#consumermatters — Public Fediverse posts

On the TikTok ban idea.

The thing is that those that want to ban TikTok and those that don't are wrong and for the wrong reasons.

The fundamental issue that must be addressed and banned is the unwarranted and unnecessary gathering and commoditization of user data.

The corollary issue that must be addressed and banned is the "advertisement as a business model" in the use of products and services, not only in Apps but in other products.

That China may or may not gather and use customer data is an issue but it only illustrates the larger and more dangerous issue of user and consumer privacy.

#TikTok #Congress #Privacy #DataMining #App #ConsumerMatters #ConsumerPrivacy #Technology

Don’t you love it when automatic phone-answering customer service bots pretend to type? 😂

Sometimes, though, there is no way to get what you need BUT to call in —
the chat bot just doesn’t cut it—

And then the automated system makes it almost impossible to talk to a human 😵‍💫

It’s worth it a lot of times, though, to negotiate pricing!

Companies will often give deals to keep customers. After FINALLY reaching a human, I got my internet svc. (w/ more speed) lowered by $36/mo.

#ConsumerMatters

Global News BC: After complaints, Transport Canada launching in-depth review of Chevrolet Volt hybrid https://globalnews.ca/news/10153443/transport-canada-review-chevy-volt/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #ConsumerMatters #TransportCanada #GeneralMotors #Chevrolet #Consumer #Economy

Global News BC: B.C. Hyundai Plug-In Hybrid owner hit with $15,000 electric battery cost https://globalnews.ca/news/10140011/bc-hyundai-plug-in-hybrid-owner-electric-battery-cost/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #ConsumerMatters #Electricbattery #Consumer #Hyundai #hybrid

Global News BC: B.C. couple says dream vacation ruined by Air Canada after refusal to remove bags off flight https://globalnews.ca/news/9992591/bc-couple-dream-vacation-ruined-air-canada-refusal-remove-bags/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news ##airpassengerrights #AirPassengerRights #ConsumerMatters #consumermatters ##airtravel #AirCanada #AirTravel #AirCanada #Consumer #Travel

Global News BC: Wait times for some EVs still long in Canada. Why it’s the opposite in the U.S. https://globalnews.ca/news/9969508/consumer-matters-electric-vehicle-waits/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #ElectricVehicleWaitTimes #electricvehiclewait ##electricvehicles #ElectricVehicles #ConsumerMatters #consumermatters ##evcanada #Consumer ##evbuyer #Hyundai ##evusa #Toyota #Tesla #EVs #EV

Global News BC: Rental vehicle inventory improving, but difficult to find deal https://globalnews.ca/news/9816265/rental-vehicle-inventory-improving-deal-difficult/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news ##carrentalinsurance #CarRentalInsurance #ConsumerMatters #consumermatters ##vehiclerental ##carisnurance #CarInsurance ##autorental ##carrental #Autorental #CarRental #Consumer #Travel

Global News BC: Air Canada customer promised refund after double charge for airline tickets https://globalnews.ca/news/9802588/air-canada-customer-refund-double-charged-airline-tickets/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #ConsumerMatters #consumermatters ##airpassenger ##travelrefund #AirPassenger #travelrefund ##airtravel #AirTravel #AirCanada #Consumer #Travel

So I helped my parents today and found out that their phone company (AT&T) has been charging them $40/month extra (at minimum) and their ISP has been overcharging them as well.

I negotiated and got the price for their ISP down by $60/month and I will call about their phone service tomorrow.

Point is-- companies overcharge-- check your bills-- there are better deals out there and they will often lower the monthly price when you call.

#MyTwoCents:

Research what the company would charge a new customer, then negotiate down saying you will pay that price.

Also, be willing to walk away. Companies will often fight to keep you as a customer and will play chicken w/ the price until unless you will quit being their customer.

#consumer
#ConsumerMatters

Global News BC: B.C. resident out of pocket hundreds of dollars after applying for Canada Greener Homes Grant https://globalnews.ca/news/9675459/bc-resident-canada-greener-homes-grant-cost/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news ##canadagreenerhomesrebate ##canadagreenerhomesgrant #CanadaGreenerHomesGrant #CanadaGreenHomesRebate ##heatpumprebate #ConsumerMatters #consumermatters #Heatpumprebate ##greenrebate #Greenrebate ##heatpump #Consumer #heatpump

Global News BC: B.C. woman fined for parking in a lot she never visited https://globalnews.ca/news/9668618/bc-woman-fights-parking-violation-precise-parklink/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news ##parkingviolation ##preciseparklink #ParkingViolation #ConsumerMatters #consumermatters #PreciseParklink ##parkingticket #ParkingTicket ##GlobalBC #Consumer #Parking

Global News BC: BC Hydro heat pump rebate not eligible for condos, frustrated owner finds https://globalnews.ca/news/9622535/bc-hydro-heat-pump-rebate-exclusion/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #BCHydroheatpumprebate #Heatpumprebatecondos #BChydroheatpumps #BCHydroheatpump #ConsumerMatters #Heatpumprebates #Heatpumprebate #Consumer #heatpump #bchydro

Global News BC: ‘Mad at myself’: B.C. student’s warning after falling prey to $2,800 tax scam https://globalnews.ca/news/9601967/tax-season-scam-warning-bbb-cra/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #ServiceCanadascam #studentdefrauded #ConsumerMatters #studentscammed #taxseasonfraud #taxseasonscam #scamwarning #frauster #CRAscam #taxscam #Crime #Fraud #Scam

Global News BC: Former Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart’s campaign fails to pay bill to small business owner https://globalnews.ca/news/9571167/former-vancouver-mayor-kennedy-stewart-campaign-fail-furniture-bill/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news ##forwardtogetherwithkennedystewart ##municiplelections ##bccivicelections ##consusmermatters ##forwardtogether ##civicelections ##kennedystewart #ConsumerMatters #KennedyStewart ##unpaidbills ##townrent #Consumer

Global News BC: How protected are B.C. homeowners when home renovation projects go sideways? https://globalnews.ca/news/9518026/bc-homeowners-home-renovation-projects-protection/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news ##consumerprotections #consumerprotections #ConsumerMatters #consumermatters #ContractorsinBC #homerenovations ##reonvations #Contractors ##homerenos #Homerenos #Consumer

Global News BC: B.C. homeowners say they’ve lost thousands of dollars after local contractor leaves renovation projects unfinished https://globalnews.ca/news/9492522/bc-homeowners-local-contractor-home-renovation-projects-unfinished/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news ##knottyboysconstruction #KnottyBoysConstruction #ConsumerMatters #Homerenovations #homerenovations ##knottyboys #Contractor #KnottyBoys #Renovation #Consumer ##chbabc

Global News BC: Sophisticated Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) scams circulating ahead of tax season https://globalnews.ca/news/9475522/sophisticated-canada-revenue-agency-cra-scams/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news ##canadarevenuegency #ConsumerMatters #consumermatters ##phishingscams #CRAscamslatest #cybercriminals #Phisingscams #Cybercrime ##crascams ##taxscams #Consumer #CRAScams #Taxscams #CRA

Global News BC: Air Canada customer finally receives luggage after AirTag tracks international journey https://globalnews.ca/news/9423190/air-canada-airtag-bag-return-international/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news ##airlinecompensation ##airlinelostluggage #AirlineCompensation ##airtaglostluggage ##airtagtracking #ConsumerMatters #consumermatters #AirTagtracking ##lostluggage #AppleAirTag #AirCanada #Consumer ##lostbag #airtag