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Stealth Inflation
prostoalex writes "The New York Times on the Web explores the topic of incorrect bills and numerous surcharges with names like 'assessment', 'handling', 'restocking', etc. David Pogue quotes Business Week magazine, where it says that such small charges $100 million annually for hotels, $2 billion for banks and $11 billion for credit-card companies. Users of landline phones, cell phones, checking accounts and credit cards are starting to suspect that such huge revenue might imply the mistakes are made on purpose. Is it just another conspiracy theory, or are we becoming victims to the stealth inflation?"
In California a year or three ago one of the major grocery store chains was slapped with a class action lawsuit and lost, IIRC. They were just ringing items up slightly wrong, like collard greens as the more expensive kale (happened to me. Twice. I don't shop at that chain anymore) or $.99 instead of $.79 for misc. food in a can, small stuff, stuff you probably don't notice 99% of the time. Spread it out across a year, they could screw customers out of maybe $100 each. Multiply that by however many people you've got buying groceries at your stores and that's a lot of "revenue."
Or he could perhaps consider a credit union, where you're the shareholder as well as the customer. I use Boeing Employee's Credit Union and while I've had a couple of problems (due to their not changing my address properly in their system, making the already-faulty AVS more problematic) I'm very happy with them. I don't get nickle-and-dimed to death.
- CALIFORNIA CODES
The beauty (or horror, depending on your perspective) is the "unfair" part. What was not technically illegal in the past may now be sued for if it is "unfair."BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE
SECTION 17200
17200. As used in this chapter, unfair competition shall mean and
include any unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business act or practice
and unfair, deceptive, untrue or misleading advertising and any act
prohibited by Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17500) of Part 3 of
Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code.
Next case, hidden bank and ATM fees...
Slashdot "libertarians": Small government for me, big government for those I disagree with. -1, I disagree with you
Yes, the parent poster made a typo. It should be "Fight fire with a federal crime".
Don't get yourself in trouble trying to "get back at the Man." I hate the Man as much as anyone, but there are smart ways and dumb ways to fight.
-B
I'll give you an example of how this thinking is flawed.
In 2000 ATT was my local cable service, I wanted pay channels and a remote control.
They quoted me a price, which was no where close to what I actually paid.
Normal Sales Tax, I calculate this into everything already, I expect it, roads, schools and such.
Additional charge for the remote controls, the installer said they're extra, huh?
County franchise tax, which has something to do with the fact their cable is strung through the county.
City Franchise tax, same as above, but for the wire strewn through the city.
Sales tax was calculated after these taxes, the bill was over $50.00 greater than the quoted rate. I argued with ATT to at least calculate the sales tax corretly, they essentially told me to F$%@ off.
So I did, I canceled cable, went to circuit city, bought a directv system, installed it myself and later that day had crystal clear satellite with just sales tax added in.
Then I canceled my long distance with ATT after a phone conversation cost me $1.00 a minute, they said I'm not on a plan, so I asked about one, they said I had to pay additional fees every month to be on one, I told them to F#$% off this time, canceled long distance service entirely on the landline, the cellphone has nationwide anyhow.
After sometime I saw a deal with ATT cellular online, it looked better than everything else out at the time, and my current cingular contract was up. I signed up online, the phone was shipped quickly, no hassels, until several months later.....
They apparently decided I didn't need the free bonus minutes, or the nights and weekends like I signed up with, I got a $490 cellphone bill, I lost the paperwork I signed up with, they did back credit for that month, but how many other months did they screw me on and how many people actually sit down with the calculator to tally all their minutes?
ATT has forever lost my business, this includes comcast, no matter the marketing spin, no matter the offer, they will never again be someone I pay cash to.
Oh and nearly everyone I know has kicked them to the curb as well.