Consumerist.com Names the Sweet 16 in Contention for 'Worst Company In America'

LIVE TODAY: Next Round of Voting in NCAA Bracket Style Elimination Tournament

NEW YORK, April 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- All 32 companies in Consumerist.com's fifth annual "Worst Company in America" tournament irritated consumers in some way this year, but top seeded Bank of America, Wal-Mart and Comcast blew out the competition and claimed their place in the Sweet 16 announced today.  

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100405/DC81639)

This bracket-style, single elimination tournament, similar to the NCAA basketball tournament, will be scaled down each week based on company match-up and Consumerist.com visitors' votes until the final round on April 23.  Consumers can log on to Consumerist.com today to participate in the 'Worst Company in America's' Sweet 16 which includes Apple, Best Buy, GM, among others.  The Sweet 16 match-ups will commence on April 5.

"This year's Sweet 16 provides some great matchups for voters," said Ben Popken, Co-Managing Editor of Consumerist.com.  "We are all curious to see whether Comcast finally clinches the title after being runner-up for the last few years."

"There are some dark horses that have made it into the next round including Cash4Gold, which knocked out AIG," said Meghann Marco, Co-Managing Editor of Consumerist.com.  "We are looking forward to seeing how they square off against heavyweights like Time Warner and fan favorite Ticketmaster."

Consumers can check back regularly at Consumerist.com for updated brackets and voting opportunities throughout the month of April.  The 2010 Grand Champion in Consumerist.com's "Worst Company in America" will receive the prestigious Golden Poo Award, a golden statuette modeled after a pile of poo.

Upcoming elimination dates:

• April 14 – Elite 8
• April 21 – Final Four
• April 23 – Championship Battle
• April 26 – Winner!

Ready? Set? Play ball! 2010 Sweet Sixteen are…

Click here for direct link to bracket.

Here are the Sweet 16 match-ups:

About Consumerist.com

The Consumerist is a subsidiary of Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, and ConsumerReports.org, and the nation's leading not-for-profit consumer advocacy organization. Since its founding in 1936, Consumers Union has fought for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. To maintain independence and impartiality, CU accepts neither outside advertising nor free samples. It employs a staff of "mystery shoppers" who buy products in retail stores around the country, just as any other buyer would, and then ship them to the Consumers Union labs, where technical experts test some 3,000 products yearly.

To further advance its mission, CU employs a dedicated team of grassroots organizers, advocates and outreach specialists who work with the organization's more than 600,000 online activists to change legislation and the marketplace in favor of the consumer interest. Consumers Union is also the leading publisher of information to help consumers choose the right products, stay safe, and protect themselves against unfair business practices. In addition to The Consumerist and Consumer Reports, CU's publications include ConsumerReportsHealth.org, ConsumerReportsEnEspanol.org, ShopSmart magazine, Consumer Reports on Health and Consumer Reports Money Adviser. CU's publications have received many major awards, including multiple National Magazine Awards, several Webby Awards and numerous awards for public-interest and health-care reporting.

SOURCE Consumer Reports