Why is PayPal still so incredibly awful?

Even if you jump through all of PayPal's hoops and give them all the information they ask for when creating an account, they may still decide to arbitrarily lock you out of your account and never restore your access. #PayPal #LiberaPay #Charity #ComputerSecurity #infosec #ConsumerActivism #fraud

https://blog.kamens.us/2023/08/12/why-is-paypal-still-so-incredibly-awful/

The major credit reporting agencies are all still dumpster fires

I tried to dispute incorrect information. The process didn't fully work at any of the agencies. I was eventually able to dispute all of the incorrect information at one, but I was unable to dispute so

https://blog.kamens.us/2023/07/12/the-major-credit-reporting-agencies-are-all-still-dumpster-fires/

#ConsumerActivism #GovernmentActivism #ConsumerFinancialProtectionBureau #CreditReporting #Equifax #Experian #TransUnion

How a bad password policy at Bank of America reduces security

When you force people to use hard-to-remember passwords, you're actually forcing them to use bad passwords.

https://blog.kamens.us/2023/06/09/how-a-bad-password-policy-at-bank-of-america-reduces-security/

#ComputerSecurity #Computers #ConsumerActivism #Internet #UserExperience #Web #BankOfAmerica #BoA #InformationSecurity #infosec #PasswordReuse #PasswordSecurity #passwords

Trivial discovery of the day: “calorie” data in Garmin data exports is actually joules

Garmin data exports measure activity energy in joules but label it as calories. 1 calorie == 4.184 joules.

https://blog.kamens.us/2023/06/07/trivial-discovery-of-the-day-calorie-data-in-garmin-data-exports-is-actually-joules/

#Computers #ConsumerActivism #UserExperience #calories #DataScience #exercise #fitness #Garmin #joules

Target's political donations to Republicans backfired

https://www.newsweek.com/targets-political-donations-republicans-backfired-1804374

#Newsweek #TargetDonations #RepublicanBacklash #CorporatePoliticalSpending #BoycottTarget #ConsumerActivism #Politics #News

If you’re upset about the “Hachette” decision, blame the Internet Archive for overstepping
The Internet Archive couldn't leave well enough alone, and now we're all going to pay the price.
https://blog.kamens.us/2023/03/25/if-youre-upset-about-the-hachette-decision-blame-the-internet-archive-for-overstepping/
#Computers #ConsumerActivism #GovernmentActivism #Internet #Law #SocialActivism #Web #capitalism #CDL #DRM #HachetteVInternetArchive

Neighborhood CVS reneges on agreement to allow neighbors to park in lot, has them towed
Chapter 3: The Verdict
Alas, the magistrate ruled in favor of CVS, so I’m out the $150 towing fee, plus the $4.60 for the letter I sent them demanding reimbursement, plus the $40 small claims fee. D’oh.
https://blog.kamens.us/2023/03/01/neighborhood-cvs-reneges-on-agreement-to-allow-neighbors-to-park-in-lot-has-them-towed-3/
#Boston #ConsumerActivism #Law #SmallClaimsCourt #CVS #CVSParkingLotSaga #JikBlogFlashback

<a href="https://blog.kamens.us/2023/02/16/neighborhood-cvs-reneges-on-agreement-to-allow-neighbors-to-park-in-lot-has-them-towed-2/">Neighborhood CVS reneges on agreement to allow neighbors to park in lot, has them towed</a>
[If you're just arriving at this story for the first time, start here
https://blog.kamens.us/2023/03/01/neighborhood-cvs-reneges-on-agreement-to-allow-neighbors-to-park-in-lot-has-them-towed-3/
#Boston #ConsumerActivism #Law #SmallClaimsCourt #CVS #CVSParkingLotSaga

LastPass still hasn’t learned the first rule of being in a hole
LastPass sent out an email and published a blog posting today to go with the support article they published earlier this week. They keep making things worse.
https://blog.kamens.us/2023/03/01/lastpass-still-hasnt-learned-the-first-rule-of-being-in-a-hole/
#ComputerSecurity #Computers #ConsumerActivism #Internet #DataBreach #infosec #LastPass

Newly released details about the recent LastPass security incident are bad
The newly released details about last fall's LastPass breach and their response to it are bad, and LastPass should feel bad, and you should stop using LastPass.
https://blog.kamens.us/2023/02/28/newly-released-details-about-the-recent-lastpass-security-incident-are-bad/
#ComputerSecurity #Computers #ConsumerActivism #Internet #DataBreach #infosec #LastPass

#PSA: Many #LED #lightbulbs don't last their warranty period or the hours they claim to last. When you install one, save the receipt and write on the base with a fine-tip permanent marker: the date you bought it, the number of hours it's rated for, and the warranty length. If it fails prematurely, you can use that info and the receipt to get a free replacement. You'll save some cash, and people doing this incentivizes manufacturers to stop selling crap bulbs. #ConsumerActivism

“SoftHQ” earns a place in my tech recruiter hall of shame
A SoftHQ recruiter called me four times in two days, emailed me twice in two days, all for a job that he should never have been contacting me about. My attempt to complain to SoftHQ failed because the contact email on their web site bounces.
#ConsumerActivism #OnTheJob #SoftHQ #recruiters #JikBlogFlashback

Avoid Advance Auto Parts in Allston, MA
Advance Auto Parts jumps the shark, sells me bulbs that don't work in my car after claiming they will, and won't give me a refund when I try to return them. Corporate claims they're looking into the matter.
https://blog.kamens.us/2023/02/24/avoid-advance-auto-parts-in-allston-ma/
#Boston #ConsumerActivism #AdvanceAutoParts #NAPAAutoParts

<a href="https://blog.kamens.us/2023/02/15/neighborhood-cvs-reneges-on-agreement-to-allow-neighbors-to-park-in-lot-has-them-towed/">Neighborhood CVS reneges on agreement to allow neighbors to park in lot, has them towed</a>
Background information about how small-claims court works, plus a detailed acco
https://blog.kamens.us/2023/02/16/neighborhood-cvs-reneges-on-agreement-to-allow-neighbors-to-park-in-lot-has-them-towed-2/
#ConsumerActivism #Law #SmallClaimsCourt #CVS #CVSParkingLotSaga

Neighborhood CVS reneges on agreement to allow neighbors to park in lot, has them towed
Chapter 1: The Incident

My wife and I moved into our home in 1997.

When we moved in, the neighborhood grocery store half a block from our house had just closed and was in the process of being replaced by a CVS which is sti
https://blog.kamens.us/2023/02/15/neighborhood-cvs-reneges-on-agreement-to-allow-neighbors-to-park-in-lot-has-them-towed/
#Boston #ConsumerActivism #Law #SmallClaimsCourt #CVS

@aweiss The same way if you are on the bird app, you are paying the jerk who doesn't even pay taxes. #ConsumerActivism

How GEICO went from 5/5 to 0/5 over the course of a single claim
Dear GEICO,

I'm writing to explain how, over the course of your handling of a single claim, you went from being a company I would definitely recommend to others to one which I would under no circumstances recommend. If you actually care about winning and keeping customers, you might
https://blog.kamens.us/2023/02/06/how-geico-went-from-5-5-to-0-5-over-the-course-of-a-single-claim/
#ConsumerActivism #AutoInsurance #GEICO

Dear Sony, why are you so bad at this
What should have been a simple transaction on my PS4 instead turns out to be an hour+-long debacle of things going wrong.
https://blog.kamens.us/2023/01/10/dear-sony-why-are-you-so-bad-at-this/
#Computers #ConsumerActivism #Internet #UserExperience #Web #PlayStationPlus #Sony

Why you should not use RegScale
Companies that engage in slimy marketing practices tend to be slimy companies. RegScale fits that description, so you should avoid doing business with them.
https://blog.kamens.us/2023/01/05/why-you-should-not-use-regscale/
#ComputerSecurity #Computers #ConsumerActivism #email #Spam #compliance #InformationSecurity #infosec #RegScale

@ashleykolodziej Tell me about it! Getting #GlobeDirect to stop is like pulling teeth.
I've never been able to get #Comcast to stop. They've sent me at least 19 mailings so far this year. This is one reason their rates are so high, they waste tons of money on mailings.
#JunkMail #ConsumerActivism