jik200,000 Consumers (And Counting) Ask Their Phone Companies To Just Let Them Block Robocalls Alreadyde

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(Jenn and Tony Bot)

You still hate robocalls. We still hate robocalls. And over 200,000 other Americans hate robocalls, too, and have signed on to a petition asking their phone companies to just roll out the darn tech to block them already.

Our colleagues at Consumers Union (the advocacy arm of Consumerist’s parent company, Consumer Reports) launched the petition, at endrobocalls.org, in late February and already over 200,000 people have signed.

There are tools available that phone companies could be using to block robocalls, and the FTC has said that it would be perfectly acceptable for phone companies to do so. The petition asks phone companies to offer those tools to consumers.

“Americans are fed up with being harassed by robocalls and they are demanding relief,” said Christina Tetreault, staff attorney for Consumers Union. “Our campaign is just getting started but hundreds of thousands have already joined the fight. The phone companies need to start listening and provide their customers with effective tools to block unwanted robocalls.”

“Telephone companies have huge technology departments and pin their whole brands around being so innovative,” Tetreault added. “They could lean in and solve this problem that affects millions of their customers if they really wanted.”

Last year, the FTC received more than 3 million complaints about unwanted robocalls. Many are already in violation of existing rules, or originate overseas where U.S. regulators can’t easily reach. Giving consumers the ability to opt-in to call-blocking tech, or to create their own block-lists or whitelists, would drastically reduce the hassle to many.

In the meantime, if you’re getting unwanted robocalls despite being on the do-not-call list, you can file a complaint with the FCC in their new and improved help center here.

by Kate Cox via Consumerist

jikIHOP Giving Away Free Pancakes Tomorrow For Charityde

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(Great Beyond)

It’s that time of year again — the day IHOP shovels stacks of free pancakes onto plates across America, all in the name of charity. That day will be tomorrow morning, March 3, so mark your calendars and tell yourself not to forget.

This marks the 10th year in a row that the breakfast chain has slung free buttermilk stacks in celebration of National Pancake Day, and to benefit charity.

Hungry customers can head to their local IHOP for a free stack of pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and while the pancakes are free, IHOP is encouraging people to donate at least what they might normally pay for them — $5 — to their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

Once you’ve done that, you do end up getting free pancakes in essence, with a coupon worth $5 off their next IHOP visit.

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

jikUse Your RadioShack And Deb Gift Cards Right Nowde

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(Phillip Pessar)

Do you have gift cards lingering in your wallet from RadioShack or Deb? If so, put down the device you’re reading this post on and head over to the store right now to spend that card. That’s only slightly hyperbolic, but card holders will need to get to RadioShack before March 5 and to Deb before March 8 to cash in their cards before they’re worthless.

When a retailer declares bankruptcy, they do not have to honor gift cards purchased before the bankruptcy at all. They usually request to be able to do so, and judges usually grant this request. It isn’t just good for consumers in general, but prevents customers from making claims for their unspent gift cards in bankruptcy court.

Holders of Borders gift cards tried to reclaim some of their money in a class action lawsuit, which was dismissed.

Retailers usually to accept gift cards for 30 days after the bankruptcy, which is the case with Radio Shack. Deb filed on January 7, and will accept gift cards until March 8.

Sometimes competitors will let you exchange unredeemed gift cards for a discount: Toys ‘R’ Us, for example, would give holders of K-B Toys gift cards 15% off one item. The reader who contacted us six months after that chain went out of business was out of luck, though, which is why you should hurry to the store to spend your gift cards when you hear that a chain is in trouble.

RadioShack Gifts That Don’t Keep On Giving [Bloomberg News]

by Laura Northrup via Consumerist

jikSuspected Walmart Masturbator Says He Has “A Problem With Sticking His Hands In His Pants”de

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(JeepersMedia)

While no stuffed animals were involved this time, yet another Walmart patron has been arrested and accused of pleasuring himself in front of his fellow shoppers.

Police in South Carolina say a man was seen masturbating in several sections of a Myrtle Beach Walmart Saturday afternoon, with customers and employees alleging that they saw him expose himself several times, reports The Smoking Gun.

One Walmart worker told police that a female customer had reported that the man was acting “weird” in the men’s department. When the worker went to check things out, she saw that the man “had his penis out of his pants and was rubbing it.”

While he’d cover himself when someone moved toward him, the worker said, he’d go right back to doing what he’d been doing “when he thought no one was watching him.”

Two other workers also reported seeing the man doing his bedroom business in the store. When a police officer approached him, he placed his jacket “over the front of his pants” and tried to walk away.

Upon arrest for indecent exposure, he reportedly told police that he “had a problem with sticking his hands in his pants.”

Another Satisfied Walmart Customer Gets Arrested [The Smoking Gun]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

jikCostco Announces New Credit Card Partnership With Citi, Visade

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(Rick Takagi)

It seems Costco is not one to sit around pining for old flames very long, as the shopping club announced today that it’s rebounding from the end of its relationship with American Express with a new partnership with Citigroup and Visa.

Costco has dubbed the two companies as its new credit partners starting in April of next year, reports the Wall Street Journal. Previously, only AmEx credit cards and debit cards were accepted at the wholesale retailer.

This means only Citi will be able to issue Costco co-branded credit cards, and it will make Visa the exclusive credit-card network for Costco’s stores. While it’s clearly a big win for Visa and Citi, Costco hasn’t revealed any financial terms of the deal.

It would seem that whatever the agreement involves, it’s more favorable for Costco than the arrangement it had with AmEx: Costco had been trying to come to new terms in its AmEx deal, but the two sides couldn’t reach a mutually beneficial decision, the company said. Instead, Costco said that ending its relationship with AmEx was about saving money for customers.

As of March 31, 2016, AmEx Costco-branded credit cards will be useless, giving customers just over a year to make the switch — if they want to. Customers can still use debit cards from either Visa or MasterCard, as well as Costco cash cards, which can be purchased online.

Costco Names Citi, Visa as New Credit Partners [Wall Street Journal]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

jikIKEA Making Furniture With Built-In Charging Stationsde

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(Steve/a>)

Rummaging through drawers to find the right power cord for your smartphone, tablet and other electronic devices can be a frustrating task. Soon, though, you might be able to juice up your device simply by placing it on the IKEA bookshelf, desk or nightstand littering your home.

Mashable reports that the Swedish furniture company will incorporate technology into several product offerings to allow consumers to charge their devices by placing it on the “X.”

The technology, called Qi, is already available in many public locations, including some Starbucks stores.

Although the new technology will eliminate much of the cord clutter we’ve all become accustomed to, IKEA says the furniture will still need a power source to facilitate the energy transfer.

In addition to offering the new furniture with built-in stations, IKEA will also sell wireless charging kits that can fit into existing furniture.

The new technologically advanced furniture doesn’t appear to break the bank, with pieces averaging about $22 more than typical IKEA pieces. But there’s no word on whether or not the charging stations will make assembly anymore difficult than it already is.

IKEA furniture will soon be able to wirelessly charge your mobile device [Mashable]

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

jikHyundai Recalls 200,000 Vehicles For Steering Issuesde

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(Van Swearingen)

Here’s the thing about driving a car: no one wants it to be more difficult or dangerous than it needs to be. That’s why Hyundai is recalling more than 200,000 with steering issues.

According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notice [PDF], Hyundai will recall 204,768 model year 2008 to 2010 Elantras and 2009 to 2010 Elantra Touring vehicles.

Hyundai says the electric power steering (EPS) electric control unit (ECU) may sense a discrepancy in the steering input signals and, as a result, disable the steering power assist.

Although steering control can be maintained, the manufacture says the vehicle could revert to manual steering mode, requiring greater driver effort from the driver, especially at low speeds. Additionally, the changes could increase the risk of a crash.

Hyundai will notify owners of affected vehicles, and dealers will examine the EPS and update software if needed.

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist