Financial salvation? Why, it's in the mail!

October 12, 2008

One of the truly delirious joys I get out of this job is receiving mail from readers - especially the ones who send me those succinct, six-page, single-spaced letters griping about a business or the ones who just tell me I'm bananas.

Recent columns

• FDIC cost will likely mean higher bank fees

  October 9, 2008

  The Q:

• Dad steps in for debit-card disaster

  October 5, 2008

  E

• A little truth, a lot of myth about cell phone numbers

  October 2, 2008

  The Q:

• Net service comes through in clutch

  September 28, 2008

  Thomas Morton is a lifelong fan of the New ``York Yankees.

• Cell-phone customer's mystery is solved

  September 21, 2008

  The obscure calls to Randy Cover's cell phone began four months ago.

• Class action settlements may aid in repairing leaky pipes

  September 4, 2008

  The Q:

• Online game demons are far from virtual

  August 31, 2008

  The Baltimore-based computer security company that hacked into the sizzling, hot iPhone and broke the encryption on wireless gas payment cards and car keys used by millions of drivers is at it again. But this time, analysts there uncovered serious vulnerabilities in two highly popular fantasy worlds frequented by hundreds of thousands of online players around the globe.

• Check fine print on phone bill's energy charge, other new fees

  August 28, 2008

  The Q:

• Hanging up on an ex-beau can be hard to do

  August 24, 2008

  Breaking up is hard to do, but it's even harder if your ex is using a cell phone paid for by you.

• Waiting for fiber-optic service in the city? Keep waiting

  August 19, 2008

  The Q: We've written a lot here about Verizon's fiber-optic video, voice and data services. Lots of people tell us how much they love it. Some people write to say they hate it, especially the problems they've had getting it installed properly. And some people, like reader Susan Gillette, just want to know when FiOS is coming to their neighborhood.

• A chance encounter

  August 17, 2008

  There are no such things in life as a free lunch, or a $100 house.

• Panic at garage

  August 12, 2008

  The Q:

• Valet needs to come through in a crunch

  August 10, 2008

  Melia Wilkinson wasn't worried when she handed over the keys to her 2005 Toyota Sienna to the valet at the Sheraton City Center in downtown Baltimore last May.

• State limits how low gas prices can go

  August 5, 2008

  The Q:

• Warranty works on front-end shake

  August 3, 2008

  Bradley Joyce was preparing for grave disappointment.

• You can use CD as collateral for a loan

  July 29, 2008

  THE Q:

• Not noticing error in her passport makes for very bad trip

  July 27, 2008

  When it comes to consumer complaints, blame flies fast and furious. Companies blame faulty technology or confused workers. Workers blame bad company policies and, occasionally, unreasonable consumers with unrealistic expectations. And consumers blame everyone involved - from an employee on up to corporate management and the governmental body that regulates the company.

• Questions on paying T-Mobile

  July 22, 2008

  THE Q:

• Black market in stealing your data is thriving

  July 20, 2008

  It wasn't clear what freaked Jerrell Ellerbe out more: when I read him his mother's maiden name, or the part when I told him his date of birth.

• It costs customer to move utility

  July 15, 2008

  The Q: