Meijer Gives Video Game History Lesson, Plays Mass Effect Trailer On Loop For 7 Years

Year seven, still going strong.

This bit of video game lore in a discount store isn’t fodder for the Raiders of the Lost Walmart, because it isn’t something for sale. It’s not a retail antiquity, exactly, but a display in the video games section of a Meijer store that features a game that is bafflingly old.

Redditor The_Power_Of_Three works at the store in question, and posted that the original trailer for Mass Effect has been playing on a loop in the store since the game’s release. The first Mass Effect game. The one that was released in 2007.

“Previously I held out hope that the release of Xbox One would finally see the trailer replaced; no such luck, obviously,” he said in the comments, “but my fingers are crossed for next console generation.” Keep the dream alive, TPoT. Keep it alive.

My store has been playing the Mass Effect (original) launch trailer on perpetual loop, 24 hours a day for the past 7 years. [Reddit]

by Laura Northrup via Consumerist

Debt Settlement Programs Often Do More Harm Than Good For Consumers

(frankieleon)

In the past we’ve told readers about the a number of bogus debt-relief operations that scammed already vulnerable consumers. But a new report from the Center for Responsible Lending points out that it’s not just shady companies that hurt consumers. Sometimes legitimate debt settlement programs can leave consumers in more debt than they started out with.

The “State of Lending: Debt Settlement” report [PDF] found that debt settlement remains a risky strategy for debt reduction and often leaves consumers more financially vulnerable than when they began the program.

On the surface, debt settlement companies seem too good to be true. The programs offer the promise of settling a consumer’s debt for a fraction of what they owe by negotiating down the outstanding debt to a more manageable amount.

But once consumers dive into the process, the high-risk nature of the program reveals itself.

Debtors must generally default on their debts in order to enroll in such programs. In that case, consumers can often face increased fees, interest rates and even lawsuits from creditors.

And even after taking on those dangers, consumers aren’t given a guarantee that their debt will be more manageable; some creditors won’t negotiate with debt settlement companies at all.

While a 2010 Federal Trade Commission regulation barred debt settlement companies from charging fees unless a settlement could be reached with a client’s creditors, CRL found that some companies claim to use a different settlement model to circumvent the rule.

The debt-settlement companies that continue to charge advance fees despite the FTC rule are said

to be using an “attorney model” of debt settlement, in which the presence of a loosely-affiliated

attorney is used to justify collecting advance fees, even though non-attorneys provide the actual

debt-settlement work.

The new report found that successfully enrolling in a settlement program often increases a consumer’s debt by an average of 20%.

Projected growth in consumer account balances from time of enrollment until settlement.

The increased balance, along with debt settlement fees and potential tax liability, can substantially reduce any savings the consumers hoped to achieve.

To better ensure consumers are protected from misleading or unhelpful debt settlement programs, CRL recommends that:

• States that currently do not allow debt settlement should not authorize the practice until the industry can demonstrate a significant majority of consumers benefit and risks are minimized.


• Debt settlement companies be required to ensure that debt settlement is appropriate for their clients. This can include screening clients before enrollment to gauge their financial status and including a “not worse off” provision to make sure debt settlement doesn’t further aggravate financial vulnerability.


• All debt settlement companies must be required to adhere by the same set of rules to ensure that no fees are charged until settlements are negotiated.

Debt settlement programs increase financial risk to vulnerable consumers [Center for Responsible Lending]

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

Stolen Horse Does Not Make A Good Getaway Vehicle For Drunken Shoplifter

(Alan Rappa)

I have vague memories of old Hollywood westerns and TV shows where bandanna-masked bank robbers would escape on the back of stolen horses. But in today’s decidedly non-equine culture, a shoplifter is probably going to stand out when she ties up a pilfered horse outside the store.

AL.com reports that police in DeKalb County, Alabama showed up to deal with an intoxicated woman believed to have stolen some items, only to find that she’d ridden a horse to the store.

What’s more, the horse had apparently been stolen earlier in the day by the woman.

Police found stolen items on the woman and some beer in a shopping bag on the horse.

Authorities returned the horse to its owner, who didn’t press charges, but the police weren’t as forgiving, charging the woman with public intoxication and possession of a prohibited beverage. More charges related to the apparent shoplifting could be filed.

by Chris Morran via Consumerist

Scientists: Recalled Moldy Exploding Chobani Yogurts Could Make Consumers Sick

Hey, remember when Chobani recalled a wide variety of yogurts in the fall of 2013 because fungal contamination made them taste terrible and occasionally explode? About that: a new study published today in a journal of the American Society for Microbiology indicates that the fungus found in contaminated yogurt cups was a strain that can make animals, including humans, sick when it’s eaten.

“While information disseminated in the popular press would suggest this fungal contaminant poses little or no risk to consumers,” the researchers note, “our results show instead that it is capable of causing significant infections in animals.”

“While unlikely to have ill health effects upon consumption, nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our consumers…” Chobani said in a statement at the time. An expert from Cornell University explained at the time that the pathogen rarely makes people sick; when it does, it’s been inhaled, not consumed with food. That’s what we and other news outlets reported at the time. However, the researchers cultured more of the fungus taken from a contaminated yogurt cup and studied it in animals and insects. The species found in the sample is called M. circinelloides f. circinelloides, which has caused illness in humans before. They discovered that the pathogen survived the trip through the digestive systems of mice, which means that they could also survive the same trip through a human digestive system.

“Unlikely” does’t mean “there will be no ill health effects in anyone, ever,” but it’s also possible that some of the more than 400 reported illnesses were coincidental and not directly related to the yogurt. Chobani counters that there is no proof that any consumers became sick because of the yogurt. “To our knowledge, there is no evidence, including the assertions presented in this publication, that the strain in the recalled products causes illness in consumers when ingested,” the company’s executive in charge of food safety told NBC in a statement.

Analysis of a Food-Borne Fungal Pathogen Outbreak: Virulence and Genome of a Mucor circinelloides Isolate from Yogurt [mBio]

by Laura Northrup via Consumerist

CFPB Clarifies Rule That Could Cause Heirs To Lose Their Homes

(Steven Depolo)

When the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau implemented rules to protect consumers from getting caught in mortgage “debt traps” earlier this year, the regulators may have missed one section of not-so-typical borrowers: consumers who inherit a family member’s home – mortgage and all.

In an attempt to make things easier on surviving family members when a homeowner dies, the CFPB issued an interpretive rule that would allow survivors to be added to outstanding mortgages without the fear of losing their home because of newly enacted rules.

The interpretive rule clarifies that when a borrower dies, the name of the borrower’s heir generally may be added to the mortgage without triggering the Ability-to-Repay rule.

Under the Ability-to-Pay rule, which went into effect in January, lenders are required to make a reasonable, good-faith determination that a borrower has the ability to repay their loans, something that makes sense.

However, the CFPB notes that there are significant consequences, such as losing the home, when heirs are unable to add their names to the outstanding mortgage of a home that has legally been transferred to them because the Ability-to-Repay rule was triggered by a lender.

Today’s move by the CFPB would allow surviving family members to acquire the title to the property and take over the mortgage or to be considered for a loan workout.

“Losing a loved one should not mean also losing your home. Today’s interpretive rule makes it clear that when family members inherit property, they can take over the mortgage without jumping through unnecessary hoops,” CFPB Director Richard Cordray says in a news release. “This gives heirs an opportunity to work with the lender to pay off the loan or seek a loan modification.”

The interpretive rule can also apply to other transfers, including transfers to living trusts, transfers during life from parents to children, transfers resulting from divorce or legal separation, and other family-related transfers.

CFPB Clarifies Mortgage Lending Rules to Assist Surviving Family Members [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau]

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

Porn Copyright Trolls Use Other Companies Porn To Shame Alleged Pirates

Questions Malibu wants the court to compel a defendant to answer.

Here’s how the basic porn copyright troll threat works: “We believe you downloaded ‘Backdoor Loving 23′ illegally and shared the file with others. Pay up or we’ll sue and everyone will know that you enjoy movies with titles like ‘Backdoor Loving 23.’” But just in case the porn named in the allegation doesn’t have a sufficiently lascivious title, the nation’s biggest porn troll also wants defendants to name every single porn they have watched and every single porn site they have visited.

Porn producer Malibu Media owns the adult subscription site X-Art, and a look at the videos immediately available to subscribers on the site shows that they have names like “Summertime Lunch,” “Sweet Before Awakening,” and “It Has Always Been You,” that wouldn’t immediately cause most people to go red in the face if they turned up on a legal document. But since Malibu is now also in the lawsuit business, it helps to associate a defendant publicly with as many porn-y titles as possible, whether they belong to Malibu or not, and regardless of where a defendant obtained them.

Over at FightCopyrightTrolls.com, they noticed that Malibu is demanding one defendant in a file-sharing case answer the following questions:

• “Have you or anyone who has had access to a wireless router(s) or modem(s) in your home visited an adult website within the last two years? If so, identify the websites and state how often those websites were visited.”

• “Have you ever watched x-rated, adult or pornographic movies or live feeds (collectively, “adult content”)? If so, when was the last time you watched adult content, how often do you watch adult content, which studios do you prefer, and what type of movies do you prefer?”

• “Have you ever subscribed to an internet company distributing adult content? If so, identify the company and state the period of time that you were a subscriber.”

To all three, the defendant responded with objections that the questions are irrelevant, “overly broad, vague, unduly burdensome, and part of a calculated strategy intended to threaten Defendant with an intrusive invasion of unrelated personal information as retaliation for his failure to submit to Plaintiff’s extortion tactics.”

The defendant maintains that these questions are “deliberately calculated to elicit information by which Plaintiff can then use to embarrass him as a viewer of pornography in order to facilitate a coercive and/or extortionate settlement or demand.”

Malibu admits that this information is indeed sensitive in nature but argues that the defendant’s “tendency and frequency to visit an adult website is directly related to this action because Plaintiff’s copyrighted works are the same genre.”

The company also claims that it’s relevant to ask about what other porn studios and types of porn the defendant may have watched because Malibu apparently occupies a certain niche within the adult industry and the defendant’s porn preferences may show he enjoys Malibu’s type of porn.

“[A]ny preference to studios that produce similar content can demonstrate a likelihood of infringement and may lead to the discovery of admissible evidence,” writes Malibu.

But FightCopyrightTrolls — which Malibu recently tried to label an Internet hate group — says that Malibu is apparently trying to have its cake and do naughty things with it too, pointing out that Malibu has used the defendant’s argument in its previous attempt to get out of providing similar personal information about the company’s owners.

Malibu was recently in the news for its attempts to use the “Six Strikes” Copyright Alert System set up by the cable industry and the MPAA and RIAA to obtain lists of possible known copyright offenders.

[via ArsTechnica]

by Chris Morran via Consumerist

Ex-Verizon Worker Accused Of Sending Lewd Texts To Teenage Customers

(AJENT.MSG)

Getting an unwanted creepy, lewd or otherwise gross text is never a fun experience, but when you’re receiving that message from someone who shouldn’t have your number, things get even creepier. At least six female teenaged Verizon customers have recently come forward to accuse a now ex-worker of sending lewd texts and “disgusting” photos.

Police say the 31-year-old suspect, who’s accused of preying on young customers in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, had a 20-page list of customers’ names, email addresses, phone numbers and user passwords, reports MyFox9.com.

Thus far, it seems the six who have come forward were his customers at Verizon stores in the area, mostly at one outlet in Wisconsin. Authorities say the texts and photos were unwanted, and that the phones belonged to underage females.

Court documents say the suspect helped families with new phones or devices that needed repairs, and that at least six of those families have now filed complaints. He’s then accused of saving the info of his intended victims, and eventually sending messages to them with photos of his genitalia.

He allegedly used his own phone number, listed on his Verizon business card, at least once to do so. Other times, police say he used random email addresses to cover his tracks.

“Obviously, parents are very upset about this,” the police chief said. “You get a phone for your daughter. Then you get these text messages and the images on it. It’s a violation of trust.”

Verizon said he no longer works for the company.

Charges: Verizon store employee sexted at least 6 teenage girls [MyFox9.com]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

GM Hasn’t Recalled Millions Of Trucks And SUVs Despite Four-Year Investigation Into Brake Line Failures

(Misfit Photographer)

Although General Motors appears to a be on a safety recall-announcing spree, it has resisted recalling 1.8 million trucks and SUVs despite a four-year long investigation by federal regulators into an issue that can cause the brake lines to fail. While brake failures could lead to crashes –which one would assume is a safety issue – the manufacturer maintains the problem is a simply matter of routine maintenace

Since the beginning of 2014, GM has taken a closer look at numerous lingering safety concerns, recalling nearly 25.7 million vehicles, but the long-standing brake line corrosion problem affecting millions of automobiles continues to go without a wide-reaching remedy, the New York Times reports.

Nearly 1.8 million full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles – including the 2002-3 Cadillac Escalade, the 1999-2006 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, the 1999-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, the 2000-2006 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, the 2000 GMC Yukon XL and the 2002-2006 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 and 2500 – are thought to be affected by an issue that causes corrosion of a vehicle’s brake lines that could lead to brake failure and subsequent crashes.

NHTSA began investigating the problem back in March 2010 after receiving a formal defect petition [PDF] asking regulators to look into the issue.

“In particular, our 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4WD pickup truck…experienced hydraulic brake failure at 51,848 miles due to corroded brake lines bursting. The lines burst in an area that was weakened by corrosion and field under normal usage and brake line pressure. There was no indication to the driver that failure was eminent and only fate precluded any injury, as the vehicle was traveling slowly with a load of hay in the bed.”

At the time the investigation was first opened, NHTSA reported [PDF] receiving at least 110 owner complaints alleging loss of braking effectiveness due to brake line rupture because of corrosion. Three of those reports involved crashes. A preliminary evaluation was opened to determine the frequency, scope and safety consequences of the alleged defect. However, no recall was issued.

During the preliminary investigation, NHTSA reported that officials with GM said the vehicles were equipped with dual brake lines, meaning that “should a brake pipe suddenly fail for any reason, the affected vehicle would be capable of stopping with the pressure supplied by the remaining circuit.”

Additionally, the manufacturer said if any type of brake fluid leak were to occur the system malfunction indicator would illuminate.

However, consumer complaints continued to cast doubt on GM’s statements.

Nearly a year later, in January 2011, NHTSA opened an engineering analysis of the issue [PDF]. By that time the agency had received 890 complaints, 761 of which were located in the so-called “Salt Belt states” – areas in which salt is routinely used on roads during the winter months.

Again a majority of the complaints alleged the failure occurred suddenly with no warning to the driver and resulted in extend stopping instances. Twenty-six of the reports resulted in crashes, while in 10 other cases the vehicle was intentionally steered off the road or into another lane to avoid a crash.

The engineering analysis was expected to be finished within 12 months, but continues today.

Still, General Motors has maintained that the issue is strictly one of routine maintenance. Earlier this year the company said the corrosion of brake lines was an industrywide problem.

“Brake line wear on vehicles is a maintenance issue that affects the auto industry, not just General Motors. The trucks in question are long out of factory warranty, and owners’ manuals urge customers to have their brake lines inspected the same way brake pads need replacement for wear.”

While GM continues to wait to issue any kind of recall other car manufacturers aren’t taking chances. Last week, Subaru recalled nearly 660,000 vehicles for a similar issue.

The car maker reported that brake lines in the vehicles can rust and leak fluid, which could cause the car to take longer to stop

Subaru will notify owners of the issue and dealers will perform tests on the brake system. If no brake fluid leak is found, dealers will rustproof the area with anti-corrosive wax. If there is a leak, the brake line will be replaced followed by rustproofing.

Currently, owners of the possibly affected GM cars must pay out-of-pocket for any repairs. The Times reports that GM developed a parts kit last year for the brake lines.

“These are available through dealers and the aftermarket,” a spokesperson for the company tells the Times. “Based on time studies, the repair including labor should cost about $500. We can only suggest how much labor time the repair should take.”

However, some consumers reported to NHTSA that repair costs can exceed $2,000 in some cases.

General Motors has faced a number of inquests and investigations this year from Congress and federal regulators. The company’s CEO Mary Barra has been a regular fixture at hearings on Capitol Hill.

Barra has agreed to be the first top exec to take part in “Ask the CEO,” a new column from our colleagues at Consumer Reports magazine. Consumers can submit questions to her about the 29 million recalled vehicles, how GM got into this mess, and what it could do to get out of it.

G.M. Resists Recalling Trucks Over Brake Lines [The New York Times]

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

Truck Carrying Thousands Of Gallons Of Red Bull Crashes, Spilling Cans Onto Highway

(WESH.com on Twitter)

Despite the fact that Red Bull claims its drinks can sprout wings and fly around (because all cartoons are the truth), when a truck carrying 30,000 packaged pounds of the stuff crashed on a Florida highway, none of those spilled cans did anything but roll around and make a mess.

The truck made a big old mess on I-95 yesterday when the driver tired to avoid a disabled semi on the side of the road, reports the Orlando Sentinel, but he couldn’t get over into another lane because of other traffic.

When he moved back to the outside line, he hit the other semi, ripping his own trailer open and sending cans spilling out everywhere. About 80% of that 30,000-pound load — about 2,875 gallons — ended up rolling around on the highway, a Florida Highway Patrol officer said.

“In 20 years I have seen a lot of stuff spilled on the interstate,” he noted. “This is a first for me — energy drinks. Usually it is some type of food.”

Waste is waste. Think of all those party girls and late-night studiers who might’ve given those Red Bulls a good home.

Thousands of gallons of Red Bull spill on I-95 in Brevard County crash [Orlando Sentinel]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

AMC Remodels Movie Theaters To Have Big, Reclining Seats, But Fewer Of Them

(walkerspace)

Imagine that you’re a potential investor in movie theater chain AMC, which became a publicly traded company last year. Executives share their exciting new sales pitch: they’re going to make more money by selling fewer tickets to each show. Wait, what? How does that lead to higher earnings? Auditoriums that fit fewer patrons will have comfier, recliner-style seats.

Think of it as the exact reverse of airlines’ strategy: instead of cramming as many people in a small space as possible, AMC sees the possibility that they can instead change configurations and charge more for each ticket in the super-comfy section. This is great news for all kinds of people: it opens up theaters to people too large to fit in current seats, and also prevents children and adults with very short legs from kicking the back of your seat. (Sorry about that.)

The Wall Street Journal reports that this bold strategy is working out for the company so far. It costs about $350,000 to $500,000 to “re-seat” a single auditorium, and the company plans to reconfigure about 1,800 out of the 5,000 screens it currently has nationwide over the next five years. This will cost a total of $600 million, but the company doesn’t plan to raise ticket prices for the super-comfy screens for maybe a year after renovation. After that, the company says that ticket prices will probably go up a dollar or two.

If your local multiplex is routinely packed, don’t expect to see recliners there anytime soon. Re-seating will happen only in areas where AMC is having trouble filling all the seats, so you won’t see it in the country’s biggest cities.

Now at the Movies: Fully Reclining Seats [Wall Street Journal]

by Laura Northrup via Consumerist