HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bell@cs.tamu.edu (Will Bell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Pre-Approved card Mail in annual fee??
Date: 26 Jan 93 16:56:29 GMT
Organization: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
NNTP-Posting-Host: solar.tamu.edu

In article <1993Jan26.010858.18151@netcom.com> erc@netcom.com (Eric Smith) writes:
>In article <C1FI3u.Aqq@encore.com> slightbo@encore.com writes:
>>My wife received a pre-approved credit application for a Gold MC
>>they offer a $10,000 credit line.  All they ask is that she mail 
>>in the "annual fee" payment of $39. This is not covered in the FAQ,
>>but I smell a rat? What do you think? 
>
>
>If they were a legitimate bank, they would have no reason to ask for
>an advance payment, because they could just put it on your the first
>bill for your credit card.  Thus it is most probably fraud.  

If this is the outfit on Regal Row in Dallas, which I'm sure it is, then
it is not fraud.  It is shady, and it is a scam, and I hope the CEO of
that company rots in hell.  But it is legal.

Call the BBB in Dallas and they will tell you all about this outfit.  THey
are quite notorious for their tactics of separating gullible Americans from 
their money.  But they say no one can take any action because all their
various operations (*) are perfectly legal.  There is fine print buried in
their glossies that describes exactly what you will get for your money.  
99% of the people never find it or never read it.

(*) I know of the following scams run by this organization:
1.  $10,000 "gold card" issued by CrediCorp (not a visa, only good for junk
    from a slim catalog)
2.  $200 "savings certificate" good on 4 or 5 overpriced items, one of them 
    is always some cheezy cheap luggage
2a. A "You have already won" offer based on the certificate above
3.  A camera and 100 rolls of film for only $20 (camera is supercheap and 
    film is not standard process [must mail it in to them and pay $10+ for
    each roll])

Beware of these people!

WBB
--
Will Bell -- bell@cs.tamu.edu -- Live from the heart of Scenic Central Texas
"Why did you pour ink on my head?"
From: lmcgee@bondo.corp.sgi.com (Lee McGee)
Subject: Re: Insurance question
Reply-To: lmcgee@sgi.com	
Organization: Silicon Graphics
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 22:32:52 GMT

|> >Suppose someone takes out life insurance and "forgets" that he has
|> >cancer or AIDS.  The insurance company can't be liable in such a case,
|> >can it?
|> 
|> That's why they require blood tests.
|> 

Not even _that_ is really necessary to protect the insurance company.  there
are "guaranteed issue" life insurance policises, where not medical test
is required, just your answers to a health questionaire (which could
be very brief).  If  the insured had "forgotton" that he had cancer or AIDS, well, that would be termed a "pre-existing condition", and a condition that would in almost all cases NOT be covered according to the language of the insurance policy.

Now.  The patient dies.  Does the insurance company pay?  No, not if the
company is any good (at what they do).  The claim would first be 
investigated to see if the condition was "pre-existing" (note:  private investigation would be used in addition to MIBs (medical information bureau) scans).  This process is called "adjudicating the claim".  The practice is standard for AIDs claims, with most companies.

In the above case the insurance company would probably not be liable and
probably not have to pay.

Unless there was soon loophole in the policy language favoring the consumer!



-- 
                     	Your Data Base Administrator:  LEE MCGEE
PHONE (415) 390-2403	   	   --    safe       -- 
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From: barryf@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Barry Fowler)
Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1993 17:45:34 GMT
Subject: Where's "Zima?"
Organization: HP Colorado Computer Mfg. Operation
Newsgroups: misc.consumers

When living in the Sacramento, Calif. area, a new malt liquor beverage
called: "Zima" was being test marketed there.  Upon my recent return, 
it's still being sold (quite well) there.

The stuff ain't bad.  It's a bit like beer without the stronger taste and
is clear (has the apearance of sparkling water).

Does anyone know where, beside Sacramento, this stuff is being sold and
any plans to expand its market?

It's made in Tennessee, ironically.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: laird@pasture.ecn.purdue.edu (Kyler Laird)
Subject: Re: 6.9% (!) Signet Visa Card
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Distribution: usa
Date: 22 Jan 93 02:06:44 GMT

6.9%!!  That's outrageous!  My GTE MasterCard is only 6.0%, no
annual fee and there weren't any service charge for checks before
Jan. 93.

Anywayz...the point is that 6.9% isn't so crazy, and an annual
fee isn't necessary.

--kyler
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: konstan@saturn.cs.umn.edu (Joe Konstan)
Subject: Re: Consumers Digest 'you renewed now pay' trick?
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of Minnesota
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 01:13:45 GMT

In article <1993Jan25.213453.4846@cbnewsl.cb.att.com>, prm@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (paul.r.mount) writes:
|> 	In 1992 I paid for a year's subscription to Consumers Digest
|> and the magazine has been arriving as scheduled.  (Expiration
|> June 93).
|> 	Recently they have been sending notices saying "you've been
|> getting the magazine but why haven't you paid?"  I notice on
|> the card with the address and codes it says June94.  So I send them
|> cards back saying that I don't recall renewing for another year.
|> 	It seems like renewal by intimidation.  Anyone else having
|> this problem w/CD or other magazines.

Not this problem, but I did enter their sweepstakes (carefully checking the
no box to indicate that I didn't want to subscribe) and whaddaya know, a bill
for a subscription.  Real Consumerly attitude.

|> 	PS isn't it interesting how you do nothing at all and 
|> become a Finalist in the AFP and PCH contests...

Except maybe return the form.  Has anyone ever been "dropped" from AFP or
PCH?

Joe Konstan
konstan@cs.umn.edu
From: tzs@carson.u.washington.edu (Tim Smith)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: 6.9% (!) Signet Visa Card
Date: 22 Jan 1993 01:08:33 GMT
Organization: University of Washington School of Law, Class of '95
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: carson.u.washington.edu

I have one of their cards, but I think my rate is higher.  If the one
they are offering you follows the same pattern, it doesn't matter if
you miss the deadline -- you'll get another pre-approved offer in a
few weeks.  I was on my sixth or seventh before I accepted, for instance.

Also, I had recently moved, and the offer was forwarded to me after it
expired, so I included a note saying why I was late (they seem to
disconnect the phone number included with the offer as soon as the
offer expires).

The reason I got the card was that I have left work to go to law school.
I'm out of phase on this -- rather than starting with a lot of savings,
which I'll deplete during the school year, and replenish over the summer,
I started with almost no money, and so am using credit cards to cover the
difference between what financial aid thinks I can live on and what I
really need.  I'll pay them all off over the summer, and start the cycle
again.  Thus, I've stopped tossing the various pre-approved offers, because
I want to have as much credit as possible for unforseen expenses.

Thus, I decided to accept their card.  Well, they really did send it to
me.  With a $200 credit limit.  That is not a typo.  The silly thing has
a credit limit more than an order of magnitude smaller than any of my
other cards (I've got four others)!

I'll keep it for a while, using it and paying it off regularly, to see if
they'll up the limit at a reasonable rate.  If not, I'll cancel it -- I'm
not paying $18/year for $200 of credit!

--Tim Smith
From: lusol@Lehigh.EDU (Stephen O. Lidie)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Snow blower recommendations?
Date: 21 Jan 93 13:24:35 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University, Bethlehem PA

In article <1993Jan20.190104.2592@miki.pictel.com> geiser@pictel.com ( Drivel
King ) writes:
>In article <1jh8dkINNjnh@hp-col.col.hp.com>, cab@col.hp.com (Chris Best)
writes:
>|> ...
>|> 
>|> And to the "tire chains are too hard to put on" complaints, once
>|> oughtta be enough.  Think about it.  The only time you'll ever use 
>|> the machine is in the snow, so why would you ever take them off?
>
>My Toro came with them on, so once may be even too much.  I suspect that they
>were put on at the shop where I purchased it, but I don't particularly care. 
Nor
>do I care how hard it was to put them on, although I reserve the right to
change
>my mind should I ever get a flat tire. :-)
>-- 
Tracks still provide better traction on slopes...

SOL
From: wesw@sr.hp.com (Wes Whiteley)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Strange call from "Franchise Tax Board"
Date: 25 Jan 93 23:43:57 GMT
Distribution: ca
Organization: HP Sonoma County (SRSD/MWTD/MID)
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.9 PL6]

You could also call collect.


wes

wesw@sr.hp.com
From: joel@upchrch.UUCP (Joel Upchurch  )
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Lightweight bullet-proof vests illegal?
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 23:24:50 EST
Organization: Upchurch Computer Consulting, Orlando FL

an8130@anon.penet.fi writes:

> The guy in the next office tells me that the lightweight bullet-proof
> vests are illegal except for police, secret service, etc (cuz they
> don't want criminals to be immune to police bullets, etc).
> 
> Can anyone verify this?  Is it illegal:
> 
> a) for a person to sell me a lightweight bullet-proof vest,
> b) for me to purchase a lightweight bullet-proof vest,
> c) for me to be in possession of a lightweight bullet-proof vest.

There is no federal law against owning body armor, but I believe some
states and local areas have laws against it. You need to find out the
local laws concerning body armor. Also some companies only sell to the
police. Some places where it legal to own body armor have laws against
wearing it during the commission of a felony.

You can find ads for body armor in the back of guns magazines. Also
you might want to try over in rec.guns for a discussion of the pros
and cons of body armor.

(If your mail bounces use the address below.)
Joel Upchurch/Upchurch Computer Consulting/718 Galsworthy/Orlando, FL 32809
joel@peora.ccur.com {uiucuxc,hoptoad,petsd,ucf-cs}!peora!joel (407) 859-0982
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: marks@ssdevo.enet.dec.com (Randy Marks)
Subject: Re:  Need help in resolving lawyer's bill dispute!
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp. - Colorado Springs
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1993 00:54:30 GMT


In article <9301262110.AA23638@cs.utexas.edu>, asa@STL-07SIMA.ARMY.MIL (Will Martin on 7000) writes...
>I thought most local bar associations had arbitration and complaint 
>panels to review just this sort of dispute..

Who do you think serves on the local bar assn. arbitration and complaint
panels?  Lawyers do.  Whose interest do you think they will serve?
Their own.

I'd suggest contacting HALT.  It is an organization for legal reform.
They provide self-help legal books.  One title is dedicated to
to resolving disputes with lawyers.  They also have a list of lawyers
which will prosecute other lawyers.

HALT
1319 F Street, N.W.
Suite 300
Washington, CD  20004

	Randy Marks
(UUCP)	                {decvax,ucbvax,allegra}!decwrl!ssdevo.enet!marks
(INTERNET)              marks@ssdevo.enet.dec.com
(domain-based INTERNET) marks%ssdevo.enet@decwrl.dec.com
..........................................................................
	"No man's life, liberty, or property is safe
	while the legislature is in session."
..........................................................................
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: macrakis@osf.org (Stavros Macrakis)
Subject: Re: Kitchen Aid mixers
Organization: OSF Research Institute
Distribution: usa
Date: 26 Jan 93 16:15:13

In article <1993Jan21.123420.10989@ncrcae.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM> bdewey@grok116.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM (Bob Dewey) writes:

   I am looking for a mail order (read inexpensive/discount) source for a Kitchen
   Aid food mixer. I am looking for the larger size where you move the bowl
   up to the beaters rather than having the head tilt.

First, some price comparisons.  The smaller one (tilt head) is often
on sale around here (Caldor?) for about $190.  The larger one (crank
bowl) is much less advertised, but occasionally goes on sale for $250
or so at Lechmere's.

I don't know why people call "Cook's Catalogue" a "discount" catalogue
-- I don't think I've seen higher prices outside Williams-Sonoma...!

You might try some of the large New York mail-order places like 47th
Street or Focus Electronics.  Strangely enough, they handle not only
cameras and video, but also some kitchen appliances such as microwave
ovens and Kitchenaid mixers.

	-s
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: tff@plato.ds.boeing.com (Terry F Figurelle)
Subject: Re: Deer Whistles
Reply-To: tff@plato.ds.boeing.com
Organization: Boeing Defense & Space Group
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 15:15:05 GMT

In article KH0@unx.sas.com, sasjcs@canoe.unx.sas.com (Joan Stout) writes:
>This isn't scientific, but I know a realtor who works mostly in a 
>rural and semi-rural area. Collisions with deer happen quite frequently
>in this area. The realtor has the whistles on her vehicle, and she says
>she hasn't seen a deer near her car since she got them. She's convinced
>that they work.
>
>Joan
>sasjcs@unx.sas.com

Counterexample: My brother installed these on both his vehicles and promply
(with one week!) hit a deer with BOTH vehicles (note - not the same deer).

I've heard many testimonials for the whistles. It may be that they decrease
the odds of hitting a deer but I don't think anyone has gathered enough
evidence one way or another.

---
Terry F Figurelle			Boeing Defense & Space Group
email: tff@plato.ds.boeing.com		PO BOX 3999, Mail Stop 6J-EA
phone: 206-394-3115 fax:206-394-4300	Seattle, WA 98124-2499

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: brett@sr.hp.com ()
Subject: Re: Need info on FLOWBEE (sp?) hair clipper.
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 19:07:16 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: HP Sonoma County (SRSD/MWTD/MID)
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8.1]

James M. Wells (wells@zach.fit.edu) wrote:
> The product was called a Flowbee.
> I would like to know where I can buy one and/or contact the company.

From my owner's manual:

	Flowbee International
	6650 Lusk Blvd.,  Suite B100
	San Diego, CA  92121
	(619) 558-9511

--

							Brett Carver
							(707) 577-4344
							brett@sr.hp.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: kayshav_dattatri@taligent.com (Kayshav Dattatri)
Subject: Re: any NO FEE ATM in Santa Clara ?
Organization: Taligent
Distribution: ba
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 19:02:36 GMT

My credit union (Pacific IBM Employees Federal Credit Union) gives me this
service. I have their ATM card which can be used on STAR, PLUS and CIRRUS
(and probably more) and there is NO FEE anywhere.

I guess you have to be an employee of IBM or its subsidiaries or must be
a relative (or some such).

KD
From: bnguyen@airmics.gatech.edu (Binh Nguyen)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Relocation help
Keywords: relocation, taxes, cofc
Date: 28 Jan 93 14:04:10 GMT
Reply-To: bnguyen@airmics.gatech.edu (Binh Nguyen)

In article <1993Jan26.203212.26943@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>,
rwirthli@nyx.cs.du.edu (Ralph Wirthlin) writes:
|> We're thinking of relocating to another part of the country
|> (haven't decided exactly where yet, but have a few general locations
|> in mind).    What would be the best way of getting information on
|> such things as housing costs, local and state taxes, crime
statistics
|> etc?  Is there some kind of publication or periodical that addresses
|> some of these concerns?     
|> 
|>    I'm sorry if this is not the appropriate newsgroup but this was
the
|> closest I could find.
|>    If there is a FAQ for these kind of questions please send me a
|> pointer.  
|> 
|> 					Thanks,
|> 
|> 
|> 					Ralph

There're several ways:

1.	Contact a real-estate agent who works or has connection with
	a company that offers relocation services.  This was the way
	I got the info about Atlanta areas--lot of info, more than
	I really needed.

2.	Call the Chamber of Commerce of the county of your interest.
	This is the way I've just done while thinking to relocate again.


Either way costs you nothing.

	When I selected the first option, I felt ethically obligated to work
	with the real-estate agent who had sent me the info package.  The
	second option obligated me nothing.

There's another way to find out what's going in the community if you
don't
mind paying for it:  Subscribe to a local newspaper at least a month. 
The paper
usually comes to you via mail.  Of course, you can go to a library
and search for the paper of your interest.

--Binh
From: jag@ampex.com (Rayaz Jagani)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Consumers Digest 'you renewed now pay' trick?
Date: 26 Jan 93 17:19:58 GMT
Article-I.D.: ampex.C1H1HB.9wI
Distribution: usa
Organization: Ampex Corporation, Redwood City CA

In article <1993Jan25.213453.4846@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> prm@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (paul.r.mount) writes:
>
>	In 1992 I paid for a year's subscription to Consumers Digest
>and the magazine has been arriving as scheduled.  (Expiration
>June 93).
>	Recently they have been sending notices saying "you've been
>getting the magazine but why haven't you paid?"  I notice on
>the card with the address and codes it says June94.  So I send them
>cards back saying that I don't recall renewing for another year.
>	It seems like renewal by intimidation.  Anyone else having
>this problem w/CD or other magazines.
>
	I had a "incident" with Chemical Engineering (McGraw Hill), a while
	back. They were blasting me with renewal notices, and one of them
	said that my subscription was "dead" (or something like that), a
	full two months before, and wished to know why I was not renewing.
	I expressed my irritation at their reminders... they took that as
	a renewal.

	I just refused (returned to the postman) all copies which I had
	not paid for. No further problems.

>	PS isn't it interesting how you do nothing at all and 
>become a Finalist in the AFP and PCH contests...


-- 
#include std.disclaimer
Rayaz Jagani jag@dst.ampex.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rlatham@decster.uta.edu (MAX HEADROOM)
Subject: Re: PEPSI CLEAR & TAB CLEAR
Organization: University of Texas at Arlington
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 19:30:43 GMT

In article <7399.25.uupcb@uttsbbs.uucp> neil.black@uttsbbs.uucp (Neil Black)  writes:
>Earlier today I had the misfortune of tasting PepsiCo's new offering
>here on the West Coast (Bay Area to be exact), Pepsi Clear.  This stuff
>is AWFUL!


I'm wondering if this is the same stuff that has been selling
here (in Texas) for the last few months known as "Crystal Pepsi".  At least
thats what I thought the name was......

>Has anyone else tried these?  What do you think?

I think they would have been better off giving it a new name.
People probably expect it to taste like Pepsi, which I don't
think it does, and then they are disappointed by it and
won't buy it again.  
I thought it tasted a little like medicine.......


Newsgroups: misc.consumers,co.general
From: ejh@khonshu.colorado.edu (Edward J. Hartnett)
Subject: Re: Illegal telephone recording
Organization: CIRES, University of Colorado
	<1993Jan20.172624.9115@netwise.com>
	<1993Jan20.230522.21003@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>
	<JASON.93Jan21101055@jazz.cnd.hp.com>
Date: 21 Jan 93 11:33:59

In article <JASON.93Jan21101055@jazz.cnd.hp.com> jason@jazz.cnd.hp.com (Jason Zions) writes:

			<snip>
   Moral: if you see someone commit an illegal act while attempting to get you
   to commit one, you're probably safe to do the deed; just be aware that it
   may take a few years and a lot of money to get off the hook.

This reminds me of a guy in Washington D.C. I recently met who was an
undercover drug guy for the Air Force in Italy. He was court-martialed
12 times (of course they held them off base, and he revealed that he
was really an AF cop so he was never convicted. Then he would go back
on the base and thw rod was leaked around that he got off on a
technicality. Everyone thought he was a drug dealer.

I told him that, if I was they type of guy that was going to buy
drugs, I certainly wouldn't buy from someone who I hadn't first
partaken with, just because I wouldn't trust them. He showed me, with
a cigarette how he could fake smoking pot without actually taking any
into his lungs. He said that before and after each bust he had to take
a drug test to be sure that he was not taking any drugs. He told me
that they trained him to fake smoking pot, snorting cocain, and taking
pills, so that it would look just like he was doing it (I really
couldn't tell the difference, and I even tried the smoking trick
myself, and it works great). So just because you see someone doi
something illegal, doesn't mean that he or she did.

He was in the USAF, as I mentioned, and they have a lot less rules to
follow than ordinary cops with respect to the rights of the accused,
so I don't know whether civil cops would be allowed to do this smoking
trick. 
--
	Don't blame me, I voted against Amendment 2!

Edward Hartnett				ejh@khonshu.colorado.edu

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: kenny@osf.org (Kenneth Crudup)
Subject: Re: PRODIGY -- WHAT ABOUT
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 19:10:37 GMT

In article <1868@ocpt.ccur.com>
mikeb@macbeth.ocpt.ccur.com (Mike Bixenman) writes:

>I think that CI$ is $7.95 per hour and anything over 2400 baud is charged
>additional. They also have an extra charge for sending e-mail over the
>Internet.

>The price still beats their hourly system, where you are charged $2 if you 
>use it or not and $6/hr when you are logged on.

Huh? You lost me.

2 hrs, plan "A": 2 * $7.95 = $15.90.
2 hrs, plan "B": $2.00 + 2 * $6.00 = $14.00

Considering you can't do much on Compu$erve in an hour, I don't see how you
like the first plan better. More hours work even better in your favor.

	-Kenny

-- 
Kenny Crudup, Contractor, OSF DCE QA
OSF, 11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142	+1 617 621 7306
kenny@osf.osf.org			OSF has nothing to do with this post.
	  Religion: The longest-running gag ever played on Mankind.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: exustp@exu.ericsson.se (Stephen Pittner,xt-dt,x0672)
Subject: Camcorder - Image Stabilization
Reply-To: exustp@exu.ericsson.se
Organization: Ericsson Network Systems, Inc.
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 15:10:11 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This article was posted by a user at Ericsson.
              Any opinions expressed are strictly those of the
              user and not necessarily those of Ericsson.

Hello,
  I am considering buying a camcorder soon and I am especially interested in ones
with "Digital Image Stabilization". I have not seen any advertised here locally
in Dallas and was wondering if any netters have had any experiences with this 
type of camcorder.

 Any feedback or recommendations are welcome (Price too if you know it)

                                 Thanks,
                                 Steve

Newsgroups: misc.consumers