HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: torerik@cs.washington.edu (Tor Erik Jeremiassen)
Subject: Re: Cable Bill Rip-off
Organization: Computer Science & Engineering, U. of Washington, Seattle
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 92 18:22:51 GMT

In article <adams.718479079@spssig> adams@spss.com (Steve Adams) writes:
>byrd@lucerne.rice.edu (Marc J Byrd) writes:
>
>>I think if I ran a cable company, I would stop carrying the networks, and
>>let people put in antennea to pick them up.  A little extra hassle, but could
>>provide the service less expensively than the competitors.
>
>My idea, exactly.  Only you can't do this under this new law.  The cable
>companies are covered by a 'must carry' regulation.  Turner has already
>filed suit.
>
>That's the problem with this bill:
>
>1) Cable companies are REQUIRED to carry the network stations

If a broadcast station forces a cable company to carry its programming
using the must carry provision it CANNOT request payment.

>2) Cable companies are REQUIRED to pay the networks
 
If a broadcast station requires compensation (does not need to be cash,
advertising time has been mentioned), it CANNOT force the cable company to
carry its programming. The cable company is free to drop it from the 
lineup.

>3) No controls on network charges appear to have been set

It is the local broadcast stations, not the networks.


A couple of broadcast stations in the Seattle, when asked, said they were
examining the bill, but would quite likely go for the forcing the cable
company to carry their programming and NOT charing for it.


Tor Jeremiassen
From: henry@tahurangi.ads.com (Henry Mensch)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Can a clinic ask for direct cash payment for bills?
Date: 9 Oct 92 01:01:56 GMT
Reply-To: henry@ADS.COM (Henry Mensch)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Advanced Decision Systems, a div of Booz, Allen & Hamilton

mallidi@a.cs.okstate.edu (MALLIDI SATYANARAY) writes:
|> 	Can any clinic say that they will accept only cash? Does this kind
|> of cash payment go accounted (for tax purposes)? Can this clinic say that
|> they don't accept checks even if you show proper id like CA driver licence?

tell me why they should accept anything *but* cash from people who walk in
off the street who aren't regular customers?

a california driver's license says "the bearer has the privilege of driving a
car" ... it says nothing of the sort "the bearer writes fabulous checks, and
you must accept them."  checks aren't legal tender, and merchants aren't
obliged to accept them.

-- 
# henry mensch / booz, allen & hamilton, inc.  / <henry@ads.com>
# "fight the real enemy."  -- sinead o'connor, and many others.
From: as@farsight.wpd.sgi.com (Ashmeet Sidana)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Diff. between MC and Visa
Date: 14 Oct 92 23:04:31 GMT
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.

I would like to understand the differences between MasterCard and Visa
for the consumer. It seems that there is very little difference, the 
major items all being subject to the issuing bank.

However, there are some policies that are different.

For example,

   I recently ordered something over the phone with a MasterCard
   and was billed for more than I ordered. When I disputed the charge
   with my bank (AT&T Universal), they said that since I had a MC
   and I didn't have a charge slip, I would have to return the goods
   for them to dispute the charge.

   However, in the case of Visa, they could have disputed it as
   an incorrect bill.

Are there any other differnces?

---Ashmeet Sidana
From: paula@uupms.UUCP (Paula Stockholm)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: How do I handle Phone harassment?
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 92 15:47:05 GMT
Reply-To: paula@nlbbs
Distribution: world
Organization: The Electronics Workbench


In article <1992Oct12.211949.21237@informix.com> neilw@informix.com writes:
 
 > Seen on my last trip on United: "If you are seated in an exit row 
 > and can not (sic) read this card... please notify a crew member."
 >
        Like the signs on store doors: "No dogs allowed except
        seeing-eye dogs."
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: dth2@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (David T Ho)
Subject: Question about bounced check
Reply-To: dth2@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (David T Ho)
Organization: Columbia University
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 22:55:47 GMT

Someone wrote me a check a few days ago and I went to my bank and
deposited it.  Today, I got this notice from my bank telling me that
there was insufficient fund in that person's account and they're
charging me a fee because of this bounced check.  My question is: Can
the do this?

This might seem like an odd question, but it just does not make sense
to me tht the bank is chastising me for something that is beyond my
control.  Is there anything I can do about this?  Any help would be
appreciated.  Thanks.


--
David T. Ho                       
dth2@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu
dth@ocf.berkeley.edu
From: tedb@hpcvra.cv.hp.com (Ted Beers)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Can't Stand the Heat in the Kitchen
Date: 13 Oct 92 16:49:21 GMT
Article-I.D.: hpcvra.147410008
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Corvallis, OR, USA


    In our house under construction, the heating people have placed the
    combined exhaust ductwork for our 80% efficiency gas furnace and gas
    water heater up through one corner of the pantry, like so:


                        TOP VIEW


                  <------ 3' ------->

                  +---+--------------+  ^
                  |GAS|              |  |
                  +----              |  2'
                  |                  |  |
                  +- (pantry doors) -+  v


    The gas exhaust is channeled through an 8" circular metal duct with
    a 1" air space around it.  The pantry walls will be standard cabinet
    box material--1/2" or 3/4" wood.

    I'm a little worried about the heat from the exhaust so close to
    long-term food storage.  But perhaps the temperature of the exhaust
    is insignificant.  Can someone put my mind at ease regarding this
    unfortunate situation?  Or maybe there are steps I can take now to
    better insulate the ductwork from the cabinet--perhaps some sort of
    heat shield?

    Your suggestions are welcome.

                                What Next,

                                Ted Beers
From: mikeq@freddy.CNA.TEK.COM (Mike Quigley)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: URGENT -- Info needed on Lifespring
Date: 12 Oct 92 17:54:14 GMT
Article-I.D.: master.3748
Distribution: usa
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Redmond,  OR.

A friend of mine got conned into this. It cost him his finances, job,
and marriage. But, it did, for a time, satisfy his yearnings for
easy, bumper-sticker solutions to life's problems.

Mike
From: goose@sequent.com (Virginia Rios)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: NRI home study
Date: 12 Oct 92 09:03:57 GMT
Article-I.D.: sequent.1992Oct12.090357.2107
Distribution: na
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems Inc.

Hi,

My SO is considering taking a Microprocessor Technology course from 
NRI, and we need to know if there is anyone out in 'netland' that has
dealt with the school before. 

If he does take the course, are the diplomas they give, valid?  Meaning
would they be accepted as 'legitimate' by the various computer companies?
Is the schooling they provide worth the money they want for the course?
Has anyone taken the course through them, and if so, was it worth the time
and money spent?  

We'd like to know if there is anyone out there that has taken the course,
and get any input as to the pros & cons of doing so.

If the school is as big as they say they are, and as good, there has to be 
lots of people out there that have gone through them, to learn about 
computers.  If you have dealt with this school in any manner, please reply
via email.

The questions we have are as follows:
How long did it take to complete the course?
Was it extensive enough to cover the areas of training needed to become
a computer technician?
Is the diploma issued recognized as valid by your company?
Is the course actually worth the money to be paid?
Do you recommend the school as being a legitimate source of training?
Did you 'graduate'from this school, and has it helped further your career?

We would appreciate any and all responses, and will reply back, if needed
Thanks in advance.
Virginia 



-- 
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
* Virginia (goose)                    *
# Jack....10yr old QH                 #
* Fritz...35yr old something or other * 
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:17516 alt.politics.elections:15434
From: sean@sdg.dra.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.politics.elections
Subject: Re: Cable Bill Rip-off
Date: 7 Oct 92 11:03:29 CDT
Organization: Data Research Associates, St. Louis MO

In article <Bvr4p0.1vA@rice.edu>, byrd@lucerne.rice.edu (Marc J Byrd) writes:
> Your analogy is fundamentally flawed.  Let's make it more valid:
> 
> Say Time/Warner took TIME Magazine, made a few million copies, and mailed
> them out FREE to anyone who had the equipment (analog of a TV set)
> to receive them.  (Broadcasters don't (yet) make me pay to receive
> their signal). 

I receive many "free" magazines and newspapers every week.  Things like
InfoWorld, Communications Week, and a few dozen more are sent to me
at no charge.  Every single one of them is copyrighted, and the publishers
get a bit upset when people reprint their articles without permission.  Oh
by the way, Time-Warner also gives away  a few hundred copies of TIME every
week for a variety of things.  It doesn't make their copyright any less
enforcable.

I listen to several radio stations at no charge, but if I want to have
music-on-hold on my phone system by piping a radio in to the phone system
ASCAP, BMI, etc demand a fee of $100 per line.  They also prosecute
people who don't pay.
-- 
Sean Donelan, Data Research Associates, Inc, St. Louis, MO
Domain: sean@sdg.dra.com, Voice: (Work) +1 314-432-1100
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: niebuhr@bnlux1.bnl.gov (david niebuhr)
Subject: Re: College Financial Aid Services
Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 12:27:25 GMT

In article <1992Oct12.205351.86@cbnewsd.cb.att.com> gwn@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (gary.w.novak) writes:
>
>:r college
>Dear Netters,
>
>My son will be going away to college next year and I'm looking for ways to
>pay for the tuition.  I have been approached by College Financial Aid
>Services who claim they can reduce tuition legally.  They also claim that
>they are often confused with College Financial Aid Service who they claim
>is unreputable.
>
First of all, ignore outfits like these.  Go to the college of your
choice and talk to them.  They have the forms and knowhow to make the
job a lot easier.

I've received a lot of junk mail like that and the first thing I do is
file 13 it and never give it a second thought.

Talk to banks.  They give college loans.

Dave

-- 

Dave Niebuhr      Internet: niebuhr@bnl.gov / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093
From: amirza@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Anmar Caves)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Waterbed question about heaters
Date: 8 Oct 92 21:28:59 GMT
Article-I.D.: usenet.BvtnoB.1EI
Organization: Indiana University

In article <UenBTEq00WB71Jv6cA@andrew.cmu.edu> "Rudolph R. Zung" <ru+@CMU.EDU> writes:

>from the finger. Anyway, out came the multimeter: I held one probe, and my
>girlfriend held the other probe; with the heater unplugged, the reading was
>some small number (can't remember what it was, but it was not zero); with
>the heater plugged in, the voltage jumped up to something in the teens.
>I was not happy. I drained the bed, went out and bought a NEW heating pad
>and controller (made by different manufacturer) and installed that. Did the
>same experiment again with the same damn results. I'm pretty certain that
>it is the heater that is causing all this, because none of the buzzing and
>vibration would occur if the heating pad is unplugged.
>
>So am I just plain unlucky with heating pads? Is something else causing
>this? Or is this some unavoidable thing because the heating pad is doing
>something by induction or whatever and is happily charging up my water
>bag? Anybody else have this problem.

Capacitive coupling.  I can achieve the same effect with my waterbed.
It's kind of neat actually.  Not a problem as there is no grounding
anywhere in reach of the bed.  Electric blankets can produce a similar
effect.

-- 
Anmar Mirza   # Mayor of Dogspit, IN  #My Opinions! NotIU's! #Purveyor of
EMT-D         # Located somewhere in  # Legalize Explosives! #nontraditional
N9ISY (tech)  # the Outback of the    #I've got my own fusion#family values
Networks Tech.# Mirza Ranch.C'mon over#plant. Just ask me.   #Space For Rent
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: prange@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Henry Prange)
Subject: Re: How can I stop telemarketers from calling??
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 13:59:03 GMT

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.politics.elections
From: tweek@netcom.com (Michael D. Maxfield)
Subject: Re: Cable Bill Rip-off
Organization: Movement to Ban or Re-Regulate the CABLE MONOPOLIES
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 23:39:41 GMT

In article <Bvrros.8w7@news.cso.uiuc.edu> tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan) writes:
>
>HUH??? I thought it was an either/or thing. Either the cable companies
>rebroadcast the over-the-air stations and pay, or they don't carry the

sort of...    1) Carry the station under MUST CARRY
              UNLESS
              2) The station may request retransmission consent whereby:
                 a) reach an agreement to carry the station
              or b) decline to carry the station at all

I rebutted/flamed the original post already

>A summary of the bill was posted here recently. Anybody save it? I think
>it should be reposted lest we start arguing over things which the law
>may not even say.

I still have a ascii copy of S-12 as it was before the final House/Senate
conference.  If anyone wants it, email me.  I will be attempting to get a
copy of the new law, however I don't think I want to retype it all in.  If
there are not that many changes between the original and the rewrite (There
should not be that many changes) I may compare and diff the original to get
the current law.

       tweek@netcom.com  tweek@tweekco.uucp  WWIVNet 5@5058  4@5056 
          I'd rather get my cable service from the phone company,
                than my phone service from the cable company.
From: Edward_Engler@transarc.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: DISCOVER card
Date: 8 Oct 92 13:58:34 GMT
	<1auvmaINNpc9@sixgun.East.Sun.COM>
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

Ed Green (egreen@east.sun.com) writes:
>In article semVYbz0BwwD91iL8X@transarc.com, >Edward_Engler@transarc.com
() writes:
>>
>>There are a few places that only accept Discover (besides Sears).  One
>>that comes to mind is Pace Membership Warehouse.  
>
>Not exactly.  They will not accept Discover for your purchase, but they
>will issue you a cash advance against the Discover card for the amount
>of the purchase.  The product is thus not covered under any warranty or
>pay-back offered by Discover, and they charge you the cash advance fee
>and there is probably no grace period for interest accrual.
>
>This is true in Cary, NC.  Price Club in Sunnyvale, CA (a similar
>warehouse chain) DID accept Discover for actual purchase.  Maybe your
>PMW is different.
Indeed it is.  They do actually take Discover for purchases, and my
annual cashback bonus reflects all purchases made at PMW (which was
enough to pay for the membership fee at Pace).

Ed Engler
From: greenfie@vtserf.cc.vt.edu (Steve Greenfield)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Air Compressor Questions
Date: 12 Oct 92 12:59:23 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

I just bought a Sears/Craftsman air compressor that was 3.5 HP and
had a 25 gallon tank that was rated at 125 PSI.  I think it came
with a 15ft hose which was 1/4" and rated at 200psi, I believe.  I
have never used a compressor before and I have a few questions and
concerns.
 
I am pretty excited about my purchase but I am confused about sizes
of hoses, fittings and tools.  The literature that came with the
compressor does not go into details about what size hoses, fittings
and tools that can or cannot be used, other than the SCFM ratings.
I have a Harbor Freight catalog and all the pneumatic tool ads say
1/4" NPT (?), 3/8" hose size along with the PSI and CFM ratings.
The SEARS tool catalog does not say anything about the NPT and hose
size!  Does anyone know if the tools from Harbor Freight will work
with my new compressor?  Do I need to order fittings and hoses of a
different size?  My guess is that these compressors and tools will
work together in most instances but I have nothing to base this on!
 
The compressor literature did say that you should not use an extension
cord but to use more air hose instead.  I know I need more than 15ft
of hose but I don't know what kind to get!  Any suggestions?  To make
things easier, I would think that swivel connectors and quick coupler
sets would be an advantage.  Any suggestions with this as well?
 
Thanks for any and all help!
 
 
 
Stephen L. Greenfield                     Bitnet:   FEATS@VTVM1
Virginia Polytechnic Institute   ,/\      Internet: feats@vtvm1.cc.vt.edu
Blacksburg, Virginia           ,/   `\/`'\
                           ,/\/          /
                         ,/             <_          ._.
                        /                 `\       / /
             ,/\_     _/'                   `-`-\  |/
          ,/'    `_'_'  *  Blacksburg          \_> '
       ,/'                                    \__>_/\
      +----------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: pliuskon@intellistor.com (Saul Pliuskonis)
Subject: Which Cordless Phone?
Keywords: cordless phone sony at&t
Organization: Intellistor, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 92 17:09:46 GMT

This is probably a FAQ, but since I don't have the FAQ posting.....

Which cordless phone, in the $100.00 price range, gives the best
overall performance?

I have been looking at a Sony 10 channel, and an AT&T 10 channel in 
that range.  Are there any other brands worth looking at?

Also, where can I get the misc.consumers FAQ posting?


Thanks,

SVP
-- 
 _______________________________________________________________________

  Saul Pliuskonis          e-mail address: pliuskon@intellistor.com   
  Intellistor, Inc.        USmail address: 2402 Clover Basin Dr.      
  (303)682-6515                            Longmont, CO 80503         
  fax (303)682-6401	   										   
 						   										   
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.legal
From: cep@taligent.com (Christophe Pettus)
Subject: Re: Does the 30 day/90 day rule apply?
Organization: Taligent, a little subsidiary of two really big companies.
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 21:14:55 GMT

In article <1992Oct8.194845.3793@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> stank@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (Stan Krieger) writes:
>To what kinds of bills, etc., does the law that complaints must be
>acknowledged within 30 days and resolved or answered within 90 days
>apply?  I've had a lot of problems with doctors and hospitals not
>answering billing queries and complaints.

The rule you refer to is specific to credit card purchases; other
forms of transactions are not covered by it.  It is not applicable
in this case.

>   1.	The fee being charged exceeds what my insuror considers
>	"Reasonable and Customary" for the services rendered, and
>	I will not pay more than the R&C.

Oh what basis?  The provider charges what they deem reasonable; you
received the services.  This is not a good faith dispute about the
amount of the bill: I assume that you agree that you did, in fact,
receive the services they are billing you for.  This is akin to
discovering that you paid too much to have your carpets cleaned, and
expect a refund because someone else would have done it for less.
That's not a billing dispute, it's a rate dispute, and it's not covered
by the Fair Credit act.

>   2.	The medical services rendered were either not necessary, could
>	not survive a cost/benefit tradeoff analysis, or would have
>	been declined if the cost/benefit/necessity//risk tradeoffs
>	had been explained prior to treatment.

I'm afraid that a lawsuit is probably your only recourse in this
matter.
--
-- Christophe

"He presented it with a length of string, and then passed on to the
Statue of Corrupted Endeavor, there to await the arrival of autumn."
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.politics.elections
From: strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight)
Subject: Re: Cable Bill Rip-off
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 17:41:47 GMT


Michael P. Deignan posts new information which hasn't appeared here
before or in any of the news reports of the cable bill. If his information
is accurate, the provisions are unexceptionable and the arguments against
them irrelevant. So I'd like to ask if the bill specifically provides
what he claims. Anybody got the language?

He claims that cable companies may freely rebroadcast commercial over-the-
air signals as long as they agree not to charge their subscribers extra
for them.

He claims the alternative option is distinct--that it's the cable station's
option to elect a status in which they pay for the broadcasts, but then
can charge their subscribers extra for them.

Is this accurate?

If it is, then it seems to address quite a different problem then we've
been discussing--carrying distant "super stations" and charging for them
as part of some "premium" service. If that's all that's involved,
I can see why Ted Turner is suing, since he's one proprietor of such a
station. (Others are WGN in Chicago and WOR in New York, which are
carried as far away as the West Coast.) My own cable company also
carries WFMT, the Chicago classical music station, on it's "premium"
FM system which also rides on the cable here in Pasadena, CA.

I'd agree that in such cases the broadcasters should be compensated.
They receive nothing for their local ads from a Los Angeles viewership
who are unlikely to rush into Mad Man Schmendrick in Chicago for the
latest sale.

In particular, the only reason some subscribers also pay for the premium
FM channels is because of WFMT, and they are certainly entitled to
compensation as long as the local cable company here is charging for
their programming.

ASSUMING that Michael's report is accurate, I'd have to reverse myself
on this matter--I had thought that the cable companies were being forced
to pay local stations for rebroadcast of their programming on the basic
cable channels.

IS IT?

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rp@llex.ll.mit.edu ( Richard Pavelle)
Subject: Canon PC-2 copier
Originator: rp@llex
Organization: MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 92 09:36:05 GMT


I have a Canon PC-2 copier that is less then 7 months old.
I use it for perhaps 100 copies/month but it has been in
for service twice. After a few hundred copies the print
quality becomes bad with some portion of the page missing 
toner. Each time it is serviced they replace the transfer
corona and clean the machine. They then claim I am using the
wrong cartridge. They say I should use an A-15 and not
an A-30 although Canon says an A-30 is recommended. I believe
that if I knew what I were doing I could clean the machine
myself but the instruction manual is awful. I also feel
as if I am getting poor advice. 

Can someone comment?