Category Archives: Consumer activism

Grammar Police on patrol

For those whom this might amuse: From: Jonathan Kamens <jik@kamens.brookline.ma.us> To: info@commutercheckdirect.com Subject: Typographical error on “Commuter Benefits Order Fulfillment” email OK, so admit it, I’m ridiculously picky, and this is a ridiculously trivial thing I’m writing to you about.  Still, on the off chance that someone there might care about it…   The “Commuter Benefits… Read More: Grammar Police on patrol »

Administaff disappoints

A little less than a year ago, my employer, Tamale Software (since acquired by Advent Software, in what I would happily classify as the fourth successful acquisition of the five in which I’ve been involved), decided to outsource its human resources function to the Professional Employer Organization (PEO) Administaff (note: Tamale used Administaff, but Advent doesn’t,… Read More: Administaff disappoints »

Citi Smith Barney incompetence

November 14, 2008 Branch Manager Chase Group 2775 Sand Hill Road, Suite 120 Menlo Park, CA 94025 To whom it may concern: I am writing to complain about Citi Smith Barney’s poor service, incompetence, gouging me out of a bogus $95 fee, and then trying to snow me into believing that it wasn’t your fault.

Recs for downtown Boston businesses: Long’s Jewelry, Minuteman Coin & Jewelry, Watch Hospital, Downtown Barbers

I went for a walk downtown today to get a new battery for my wife’s watch, and I was pleasantly surprised to have positive experiences with four different businesses.  So here’s a shout out to… Long’s Jewelry and Watch Store at 100 Summer Street (617-426-8500).  I stopped here first.  The woman who helped me was friendly,… Read More: Recs for downtown Boston businesses: Long’s Jewelry, Minuteman Coin &… »

AT&T Tilt continues the tradition of crappy Windows Mobile phones

So, I know that I said that when my phone contract expired I was going to switch to PalmOS or BlackBerry, because the software on the AT&T 8525 (a.k.a. HTC Hermes) was so sucky. But when push came to shove and I needed to buy a new phone (because I dropped the old one for… Read More: AT&T Tilt continues the tradition of crappy Windows Mobile phones »

Virgin Mobile sucks

I sent the letter below to the CEO of Vigin Mobile over a month ago.  Thus far, there has been no response. Can anyone suggest a decent, inexpensive prepaid cell phone service?

“American Friends of Tzohar”: disreputable, money-wasting charity

As I’ve written previously, I’ve been trying for almost a year to eliminate junk mail from my mailbox. The main strategy I use for this is, quite simply, to ask the organizations that send me junk mail to stop, and to escalate my request when it goes unheeded.  In extreme cases, where the escalation is… Read More: “American Friends of Tzohar”: disreputable, money-wasting charity »