5 ms·

More effective than any regulation would be a legal system that actually made it possible for the small guy to sue the big guy for damages.

thechao 10y ago
For instance: Time Warner Cable screwed up my cable package, charging me 220$ (a la carte) rather than 90$ (bundle). I contacted them, they admitted the mistake, and fixed the next month---I still ended up out 65$. I'd really like that money (moral imperative), but there's no legal way for me to seek relief for that small amount. If TWC messes up 1/50 accounts, once a year, for 50$, then they stand to make 500k--1mm$ a year just in my area. There's literally profit to be had between the legal cracks.
- jackgavigan 10y ago
  That sounds like a class action lawsuit waiting to happen.
- sethammons 10y ago
  I know nothing about law, but I would think a class action lawyer could do a monthly or quarterly (or how ever long it takes for critical mass to be achieved) case on that and make decent recurring income I bet. Provide a site where folks can dispute their charge, and get back 50% of the disputed amount after the case is settled. Every month, the lawyer brings the same case against the "big guy" but with a new list of plaintiffs.
  - josephjrobison 10y ago
    Sounds similar to the Sprint class action lawsuit where customers were being charged minor amounts of extra money, but in aggregate it added up to a ton. Sprint lost that case and lost millions.
- ianlevesque 10y ago
  Why not self-represent in small claims court?
  - tacostakohashi 10y ago
    It's a nice idea, but pretty much impractical if you happen to have a job.
- asddddd 10y ago
  File a complaint with the FCC or BBB and (at least with Comcast) they'll suddenly be very eager to fix the problem. Ran into a similar issue where I was told one thing and billed for another, a few days after a BBB complaint they had someone from "executive customer relations" calling/emailing me to get it resolved ASAP.
  - awqrre 10y ago
    FCC yes... I did that when I had an issue with AT&T not wanting to unlock a phone that I just bought (pre-paid) and I got a call from AT&T the next day.
  - DiabloD3 10y ago
    The BBB is not a government agency, it is a private company that works for large businesses. Members of the BBB (such as Comcast) can pay the BBB to mark complaints as resolved, without resolving them.
tacostakohashi 10y ago
Totally agree. I'm beginning to think one of the biggest causes of all this crap in the US is the "American rule" regarding legal costs. Even if you win, you still lose unless it was a massive case. Stupid.

thechao 10y ago

For instance: Time Warner Cable screwed up my cable package, charging me 220$ (a la carte) rather than 90$ (bundle). I contacted them, they admitted the mistake, and fixed the next month---I still ended up out 65$. I'd really like that money (moral imperative), but there's no legal way for me to seek relief for that small amount. If TWC messes up 1/50 accounts, once a year, for 50$, then they stand to make 500k--1mm$ a year just in my area. There's literally profit to be had between the legal cracks.

jackgavigan 10y ago
That sounds like a class action lawsuit waiting to happen.
sethammons 10y ago
I know nothing about law, but I would think a class action lawyer could do a monthly or quarterly (or how ever long it takes for critical mass to be achieved) case on that and make decent recurring income I bet. Provide a site where folks can dispute their charge, and get back 50% of the disputed amount after the case is settled. Every month, the lawyer brings the same case against the "big guy" but with a new list of plaintiffs.
- josephjrobison 10y ago
  Sounds similar to the Sprint class action lawsuit where customers were being charged minor amounts of extra money, but in aggregate it added up to a ton. Sprint lost that case and lost millions.
ianlevesque 10y ago
Why not self-represent in small claims court?
- tacostakohashi 10y ago
  It's a nice idea, but pretty much impractical if you happen to have a job.
asddddd 10y ago
File a complaint with the FCC or BBB and (at least with Comcast) they'll suddenly be very eager to fix the problem. Ran into a similar issue where I was told one thing and billed for another, a few days after a BBB complaint they had someone from "executive customer relations" calling/emailing me to get it resolved ASAP.
- awqrre 10y ago
  FCC yes... I did that when I had an issue with AT&T not wanting to unlock a phone that I just bought (pre-paid) and I got a call from AT&T the next day.
- DiabloD3 10y ago
  The BBB is not a government agency, it is a private company that works for large businesses. Members of the BBB (such as Comcast) can pay the BBB to mark complaints as resolved, without resolving them.

tacostakohashi 10y ago

Totally agree. I'm beginning to think one of the biggest causes of all this crap in the US is the "American rule" regarding legal costs. Even if you win, you still lose unless it was a massive case. Stupid.