HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: niebuhr@bnlux1.bnl.gov (david niebuhr)
Subject: Re: Service charge on returned check....
Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1992 12:04:22 GMT

In article <10468@sun13.scri.fsu.edu> nall@sun8.scri.fsu.edu (John Nall) writes:
>Going through my bank statement today, I noticed that they
[ Text about deposited check bouncing ]
>First, however, I'd be interested in whether other banks do this.
>Anyone know?  (I can use the data in my letter).
>

$5 is low considered that other banks go all the way up to $10-15
per check for a handling fee.  Mine is $10, I think.

These kind of charges are standard throughout the banking industry.
I feel that they are a money maker for them considering the bulk of
checks processed each day.

If you want to write a letter, go ahead and they may waive the charge
but I doubt it.  Their rules are in a pamphlet that you are supposed
to receive when you open an account and anytime they change the rules
and/or fees.

Go to the person who gave you the check and ask for the $5 fee
(they're getting hit also).

Dave


-- 

Dave Niebuhr      Internet: niebuhr@bnl.gov / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093
From: jongsma@esseye.si.com (Ken Jongsma)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: How to request airline antitrust claim packet?
Date: 29 Aug 92 13:19:48 GMT
Reply-To: jongsma@benzie.si.com
Distribution: usa
Organization: Smiths Industries

In <Btpp32.F5G@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu> gfowler@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (george h. fowler) writes:

>My wife has received a packet of forms and info so that she can claim 
>some airline antitrust settlement certificates. I myself have not gotten
>one. However, during the last 5-6 years, we have never traveled by air
>except when we were travelin together. So I assume that I am just as
>entitled as she is. Can anyone tell me, by posting or by Email, how
>to get such a claim packet?

I would have thought the address was in your wife's packet, but for those 
that need it, all you have to do is write to Airline Antitrust Litigation
PO Box 267, Pennsauken, NJ 08110-0267 and request the form.

Note that it only applies to travel through certain hub airports and that
you may have to provide proof of travel if you claim more than a certain
number of trips.

Ken

-- 
Ken Jongsma                                          ken@wybbs.mi.org
Smiths Industries                               jongsma@benzie.si.com
Grand Rapids, Michigan                      73115.1041@compuserve.com
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15612 sci.energy:4116 sci.environment:10842 sci.med:16381 sci.physics:13515 talk.environment:3370
From: hardie@herald.usask.ca (Peter Hardie,4805)
Newsgroups: pdx.consumer,misc.consumers,sci.energy,sci.environment,sci.med,sci.physics,talk.environment
Subject: Re: Are Your Light Bulbs Radioactive?
Date: 25 Aug 92 18:43:54 GMT
Reply-To: hardie@herald.usask.ca
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
Originator: hardie@herald.usask.ca

From article <1992Aug24.221305.7696@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>, by saastad@spot.Colorado.EDU (SAASTAD OLE):
> 
> Hi,
> You will probably dont eat smoke det. or bulbs. But a small child might
> eat something. A child playing with a smoke det. end smashing it with an
> hammer. Then eat the Am 241 source ! Not a nice scenario. Nobody seems to
> even bother to think of this !
> 
> -- 
> Ole W Saastad  
> Dept. of Chemistry University of Oslo Norway.
> Now at University of Colorado at Boulder / CIRES ,  Atmospheric Chemistry.

A child smashing a smoke detector with a hammer is going to have trouble
finding the Am-241. My smoke detectors say they contain 0.9 uCi of Am-241.
This translates into 0.26 micrograms. 
You'd be better off worrying about all the other household goodies that a 
child can get at much more easily, such as bleaches and detergents under the
kitchen sink and prescription drugs in medicine cabinets. These are a lot
easier for a small child to get at than a smoke detector that is screwed 
to the ceiling.
Just for the heck of it, ponder the probabilities of the following two
scenarios.
1. The chances of you or your children dying of cancer as a direct result
of the presence of two smoke detectors in your house (whether or not your
children eat the Am-241!).
2. The chances of you and your children dying in a fire because you do NOT
have those smoke detectors in your house.

Pete hardie@herald.usask.ca
From: reb@Ingres.COM (Phydeaux)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: How to get UPS to pay up AND what's a good alternative
Date: 1 Sep 92 18:45:40 GMT
Reply-To: reb@Ingres.COM (Phydeaux)
Organization: E 4th St Home For The Overeducated Underemployed - Chicago Div.

In article <Btwt2H.LL5@news.cso.uiuc.edu> tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan) writes:
>In article <1992Aug31.160132.7562@holos0.uucp> lbr@holos0.uucp (Len Reed) writes:
>>In article <1992Aug29.024259.8680@zip.eecs.umich.edu> monkey@quip.eecs.umich.edu (Xinbing Liu) writes:
>>
>>>Now wait a minute.  A few days a ago someone in California sent a package
>>>to our lab via FEDEX overnight.  It's some delicate optics costing over
>>>$30,000.
>>
>>>The sadder thing is, the package was not insured,  FEDEX said they would give
>>>us $100 if we want.
>>
>>Gee, I don't really see how you can blame this on FEDEX.  Sure, they messed
>>up, but how can anyone not know that you have to insure valuable equipment
>>when shipping it by *any* carrier.  What kind of moron puts $30,000 worth
>>of sensitive equipment in a box and ships it uninsured?
>
>On the other hand, FedEx screwed up $30,000 worth of equipment which the
>poster paid them to deliver safely. Seems to me that FedEx is
>responsible for the package while it's in their posession. Supopse you
>loaned me your $30,000 projection TV set, and while it was in my

The FEDEX airbill *clearly* states that they are  only responsible for
loss or damage  up  to $100  --  unless you  purchase insurance  at an
additional cost.  While I have *never* had a problem, IMHO it's pretty
stupid to  put delicate instruments  through *any*  of  these services
without insuring them.  
				reb

ps: Fedex is usually very good, but accidents will and do happen.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: tamu@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu (Todd Henderson)
Subject: Re: Service charge on returned check....
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1992 19:20:42 GMT

schwartz@nynexst.com (S. H. Schwartz) writes:

>Charges for unsuccessful deposits are the standard in NY, NJ and Mass. for
>as long as I can remember.  $4 - 10 is the usual fee range.

I've always wondered how banks can get away with this considering, as the
first postered indicated, the person depositing the check has no way of 
knowing it might not go thru!  If they pass a charge along to the other
bank who then passes it along to the individual, I could see that, but
why should I get charged for trying to deposit a check?

I think banks are getting way out of hand in this country!

Sorry, I just had to vent that.

Todd

>---
>Steven H. Schwartz		Expert Systems Laboratory
>schwartz@nynexst.com		NYNEX Science and Technology Center
>PROFS: SCHWARTZ@UNIX		500 Westchester Avenue
>914-644-2960			White Plains NY 10604
From: by403@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Spiros Triantafyllopoulos)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Camcorder info needed (place, model)
Date: 27 Aug 92 03:35:51 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)


Hello net,

I am contemplating buying a camcorder, possibly a Sony CCD-TR-71. The
model is not that important, I'm flexible within reason :-).

What I'd like is some recommendations, positive or negative, about
mail order places to buy from or avoid. Prices seem similar in 
many of the places I checked in VIDEO magazine, so customer service
and honesty are important here. 

If you have had any good or bad experiences dealing with these folks
(mostly out of new york city, but not always so) please let me know;
If this is a FAQ I apologise for wasting bandwidth but I don't get
to read misc.consumers that much. 

Please e-mail your response; If enough opinions are collected, I can
summarize. 

Thank you in advance,

Spiros
c23st@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com
striantafyll@kosds1.gm.hac.com
by403@freenet.cleveland.edu
From: jms@vision.sarnoff.com (Jerry Shapiro x2420)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Title vs. registration in NY state
Date: 1 Sep 92 22:17:14 GMT
Reply-To: jms@vision.sarnoff.com
Organization: David Sarnoff Research Center

I had a similar situation. When I moved from Massachusetts to
Pennsylvania, I had a real rough time transfering my car. In
Massachusetts, if you buy a car that's over 10 years old, you don't get
a title. The book published by the Penn Dept. of Transportaion says
that all cars from Massachusetts must be titled. Naturally the guy at
the auto tag place believes the book published from his own state. We
had to get the Mass. Registry of Motor Vehicles to send a letter to the
tag place acknowledging Mass. law. The whole thing took about a month.


Jerry Shapiro
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: chris@fnbc.com (Chris Toczycki)
Subject: Re: TRAPEZ digital cordless phone (sharper image)
Organization: First National Bank Of Chicago, Chicago IL, USA
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 92 16:04:10 GMT

In article <laird.714747631@stable.ecn.purdue.edu> laird@stable.ecn.purdue.edu  
(Kyler Laird) writes:
> The 900MHz phones interest me greatly, but I've heard (in sci.electronics?)
> bad things about the original two.
> 
> I'm excited about a new one by Panasonic.  I have a cell phone, a few
> answering machines, and a small cordless phone from Panasonic that I'm
> happy with.
> 
> This new phone is a 900MHz flip-down model that is priced at ~$400.
> I'd love to know how well it works.


My brother had the Panasonic 900MHz for a couple of weeks.   Its shortcomings  
include:
	Battery life of one day.  So they give you a spare battery
	to charge while using the phone.  This is a big minus in my
	opinion.

	The range is marginally better than his AT&T cordless.  My estimate
	is that it gives 20% more range for 4x the price and 7x the hassle.

	Voice quality is slightly better than the AT&T.  Because it is digital
	you don't get static, it simply cuts out like a cellular phone.

	The flip down handset is "cool" and very compact.

---
_____________________________________________________________
| Chris Toczycki                                              |
| First National Bank of Chicago                              |
|                                                             |
| NeXT mail accepted                                          |
|_______________________ chris@fnbc.com ______________________|
From: tommy@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com (Tom Peterson)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Personal protection (was Re: PARALYZER CS tear gas)
Date: 2 Sep 92 13:29:30 GMT
Organization: Hewlett Packard - Boise, ID

Sorry to reply to my own reply, BUT
 p.s.  My wife Angie, is bruised and very shaken up, but she is otherwise
fine (considering).   B-)

Tom Peterson
From: shf@ais.org (Steve Fox)
Subject: Re: what VCR to buy?
Keywords: Buying a VCR
Organization: UMCC
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 00:53:30 GMT

mrb@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (m..bruncati) writes:



>Hi consumers,

>After 9 years of faithful service my JVC VHS VCR just gave up the
>ghost.  

So did mine.  Of course the four foot fall when I dropped it helped.
It was JVC, 10 years old, top of the line HI-FI machine when purchased.

>anyone had any recommendations or more importantly brands or
>stores to avoid.  I'm thinking about a Hi Fi unit but am not married
>to the idea - it would be nice to pipe it through my audio system.
>My first thought was to get another JVC but to tell you the truth
>I doubt I get another unit that was as good as my old one.

I just bought a JVC HR-DR91OU, a very nice hi-fi 4 head unit that has a very
nice picture.  It was a recently discontinued model, so I got it at a
discount.

>Oh, I'm willing to go as high as $400.00 - especially if 
				   ^^^^^^ I paid $399.99, honestly.

>I can find one with pulsating disco lights.
Wow, my old JVC had that.  It had a button that you could push and the sound
would make these 2 lines of leds go wah wah wah.  Opa!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A squid eating doe is fast and bulbous, got me? - D. Vliet



>Michael


Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15711 sci.environment:10893 sci.med:16464
From: mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington)
Newsgroups: pdx.consumer,misc.consumers,sci.environment,sci.med
Subject: Re: Avoiding radioactive household products
Date: 27 Aug 92 00:27:15 GMT
Article-I.D.: athena.1992Aug27.002715.9637
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens

In article <1992Aug26.195222.12179@gasco.com> dlc@gasco.uucp (Darci L. Chapman  x5930) writes:
>(Michael A. Covington) writes:
>> >| Comparable sources can be found in smoke 
>> >| detectors, lantern mantels and even salt substitute.
>
>> snoopy@sopwith.uucp (Snoopy) asks:
>> >Speaking of which, where can one get smoke detectors that are
>> >nuke-free these days?  I can't find them anywhere...  :-(
>
>> >cbettis@unlinfo.unl.edu (clifford bettis) responds with:
>> For that matter, how about nuke-free bananas?  
>> (Bananas contain potassium, and potassium is one of many elements which,
>> in the naturally occurring mixture of isotopes, are slightly radioactive.
>> People have never lived in a radiation-free environment.)
>
>So that's why it's okay to add more radiation into our environment?? Because
>we were never radiation free to begin with? Wow, the logic is stunning.

Not only is the logic stunning, the attributions are all mixed up.
I am the author of the third quote, not the first one.

As for "okay to add more radiation into our environment," MY original point,
several messages back, was that we need to inquire about the amounts of
radiation involved (apparently very tiny) and whether there are any natural
effects that would make the radioactive material pile up in any particular
place after being discarded but before its radioactivity has declined.

Whether they _add_ radiation to our immediate environment depends on whether
they are more radioactive than the available alternatives.  Apparently, the
amounts involved are very tiny.  Want to be nuke-free?  Get rid of that
polished granite tabletop... 
-- 
+ Michael Covington - Artificial Intelligence Programs - U of Georgia - USA 
+ Unless otherwise noted, these are private opinions, not official statements.
+ VOTE NO GEORGIA LOTTERY - don't tie education to an unpredictable income.
From: linda@wendy.uucp (Linda Hill)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Epilady or Remington Smooth&Silky?
Date: 28 Aug 92 22:45:05 GMT
Organization: Network Equipment Technologies

>avk@hafnium.cchem.berkeley.edu (Tony Konashenok) writes:
>
>I'd greatly appreciate your comparative opinions about Epilady and
>Remington Smooth & Silky epilation machines. Which one would you pick
>(for woman's legs)?

My brother-in-law gave my sister the Epilady for Christmas.  They both
agreed it was a cruel form of torture (my brother-in-law tried it on
himself as a joke).  I think you would have to be a masochist or a lame-
brain to use one of those things.

linda@net.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.energy,sci.environment,sci.med,sci.physics,talk.environment
From: ryba@ll.mit.edu (Marty Ryba)
Subject: Re: Are Your Light Bulbs Radioactive?
Originator: ryba@ll.mit.edu (Marty Ryba)
Reply-To: ryba@ll.mit.edu (Marty Ryba)
Organization: Group 101, MIT Lincoln Lab.
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 92 19:48:18 GMT


In article <1992Aug26.003354.27179@kestrel.edu>, king@reasoning.com (Dick King) writes:
|> In article <1992Aug25.224138.12479@mcnc.org> ekp@mcnc.org (Edward Pavelchek) writes:
|> >Does this mean that fluorescent bulbs no longer use Be compounds?
|> >
|> 
|> They don't, but not because of Promethium.
|> 
|> Promethium is used to make the bulbs' arc start more easily.
|> 
|> Beryllium[sp?] was once used as part of the flourescent powder.  This
|> practice was stopped when we realized how dangerous it was and when we found
|> substitutes.  Beryllium salts cause some sort of permanent lung damage.  They
|> haven't used Beryllium in flourescents for decades.
|> 
|> -dk

   Fluorescent lamps I used to work with all use Barium compounds in the
material on the cathodes to stimulate emission of the electrons needed for
sustaining the arc.  I'm not sure of the toxicity of various Barium organic
salts, but we didn't follow any special precautions in the engineering lab.

Just my $.02

-- 
Dr. Marty Ryba             |	Generation X:
Group 101 - Radars 'R Us   |
MIT Lincoln Laboratory     |  Too young to be cynical,
ryba@ll.mit.edu            |		too old to be optimistic.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: sbarnhar@mailbox.mail.umn.edu (Dr. Barnhart)
Subject: Re: Major problems with Frigidaire washer/dryer combination
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Organization: U of Mn Propoganda Ministry
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 21:23:54 GMT

In article <wood.714842582@geode1>, wood@rtsg.mot.com (Dan Wood) wrote:
> 
> 
>    I have a Frigidaire side by side W/D combo that have given me
> great service for almost 10 years.

I didn't think it was a crappy brand.

> 
>    Recently the dryer began taking much too long to finish, so
> we called the repairman.  He found that a gasket on the back of
> the drum had worn out and no longer kept the hot air inside the
> drum.  The part + service call was about $70.  It works great
> again.

Well, it's only about a year old, so I doubt anything has completely worn
out.

> 
>    This being an apartment, you could try to get your landlord to
> get it fixed.  I assume that your lease says that the W/D are
> included, which would certainly imply "working condition".  They
> may also still be under warranty, at least for parts.  If your
> landlord resists you could then pay for a service call to verify
> that there is something wrong, which would give you more ammunition,
> or just pay for the repair (assuming reasonable $) and try to get
> your landlord to cover (or split) the cost.  IMHO, you have
> already gone "beyond the call" for a tennant.  

Well, my lease situation is not what you would call "misc.consumers
approved."  The landlord is a friend of my roomies and the living situation
is somewhat informal. Generally he'll let you do any work on the place and
take materials and labor out of your rent, as long as you clear it with him
ahead of time.  Which I don't mind, as I enjoy the work, and I can make
medium-scale modifications (fishing cable TV line through the walls, adding
outlets to walls) without having him come down on me.

Apparently there was some back-forth between my roomies and the landlord
and the landlord was at a loss to explain what the problem was and got kind
of fed up.  I think I'm going to tell him about the cardboard and that I
think it could be a fire hazard and that it really should be looked at.

What I'm afraid he'll do is just disconnect the whole thing, and that would
be a a pain.  I don't want to have to start going to the laundromat for
laundry. It's *so* convenient to have it right there.

> 
>    I don't think that the venting is the problem, if there really
> are a dozen 1" holes.  You could check this by running it with
> the hose detached.  You won't suffocate, but it could blow lint
> around your apartment.
> -- 

I don't think the additional lint would be noticed in my apartment.  :)

Shawn Barnhart ! sbarnhar@mailbox.mail.umn.edu
I'm not selling out, I'm buying in.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: pjs@euclid.JPL.NASA.GOV (Peter J. Scott)
Subject: Re: More on U.P.S.
Reply-To: pjs@euclid.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA/Caltech
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 19:22:54 GMT

In article <BtJntC.5sD@acsu.buffalo.edu>, C058SJLX@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu writes:
> 
>        I have read recently a number of complaints on the net, mostly
>   in misc.forsale.computers.  People comment on the lack of care when
>   delivering packages.  Well, this morning when I came out from the
>   building where I live I found a package on the floor, outside, in
>  the street.  It was large, about 15" by 15" by 50". To my surprise
>  the package was for me.  Both, my wife and I were inside at the time
>  the package was "delivered".  The employee did not call out door, nor
>  he left a note. (I did not have time to open the  package, but the box
>  is deformed.  It should contain a telescope, but there are no FRAGILE
>  signs on the box,_NOT_ a UPS fault).

Happens to me all the time, despite telling UPS that I want packages
held at their hub for me if I'm not in.  Now when I mail order I
specify "send via USPS or not at all."

Of course, Federal Express is easily the best option... terrific company!

-- 
This is news.  This is your       |    Peter Scott, NASA/JPL/Caltech
brain on news.  Any questions?    |    (pjs@euclid.jpl.nasa.gov)


Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: markr@mot.com (Mark)
Subject: Re: Price gouging (or supply & demand)
Reply-To: markr@mcil.comm.mot.com
Organization: MCIL
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 04:29:52 GMT

In article <182p5fINN2p9@sixgun.East.Sun.COM> egreen@east.sun.com writes:
>In article 16358@infonode.ingr.com, john@earlj.b11.ingr.COM (John H. Earl) writes:
>>
>>	Reminds of a time years back
>>	when I ran out of gas about midnight in New York city with no
>>	spare gas can in my trunk.  Walked to the nearest open gas station
>>	and asked to borrow a gas can.  No way - but they would happily
>>	sell me one for $10.  "What?" I said, "Why you can buy one for two
>>	dollars at Woolworths dime store!"  To which, of course, the gas
>>	station attendant replied, "Go ahead."  Guess who bought a $10 gas
>>	can?
>
>Why is this any different from selling plywood at $30/sheet in South
>Florida?

No difference really, simply supply and demand.

Well, actually there is a difference, running out of gas is a preventable
occurance, while hurricanes are not preventable. (And Andrew was a hell
of a hurricane, I hope everyone down in S Florida recovers from it
soon)

Mark


Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.legal,alt.peeves,rec.skiing
From: malcolm@wrs.com (Malcolm Humes)
Subject: Re: Keeping ants away
Keywords: ants
Organization: Wind River Systems, Inc.
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 18:07:02 GMT

afitz@next.com (Alex Fitz) writes:

>Does anyone know of an effective, environmentally safe way to keep ants  
>from coming in your house?

>Thank you in advance, and please hurry!

I think I've heard that garlic powder is good. Also some thing called
pennywrinkle or soemthing like that? And I think there's soem chalk like
stuff I hear you can get at the Ashby flea market in Berkeley and I 
suppose other places too - not sure what it is. 

 - Malcolm 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.food.drink,ba.food
From: shannah@netcom.com (Teri Miller)
Subject: Re: Looking for a *great* coffeemaker
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 92 20:53:58 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Distribution: usa

In article <1992Aug25.070603.1886@morrow.stanford.edu> mlw@cisco.com (Monica Waldman) writes:
>In article <k3=nlrd.strnlght@netcom.com> strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight) writes:
>>[coffee beans] If one pops them into the freezer on getting home [...]
>
>This is sure to start a flame war but I'll ask anyway...
>
>Some coffee books/handouts/advice from friends tell the coffee slut to
>put her/his beans in the freezer.  Others tell her/him that this is one of the 
>supreme bean treatment "no-nos."  So, what is the correct way to store coffee
>beans?
>
Vices and Spices vacuum packs it.  They put it into the paper bags like
everywhere else, but then they use one of these sealer dealybobs to
seal the paper packet inside a heavy plastic bag.

The best results I've had in storing coffee for, say, weeks, has been
to leave the beans whole and put them into one of those jars that has
the rubber ring and metal wires that hold the lid on.  I find that
coffee stored in the freezer tends to pick up "freezer taste", unless
I have it in an airtight jar, like above, in which case I haven't noticed
a difference whether frozen or just on the counter.