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The Reader's business reporter, Don Bauder, shows why Wall Street loves SDG&E and Sempra: They practically own the decision-makers at the agency responsible for regulating them. According to Bauder, the regulators' mission is "massaging utilities and maiming consumers." More.
SKY HIGH ... Just as we predicted, gas prices have climbed past the $3.10 a gallon mark, setting a new record for 2009. DETAILS.
T-Mobile begins charging all customers $1.50 for the privilege of receiving your bill in the mail. Oh by the way if you were already paying $1.99 for the privilege of receiving a detailed bill the $1.50 will be added to that total. Are they also going to start sending it postage due?
UPDATE: Sept. 11, 2009 - T-mobile has withdrawn the $1.50 billing charge.
Those annoying prerecorded telemarketing calls are about to become illegal and violaters will face stiff fines. MORE
"Overcharged by Millions" The story behind the legal action that returned $125.00 on average to every City Water Department customer. More. 
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Refineries are raising gas prices even though there is a surplus of gasoline. As one market watcher said. "No one wants it." Get the full story. |
Questions raised by bloggers and online media about AT&T's role in the rejection by Apple of an Google Voice app for the Iphone, have prompted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ask the three companies "what gives." To its credit, it is good to see the FCC asking questions under the new Obama Administration. MORE
UCAN finally had its opportunity to de-politicize the Sunrise issue by taking the ill-conceived project up to the appellate courts. Today, UCAN filed two Petitions with appellate courts.
Fill out this form to request a FREE copy of UCAN's 2009 updated Mobile Phone Plan Checker
Need help resolving a dispute with a company? Get individualized help with your dispute from the Fraud Squad by using our Online Complaint Forms. Once you've filled out a complaint, call the Fraud Squad Hotline at (619) 696-6966!
Cell phone providers will let you get out of your contract for around $175 per phone line with no questions asked.
If that just isn't good enough for you, and it shouldn't be, then take a look at this guide to learn about asserting your rights!
Shopping for wireless with the World's Greatest Consumer
They don't call me the "World's Greatest Consumer" for nothing. Well, perhaps they do. But that's an entirely different story and only tangentially related to my decision to take a personal plunge into buying a new wireless phone and service. Join me on my virtual safari.
-Michael, WGC
Health care reform may be picking up steam as AARP,an organization representing millions of older Americans, and the American Medical Association (AMA) endorse a $1.1 trillion dollar House bill that could come up for a vote as early as this Saturday. READ MORE.
KUSI's Michael Turko masterfully interviewed the City of San Diego Water Department and UCAN about the next water rate hike hearing set for November 17, 2009. The City of San Diego sent tenants and landlords of residential properties, a 4-page flier via Presorted Standard mail; otherwise known as junk mail delivery. UCAN invited anyone without Internet access to call 619-696-6966 to get a copy of the Protest Form. To stop the rate hike, 50% + 1 of the approximate 240,000 ratepayers must send in the form or write a protest letter mailed to: City Clerk, City Administration Building, 202 C Street, MS 2P, San Diego, CA 92101. A letter of protest or the form must be received by the City no later than 10:00 A.M. November, 17, 2009. Watch the video.
Congress is considering the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. UCAN urges its adoption as not only in the best interest of the consumer, but also the financial industry.
Toyota is ordering mandatory inspections of all Toyota and Lexus vehicles after an improperly installed floor mat was linked to a crash that killed four people last month near Santee, California. One of the victims was a California Highway Patrolman, who was driving the vehicle. READ MORE UPDATE: Toyota recalls 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles, according to Channel 10 News.
Michael's aquaponics adventure led him to the water saving potential for hydroponics, e.g. growing plants using water and nutrients, but no soil. So now he has an hydroponics system, to compare to his aquaponics and conventional soil gardens. 
Miracles don't happen often enough in our world. But when Michael starts growing his own fish and food in his garage, then you know that there's some divine intervention because Michael doesn't fish and he's got a brown thumb that makes all leafy things tremble. So how did Advocate Michael become Farmer Michael? One word: AQUAPONICS.
Many Southern California homeowners are weighing the cost of installing solar, but energy experts agree they should first take advantage of lower-cost energy-saving measures that can be taken now -- especially in older homes.
Hiring a contractor for home improvements or repairs can be a tricky and expensive business and there are bad apples out there. If you've had a problem with a contractor, or just want to check one out before signing on the dotted line, you can go to the California State Contractors' License Board's (CSLB) Web site for help.
UCAN received documentation that Best Windows & Doors filed for bankruptcy protection on December 19, 2008. Contact UCAN immediately if you signed a contract around December 19th, or after that date, by filling out the Best Windows & Doors complaint form . The other bad news is that those of you who counted on the promised voucher plan sponsored by NERF (National Energy Rebate Fund), will not be collecting your rebate after the 4 years. NERF is no longer in business either.
The bankruptcy hearing is scheduled for January 26, 2009. So, there's not much time. READ MORE.
Visit our page dedicated to the Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project. You will find news, data, legal hearings and testimony, open-letters from UCAN's executive director, and just about everything else you might want to know regarding this important proposal. Or, listen to Michael Shames explain UCAN's opposition to Sunrise in this UCAN.org podcast.
AT&T's practice of enabling international roaming without customer notification violates the CA Public Utilities Code, which is intended to protect consumers from "cramming" of unauthorized charges. AT&T customers are also being charged for calls that were never placed. UCAN asserts that these customers never sought nor authorized international roaming as a service provided in connection with their cellular phone service.
California Lifeline, formerly known as Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS), provides discounted basic residential (landline) telephone service to low-income households.
UCAN has filed a federal class action complaint against Sprint Nextel (aka Sprint Solutions) for illegally billing customers taxes, fees, and text message charges on data services plans. You can read the complaint here.
December 8th, 2006 was not a good day for San Diego. On that day, San Diego Gas & Electric asked state regulators for permission to raise base rates for electricity and natural gas customers by some $250 million annually for the years 2008 through 2013. You don't need a calculator to realize that adds up to a chilly $1.5 BILLION over those six years. Listen to Michael Shames explain UCAN's position on SDG&E's rate request.
UCAN established that Cingular Wireless engaged in illegal marketing and customer service practices from 2000-2002 and filed a suit in July 2002. The case dragged on for years, but in was worth the wait. In 2006, a CA Court of Appeals judge ruled against Cingular and upheld a CPUC decision to hit Cingular with a large fine for its unconscionable actions. Get all the details inside our issue center.
UCAN's complaint, filed with the California Public Utilities Commission, details how MCI added surcharges to the bills of local phone customers in violation of California law. MCI's new long-distance "Basic Monthly Fee" is being imposed on those customers who use MCI's local phone service...but don't use MCI long-distance.
In a filing with the Public Utilities Commission, SDG&E has asked for approval to deploy "real-time" advanced meters to all of SDG&E's small business and residential customers. Find out why the SDG&E AMI proposal needed to be substantially revised.
Of all the new features and capabilities of today's cell phones, UCAN receives the most complaints about ringtones and text messages. Our issue center contains all sorts of valuable information from consumer guides and updates to lawsuits and settlements against major cell phone providers. Come inside and see for yourself!
After over two years of litigation, the City and UCAN's Executive Director Michael Shames have agreed to a settlement that would return about $40 million to overcharged residential customers and, perhaps more importantly, allow for the creation of independent oversight of City water and sewer operations. Check out this Issue Center for everything you need to know about the refund!
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How to protect your own blog or website from liability for user generated content
Is Youtube putting advertisements on user videos without permission?
Essential free and open software toolkit for consumers
How to find free music, images, and video you can use or remix in your own creative works
How to Listen to Music on the Internet for Free...Legally
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Learn how other people have made money by taking telemarketers to small claims court. Download PDF
Post your auto fraud question and get an answer from Hal Rosner, one of California's leading auto fraud attorneys.
What are you packin? Is it anything like UCAN's new and improved Consumer Complaint Directory? If not, you should really pick up a copy. This thing is chock-full of hard-hitting consumer punch.
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