Articles on Consumer Affairs

Tactics for avoiding the thumbprint-for-cash request

Does providing a thumbprint or fingerprint to cash an honestly-received check make you feel like a criminal? The practice adopted by many U.S. banks to protect itself and its custo

The Student Who Created a PR Nightmare Via Wikipedia

Virgil Griffith created a program called Wikipedia Scanner that lets you know who has been editing articles on Wikipedia and what they've been removing.

Share your brilliant burst (or dashed dream) as a consumer advocate

Ever protested an unfair retail policy, pointed out that an advertisement is misleading, organized a boycott, or somehow advocated for yourself or another consumer? Whether you won

How to Erase Your Medical Debt

As most of you know, the cost of healthcare in the United States is outrageous! [more]

Your cell phone number is no longer unlisted

My cell phone is my only phone, which saves me quite a bit of money every month. Telemarketers don't have the number. [more]

Laws the Leg-Breakers Don’t Want You to Know About

Gone are the days when debt collectors only hassled the lazy, financially inept, or the completely downtrodden and hopelessly unlucky. [more]

XBox 360 - Don't buy one until 2008.

I know several people with an XBox 360. Six in fact. Three of those six have had no end of problems, and to me a 50% chance of buying a crappy product is just not good enough. [more]

The end of the Energizer bunny: SIX products that don't need batteries.

Since I became a father, my household's battery consumption has quadrupled. [more]

Did Office Max hire an accountant with an I.Q. of 62?

I think I may be losing my grip on reality. Recently I received four coupons in the mail from my local Office Max. Two coupons were for $10 off a purchase of $10. [more]

When greed backfires - an iPhone story.

  As you all know, the iPhone launched recently to a flurry of press and TV news coverage. [more]

Shoddy PC repair tech caught in sting operation.

I don't know why, but I get some kind of perverse pleasure from watching scammers get caught in the act. Maybe it's the consumer watchdog in me? Anyway, in the UK there's a fabulous consumer show called House Of Horrors. [more]

Pure Genius - All In The Name Of Eco-Friendly

Ok, recycling is as eco-friendly as I get so far, and I'm even too lazy for that sometimes. [more]

Will Internet Radio die on July 15th?

If you love the freedom and variety of Internet Radio, today is not going to be a good day for you. Today is Internet Radio Day Of Silence. [more]

The mystery shopping scam that could cost you a fortune.

For many years now, thousands of folks have been earning a little extra cash by doing Mystery Shopping (aka Secret Shopping). [more]

$6500 repair bill to remove a stone from a moon roof

How many times have you felt like someone was ripping you off? Hopefully, you can trust your gut instincts, just like the guy in this video below. You can watch the full 7 minutes for yourself, but the basic story is this. [more]

Last night I threatened to disconnect my cable

Sit down, relax, and let me tell you a story. A story about how you get to be a hero, and how to get your cable company begging on all fours like a dog. [more]

Canadians Try To Kill Your Pets - Pet Food Recall

Canada is at it again. This time, it's not mad cow (as far as we know), but will these insidious northerners never stop? [more]

Telemarketers Prank Call Me - 800-266-9420

Constant calls from 800-266-9420? Fight back.