| Volume 91 Number 5 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Every state is different, but in Texas, a landlord cannot lock you out of your apartment even if you don't pay rent.
The landlord may change the locks on the door but he must provide a key to allow you to come and go 24 hours a day.
Click here for more.
Your Face May Soon Appear in Google Ads
Your face may soon appear in Google advertisements in an endorsement campaign the company hopes will help boost sales. The coverage won't be limited to basic Google searches either. Instead, your face could appear on any of the two million Google ad network sites.
The new campaign works in an unusual way. Google will use user reviews to sell products to their friends. This "endorsement" will include a picture of the user's face as taken from his or her Google profile.
It's easy to opt out. Simply go to your Google+ profile settings page and find "shared endorsements." What if you think you don't have a Google+ profile? Well, you're probably wrong. If you use any Google products, like GMail or YouTube, there's a very good chance you have a Google+ profile and just don't know it.
The new shared endorsement campaign starts November 11.
Click here for more.
Netflix Makes News for Customer Service
When consumers contact customer service, they're often met by computers or real people running on strict scripts. For every question or comment a consumer asks, there's a scripted response designed to have the most neutral impact. It can be downright frustrating, especially when consumers are dealing with urgent or pressing issues.
Last week, a Netflix representative stepped outside the box. When a customer contacted a Netflix agent over the Internet, he used strict Star Trek language to describe a problem he was experiencing while watching season five, episode thirteen of Parks and Recreation. Instead of following a script, the Netflix representative went full "Trekkie" for diagnostics and reporting. When it was all done, the consumer took a screenshot of the chat and posted it to the Internet. In the days since, Netflix has received glowing praise across social networks and media platforms.
Take a look and decide for yourself. Is this the right way to conduct customer service?
Click here for more.
CFBP Site Still Up and Running
While many government websites are down, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website is still up and running. In fact, administrators for the site recently posted 1,000 new, unbiased answers to your financial questions.
Do you have a question about financial services? Do you want to file a complaint? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau may be able to help!
Click here for more.
Your Money
What's your credit worthiness? Calculate your credit risk!
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For the Lawyers
Housekeeper bound by arbitration agreement.
The Virginia Supreme Court has enforced an arbitration agreement against a housekeeper who sought to sue her former boss, after he physically assaulted her. The live-in housekeeper signed a one-page agreement to arbitrate that was presented to her by her employer, a car dealership owner, sometime after she started working, and it contained no other agreement about her pay, hours, or other terms of employment.
A unanimous Virginia Supreme Court sent the dispute to arbitration.
Click here for more.