HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: rboudrie@chpc.org (Rob Boudrie)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.legal
Subject: Re: Need info. about Fair Housing act...
Keywords: limit of number of residents in an apt.
Date: 10 Nov 92 19:39:43 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Center For High Perf. Computing of WPI; Marlboro Ma


>(3) Any similar experiences? Other than moving out, do I have any options?

Do nothing.  If the manager gives you grief, tell him you will move
out ONLY when a judge orders you to do so, that your parents will
only be there for a few months, and that you will continue to 
promptly pay the rent.   Unless he's some sort of idiot, that will
be the end of it.

Rob Boudrie
rboudrie@chpc.org
From: andywang@crown.berkeley.edu (Andrew Wang)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Discount brokerage:  Kennedy Cabot any good?
Date: 9 Nov 1992 03:06:10 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
NNTP-Posting-Host: crown.berkeley.edu

Hello, anybody tried Kennedy Cabot before?  It's much cheaper than
Charles Schwab.  However, is it as good and do they allow computerized
stock trades?  How much does it cost for computer stock-trades software?


Thanks for your help.

sssssss
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rcarter@nyx.cs.du.edu (Ron Carter)
Subject: Re: Citybank Choice card
X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University
	of Denver for the Denver community.  The University has neither
	control over nor responsibility for the opinions of users.
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 01:38:03 GMT

schep@math.scarolina.edu (Anton Schep) writes:

>My wife got in the mail an offer for the Citybank Choice Visacard and
>I was wondering whether there was a catch to the offer: no fee, 25 day
>grace period, and upto 2% rebate! This seems to make the card more
>attractive than e.g. the Discover Card. I know that their interest
>rates suck, but we don't care, since we pay off the balance each month.

There doesn't seem to be any catch at all; got the same offer from
Citibank myself, and I will gladly accept a better `kickback' than
Discover any day...  The grocery store I shop at accepts plastic,
so I now am in one of the higher (read: higher rebates!) percentage
brackets...  I love it!  And I do the same as you in paying off the
balance every month, so...

>The only suspicious thing I noticed in the fine print was, that this
>offer was not valid for current Citybank cardholders. Does this mean
>that they plan to change the terms on me a year from now?

Looks like Citibank is just trying to attract `new' customers with
this offer; after all, it doesn't need to attract customers they
already have...  Their notice of `has no annual fee.  And never will.'
sounds good to me...  Sounds like a winner; already sent back the app.

BTW, the `old' Choice card (pre Visa) didn't have a fee, but I got
rid of it when it establish a fee, but then they didn't have a
`never will' clause, either...

--
Ron Carter \ Director \ Center for the Study of Creative Intelligence
 CSCI \ Denver, CO USA \ "A ... mind stretched by a new idea can never
  rcarter@nyx.cs.du.edu \ go back to its original dimensions."  -Holmes
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: markr@mot.com (Mark)
Subject: Re: Make money off of credit card?
Reply-To: markr@mcil.comm.mot.com
Organization: MCIL
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 06:24:01 GMT

In article <1992Nov2.031615.21203@netcom.com> johnwu@netcom.com (John Wu) writes:
>After reading the AT&T Universal Card thread, I decided to take a look at
>my agreement.  If I read it correctly, cash advances, assuming no balance
>was carried over from the previous month, cost the greater of $2.00 or
>2.5% of the cash advance up to a maximum of $20.00.  Of course, I'm 
>assuming that I won't have to pay the silly 16.9% credit card loan for
>the duration of the grace period.

Most credit cards require payment of interest on cash advances from the day the
money is received.

>The great brochure sayeth:
>
>"If you are carrying a balance at the time you obtain a cash advance, 
>interest will be charged...."
>
>"If you pay off your entire balance by xxx, no interest will be charged
>for purchases or CASH ADVANCES in the following month".

Could it be ?

>I usually don't use the credit card a lot.  I may use $100-$200 a month
>but I have a credit limit of $5000.  My idea was to get a cash advance
>from my atm or bank of $4500, invest it in something for 50 days, grab
>the income from the investment, and give back the $4500.  Assuming my 
>income from the $4500 is greater than $20.00, that means I've made some 
>money on the unused credit.  And what's to keep me from doing this again
>after my account has been credited.

I think you need to be able to get 4-5% safely in a short-term investment.
I don't think that is possible today, perhaps in a short-term bond fund, but
that entails some interest rate risk.

>Is there anything wrong with this picture?   Will the bank, atm, or a
>neglected rule stop me from making a buck?   (Like an atm machine really
>has $4500 and will spit it to me in seconds...)  If this works, what can
>I invest it in to maximize my profits (something simple, 100%
>risk free, pays enough)?  Are there any other credit cards that will let
>me pull this off?

Can you try it and let us know if it works ?  (I have a number of credit
cards with $10,000 limits, perhaps this could be profitable :-)

Mark


Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: bill@unixland.natick.ma.us (Bill Heiser)
Subject: Re: Make money off of credit card?
Organization: Unixland Public Access Unix  (508) 655-3848
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 17:08:15 GMT

tzs@carson.u.washington.edu (Tim Smith) writes:

>Assuming you want a GM car, what's to stop you from buying a lot of
>stuff on the GM card, then returning the stuff for a a refund, and using
>the refund to pay off the credit card bill before interest accrues?  Repeat
>until you've reached the maximum GM rebate.

One would assume that when you get a CREDIT, the amount of your
potential GM Auto rebate would be reduced.
-- 
bill@unixland.natick.ma.us                      ESIX Mailing List Moderator
Public Access UNIX/USENET/E-MAIL!  UUCP Accounts Available!  (508) 655-3848
5 High-Speed Lines  V.32bis/V.32/PEP/V.42bis, etc.   Located in Natick, MA USA
From: paul's.friend@uttsbbs.uucp (Paul'S Friend) 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: SANTRON 1 OF 5
Date: 7 Nov 92 20:47:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: The Transfer Station BBS, Danville, CA - 510-837-4610/837-5591
Reply-To: paul's.friend@uttsbbs.uucp (Paul'S Friend) 

Santron, Part I of V: The Nightmare Begins.

     Did you ever wonder about all the promises you see in ads
from computer dealers in magazines such as Computer Shopper, PC
Sources, MicroTimes, etc.  This scary but true story is about my
friend Paul who bought a computer from SANTRON COMPUTER, INC.
last year.  (As I talk about Santron, please remember they share
the very same offices, and even some of the very same phone
numbers, as Microlink Data Systems (MDS)).  The computer was one
of those Gas Plasma luggables.  After 11 months the thing
practically exploded before his eyes.  He took it in for repair
and pleaded with them to repair it quickly because he is a
computer consultant, and without that computer, he can't work.
The computer needed a new 200 meg hard disk, a new motherboard, a
new power supply, a new video card and a new video display.  A
power surge inside the computer had burnt everything out.  No,
that's not the scary part.

     Now we are getting to the scary part.  The company that
makes the luggable case (with power supply, video display and
video card) had gone out of business!!!  Well, Santron promised
and they promised and they promised for 4 weeks that it would be
fixed "in a few days".  My friend would call and get an answering
machine.  Out of 15 messages he left, he got ZERO in response.
On the few occasions he did get through, (like the day Santron
received the letter threatening court action, or the day he
called the sales number and demanded they get somebody from the
service department 9 feet away), they would tell him the parts
were in, or they would tell him the wrong parts came in, or they
would tell him they hadn't actually ordered the parts yet, you
get the idea.  Meanwhile my friend lost over $2000 in contract
work.  Along the way, he asked them to replace the computer with
the new model they were now selling.  The manager (and co-owner),
Matthew, said "What, after 11 months, the thing's almost out of
warranty".  So my friend begged them for a loaner, but again they
explained that because the computer was almost out of warranty
(is that like almost being pregnant?), they would not lend him a
computer.  What did that mean, ALMOST out of warranty?  Wasn't it
either IN warranty or NOT IN warranty?  They even told him that
if he wanted a NEW hard disk, he would have to pay $700 because
the warranty had run out on the original one.  "But the computer
is only 11 months old", pleaded my friend, "how can that be?".
They explained that THEIR warranty with the disk manufacturer had
run out, (so would my friend mind footing the bill).
From: joel@upchrch.UUCP (Joel Upchurch  )
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Financial records (how long to keep?)
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 92 04:19:34 EST
Organization: Upchurch Computer Consulting, Orlando FL

vinlai@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (vincent.lai) writes:

> I'd like to know how long should I keep records like my paycheck stubs,
> my bank statements, etc.  They're accumulating to the point where I have
> to do some housecleaning.  What's the recommended rule of thumb?

As I recall the advice I read someplace was that you should keep all
financial records forever. The reason for this was that the IRS can
only audit tax returns for the previous three years, but if they
find any problems in those years, then they can audit you clear
back to the big bang.

(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: Karen.Denbleyker@launchpad.unc.edu (Karen Denbleyker)
Subject: Re: BIG BROTHER RADIO SH
Organization: University of North Carolina Extended Bulletin Board Service
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 14:12:19 GMT

In article <7316.2546.uupcb@factory.com> ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau)  writes:
>-> a drivers license is required to establish identity and blah blah
>-> blah.... I reluctantly surrendered it because I was very curious to
>-> see what was
>
>This MAY be in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
>
>A person with vision too low to get a drivers license would be
>discriminated against due to a disability.
>My uncorrected vision is 5/200 and my best corrected is 20/60, with bad
>night vision.
>I don't have a drivers license.


Some states (maybe all, I don't know) will let you get an ID card that is
not a driver's license.  In North Carolina, you can get one at the Driver's
License office.  My brother got one when he lost his license for a year so
he could still write checks, buy beer or cigarettes, etc.


--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  laUNChpad.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: carlo@electro.electro.com (Carlo Sgro)
Subject: Re: Baby Monitors - Any suggestions?
Organization: Electrohome Ltd., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 16:34:25 GMT


I would highly recommend the Playskool monitor.  We've found the performance
to be exceptional.  However, the Cosco (sp?) is a piece of junk.
-- 
Carlo Sgro  is  carlo@electro.com            "Yet another person who never has
or {uunet.ca|watcgl|xenitec}!electro!carlo    had a relationship with Margaret 
System Administrator, Electrohome Ltd.        Trudeau..."
Kitchener, ON, (519)744-7111 x 7209          
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: koziarz@chinet.chi.il.us (Louis Koziarz)
Subject: The unhappy byproduct of gas stations and ATM cards
Organization: Chinet - Public Access UNIX
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 02:22:39 GMT

Well I decide to stop at the local Amoco tonight and fill up the car.  
There's not much money in my wallet, so I decide to use the nifty new ATM
debit feature.  Same as cash, how can I go wrong?  

I fill up, walk inside, hand the girl my ATM card, she replies 'Our Cash
Station connection is down'.  NOW what am I gonna do?  I tell her 'I wish you
had a sign outside that said that'.  She shrugs.  I take out my credit card,
I don't have enough cash, she replies 'Well I'm going to have to charge you
the credit rate now instead of cash'.  Now I'm steamed.  I'm gonna talk to the
owner in the morning.

Moral: ASK FIRST before using an ATM card for debit transactions. 

I understand outages are probably pretty rare, but shouldn't I have the right
to be informed if this is the case?

-- 
Louis Koziarz
koziarz@chinet.chi.il.us
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: cep@taligent.com (Christophe Pettus)
Subject: Re: Nope again (was Re: Yup, Amway's a scam)
Organization: Taligent, a little subsidiary of two really big companies.
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 23:03:39 GMT

In article <Bx9L2q.93o@fc.sde.hp.com> fritz@fc.sde.hp.com (Gary Fritz) writes:
>Does that make Burger King responsible for each franchise?

Absolutely.  They use common advertising, a national identity, etc.
There is no way for the average consumer to tell that it is a franchise
and not owned directly by the identity corporation (many have both).
The parent should take as much responsibility for the franchise as for
one of its own operations, and many do.
--
-- Christophe

"I draw the line at Styrofoam packing kernels, you sick pervert."
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: pas@ansley.cc.gatech.edu (Paulo Santos)
Subject: Re: The Baldridge award (was "AT&T Universal Card (tm? by AT&T)")
Keywords: AT&T UNIVERSAL CREDIT CARD VISA
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 23:15:07 GMT

mpb@troy.uucp (22161-bunz) writes:
> 
>First off, the idea of using a window type envelope is stupid, why not
>just print the address on the envelope to begin with.  That's the
>answer to that problem, not the Quick Fix of printing the address on the
>other side!  You can STILL put it in the WRONG WAY!

Their idea is to simplify the automatic process of extracting the check and
the payment slip from the envelope, and presenting to a data entry
operator the correct side in the correct orientation.

aem@symbiosis.ahp.com (a.e.mossberg) adds:
>
>Not to mention the environmental aspect: envelopes with plastic or cello
>windows are non-recyclable. (and yes, I know there's a new window material 
>that is, but who uses it? And you still have to yank out the window).

The windows don't have to be plastic.  A hole is just fine and serves both
purposes: the slip is always in the same position and the envelope is still
recyclable.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Paulo Santos                         Internet: pas@cc.gatech.edu
   Georgia Tech, College of Computing       uucp: ...!gatech!cc!pas
   Atlanta GA 30332-0280, U.S.A.           Voice: (404) 853-9393
From: mikeq@freddy.CNA.TEK.COM (Mike Quigley)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Clinton Endorses Right to Information Privacy
Date: 6 Nov 92 18:02:37 GMT
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Redmond,  OR.

In article <1992Nov6.013333.13548@itsmail1.hamilton.edu? jmalloy@itsmail1.hamilton.edu (Joseph T. Malloy) writes:
?In article <1992Nov4.174255.9029@dcatlas.dot.gov? joet@dcatlas.dot.gov (Joe Trott) writes:

??Capitalism - the only morally acceptable system.  If you want something, you
??earn it, by providing a product or service of value to a willing consumer
??population.

?IMHO, this is claim to superior (indeed, sole) morality is poppycock.
?We'll never know, though, since there ain't no such thing as pure
?capitalism, thank goodness!

Especially in America, where inefficient industries producing unwanted
products are propped up and protected by the government (i.e., Corporate
Socialism).

Mike
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ss51@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Sundaram Sridharan)
Subject: mail order stores
Organization: Columbia University
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 23:46:36 GMT


Are there any mail-order catalog stores for men's clothing where one can find
sizes smaller than the smallest size available in most stores? They used to
have 'xs' sizes in some stores but these are no more to be found.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ChazL@county.lmt.mn.org (Chaz Larson)
Subject: Re: Pigment dyed clothes
Reply-To: ChazL@county.lmt.mn.org (Chaz Larson)
Organization: LaserMaster Corporation
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 92 17:52:47 GMT

In article <1d13i0INNs6e@skat.usc.edu>, jslee@skat.usc.edu (John S. Lee) 
writes:
> What is the proper way to stop pigment-dyed clothes from bleeding
> color?
>
> I have a pair of green cargo shorts which still rub green after the
> initial washing, the one they claim will halt the color rub.
> 
> My hands get green just from reaching into the pockets on a typical
> use.

I have a cotton sweatshirt, a maroon color, which is about 25 years old.  
It's been worn very regularly and has been washed at least 3-400 times.

This sweatshirt will still turn white clothes pink if not washed separately.  
I wouldn't have imagined that there'd be that much dye in a short-sleeved 
sweatshirt.

At least my body doesn't turn red when I wear it.

chaz


..must think...bubble pipe will relax me and I think...
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: dedek@meaddata.com (Mike Dedek)
Subject: Re: A problem on 1990 Dodge CaraVan
Keywords: Dodge, CaraVan
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 16:11:55 GMT

In article <402@yak.COM>, clg2521@yak.COM (Cindy Guo) writes:
|> 
|> I have problems with my 1990 Dodge Caravan (around 30,000 miles), 
|> and I wonder if anyone there similiar problem ? The car died once 
|> when I drove it, but the dealer and a local shop could not find any 
|> problem.  
|> 
|> The weather was not very cold, the car has been sitted on the parking lot 
|> for about 8 hours, then I drove it on the freeway for about 30 mins ( I had
|> radio and heater on), after few miles driving on the 
|> local, the CHECK GADGETS light on, the wheel started to feel funny, 
|> then the car died after few yards. I could not restart the car, but I can
|> restart it after 40 mins. We then drove the car to a AAA approved shop,
|> we can duplicate "not restart" problem there. Their computerlized equipment
|> diagnoses a senser seems to have problem, but they could not duplicate 
|> "the car dies" problem. They recommand us to see the dealer. They did not
|> charge us any money.
|> 
|> The dealer said they can not find any problem, and can not duplicate
|> the problem. They said they are not garanted it won't happen again.
|> 
|> It concernd me very much, it could be a fatal accident if happend on the
|> freeway. Any clue or suggestion ?
|> 
|> 
|> Cindy Guo
|> Boeing Computer Services            P.O. Box 24342    M/S 7H-93
|> (206)865-6317                       Seattle, WA 98124-0346
|> clg2521@yak.boeing.com

Well, the problem sounds like a bad generator belt.  Basically what 
happens in this case is the battery gradually wears down because the
engine is running off it and eventually the car will die.  Power
loss would cause the power steering to feel funny.  When you tried
immediately to restart, did it turn over at all?  If so, it does
sound like the battery was low, and often waiting an hour or so 
allows the battery to gain enough to start the car again.  In this
case you would think the bad belt would be evident and you would
continue to have the problem, but possibly some temporary cause
affected the belt, like some oil, which eventually wore off or
was absorbed to the point that the belt no longer slipped.
In addition 30k would be enough for belts to start having problems.

Now, the bad news - this probably isn't the problem, but it's cheap
to replace belts and it can't hurt to look into it.

Good luck,

Mike Dedek

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: henry@ADS.COM (Henry Mensch)
Subject: Re: Cellular Phones Questions
Keywords: questions to ask, phones to buy
Organization: Advanced Decision Systems; a div of Booz, Allen & Hamilton
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 00:46:52 GMT

federkin@rtsg.mot.com (John Federkins) wrote: 
->kapa@cbnewsc.cb.att.com (k.a.perkins) writes:
->
->>> (3) Any recommendation for the cellular phones? 
->>In general, the Motorola phones are considered to be the sturdiest and
->>the best. 
->
->No to mention the fact that they're made in the good ole US of A.

by some accounts, this is a bug and not a feature.

proud owner of a new nokia 101,
--
# henry mensch / booz, allen & hamilton, inc.  / <henry@ads.com>
# "fight the real enemy."  -- sinead o'connor, and many others.
#     for information on the league for programming freedom, 
#                     write to lpf@uunet.uu.net
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: wwang@osf.org
Subject: Norditrac like ski exercise machine
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 16:34:26 GMT


I am thinking of buying a Norditrac like ski exercise machine, like CSA Alpine 
Ski machine, or something like that. I remember seeing someone mentioning that Norditrac is the best exerciser in the market. But since Norditrac is kinda pricy to me, I am thinking alternatives. These others have the similar design, that exercises both lower and upper body at the same time, I 'd like to hear from people who have used such machines. 

Thanks.

ww


Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.fitness,misc.misc,rec.misc