posted on July 29, 2008
Most People Can Still File Chapter 7 bankruptcies | Bankruptcy and Consumer Information

Fixing our fuel crisis, credit crunch: a new course in home economics?

Posted on July 29, 2008
Fixing our fuel crisis, credit crunch: a new course in home economics? | MinnPost

Are airline kiosks safe?

Posted on July 29, 2008
Are airline kiosks safe? | Red Tape Chronicles

Larry Lessig Netroots Nation Keynote: the Bankrupt Congress

Posted on July 29, 2008
Larry Lessig, who seeks to Change Congress by pulling out the special interest money that has eroded the public trust to a measly 9%.

Two banks fail, 90 on FDIC problem list

Posted on July 28, 2008
If anyone were still in doubt as to whether or not the United States economy is in recession, the FDIC’s problem list now includes 90 banks at risk of failure. This is not a large number, since there are about 8,500 banks in the country, but it is up from 76 last year...

Grocery Shopping: The Importance of Checking the Price Per Unit

Posted on July 28, 2008
Grocery Shopping: The Importance of Checking the Price Per Unit | Queercents

Bank Of America Lets Identity Thief Withdraw $40,000 In A Single Day

Posted on July 27, 2008
Bank Of American Lets Identity Thief Withdraw $40,000 In A Single Day | Consumerist

FCC Votes To Punish Comcast

Posted on July 27, 2008
As a Comcast customer experiencing serious bandwidth throttling on my home and business connections, I am thrilled with this news. FCC Votes To Punish Comcast | /.

Suspect in Spider-Man clothing sought in Golden Valley motel robbery

Posted on July 26, 2008
Disclaimer: I did not even look at the following article, which has nothing to do with consumer law, but does have what may be the best headline I have seen all year. Behold: Suspect in Spider-Man clothing sought in Golden Valley motel robbery | StarTribune

U.S. Foreclosures Double: 1 in Every 171 Households Affected

Posted on July 25, 2008
U.S. Foreclosures Double: 1 in Every 171 Households Affected | Consumerist

Insurance company rules

Posted on July 25, 2008
“Why play fair when you can use nunchucks?”

Olympus phone recording device makes it easy to record phone calls

Posted on July 25, 2008
The Olympus TP-7 Telephone Recording Device (clever name, eh?) is probably the easiest way to record phone calls (from an abusive debt collector, for example) that I have seen. You stick it in your ear, plug it into a recorder, hold your phone normally up against your ear with the earbud in it, and it [...

Facing foreclosure, Taunton woman commits suicide

Posted on July 24, 2008
“Police say that Balderrama shot herself Tuesday afternoon 90 minutes before her foreclosed home on Duffy Drive was scheduled to be sold at auction. Chief Raymond O’Berg said that Balderrama faxed a letter to her mortgage company at 2:30 p...

Most Bank Websites Are Insecure

Posted on July 24, 2008
Most Bank Websites Are Insecure | /.

Stretch Your Food Dollar: Rethinking Meat

Posted on July 23, 2008
Stretch Your Food Dollar: Rethinking Meat | Queercents

Monster Cable still a bunch of jerks

Posted on July 23, 2008
Predatory litigator Monster Cable recently withdrew a patent infringement lawsuit after attorneys from local firm Winthrop & Weinstine filed a motion to dismiss. Monster’s Cable was suing Minnesota company Denco for producing Monster Deer Block, a flavored salt and mineral lick designed to attract wild deer...

Warning: Seven signs of too much debt

Posted on July 22, 2008
Warning: Seven signs of too much debt | Queercents

10 Things You Might Not Know About Your Credit Card

Posted on July 21, 2008
10 Things You Might Not Know About Your Credit Card | Consumerist

Beware Long-Term Cardholders With Perfect Payment Histories, Your Credit Lines May Be Slashed

Posted on July 21, 2008
Beware Long-Term Cardholders With Perfect Payment Histories, Your Credit Lines May Be Slashed | Consumerist

Credit card tricks and traps to avoid

Posted on July 14, 2008
Some of the “tricks and traps” in AFFIL’s Common Credit Cards Tricks and Traps (PDF link) are impossible to avoid. Or nearly so at least. I can’t think of a credit card agreement that does not include a mandatory binding arbitration clause, for example...

Bush Administration Considering A Takeover Of Freddie And Fanny

Posted on July 11, 2008
Bush Administration Considering A Takeover Of Freddie And Fanny | Consumerist

6 things you should never say to a car salesman

Posted on July 11, 2008
When shopping for a car, the following statements mark you as a big sucker: “I love, love, love this car” “I need to get a car by tomorrow” “I need a monthly payment of . . .” “My trade-in is outside” “I don’t know anything about leasing” “My credit is a little spotty” 6 things never to tell a car salesman | [...

Bad dog! Pooch racks up $142 on a Verizon account

Posted on July 10, 2008
Apparently the Lhasa Apso was making phone calls on a Verizon account. Bad dog! (Interestingly, the dog, Andy, apparently does have an American Express card of his own. No word on whether that account is in default.) $142 Collection Bill Sent To Couple’s Dog | KCRA

Common credit card tricks & traps

Posted on July 10, 2008
As part of our summer focus on credit cards, AFFIL compiled this list of common tricks and traps (PDF). We all know that credit card contracts are designed to increase the likelihood that cardholders pay high fees and get charged high interest rates...

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