Judge says Dell is GUILTY of deceiving consumers

"Dell has engaged in repeated misleading, deceptive and unlawful business conduct, including false and deceptive advertising of financing promotions and the terms of warranties, fraudulent, misleading and deceptive practices in credit financing and failure to provide warranty service and rebates," Supreme Court Justice Joseph C. Teresi said in his decision(CNN). The court will hold further proceedings to determine restitution.

FINALLY! One win for the consumer..

A WAY AROUND HIGH GAS PRICES

Check this out a new way to avoid paying high gas prices. Pass it on.

You Won't See This On American Idol

The truth behind our oil crisis. Something each and every American should see. Can you believe it, gas prices could be $1.50 if the president and vice president approved it to be. Our government is telling us lies. Media sources like 9 News won't even cover it and the people in Windsor Colorado,Santa Cruz Fire victims haven't even heard about it. So please share your thoughts after watching this shocking video.
ufc results, Dick Martin, Bj Penn, Breaker Morant, Gnarls Barkley

Indiana Jones is back! Whooooo Hooooo!

Sorry but I'm an 80's baby! Is anyone else excited?? I can't wait to see Harrison Ford as well as Indy newcomers, Cate Blanchett and Shia LaBeouf burn up the silver screen with this new action adventure. Although I think movie theaters are WAY too expensive, I hope this film is WORTH EVERY DOLLAR! Thank goodness this movie isn't scheduled to be released the same weekend as Sex in the City! With the price of gas, I can only afford one movie...

Jetblue puts passenger on the toilet!

What kind of crap is this??

Laughter, admist all the money spent....or wasted.

Hillary Clinton recently asked for an increase in contributions to fund her efforts of pursuing the presidency of the United States, whether the plea helped or not we will know soon enough. Money is spent each and every day by our politicians to increase their reach and frequency of exposure to the American people. They need to reach as many people and as often as they can afford, but just enough to make us feel like their not pushing anything on us...right? The political race for the U.S. Presidency in 2008 has brought about many faces, some new and some...old. I have to admit that seeing some candidates withdraw from the race due to financial concerns within their parties spending, has been a good laugh. So in spite of the million dollars of spending that has been going on since 2007 to buy our vote, we can at least enjoy this video and tell ourselves that the money was spent on good efforts for a good cause.

GAS Robbery On the Rise

Can you believe it, people are stealing gas. Not only from gas stations but from your tanks. So the next time your pumping gas make sure you don't dose off becasue before you know it someone may be stealing your gas. I highly suggest buying a locking gas cap to protect this expensive highly demanding item since it has become so expensive and so highly demanded that people are stealing it. This has become redicuolus, the next thing were going to here is someone has stolen the gas out of celine Dion, Leona Lewis and Chris Browns gas tanks.

Where Will Your Tax Rebate Go?

"The money is going to help Americans offset the high prices we're seeing at the gas pump, the grocery store, and also give our economy a boost to help us pull out of this economic slowdown," President Bush has said.

There has been a 4% increase in consumer prices in the past year. That is the biggest increase in 17 years! The tax rebate is supposed to be used to stimulate the economy in hopes that consumers will purchase more. The question is: How far will your tax rebate go?

With the overwhelming increase in gas, groceries, and travel, your tax rebate seems to only offset the higher prices, which does not make it seem like free money anymore. For example, how much did you spend per month on gas two years ago compared to now? What about for groceries? The dollar difference could eventually lead to what you get back in your tax rebate. In addition, eventually we will be taxed on this money next year which goes directly back to the government.

There is a potential lesson here. When you decide what to do with your tax rebate, consider investing it.

So, tell me, what do you plan on doing with your tax rebate??

Difficult to keep up with the Joneses...

The Joneses...an interesting topic to consider and delve into when time permits. Your neighbors purchase a new car and the question comes to mind, "Is my car up to date? I did hear some noise under the hood yesterday". Your neighbors express how much of a fun time they had on a recent cruise they experienced, once again questions which put the focus on their joy and our lack of. These situations are not rare, if anything we rather not admit to ourselves how selfish we are. Since the 90's consumers have been overly selfish and lost the ability to control their urges for consumption or, in these cases, for keeping up with the Joneses. As you can see depicted in the image from the Federal Reserve Board, the ability consumers have had to access credit has lead to an over extension to the concept of living within your means. Due to our current state of economy consumers are seeing that financing their cars, houses, and expenses will be more difficult as time progresses, requiring consumers to consider saving for purchases instead of paying with credit. Please share thoughts on this topic and tools that may have helped you in avoiding the debt amidst a society which cannot say NO to wants.

Don't believe the Iphone hype!

Although very attractive, don't be fooled by Apple's iPhone. It is the most arrogantly, overrated cell phone that I've come across recently. Most low budget phones can forward simple text messages, not the iPhone. Most popular phones have some sort of access to instant message, not the iPhone. This phone costs in the mid-$400's and Apple only provides a 1 year LIMITED warranty that covers only defective phones and an additional extension for the low price of $69.99 (gas, thanks). There is NO insurance for this phone that I know of. And don't crack the screen, the geniuses at the genius bar can't recover the data. Oh, but they do refer you to an outside company who may or may not be able to help; cost is approximately $1000 for a consultation. Sounds like another business getting over on another (thousand) consumers. Tell me about your iPhone woes.

Is Parking Enforcement getting over too?

I recieved a $30 parking ticket on CSUEB's Hayward campus for a "no permit" violation. I immediately appealed the citation because I have paid (full price) for a current parking permit. Why was my claim denied and what purpose is served (besides sticking it to students) by letting the citation remain valid? Where does CSUEB's parking fees go anyway? Has anyone else experienced this?

Cell phone companies get over on the consumer!!

I have an issue with T-Mobile's award winning customer care (sham) and their billing system including the online service (always inaccurate). My 4 1/2 year t-mobile account was cancelled for nonpayment on February 16. On March 28, I called t-mobile's award winning customer care line to inform them of my hardship and to inquire about bringing my account current and possibly restoring service (because my contract ends in July). The rep informed to me that I had 90 days to restore my account from the date of the cancellation; I could pay the outstanding balance minus the $200 early termination fee and pay a $20 restoration fee to restore the main line on my account. I guess I assumed that I had time to restore my account especially since a little time later, I received a paper t-mobile bill in the mail dated April 2 stating that my full balance is due April 22. WRONG-- I received a letter from a credit collection agency dated April 7. T-mobile closed and sent my account (including the early term fee) to a credit collection agency either on April 4(according to one t-mobile rep) or March 31(according to the last manager I spoke to); either way, no more than a week after I spoke to them on March 28. Two of t-mobile's managers could not explain why I was, according to them, given the wrong restoration info nor could they explain why I received two conflicting letters/invoices on t-mobile's behalf. When one manager couldn't logically explain the discrepancies, he insulted me and went as far as to blame me for my account not being paid in the first place (as if I didn't get that part). The manager said that I should have known that it would be sent to collections (even though he stated that they, as t-mobile managers, don't know when an account would be referred to collections because t-mobile has no procedure, nor guidelines, nor timeline for such actions). What?

Please share your thoughts and experiences with cell phone companies

More School Budget Cuts...Will College Students Ever Catch a Break?

Who else feels like they are getting screwed every quarter with the constant increase in tuition fees and textbooks? I know I do! In my opinion, if we are considered the minds of the future, why is the government making it so difficult and expensive for us to get a higher education? Here is Schwarzenegger's view on the subject....

Pain In The GAS, GAS, GAS...

My tank is on E, not again. Someone please help us, gas prices these days are a joke. As consumers of this highly demanded product with supplies being scarce, we are paying the price. We need to seriously start looking for alternative fuels to power our world of automobiles. I don't know about all of you, but I'm sick and tired of paying $3.94 for regular. What would happen if we all stopped buying gas for a week and used alternative sources of transportation? Do you think the prices would go down? Don't forget to check out gasbuddy.com for the cheapest gas in your area. Check out the video below.

money...goes faster than it comes...

I am paid on the 1st and the 15th...bills are mailed out on the 10th and the 20th. Fortunately for me I have been able to make my cash flow steady; however, recently I have been noticing the amount I keep declining. I look at the hours I worked and their the same, I look at the fridge and it looks empty, I look at my closet and nothing new....what going on? Inflation. I can't buy anything anymore without taking a step back and confirming I am not buying on impulse...I HATE IT! Well throughout this blog we will be sharing our thoughts on what it is that we speculate is experiencing inflation and possibly together we can gain an advantage by sharing ideas of how to get around the invisible thieves.