Archive for December, 2006

I have been rather busy lately, what with planning a wedding for New Year’s Eve and all, so I haven’t been updating with my usual frequency. Here is a (small) roundup of recent blog posts from other consumer blogs.
Economic Model Almost Working or Broken?
Credit Slips takes a look at the appropriate role of the “rational [...]

Created by Prentiss Cox based on data provided by John Villerius.

Minnesota Public Radio addressed the foreclosure epidemic this morning with Prentiss Cox, Tom Musil, and Kathy Lantry. Listen here.

The federal Legal Services Corporation, charged with providing free legal aid to low-income Americans, was turning away clients from local, LSC-funded offices, for lack of funds while LSC executives rented limos, spent on fancy meals, desserts, and snack breaks. This according to criticism by Congress financial watchdogs, and The Associated Press. Most local legal aid [...]

Interestingly, “themobilesolution” is one of the most popular ways people reach my blog. They end up, of course, at this post on a Fox News investigative report of problems with TheMobileSolution, a mall-kiosk phone “store.” As you can see, commenters have complained about identity theft, not getting their phones, and more. I even had someone [...]

We have done a few posts about the Minnesota red light camera saga. The ACLU-Minnesota initially challenged the ruling in district court and won. And won again at the Court of Appeals. And now the Minnesota Supreme Court wants to look at the case.

Following up on this post (In the event of a lawsuit, please head for the nearest lawyer), I thought I would talk a little bit about what to do after you are sued and after you answer the debt collection complaint. (If none of that made sense to you, go ahead and find yourself a [...]

Consumer news is slow in coming this week (and we have been too bogged down in suing consumer predators to take note of any that has come in, anyway), so instead, I want to suggest a fantastic gift idea. If you are tired of buying ties, Brookstone gizmos, and throwaway doo-dads, consider a gift that [...]

Bob Lawless, blogger at Credit Slips, has a debrief posting on Credit Slips, summarizing his testimony before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Court (click the link to listen to the hearing).

Verizon customer service representatives are apparently incapable of third-grade-level seventh-grade-level (see comments) mathematics. If you can make it through this recording without wanting to scream, you may need remedial math.
In short, $.002 does not equal 0.002¢, although this fact seems to be untrue (a) in Canada and (b) in Verizon-land.

[via Consumerist ]
Edit: Google Calculator for [...]

For those unaware, the U.S. Copyright Office recently made a ruling that GSM cell phone providers must unlock your cell phone so that you can use it on any GSM network. This is good news for consumers, since you are no longer tied into a manufacturer’s phone selection.
Consumerist just picked up on a recent ABC [...]

Lori Swanson, the Minnesota AG-elect, has started talking about what she intends to do with her time in office, starting in January. In a press conference yesterday, she announced that predatory lenders will be her first target. She will start with an 11-member “study group” that will be charged with coming up with proposals to [...]

Chase bank, one of the three or four largest credit card banks in the country, has seemingly been on a mission to screw its cardholders recently. First, it raised its default APR 5% to 32.4%. Now, Chase has decided to continue billing overlimit fees on accounts more htan 180 days past due.
Previously, Chase extended amnesty [...]

One has the sense that most people read about the booming foreclosure rates across the country and sees a flashing “THEM” in their mind. As in THEM, not US. The suburbs, middle-class enclaves that they are, have largely avoided news reporters interested in reporting on foreclosures. No longer. According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, [...]