Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!paperboy!snorkelwacker!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: nvuxr!deej@bellcore.bellcore.com (David Lewis)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: New Sleazy 900 Service
Message-ID: <2820@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 11 Jan 90 15:06:01 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 24, message 4 of 12


In article <2755@accuvax.nwu.edu>, Edward_Greenberg@cso.3mail.3com.com writes:

[description of latest sleazy ad for 900 service -- "important issue,
add your name to the list of people in favor", 3-pixel high
notification that it costs $4.95 and will be billed directly to your
phone bill -- omitted.]

That's nothing.

You know those ads you always see in the back of magazines about
buying vehicles from the government for $49?  Where, basically, you
send them $5 and they send you a copy of a GSO printout of vehicle
auctions.

Lately on NYC TV I've been seeing ads for a "service" which will
provide you information on how you can get vehicles from the
government for exorbitantly low prices... starts sounding familiar...
of course, this is TV advertizing, so they call it an "association" or
something, and give you a fancy embossed credit card-type membership
card with your name and "membership number"...

The kicker?  The "membership fee" is like $57.95.  The number to call
is a 900 number.  In small print at the bottom of the screen is the
disclaimer "fee will be directly charged to your phone bill."

In other words, you call, they collect the money, send you a pile of
stuff you could get for about $0.85 by writing to the GSO, and when
you find out it's worthless, you have very little recourse...

Sigh.  P.T. Barnum is alive and well and selling 900 services...


David G Lewis					...!bellcore!nvuxr!deej
	(@ Bellcore Navesink Research & Engineering Center)
			"If this is paradise, I wish I had a lawnmower."