Repeat Offenders Return to the Final Four Round in Consumerist.com's Search for the "Worst Company in America"

Bank of America, Comcast, and Ticketmaster Make the Third Consecutive Appearance in Final Four Match-Ups

NEW YORK, April 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Out of 32 companies with consumer un-friendly practices, only four remain in the hunt to be crowned 2011 Grand Champion in Consumerist.com's "Worst Company in America" tournament. While only one company will be named the ultimate winner, three of the four left standing, Bank of America, Comcast and Ticketmaster, all have the dubious honor of reaching the Final Four round for the third consecutive year.

"Year after year we field consumer complaints about these three companies and their apparent lack of concern for consumer choice and customer service," said Meghann Marco, Executive Editor of Consumerist.com "Unless something drastically changes in the way these perennial semifinalists conduct their business, it's likely they'll be top seeds in the tournament for many years to come."

Bank of America and Ticketmaster will kick off the Final Four voting today at 1 p.m. ET with a re-match of last year's bout.  Last year, Ticketmaster narrowly advanced to the final round by less than one percent over Bank of America.  Returning 2010 Grand Champion Comcast will be taking on the last new-comer left standing, BP. Although this is BP's first appearance in the tournament, they began strong, easily slicking by Toyota in the first round with over 90 percent of the vote and continuing to dominate the competition ever since.

The 'Worst Company in America,' is a parody of the NCAA basketball tournament. Each week, companies go head-to-head in the single elimination tournament and will be knocked out by Consumerist.com visitors' votes until a Grand Champion is named on April 18.  

The 2011 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 – Championship Battle
• April 18 – Winner!

Ready? Set? Play ball! The 2011 Final Four are…

Click here for direct link to bracket.  

About Consumerist.com

The Consumerist's parent company, Consumer Media LLC, 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. 

SOURCE Consumerist.com