Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!lavaca.uh.edu!karazm.math.uh.edu!jet
From: jet@karazm.math.uh.edu (J. Eric Townsend)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: beat TRW (was Re: NOVA: we know where you live
Message-ID: <1990Dec3.063827.20677@lavaca.uh.edu>
Date: 3 Dec 90 06:38:27 GMT
References: <19308@know.pws.bull.com> <1990Dec2.201133.16224@eff.org>
Sender: nntppost@lavaca.uh.edu (NNTP Posting Service)
Organization: University of Houston -- Department of Mathematics
Lines: 24

In article <1990Dec2.201133.16224@eff.org> mkapor@eff.org (Mitch Kapor) writes:
> A word of warning about the TRW Credentials service.  In my opinion it's
>really a device for TRW to get you to voluntarily enahnce the quality of
>their database.  It works like this.  You sign for about $35 a year and you get
>to see what they have on you and who's asking for it.  Leaving aside the
>propriety of making you pay to see information about yourself, what happens
>after you sign up is that they want you to fill out an incredibly detailed
>questionnaire about yourself, your expenditures, income, and lifestyle.  They

Aha!  I tricked them.

First, I signed up for the "trial one month subscription".  As soon as
I got my "status report" showing all sorts of great stuff about me (like
the fact that I've taken out three times as many loans as I really have,
and that I've paid them all back in full), I sent of a letter saying
"I don't want to answer your silly questions, please cancel my service."

Oh well, it was funnier when it happened, I guess...


--
J. Eric Townsend     Internet: jet@uh.edu    Bitnet: jet@UHOU
Systems Mangler - UH Dept. of Mathemagics - (713) 749-2120
Skate (UNIX || AmigaDos)                "This meme's for you..."