Celebrating $500K in Reader Savings, 'Sun-Times' Hands Out 500 Cupcakes

By: E&P Staff By Chicago Sun-Times calculations, the paper's "Fixer" column headed by Stephanie Zimmerman has saved readers more than $500,000. So the S-T celebrated Wednesday by handing out 500 cupcakes outside its downtown offices.

In its two and a half years, "The Fixer" column has helped readers get missing refunds, merchandise, and services, and has also corrected billing errors and other red tape problems.

Last week, the column's staff was able to correct an erroneous $1,000 charge in the flexible health care spending account of Reymediana Gallevo -- putting the total savings by readers over the half-million dollar mark, $500,947 to be exact.

In addition to Sun-Times staffer Zimmerman, "Team Fixer" includes Mike Nolan of the SouthtownStar in south suburban Chicago, Piet Levy of the Post-Tribune in Gary, Indiana, and Liza Roche of Sun-Times Media Group's Pioneer Press chain of weeklies.