Articles on Consumer Affairs

Blergh! Could you eat these strange canned foods?

I was raised on canned food. We never had much money, so my folks bought food in cans because it lasted forever, it was cheap and, if dented or without a label, really really cheap

Multi-Level Marketing: The Future or Folly?

Multi Level Marketing (MLM). Also known as Network Marketing or Direct Marketing, and even commonly (incorrectly) referred to as Pyramid Schemes, this type of business entity

It Broke? Check for a Recall

Recalls aren't just for toys. If something breaks, especially earlyish in the product's life, check it out and you may just get a free replacement.

The Coffee Cup Revolution: Let's Take a Stand!

Let's start an easy revolution. One in which you, me, and everybody else who frequents coffee shops can eliminate 23lbs of waste per year and save 18% of what goes into landfil

Why I was an AT&T wireless customer…for 72 hours.

For the last 7-8 years, I have been a loyal Virgin Mobile customer. I liked the prepaid pricing plan, the customer service, I didn’t want a large monthly bill or overage charges. E

GYM Class: THE DIY, DIFNF Thesis

If you know that you aren't going to be able to work out more than three times a week, if you have a fitness center in your apartment complex or if you're self-motivated an

Frequent Flyer Junkie? Manage your Miles Here

It's a daunting world of rewards programs out there. From frequent flyer miles with every major airline, to hotel reward programs, to individual store loyalty plans, not

Get your piece of the Diamond Class Action pie.

Hands up if you bought diamond jewelry between 1994 and 2006. Well, if you did you can claim some of the $295 million that has been set aside in the DeBeers class action lawsuit.

How the Banks Were Fleeced -- A Primer to Mortgage Fraud

Have you seen homes in your neighborhood sell for unreasonable prices and quickly end up in foreclosure? If this is a common occurence then perhaps there is a ring of thieves commi

Get Your Own Identity! What to do when Yours is Stolen

Identity theft is considered an increasing national epidemic, being the fastest growing crime in the nation. And until you discover that somebody else has stolen your identit

Our Obsession to Clean is Making Us Trashy

I hate to clean just as much as the next person, so many of the new products on the market can be helpful to my daily routine. Others, however,

Unauthorized Video Game Hack May Net Consumers Up to $35

Discussion over the original version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas might have ended with its recall in 2005. A recent class-a

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The See's Candies debacle

For those of you (and I presume there were many) who took up the incredible See's candies offer I posted yesterday, I have bad news. I too got the email from See's saying t

How to Buy All That Stuff the Police Seize. And It's Cheap.

Here's a terrific site that lets you bid on all sorts of great stuff at silly prices.

Google Reader invades your privacy and it's not going to stop

Before 12/14, Google Reader already had a "sharing" feature, which allows you to share posts with people that you had explicitly identified as friends you wanted to share

Many Happy Returns: 5 Tips for Getting What You Really Want This Holiday

Sadly, a recent poll by Inside Indiana Business reports that 13 percent of consumer

I Shouldn't Have to Pay for This! A Consumer's Guide to your Rights

If you buy something that stops working immediately and the seller refuses to refund your money, do you still have to pay for it?

My Car is a Lemon! What Now?

It all looked so great at the outset. But numerous trips to the mechanic and problems at the side of the road have shown you that you unwittingly purchased a lemon of a car.

DeepDiscount.com's Price Match...don't hold your breath

I'm sorry to say that my long-time lover affair with DeepDiscount.com has come to an abrupt end. I've always been a fan of their low prices and free shipping, but even bett

It Pays to Call and Ask

Sometimes you have to ask 20 different people 20 different ways. It's usually worth it.