Channel your consumer rage with the free Consumer Action Handbook.

I don't know if you read Consumerist as obsessively as I do, but I get a thrill out of hearing about ordinary consumers who are sticking it to The Man by not letting The Man stick it to them. But not everyone is equally savvy about how to be a strong, empowered consumer and not get screwed by Big Business, so here's a handy reference guide: the Consumer Action Handbook. You can read it online, download a PDF, or request a print copy (though it is currently being reprinted).

"This everyday guide to being a smart shopper is hot off the press and chock-full of helpful tips about preventing identity theft, understanding credit, filing a consumer complaint, and much more. In the 2009 edition, you'll find updated information about filing for bankruptcy, finding a lawyer, and planning a funeral, along with many other useful topics."

Never be fleeced again!

Class-action settlement for Fuze Slenderize.

Speaking of fruity beverages, apparently there's a class action settlement out there for Fuze Slenderize drinks, to the tune of $4.5 million. It seems that, allegedly, "Fuze’s marketing, advertising and labeling of its Slenderize, Vitalize, Refresh and Tea beverages misled consumers regarding ingredients contained in the beverages, as well as their potential functional benefits. The lawsuit further alleges that Fuze misled consumers of its Slenderize beverages by claiming or inferring that the product promoted appetite suppression and/or weight loss."

Fuze decided to settle, and their fail is your win. If you purchased any Fuze Slenderize in like the last five years, you can submit a claim for up to 10 bottles by July 10, 2009. Of course, that means you're publicly admitting that you believed a fruity drink would magically help you lose weight, but a buck's a buck.