grinch

When it comes to how they treat their customers, some companies follow Santa-like policies. Others are more like the Grinch. But which is which? Consumer Reports offers the skinny on how a number of high-profile businesses behave with its Naughty & Nice Holiday List. Here's a rundown:

It may be the happiest season of the year, but higher crude oil prices that have translated into higher gasoline prices have many motorists frowning. The weak U.S. dollar and expectations of a more robust economic recovery in the coming year have helped push oil to over $90 a barrel.

(With our sincere apologies to Dr. Seuss) Every Who down in Whoville liked Google a lot, But the Grinch, who lived up in a penthouse, did not. The Grinch hated Google, didn't find Google pleasin' -- Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason. It could be his head wasn't screwed on...

I've been a longtime Bank of America customer, ever since I left my job at crosstown rival First Union (now Wachovia Bank) and moved to a city without a branch. Now both my husband and I have accounts, and we often transfer funds between them because we're not yet masters of total financial...