OT: A nation of scammers (US Capitalism gone wild?)

amdx wrote:


Just recently I got a check in the mail ($6.25) from "Processing
Center"
I figured it was a rebate check, my wife takes advantage of these.
I was about to put it in the checkbook for deposit but decided to
see who it was from. I was about 5/8 of the way through the verbage
when it said, "by cashing this check you agree to a $12.99 charge on
your credit card, which we already have on file." I was about to sign
up for some cash back on credit card purchases deal. This was Budget
Car rental, I rented a car a few months ago. This to me was a blatent
effort to steal money. I sent emails to 5 different divisions of Budget
and didn't get any response.
Mike

Is there no equivalent in the USA of the unfair contract terms act?
Or trading standards (not that they are much good at enforcement) ?
Martin Brown

Just for the record, ketchup doesn't have to be tomato, there are a
variety of non-tomato ketchups as well... I like it, but only on
certain things, like the occasional fry! <bg

If you don't like ketchup, try Marania (is that spelled right, plain
pasta sauce...) instead of tomato ketchup, I like that much better.

On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:15:12 -0500, "Michael A. Terrell"
mike.terrell_at_earthlink.net> wrote:


Jim Thompson wrote:

I often see the "large" size priced significantly higher per unit than
the "small", so I buy 2 of the small :-)


I've seen signs stating $1 each, or $15 a dozen and watched people
pick up a dozen.


My best deal recently was 24, 12 oz bottles of sugar free syrup for
$2. That is 8.33 cents a bottle. Half (one case) will go to my
diabetic dad, and the rest will probably last me till it goes bad.

That stuff will *never* go bad.

On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:50:48 -0600, Jim Yanik <jyanik_at_abuse.gov
wrote:

"Paul E. Schoen" <paul_at_pstech-inc.com> wrote in
news:TMUln.19521$bx3.14519_at_newsfe13.iad:


dcaster_at_krl.org> wrote in message
news:b006e9e7-86dd-43d4-b69d-759d15d3695c_at_y11g2000yqh.googlegroups.com.
..

While you are writing, put down Comcast. They are promoting giving
a DTA ( Digital Transport Adapter to home owners for their second
TV's. Their advertising is Welcome to The World of More! But in
fact the DTA only provides 480i signals. So it really ought to be
Welcome to the World of Less.

480i is better than no TV at all.

No TV is the best solution...

On Mar 11, 8:03 am, PeterD <pet...@hipson.net> wrote:
On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:46:14 -0800 (PST), mpm <mpmill...@aol.com
wrote:







Wow! I had totally missed that one!!
'Round here, we have these folks who dress up in camouflage with the
word "Veterans something or other" stenciled on the backs of their tee-
shirts.
Then, they hang out in traffic canvassing for cash donations.
(Greatly slowing down traffic in the process.)

Since a lot of these folks seem to be in their early 20's, I sorta
question the whole "veterans" angle.
None of them "look" like they were ever in the military. I never
give.

If it weren't illegal, and if I could somehow avoid the messy cleanup,
I would run them over for sure!

If they are not veterans then it is illegal for them--the stolen valor
act made it so. Ask for proof of veteran status, if they can't/won't
provide it, call the authorties.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The Stolen Valor Act applies only to the unauthorized wear,
manufacture, sale or claim (either written or oral) of any military
decorations or medals.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_Valor_Act_of_2005

So, it wouldn't apply to idiots in traffic wearing camo with "Veteran"
plastered on the back of their tee-shirts.
But maybe it should...???!

On Mar 11, 3:46 am, "Michael A. Terrell" <mike.terr...@earthlink.net
wrote:
Bill Bowden wrote:

Water is getting expensive too. My utility bill says I used 1 cubic
foot of water at $1.06 per cubic foot. But then they add on the charge
of reading the meter of $5.16, so the total comes to $6.16. Now if
they would only read the meter every 6 months, I could save $25.50 in
meter reading charges.

I have my own well & pump so I only pay for the electricity to lift
it from the Florida Auquifer.

Must be a good job reading meters. It might take 3 minutes to make 5
bucks.

They just drive down the street and read it through their RF links.
My electric bill for last month was $64.93.

--
Greed is the root of all eBay.

Let's say the subdivision is comprised of 1/4-acre lots each having
125-foot sides facing the street.
In one mile, that's 5280/125 = ~42 homes
Home on both sides of the street, so that raises the figure to ~ 84
homes

Assume now that the meter reader is traveling at 25 mph down the
street.
He'll pass (84 x 25) or ~2,100 homes in an hour.
Multiply this by the meter reading fee of $5.16 for a whopping
$10,836.00 for an hours' worth of work*

*work defined loosely perhaps, as sitting in a confortable air-
conditioned vehicle listening to your favorite radio stations.

Note: I don't know how fast those meter-reading trucks can go and
still capture the data.
So, adjust accordingly if 25 mph is inappropriate.

"mpm" <mpmillard_at_aol.com> wrote in message
news:dc0e34fd-d0a5-48a1-a208-005e82dd4c2a_at_b7g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
Lately, I've been barraged, nay, attacked by morons seeking to
separate me from my money.

What happend to the US?
It seems like I just woke up, and BAM! - cheats, liars and theives
everywhere.

From the banks, to the government, to Vonage!
(Sorry Vonage, not a customer here, but hey, would it kill you to
mention aloud that your $14.95 price is only good for 6 months, and
even then, only with a one-year committment?)


I got scammed by Nextel* on our cellphone. I had a Cingular* cellphone with
base price of $39.99, with all the extra charges it came to about $53.00**
Sprint came out with a $36.99 plan, I decided to reward them for this new
price tier. I switched companies, I thought my new bill would be $50.00,
three dollars cheaper. It wasn't it was $56.00 or three dollars more. I
inspected the bill and found "additional Nextel Charges" this caused the
bill to be more than my original Cingular charges. So, they had an
advertising
campaign keyed on the $36.99 and then just added two lines on the bill
called "additional Nextel Charges" to bump it up and make it more expensive
than my original bill. So much for rewarding competition!
*Nextel is now Sprint and Cingular is now AT&T
** Numbers are approximate but the difference was $3.00 higher not $3.00
lower

Just recently I got a check in the mail ($6.25) from "Processing Center"
I figured it was a rebate check, my wife takes advantage of these.
I was about to put it in the checkbook for deposit but decided to
see who it was from. I was about 5/8 of the way through the verbage
when it said, "by cashing this check you agree to a $12.99 charge on
your credit card, which we already have on file." I was about to sign
up for some cash back on credit card purchases deal. This was Budget
Car rental, I rented a car a few months ago. This to me was a blatent
effort to steal money. I sent emails to 5 different divisions of Budget
and didn't get any response.
Mike

I use Sprint too. My contract expired in 2007 and I've been thinking
about either re-upping, possibly getting a new phone (this battery
should die any minute?? - it's amazing it's lasted this long!!!),
If I switch, the closest thing they offer to what I have now costs
about $10 more.

That said, since Skype, I really don't use cell or LD as much as I
used to, so I'm probably a good candidate for pre-paid, or maybe a
very low-minute plan postpaid.

I'm going to add that whole Verizon Map vs. AT&T Map advertising to my
scam list as well.
Why? Because AT&T took Verizon to Federal District Court and the
Judge threw the case out because Verizon's ads were truthful!! Duh?!

But I hear you on the whole wireless bait-&-switch.
I follow FCC wireless issue pretty closely. Yesterday, Commissioner
Mignon Clyburn directly questioned pricing, affordability, and whether
or not any meaningful competition exists in the wireless industry.
What, with Verizon and AT&T dominating the industry.

See Link: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-296790A1.pdf

-mpm

"mpm" <mpmill...@aol.com> wrote in message

news:dc0e34fd-d0a5-48a1-a208-005e82dd4c2a_at_b7g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...

Lately, I've been barraged, nay, attacked by morons seeking to
separate me from my money.

What happend to the US?
It seems like I just woke up, and BAM!  - cheats, liars and theives
everywhere.

From the banks, to the government, to Vonage!
(Sorry Vonage, not a customer here, but hey, would it kill you to
mention aloud that your $14.95 price is only good for 6 months, and
even then, only with a one-year committment?)

I got scammed by Nextel* on our cellphone. I had a Cingular* cellphone with
base price of $39.99, with all the extra charges it came to about $53.00**
Sprint came out with a $36.99 plan, I decided to reward them for this new
price tier. I switched companies, I thought my new bill would be $50.00,
three dollars cheaper. It wasn't it was $56.00 or three dollars more. I
inspected the bill and found "additional Nextel Charges" this caused the
bill to be more than my original Cingular charges. So, they had an
advertising
campaign keyed on the $36.99 and then just added two lines on the bill
called "additional Nextel Charges" to bump it up and make it more expensive
than my original bill. So much for rewarding competition!
*Nextel is now Sprint and Cingular is now AT&T
** Numbers are approximate but the difference was $3.00 higher not $3.00
lower

  Just recently I got a check in the mail ($6.25) from "Processing Center"
I figured it was a rebate check, my wife takes advantage of these.
 I was about to put it in the checkbook for deposit but decided to
see who it was from. I was about 5/8 of the way through the verbage
when it said, "by cashing this check you agree to a $12.99 charge on
your credit card, which we already have on file." I was about to sign
up for some cash back on credit card purchases deal. This was Budget
Car rental, I rented a car a few months ago. This to me was a blatent
effort to steal money. I sent emails to 5 different divisions of Budget
and didn't get any response.
                                   Mike

JosephKK wrote:

On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:57:51 -0500, PeterD <peter2_at_hipson.net> wrote:

On Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:16:40 -0800, John Larkin
jjlarkin_at_highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote:

On Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:00:58 -0800 (PST), mpm <mpmillard_at_aol.com
wrote:
...
Note: not to pick on Vonage. I could have just as easily used Heinz
Ketchup,

Everybody knows that DelMonte tastes better.

John

No way, if you want better, you have to make your own...

Gotta take a pass on that. I use so little that even the smallest
bottles are spoiling before i get more than halfway through them.


I haven't used any ketchup in over 40 years. I never liked the
taste. I love tomatoes, but ketchup always made my sick to my stomach.

On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:57:12 -0700, Jim Thompson
To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon_at_My-Web-Site.com> wrote:

On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:51:40 -0500, PeterD <peter2_at_hipson.net> wrote:


Bwa-ha-ha-ha... Just like in the grocery store: price based on
different units of measure.

(in oz pricing, Heinz is $0.12, DelMonte is $0.13, which is basically
the same price.) <bg

I often see the "large" size priced significantly higher per unit than
the "small", so I buy 2 of the small

...Jim Thompson

Happened the other day, large was more than two smalls, and two smalls
had more product than the large as well. A double win!

On Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:42:24 -0500, "Michael A. Terrell"
mike.terrell_at_earthlink.net> wrote:


JosephKK wrote:

On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:57:51 -0500, PeterD <peter2_at_hipson.net> wrote:

On Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:16:40 -0800, John Larkin
jjlarkin_at_highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote:

On Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:00:58 -0800 (PST), mpm <mpmillard_at_aol.com
wrote:
...
Note: not to pick on Vonage. I could have just as easily used Heinz
Ketchup,

Everybody knows that DelMonte tastes better.

John

No way, if you want better, you have to make your own...

Gotta take a pass on that. I use so little that even the smallest
bottles are spoiling before i get more than halfway through them.


I haven't used any ketchup in over 40 years. I never liked the
taste. I love tomatoes, but ketchup always made my sick to my stomach.

And has a horrendous amount of sodium

On Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:59:46 -0500, PeterD <peter2_at_hipson.net> wrote:

On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:57:12 -0700, Jim Thompson
To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon_at_My-Web-Site.com> wrote:

On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:51:40 -0500, PeterD <peter2_at_hipson.net> wrote:


Bwa-ha-ha-ha... Just like in the grocery store: price based on
different units of measure.

(in oz pricing, Heinz is $0.12, DelMonte is $0.13, which is basically
the same price.) <bg

I often see the "large" size priced significantly higher per unit than
the "small", so I buy 2 of the small :-)

...Jim Thompson

Happened the other day, large was more than two smalls, and two smalls
had more product than the large as well. A double win!

I don't know if it's a national thing, probably is, but here in AZ,
the shelf tags have to give price AND cost per measuring unit, so you
don't even have to carry your calculator with you

When my contract was about to expire they called me to renew and
I laid into them about the "additional Nextel Charges" They dropped
them for a short time. Now I see "Sprint Surcharges" $2.66.

"amdx" <amdx_at_knology.net> wrote in message
news:210e3$4b9909ea$18ec6dd7$22532_at_KNOLOGY.NET...
When my contract was about to expire they called me to renew and
I laid into them about the "additional Nextel Charges" They dropped
them for a short time. Now I see "Sprint Surcharges" $2.66.

In general the cell phone companies all seem to add about 10% in "junk fees."
I'm pretty sure their strategy is that, since they want to be able to
advertise a "price" that's as low (competitive-looking) as possible, they set
the junk fees at a level just below where the government would get involved
and charge them with false advertising.