HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: berger@atropa (Mike Berger)
Subject: Re: wrong health care, and still having to pay for it
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 20:38:53 GMT
Keywords: misdiagnosis, malpractice, negligence, miscreant doctors

vaccaro@novavax.UUCP (N. Trafford Vaccaro) writes:
>Several weeks later, the Seven Mile Clinic sent me a bill for $300.
>They did not refer me to another hospital, they did not give me
>advice other than to take pain medication, which I understand is
>not done for severe abdominal pain. The staff at the Seven Mile Clinic
>was incompetent and negligent, and I don't want to pay them. However,
>the smug doctor at the clinic said, "You'd better pay it, Charlie.".

>Is there any recourse, or how do I get out of paying for shoddy work?
>If it were my car being repaired, I could contest the bill. 
>They kicked me out of their clinic, bleeding to death! And charged me
>$300! A collection agency now has the account. What should I do? Should
>I pay the bill, or take them to small claims?
*----
You can't take THEM to small claims court - YOU owe the money.
Now that it's in the hands of a collection agency, you'll have
to do something about it.

It sounds like you have a good case for malpractice.  I'd be
surprised if a decent lawyer couldn't get the hospital to drop
the $ 300 charge AND pay his fee.
--
	Mike Berger
	Department of Statistics, University of Illinois
	AT&TNET     217-244-6067
	Internet    berger@atropa.stat.uiuc.edu
From: Lyle_Seaman@TRANSARC.COM
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Junk mail warning - "Exposures" catalog
Date: 18 Aug 92 19:14:23 GMT
Distribution: usa

meltsner@crd.ge.com (Kenneth J Meltsner) writes:

> catalogs, although I still wonder how we got on the mailing lists for
> Frederick's and Victoria's Secret.

Oh, that...  That probably came from the net.  Somebody is going 
through all the newsgroups and finding addresses and selling them to
Frederick's and Victoria's Secret.
From: baer1@nsc.nsc.com (Jeffrey Baer)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Terrible Experience With Alamo
Date: 21 Aug 92 16:06:48 GMT
Article-I.D.: nsc.1992Aug21.160648.14298
Distribution: usa
Organization: National Semiconductor, Santa Clara

In article <1992Aug17.223649.17735@pony.Ingres.COM> reb@Ingres.COM (Phydeaux) writes:
>In article <1992Aug13.155738.26119@cs.wm.edu> wm@cs.wm.edu (Weizhen Mao) writes:
>>  When I rented a car at Alamo a few months ago,
>>the person there pushed me very hard to buy 
>>insurance even though I used my visa gold card,
>>which as I understood, covered that. The sales-
>>man said that the card only has the so-called 
>>secondary coverage, which only takes care of
>>the car I hit, not the car I rent, or something
>>like that. Is that true?
>
>No, secondary coverage covers what  your own car  insurance  does  not
>cover.   Most  credit card insurnace  policies   work as follows: Many
>personal car insurance policies cover rental cars.   If yours does not
>or  if you do not  have a car  insurance   policy then the credit card
>insurance becomes your primary insurance.  Don't let the person behind
>the counter bully you into buying  their LDW  (Loss damage waiver) ...
>I've  heard people  behind rental  counters *scream*  down the hall at
>potential  customers  things like "Go  ahead, call  your   credit card
>company -- they'll tell you you aren't covered!"
>
>Just make sure to  read the fine  print in the information your credit
>card company sends so that you know what you are  covered for.  By all
>means do NOT just buy it 'to be sure' ...   you either *have* coverage
>with your credit card/personal policy or you do not.
>							reb
>
>ps: Stay away from Alamo.  I've had good results with Hertz and Dollar.

I rented a car from Dollar in Seattle a little while ago. They really 
pushed hard to get me to accept the CDW coverage. Despite the fact that
I said that my company was self-insured and specifically would not 
let me accept CDW, he musta asked me half a dozen times, presenting
worse and worse scenarios that would no doubt financially ruin me for
generations to come. They must have a 50% commission for the counter
folks on that coverage for the amount of sell he put on me.

jeff


-- 
"Nothing rings as true as silence."
Jeff Baer
National Semiconductor Corp.
baer1@nsc.nsc.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: schwartz@baba.com (S. H. Schwartz)
Subject: Re: Movie Rental horror stories (was ...wa
Reply-To: schwartz@baba.com
Organization: Expert Systems Lab., NYNEX Sci. and Tech., White Plains NY
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 92 17:52:07 GMT

In article AA08196@mailbox.mail.umn.edu, sbarnhar@mailbox.mail.umn.edu (Dr. Barnhart) writes:
> 
> Anyone found a video rental place (a chain?) with any technically
> comptetant people?  I've found that nearly all the people I've had to deal
> with
> think that a video tape is just like an audio tape, except it's bigger and
> you get a picture with it.

Why on earth would a "technically competent person" want to earn his living
renting video tapes?

Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15295 alt.locksmithing:1475
From: eldred@rrunner.jpl.nasa.gov (Dan Eldred)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.locksmithing
Subject: Re: Was this a ripoff?
Keywords: locksmith
Date: 18 Aug 92 16:26:02 GMT
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory

In article <16ol2pINNq8f@early-bird.think.com> soberg@think.com (Stephanie Oberg) writes:
>>>Does the following tale sound like a ripoff?
>>>She called me, and I spoke to the locksmith.  Here is what he told
>>>me he had done:
>>>   2 hours waiting
>>>   5 new locks @ $95(!) because the originals were too old to be rekeyed.
>>>                        Is this possible?  My frient (later) told me they
>>>                        had been rekeyed in the past.
>>>   re-key 4 of the locks to match the fifth.
>>>   A few extra keys (don't know how many.)
>>>   Install the new locks.
>>>
>>>Is $800 plus reasonable for this?  Was she cheated?  If so, I feel 
>>>sorry for this locksmith if she decides to get even.
>
>     I recently had the following work done:
>
>     1)  one cylinder replaced (Schlage replaces Corbin)
>     2)  one new deadbolt installed from scratch (after removal of old lock)
>     3)  one new locking doorknob installed from scratch (after removal
>         of old knob)
>
>     Total cost for medium-quality hardware and same day service:  $135
>     Thank you, Budget Lock of Waltham, Massachusetts!
>
>     Keep in mind that there are many different grades of locks.  I agree
>     that your friend was incautious in just saying "Do it" without 
>     discussing costs.  This will probably be the last time she makes
>     that mistake.
>-- 
>
>sojourner

You can buy a lock rekeying kit for a number of popular brands (I have one
for Kwikset) for about $10, which includes enough pins for doing several
locks (depending on the new key you use) and instructions and a special
tool for getting the lock apart.  You can also buy packages of
extra pins by themselves for a few dollars.  I did 9 locks in our house
this way for something like $20.  If you don't feel up to the job of doing
the rekeying but are handy enough to remove the locks, Home Depot will
rekey them for either $5 or $10 each (I don't remember which it was).

	- Dan
From: olney@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Doug Olney)
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 18:51:44 GMT
Subject: Re: Time to deliver mail order goods or refund money?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: misc.consumers


Yes!

Mail order companies are required to ship you your goods in a
'reasonable' amount of time.  There is considerable ambiguity as to what
reasonable means, but 60 days is generally accepted as longer than
reasonable.  Your local Postal Inspector is the fellow to call.

In general, mail order companies are allowed to take longer than that IF
THEY TELL YOU.  If they tell you at the time you order, then they can
take as long as they tell you, and can charge you for cancelling the
order.  Look for that fine print that says "please allow xx weeks for
delivery."  If they tell you after accepting your order, I believe you are
entitled to cancel your order for a full refund.


						    Doug Olney
						    Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: antonio@qualcomm.com (Franklin Antonio)
Subject: Amwest Savings Association (formerly Olney Savings)
Organization: Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego, CA
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 06:47:42 GMT

I am looking to make contact with anyone who has had a mortgage with
Amwest Savings Association (a moderate sized S&L, located in several
cities in Texas), and has then PAID OFF that mortgage.

I recently paid off my mortgage at Amwest, and I had a few problems.
They delayed in crediting a wire transfer of the payoff $$$ to my
account for 20 days, and then tried to charge me interest for these
20 days!  It turns out that they also told me to pay more than was due,
(unfortunately i didn't check all the math in advance), so they took this
extra 20 days interest out of the extra they had, and now won't give it
back.

It's now been over 90 days since the start of this mess... I've called
them many times, written letters by the score, etc.  I'm now busily
filing complaints with various government agencies.

Enough of my sob story...  The reason for this message is that i'd like 
to find out if this was a random error, or whether this is something that
they do as a standard practice.  If it turns out that there is a pattern
of abuse, that would change the entire character of the situation.  So,
if you've been thru a payoff with these folks, please get in touch.

Thanks.

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: bpadget@hubcap.clemson.edu (Barry Padgett)
Subject: Re: Charles Givens Organization
Organization: Clemson University
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 17:33:46 GMT

veeduh@leland.stanford.edu writes:

>Are you a member of the Charles Givens Organization?  What do you think of it?
>Is the information useful?  Is it worth the cost?  
>Please reply directly to my address because I don't read the newsgroup that
>often.
>Thanks!

Actually I'm interested as well of ppls opinions of the Givens Org. and I would 
appreciate you thoughts.

Barry
-- 
Barry Padgett                      |"Life sucks losers dry.  If you want 
bpadget@hubcap.clemson.edu         | to fuck with the eagles, you've got
Disclaimer: "State Mental Hospital,| learn how to fly."
Napolean speaking...."             |   Heather Chandler  __Heathers__
From: jordan@IMSI.COM (Jordan Hayes)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Request: trouble-free car recommendations
Date: 19 Aug 92 16:50:09 GMT
Organization: Investment Management Services Inc., NYC

Cindy Windham <cindy@berkp.uadv.uci.edu> writes:

	I'm looking for a car that is large enough to seat two adults
	and two small children (and their carseats) comfortably, enough
	room to tote a stroller, and other sundry children's
	paraphernalia, peppy even in automatic, and amazingly
	trouble-free (having your car break down with two small kids in
	it is _not_ okay).  Any suggestions?

I have a VW Jetta/GLI and it fits your description.  It's got lots of
room (though I don't have a kid, let alone two), it's very comfortable,
it's very safe, it has a huge trunk, and the 2.0L/16v engine makes
cruising @ 120 a breeze.  It's got lots of pickup on the low end, and I
haven't had any major trouble with the last two VW 16v cars I've
owned.  Some minuses: it's fairly noisy in the cockpit, it's rather
intolerant of low-grade gasoline, and people like to break into it a
lot.

/jordan
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: 35mm zoom/telephoto lenses
Date: 13 Aug 92 19:45:42 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Distribution: misc
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA
Originator: daemon@sword.eng.pyramid.com

In article <5452@dsacg4.dsac.dla.mil> nol2321@dsacg4.dsac.dla.mil (Jim Dunn) writes:
>I have a Minolta X700 (I think) with the bayonet type mount... anyway...
>I am wanting to purchase a zoom or telephoto lens but am not quite
>sure which would be best or if the optics in a zoom aren't good enough...
>
       From the general tone of the posting, I seriously doubt if
       you would notice the minor differences in picture quality
       between a GOOD aftermarket zoom and Minolta fixed lenses.

       If you are doing low-light photography or black-and-white
       studio grade photography, the fixed lenses have some
       advantages, but used within their limits, modern zooms rival
       fixed lenses for all but the most critical needs....and you
       wouldn't be using a Minolta X700 or asking on the 'net if you
       were in that category.   

       I'd just get the best price you can on a Vivitar, Soligor,
       etc. aftermarket lens.  You'll pay a premium for wide zoom
       range and "macro"...you'll have to decide if either is worth
       it.   I'm not overly thrilled with the Quantaray, etc.
       lenses, but even those are of surprisingly good quality for
       most picture taking...particularly color people and scenery
       shots.

       If you go with a used lens, I's stick with Minolta or maybe
       Vivitar Series 1 models.
From: reb@Ingres.COM (Phydeaux)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Mail Order Electronics
Keywords: Mail Order Telephone Electronics
Date: 21 Aug 92 18:25:40 GMT
Reply-To: reb@Ingres.COM (Phydeaux)
Distribution: na
Organization: E 4th St Home For The Overeducated Underemployed - Chicago Div.

In article <1992Aug21.005330.9510@yenta.alb.nm.us> ben@yenta.alb.nm.us (Ben Klausner) writes:
>Does anyone have any favorite (read "reccomended") sources for mail order
>electronics? I'm specifically looking for a new cordless phone, and the
>local selection is underwhelming. I already have the numbers for Crutchfield
>and 47th St (who I won't use), so I'm looking for a few more.
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Why not?  I've had very  good luck with  47th street.   They  may sell
some grey market  stuff, but they're honest and  tell you what  you're
getting (what kind of warranty, etc.)  Crutchfield is IMHO overpriced.
Whatever you do, stay AWAY from 6th Avenue.  They are lowlife scum.

					reb
From: cxf12@po.CWRU.Edu (Christopher Fenton)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Sample Letter for Credit Report Errors
Date: 22 Aug 92 19:27:56 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)


	I have recently been turned down for credit and after having
obtained my credit report, I noticed some major errors on the report.
And I was wondering if anybody had any example of an effective and
forceful letter that I could send out.  Not being a lawyer, I am
not really sure what the letter should contain and what the app-
ropriate format is...

	Please e-mail me with any suggestions or ideas and I'll
summarize.

	Thanks...


	C. H. Fenton


-- 
    cxf12          ---===<<< A I S Computer Operations >>>===---
@po.cwru.edu               Case Western Reserve University
Christopher H. Fenton    "Faster Pussycat... Kill, Kill!!!!"
From: U4400@wvnvm.wvnet.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: DAK's short-wave radio ??
Date: 20 Aug 92 01:09:33 GMT
Article-I.D.: wvnvm.92232.210933U4400

We bought the DAK $49 shortwave radio about 2 years ago, tried to pick
up anything for a week, and gave up and sent it back.  It had no pulling
power to get any stations at all.  We haven't convinced ourselves to buy
an expensive one yet, so no shortwave for now.
|
/--------------------------/----------------------:
|      Eric T. Meyer      /   u4400@wvnvm.bitnet  |
|                        / u4400@wvnvm.wvnet.edu  |
|-----------------------/-------------------------|
|  Our life is more than our work, and            |
|  our work is more than our job.                 |
|                                 - Charlie King  |
:-------------------------------------------------/
|
From: benefiel@wyse.wyse.com (Daniel Benefiel xtmp x2531 dept234)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Barron's Financial Magazine
Date: 17 Aug 92 22:40:57 GMT
Distribution: ba
Organization: Wyse Technology, San Jose

I was hoping to pick up last Saturday's edition of Barron's at a newstand,
but couldn't find it anywhere.  Anyone know where I could get a copy in
the San Jose area?  I may have to go to the library.

Thanks!
Daniel Benefiel
(408) 473-2531
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: krasnor@nimios.eng.mcmaster.ca (Carl Krasnor)
Subject: Re: microwave autonomously turning on
Keywords: safety, microwave oven, electronic-control appliances
Organization: Communications Research Laboratory, McMaster Univ
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 16:22:13 GMT

In article <1992Aug13.212744.27091@cbnewsh.cb.att.com> aeenews@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (a.e.eckberg) writes:
>
>Recently, while we were out of the house, our electronic-control
>microwave oven turned itself on....
             ...In our case our house would probably have burned
>if we had not come back and turned the microwave off.

For the above reason as well as other ways a microwave oven can get
inadvertently activated (kids, pets etc), I recommend always leaving a
large container of water in the oven when it is not in use. A full
saucepan-sized container of water will probably still have some water
left in it after the usual 1 hour maximum cycle time of most ovens. During
operation the water will dissipate most of the oven's energy as it boils.

That being said however, nothing beats pulling the plug on the oven when
you are away!

-- 
===============================================================================
Carl Krasnor, Communications Research Lab, McMaster U., Hamilton, Ont. CANADA
krasnor@McMaster.CA   VE3EGK   Tel:(416) 525-9140 x4171    FAX:(416) 521-2922
===============================================================================
From: connors@hplabsz.hpl.hp.com (Tim Connors)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Rental Car in Florida
Date: 14 Aug 92 15:09:29 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories Palo Alto,CA

I'm trying to reserve a car in Orlando for early November.  I've always
thought that in Florida the competition was tough and rates were very low.
The well known agencies are quoting $150+/week, over double what I paid
two Novembers ago.  What's the scoop?

Some agencies I'm not familiar with (Tropical, Superior, USA) are quoting
more reasonable rates, but I'm leery.  Any hints on these?

Thanks, Tim
From: ky04@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (KUN YU)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Interest Rate Calculations
Date: 16 Aug 92 20:26:55 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

In article <1992Aug13.140521.16109@crd.ge.com>, joseph@emmax5crd.ge.com (joseph) writes:
>
>
>but I think it should be
>
>   If (leap year) then
>     Daily rate = Quoted rate/366
>   else
>     Daily rate = Quoted rate/365
>   endif.
>
>The fact that two different banks use 365 for the
>calculations leads me to speculate that there may be
>some accounting practice or law that allows them to
>do this.
>

One bank, Bell Savings, showed me their formulae:
       Daily Rate = Annual Rate/360
       Annual Yield = (1+Daily Rate)^365 - 1

I think it's up to them to define the year.
-- 



                                                          _                  
ky04@lehigh.edu                                         / _ \
KYu, BioProcessing Institute                          /\ _|_ /\
111 Lehigh University                                    /|\
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: hpzg0650@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Hale P Zengingonul)
Subject: new car purchase
Summary: Want to buy new car
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1992 22:33:36 GMT
Keywords: car purchase


         My boyfriend just graduated and wants to buy a new car.
He likes the new Honda Civics.Anyone has an experience with these cars?
Any advantages, disadvantages?
							Pinar
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15369 alt.locksmithing:1487
From: rw@frito.Rational.COM (Bob Weissman)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.locksmithing
Subject: Re: Rekeying locks
Date: 20 Aug 92 00:04:03 GMT
Followup-To: misc.consumers

margoli@watson.ibm.com (Larry Margolis) writes:

-In  <Bt90Lw.EwD@news.cso.uiuc.edu>  tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan) writes:
--
-- In article <1992Aug18.162602.3058@csi.jpl.nasa.gov> eldred@rrunner.jpl.nasa.gov
-- >
-- >You can buy a lock rekeying kit for a number of popular brands (I have one
-- >for Kwikset) for about $10, which includes enough pins for doing several
-- >locks (depending on the new key you use) and instructions and a special
-- >tool for getting the lock apart.
--
-- Question: Suppose I buy one of these kits and rekey my lock. I now have
-- a lock which my old key no longer fits, and thus I cannot use. How do I
-- get a key cut to fit this new lock without the assistance of a
-- locksmith?

-One way is to key them to a key you already have.  Another is to cut a key
-by hand.  A third is to have a key machine and a depth key set, or a key
-machine that lets you cut a key "by the numbers", and create a new original.

No, no, no.  The rekeying kits come with keys which match the enclosed pins.
--
-- Bob Weissman
-- Internet: rw@rational.com
-- UUCP:     uunet!igor!rw
--
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: cep@taligent.com (Christophe Pettus)
Subject: Re: Credit Union Deposit (Share) Interest (Dividend) Calculations
Organization: Taligent, a little subsidiary of two really big companies.
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 19:05:35 GMT

In article <1992Aug17.231136.9667@Cadence.COM> cheng@Cadence.COM (Jen Chen) writes:
>     One more trick from AEA Credit Union saving account is
>if you withdraw money by the end of each quarter, you will
>lose the interest for the whole 3-month period.
>
>     It offer lower interest rate than CD, but requirement is more
>strict than CD.  No wonder credit union is more profitable than
>banks.

According to a representative at the AEA Credit Union, interest is
calculated quarterly on the average daily balance for that quarter.
You lose the benefit of daily compounding, but you do not lose the
entire quarter's interest if you withdraw anything.

On the other hand, you do lose all the interest for the quarter if you
close the account, but the minimum deposit is only $25, which is
relatively painless to keep in the account until the quarter's end.
--
-- Christophe

"Be calm.  Look cute."
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: Mr_b
Subject: Want Phone Recorder Cassette of High Quality
Organization: LMSC
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 92 17:55:25 GMT

I have a PhoneMate 4300 phone recorder.  I've used one before, loved it,
using my own now I also love it.  But the incoming message casssette frequently
jams.  I'm not surprised, since it appears to have cost about 29 cents.

Can anyone recommend a highly reliable incoming message cassette?  It's really
just like a regular cassette, but there is no leader on the tape- it is
all recording tape.  If not for that, I would just use a quality regular
tape cassette.

Post a reply or else email to MR_B@LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15384 alt.locksmithing:1489