One of my pet peeves is how we, as consumers, are subjected to petty theft and abuse on a daily basis.  Of course, it’s generally too small to be worth our time and effort, as attorneys, to deal with.  But it pisses me off, and I just don’t like being a pin cushion.

And so I stumbled upon The Consumerist.  Though not a law blog, it’s quite interesting and certainly holds no punches.  Frankly, I believe that the reason so many businesses get away with it is that we refuse to demand better and continue to patronize businesses that fail to fulfill their claims.  I can’t speak for anyone else, but when I promise something, I deliver.  There are no excuses. 

Consider this:  Have you ever noticed that when someone you pay for a product or service actually delivers, you’re so thrilled that you heap lavish praise upon them, swearing that you will never go elsewhere and coming dangerously close to promising your youngest daughter’s hand in marriage?  Why are we so thrilled by the mere fact that someone actually does exactly what we have paid them to do?  Because it is that rare.  What kind of sick world is that?

And as long as I’m on a run here, let me tell you how I stumbled across The Consumerist.  I was googling my VOiP provider, Sunrocket, to find out if there was anything out there about a consumer scam I came across today.  I signed up with a promotion for 3 additional months if the year was paid in advance.  When I questions the customer service rep as to why my invoice did not show the 3 additional months, I was told (by a very nice official young woman) that I would get the 3 free months after I paid for the second year, at which time I would receive a credit. 

This comes on top of voluminous service problems, constant “I’m sorry for the inconvenience” excuses and a bottom line failure to provide the service for which I paid.  Just another ordinary day for the American consumer.  Kinda ironic that the nice kids who work as customer service reps don’t perceive their role as cogs in the big wheel.  Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I called an old friend in the New York State Attorney General’s office to see what they could do about ol’ Sunrocket.  He was not amused.