Quicken Online Can’t Believe Mint Is Doing So Well; Sends Threatening Letter

"Intuit, the company behind the well-known Quicken suite of money management software that includes Quicken Online, can’t believe how well its competitor Mint is doing. In fact, they were so bewildered by Mint’s claims of gaining 3,000 new users a day and jumping from 600,000 to 850,000 users in a matter of months that they decided to send a threatening letter demanding an explanation for this apparently inconceivable feat.
We’ve obtained copies of both Intuit’s letter and Mint’s reply, which we’ve embedded below. From Intuit’s letter:

“While we do not wish to suggest that Mint.com is engaging in false advertising, the substantial difference in claimed user numbers over a short period time [from 600,000 to 800,000] is of some concern. As a result, we’re requesting that you provide us with the Substantiation and evidence that you rely upon to support the above reference claims… before February 6, 2009.”

Note that the letter says that Intuit doesn’t “wish to suggest that Mint is engaging in false advertising”, despite the fact that that was the entire purpose of the letter. Nice."

Pet dental care claims skyrocket - Veterinary Economics

Pet dental care claims skyrocket - Veterinary Economics: "

More pets are receiving dental care, says a pet insurance survey.

Feb 11, 2009
VETERINARY ECONOMICS

As part of National Pet Dental Health Month each February, veterinarians urge clients to consider purchasing much-needed dental care for their pets. And clients are listening, according to PetFirst Healthcare. The insurance provider saw claims for illnesses related to oral health increase 179 percent during the last year.

Mirroring the rise in claims, the company saw a 132 percent increase in the amount it reimbursed to clients for preventive dental care. Claims related to periodontal disease rose 200 percent last year, the biggest jump of any kind of dental case."