blake murphy wrote:
> from keven drum:
>
> TODAY'S TWO MINUTES HATE....Here's the latest reason to hate credit
> card companies: Shop at Wal-Mart, obviously a sign of financial
> distress, and your credit limit gets lowered. Hallelujah!
>
> This is from American Express, which has now decided to hunker down
> and simply lie about their habit of doing this. Compare and contrast
> the following news accounts. When Kevin Johnson returned from his
> honeymoon last year he got a letter from Amex saying, ´Other
> customers who have used their card at establishments where you
> recently shopped have a poor repayment history with American
> Express.¡

I saw that guy on tv! Man, do they have a list of stores so I
know where not to use my card?? Crazy.

Oh, right, there is no such list. Way to go.

nancy

Michael "Dog3" wrote:
> "Nancy Young" > news:UbHhl.5998$aJ3.4674

>> I saw that guy on tv! Man, do they have a list of stores so I
>> know where not to use my card?? Crazy.
>>
>> Oh, right, there is no such list. Way to go.
>
> Gawd. I knew this type of thing went on with insurance companies and
> other companies but I'd never dream of AMEX doing this type of thing.
> Sheesh... I refuse to walk into a Walmart so I'm safe on that one but
> what about other retailers I might shop at? I might be on THELIST
> (TINL)

(laugh) TINL included car repair places. Like ... if you get your
car fixed, you're one foot into deadbeatland?

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:
>
> (laugh) TINL included car repair places. Like ... if you get your
> car fixed, you're one foot into deadbeatland?

Yes, it means you can't afford the Mercedes dealership.

In article >,
says...
>
> "Nancy Young" > news:UbHhl.5998$aJ3.4674
> @newsfe23.ams2: in rec.food.cooking
>
> > blake murphy wrote:
> >> from keven drum:
> >>
> >> TODAY'S TWO MINUTES HATE....Here's the latest reason to hate credit
> >> card companies: Shop at Wal-Mart, obviously a sign of financial
> >> distress, and your credit limit gets lowered. Hallelujah!
> >>
> >> This is from American Express, which has now decided to hunker down
> >> and simply lie about their habit of doing this. Compare and contrast
> >> the following news accounts. When Kevin Johnson returned from his
> >> honeymoon last year he got a letter from Amex saying, ?Other
> >> customers who have used their card at establishments where you
> >> recently shopped have a poor repayment history with American
> >> Express.¡
> >
> > I saw that guy on tv! Man, do they have a list of stores so I
> > know where not to use my card?? Crazy.
> >
> > Oh, right, there is no such list. Way to go.
>
> Gawd. I knew this type of thing went on with insurance companies and
> other companies but I'd never dream of AMEX doing this type of thing.
> Sheesh... I refuse to walk into a Walmart so I'm safe on that one but
> what about other retailers I might shop at? I might be on THELIST (TINL)
>
> Michael


It's red-lining plain and simple. Discriminatory, predatory and just
wrong. We need a serious overhaul of credit law.

In article >,
says...
>
> "Nancy Young" > news:UbHhl.5998$aJ3.4674
> @newsfe23.ams2: in rec.food.cooking
>
> > blake murphy wrote:
> >> from keven drum:
> >>
> >> TODAY'S TWO MINUTES HATE....Here's the latest reason to hate credit
> >> card companies: Shop at Wal-Mart, obviously a sign of financial
> >> distress, and your credit limit gets lowered. Hallelujah!
> >>
> >> This is from American Express, which has now decided to hunker down
> >> and simply lie about their habit of doing this. Compare and contrast
> >> the following news accounts. When Kevin Johnson returned from his
> >> honeymoon last year he got a letter from Amex saying, ?Other
> >> customers who have used their card at establishments where you
> >> recently shopped have a poor repayment history with American
> >> Express.¡
> >
> > I saw that guy on tv! Man, do they have a list of stores so I
> > know where not to use my card?? Crazy.
> >
> > Oh, right, there is no such list. Way to go.
>
> Gawd. I knew this type of thing went on with insurance companies and
> other companies but I'd never dream of AMEX doing this type of thing.
> Sheesh... I refuse to walk into a Walmart so I'm safe on that one but
> what about other retailers I might shop at? I might be on THELIST (TINL)
>
> Michael

Makes me happy I declined the Amex application at the bank today.

No real need for it. I explained that I planned to operate the business
on a purely cash basis.

On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 21:56:27 -0500, T >
wrote:

>It's red-lining plain and simple. Discriminatory, predatory and just
>wrong. We need a serious overhaul of credit law.

BS. Obviously you don't have an AmEx card. Pay up at the end of the
month. What's hard to understand about that? There's nothing
predatory about the practice. Yes, it's discriminatory because they
exclude people who *can't* pay up at the end of the month. So, sue
them. The rest of us are fine with it. We didn't sign up for AmEx
without knowing what to expect. If you didn't, you had blinders on.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

In article >,
sf > wrote:

> On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 21:56:27 -0500, T >
> wrote:
>
> >It's red-lining plain and simple. Discriminatory, predatory and just
> >wrong. We need a serious overhaul of credit law.
>
> BS. Obviously you don't have an AmEx card. Pay up at the end of the
> month. What's hard to understand about that? There's nothing
> predatory about the practice. Yes, it's discriminatory because they
> exclude people who *can't* pay up at the end of the month. So, sue
> them. The rest of us are fine with it. We didn't sign up for AmEx
> without knowing what to expect.

Did you even read what you are responding to? The claim is that if you
take your existing AMEX card and buy from certain places that accept
that card, that AMEX will CANCEL your credit card because they have
found that people who buy from those places aren't good credit risks.
Are you OK with that? Is that in fact what you expect? Do you mind
having it on your credit report that a credit card was cancelled because
you are a bad credit risk?


> If you didn't, you had blinders on.

Blinders or blinkers?

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

On Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:49:45 -0800, Dan Abel wrote:

> In article >,
> sf > wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 21:56:27 -0500, T >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >It's red-lining plain and simple. Discriminatory, predatory and just
>> >wrong. We need a serious overhaul of credit law.
>>
>> BS. Obviously you don't have an AmEx card. Pay up at the end of the
>> month. What's hard to understand about that? There's nothing
>> predatory about the practice. Yes, it's discriminatory because they
>> exclude people who *can't* pay up at the end of the month. So, sue
>> them. The rest of us are fine with it. We didn't sign up for AmEx
>> without knowing what to expect.
>
> Did you even read what you are responding to? The claim is that if you
> take your existing AMEX card and buy from certain places that accept
> that card, that AMEX will CANCEL your credit card because they have
> found that people who buy from those places aren't good credit risks.
> Are you OK with that? Is that in fact what you expect? Do you mind
> having it on your credit report that a credit card was cancelled because
> you are a bad credit risk?

Cancel, or reduce the limit?

In article >,
Horry > wrote:

> On Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:49:45 -0800, Dan Abel wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > sf > wrote:
> >
> >> On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 21:56:27 -0500, T >
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> >It's red-lining plain and simple. Discriminatory, predatory and just
> >> >wrong. We need a serious overhaul of credit law.
> >>
> >> BS. Obviously you don't have an AmEx card. Pay up at the end of the
> >> month. What's hard to understand about that? There's nothing
> >> predatory about the practice. Yes, it's discriminatory because they
> >> exclude people who *can't* pay up at the end of the month. So, sue
> >> them. The rest of us are fine with it. We didn't sign up for AmEx
> >> without knowing what to expect.
> >
> > Did you even read what you are responding to? The claim is that if you
> > take your existing AMEX card and buy from certain places that accept
> > that card, that AMEX will CANCEL your credit card because they have
> > found that people who buy from those places aren't good credit risks.
> > Are you OK with that? Is that in fact what you expect? Do you mind
> > having it on your credit report that a credit card was cancelled because
> > you are a bad credit risk?
>
> Cancel, or reduce the limit?

I may be mixing up my stories. Some of the references were for one,
some for the other.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

On Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:14:16 -0800, sf > wrote:

>>It's red-lining plain and simple. Discriminatory, predatory and just
>>wrong. We need a serious overhaul of credit law.
>
>BS. Obviously you don't have an AmEx card.

Obviously, someone doesn't keep up with current events. This has
been going on for quite some time.

You buy the banking institution and then you get to make up your own
rules and find a senator to subsidize your ventures!!

Dan Abel wrote:
> In article >,
> sf > wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 21:56:27 -0500, T >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> It's red-lining plain and simple. Discriminatory, predatory and just
>>> wrong. We need a serious overhaul of credit law.
>>
>> BS. Obviously you don't have an AmEx card. Pay up at the end of the
>> month. What's hard to understand about that? There's nothing
>> predatory about the practice. Yes, it's discriminatory because they
>> exclude people who *can't* pay up at the end of the month. So, sue
>> them. The rest of us are fine with it. We didn't sign up for AmEx
>> without knowing what to expect.
>
> Did you even read what you are responding to? The claim is that if
> you take your existing AMEX card and buy from certain places that
> accept that card, that AMEX will CANCEL your credit card because they
> have found that people who buy from those places aren't good credit
> risks. Are you OK with that? Is that in fact what you expect? Do
> you mind having it on your credit report that a credit card was
> cancelled because you are a bad credit risk?

This guy, they reduced his credit limit, and that hurts your scores.
It's not right, don't give me a card then ding me if I use it somewhere
they don't like. If I start neglecting my bill, then they have something
to complain about. It's ridiculous. I don't shop at Walmart, but if I
did I'd likely use my AMEX, I use it for almost everything. Never
mind that wasn't the only store on the list. Discount stores,
whoever they are, that's just one of the categories.

nancy

On Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:14:16 -0800, sf > wrote:

>On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 21:56:27 -0500, T >
>wrote:
>
>>It's red-lining plain and simple. Discriminatory, predatory and just
>>wrong. We need a serious overhaul of credit law.
>
>BS. Obviously you don't have an AmEx card. Pay up at the end of the
>month. What's hard to understand about that? There's nothing
>predatory about the practice. Yes, it's discriminatory because they
>exclude people who *can't* pay up at the end of the month. So, sue
>them. The rest of us are fine with it. We didn't sign up for AmEx
>without knowing what to expect. If you didn't, you had blinders on.


There is more that one AmEx card. They don't all require full payment
at the end of the billing period. The card through Costco does not
require it and also rebates on all purchases anywhere. I even charged
a substantial HVAC system on it to get the rebate.
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)

On Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:49:45 -0800, Dan Abel > wrote:

>In article >,
> sf > wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 21:56:27 -0500, T >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >It's red-lining plain and simple. Discriminatory, predatory and just
>> >wrong. We need a serious overhaul of credit law.
>>
>> BS. Obviously you don't have an AmEx card. Pay up at the end of the
>> month. What's hard to understand about that? There's nothing
>> predatory about the practice. Yes, it's discriminatory because they
>> exclude people who *can't* pay up at the end of the month. So, sue
>> them. The rest of us are fine with it. We didn't sign up for AmEx
>> without knowing what to expect.
>
>Did you even read what you are responding to? The claim is that if you
>take your existing AMEX card and buy from certain places that accept
>that card, that AMEX will CANCEL your credit card because they have
>found that people who buy from those places aren't good credit risks.
>Are you OK with that? Is that in fact what you expect? Do you mind
>having it on your credit report that a credit card was cancelled because
>you are a bad credit risk?
>
>
>> If you didn't, you had blinders on.
>
>Blinders or blinkers?

I think the whole thing is a fabrication of the truth. If AmEx is
going to cancel your card for shopping in those places, why is it
possible to use their card there? It doesn't make any sense.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Tue, 03 Feb 2009 06:41:58 -0800, sf wrote:

> On Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:49:45 -0800, Dan Abel > wrote:
>
>>In article >,
>> sf > wrote:
>>
>>> On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 21:56:27 -0500, T >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> >It's red-lining plain and simple. Discriminatory, predatory and just
>>> >wrong. We need a serious overhaul of credit law.
>>>
>>> BS. Obviously you don't have an AmEx card. Pay up at the end of the
>>> month. What's hard to understand about that? There's nothing
>>> predatory about the practice. Yes, it's discriminatory because they
>>> exclude people who *can't* pay up at the end of the month. So, sue
>>> them. The rest of us are fine with it. We didn't sign up for AmEx
>>> without knowing what to expect.
>>
>>Did you even read what you are responding to? The claim is that if you
>>take your existing AMEX card and buy from certain places that accept
>>that card, that AMEX will CANCEL your credit card because they have
>>found that people who buy from those places aren't good credit risks.
>>Are you OK with that? Is that in fact what you expect? Do you mind
>>having it on your credit report that a credit card was cancelled because
>>you are a bad credit risk?
>>
>>
>>> If you didn't, you had blinders on.
>>
>>Blinders or blinkers?
>
> I think the whole thing is a fabrication of the truth. If AmEx is
> going to cancel your card for shopping in those places, why is it
> possible to use their card there? It doesn't make any sense.

it doesn't have to make sense. amex apparently can do whatever the ****
they want.

your pal,
blake

sf wrote:

> I think the whole thing is a fabrication of the truth. If AmEx is
> going to cancel your card for shopping in those places, why is it
> possible to use their card there? It doesn't make any sense.

They lowered someone's credit line for using it at Walmart.
I saw the letter AMEX sent him to say his limit was lowered
because he used it at some place where others who did
turned out to be high risk. It's not a question of did it happen.
It's documented.

nancy

Michael "Dog3" wrote:
> "Nancy Young" > news:fKLhl.2195$jz5.601
> @newsfe09.ams2: in rec.food.cooking

>> (laugh) TINL included car repair places. Like ... if you get your
>> car fixed, you're one foot into deadbeatland?
>
> Worse yet, I don't know if I've ever used a credit card at Shop 'n
> Save or Aldi's. Here in St. Louis they are the discount type grocers
> in my area. I'm sure they are not on the "good list" (TINGL).

I just realized ... I got a couple of prescriptions filled today,
now AMEX knows I have bronchitis! One foot down
deadbeat road!!

I really don't know what a discount store is. To me that's like
a dollar store or something? How about Marshalls and TJMaxx.
Whatever. I think they are reviewing their policies as we speak.
At the very least let us know what behavior is a problem with
them so the consumer can avoid the trap. Not asking too much?
Let us know what the rules are?

Honest, I thought the rules were Get your bill and pay it on
time according to the agreement. And don't mess up on any
other bills, either. Silly, naive me.

nancy

....
> On Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:14:16 -0800, sf > wrote:

> There is more that one AmEx card. They don't all require full payment
> at the end of the billing period. The card through Costco does not
> require it and also rebates on all purchases anywhere. I even charged
> a substantial HVAC system on it to get the rebate.
> --
> Susan N.

Gotcha! one of my daughters put a Range Rover on a card to get the air
miles!

Felice

On Tue, 3 Feb 2009 10:46:30 -0500, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

>sf wrote:
>
>> I think the whole thing is a fabrication of the truth. If AmEx is
>> going to cancel your card for shopping in those places, why is it
>> possible to use their card there? It doesn't make any sense.
>
>They lowered someone's credit line for using it at Walmart.
>I saw the letter AMEX sent him to say his limit was lowered
>because he used it at some place where others who did
>turned out to be high risk. It's not a question of did it happen.
>It's documented.

Lots of things are documented. Some people refuse to believe them.
When I got divorced years ago we had a ****ing match about who owed
what for bills. Something didn't get paid on time and my car
insurance and homeowners insurance rates went up.

Lou

Nancy Young wrote:
> Michael "Dog3" wrote:
>> "Nancy Young" > news:fKLhl.2195$jz5.601
>> @newsfe09.ams2: in rec.food.cooking
>
>>> (laugh) TINL included car repair places. Like ... if you get your
>>> car fixed, you're one foot into deadbeatland?
>>
>> Worse yet, I don't know if I've ever used a credit card at Shop 'n
>> Save or Aldi's. Here in St. Louis they are the discount type grocers
>> in my area. I'm sure they are not on the "good list" (TINGL).
>
> I just realized ... I got a couple of prescriptions filled today,
> now AMEX knows I have bronchitis! One foot down deadbeat road!!

Not to worry. If Obama gets his way we will have a national database
which will contain all of our health records like it or not. Of course
since the smart people in the government will be running it there is no
possible chance of misuse...

>
> I really don't know what a discount store is. To me that's like
> a dollar store or something? How about Marshalls and TJMaxx.
> Whatever. I think they are reviewing their policies as we speak.
> At the very least let us know what behavior is a problem with them so
> the consumer can avoid the trap. Not asking too much?
> Let us know what the rules are?
>
> Honest, I thought the rules were Get your bill and pay it on time
> according to the agreement. And don't mess up on any
> other bills, either. Silly, naive me.
> nancy

sf wrote:

> On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 21:56:27 -0500, T >
> wrote:
>
> > It's red-lining plain and simple. Discriminatory, predatory and
> > just wrong. We need a serious overhaul of credit law.
>
> BS. Obviously you don't have an AmEx card. Pay up at the end of the
> month. What's hard to understand about that?

I believe they were talking about Amex Blue. That's a standard credit
card, with an interest payment, credit limit, carry a balance, all that.




Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

George wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:

>> I just realized ... I got a couple of prescriptions filled today,
>> now AMEX knows I have bronchitis! One foot down deadbeat road!!
>
> Not to worry. If Obama gets his way we will have a national database
> which will contain all of our health records like it or not. Of course
> since the smart people in the government will be running it there is
> no possible chance of misuse...

I don't like it. I think we already have that. Once it's in the
doctor's computer, all the insurance companies find out, that's
what I think.

nancy

Michael "Dog3" wrote:


> I don't know how they could reduce my limit. AFAIK I don't have a
> limit. I pay the balance at the end of the month or whenever it's
> due. I do the same with all of my credit cards when I use them.
> Since the debit MC/Visa cards came out I use the debit card more than
> anything. It comes right out of my checking account and I don't have
> to bother with statements etc.

And if the card is lost or compromised, your checking account is
drained. Yeah, they'll put it back, but if you wrote any checks they
might bounce and you have to deal with that as well.

No, thanks. I hate those. Credit cards for me. As long as you have the
discipline to pay them off, there are far more benefits.




Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

Dan Abel wrote:

>
> The claim is that if you
> take your existing AMEX card and buy from certain places that accept
> that card, that AMEX will CANCEL your credit card because they have
> found that people who buy from those places aren't good credit risks.
> Are you OK with that? Is that in fact what you expect? Do you mind
> having it on your credit report that a credit card was cancelled because
> you are a bad credit risk?
>
>


Then why in h*ll does AMEX authorize those places to accept its card?

What a Catch 22. AMEX authorizes store XYZ to accept its card then
cancels credit of people who use it there.

This world gets crazier by the minute.

gloria p

Michael "Dog3" wrote:
> "Felice" > : in
> rec.food.cooking
>
>> Gotcha! one of my daughters put a Range Rover on a card to get the air
>> miles!
>
> LOL... sounds like my sister in law. You sure we're not related in some
> way?
>
> Michael
>
>


Every time I have offered a credit card to pay for something big like
that (cars, furnace, replacement central a/c) the vendor has offered a
substantial discount if I paid by cash or check. Each time the discount
was worth way more than whatever air miles, rebate, etc. I would have
received from the credit card.

Just sayin'....

gloria p

sf > wrote in
:

> On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 21:56:27 -0500, T
> > wrote:
>
>>It's red-lining plain and simple. Discriminatory, predatory and
>>just wrong. We need a serious overhaul of credit law.
>
> BS. Obviously you don't have an AmEx card. Pay up at the end
> of the month. What's hard to understand about that? There's
> nothing predatory about the practice. Yes, it's discriminatory
> because they exclude people who *can't* pay up at the end of the
> month. So, sue them. The rest of us are fine with it. We
> didn't sign up for AmEx without knowing what to expect. If you
> didn't, you had blinders on.

not all AmEx cards require paying in full at the end of the
billing cycle. i know that Blue & Clear do not, although i pay mine
off most months anyway (not every month, because that is a blot on
your credit rating).
since there's no way in hell i'd be shopping at a Wal-Mart, i have
no idea if that would make your limit go down. i always pay by card
because i'm allergic to cash, so obviously buying stuff at McD's is
fine with them i do know that Am Ex has *raised* my limit 3
times in 4 months, and dropped my interest rate to below 10%. i do
plan on getting rid of a couple of my cards (i have 4. one has a
$500 limit) & AmEx won't be one of the losers.
lee

"Michael \"Dog3\"" > wrote in
:

Sure, she was offered personal loans at outrageous
> interest rates but that is not what her financial people told
> her to do. She prevailed and got what she needed but it took a
> lot of effort on her part.

of course she wanted a mortgage & not a personal loan! a mortgage is
tax deductable, a loan is not. also, mortgage interest rates are
likely to be lower than rates on personal loans.
if she has any type of net worth, it's nice to have a mortgage tax
deduction... or that's what *my* financial advisor told me when i was
going to pay cash for this house.
lee

On Tue, 3 Feb 2009 10:46:30 -0500, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

>sf wrote:
>
>> I think the whole thing is a fabrication of the truth. If AmEx is
>> going to cancel your card for shopping in those places, why is it
>> possible to use their card there? It doesn't make any sense.
>
>They lowered someone's credit line for using it at Walmart.
>I saw the letter AMEX sent him to say his limit was lowered
>because he used it at some place where others who did
>turned out to be high risk. It's not a question of did it happen.
>It's documented.
>
There have to be other circumstances. It makes no sense to do
business with a firm and lower the credit rating of every person who
uses your card there.



--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

In article >,
sf > wrote:

> On Tue, 3 Feb 2009 10:46:30 -0500, "Nancy Young"
> > wrote:
>
> >sf wrote:
> >
> >> I think the whole thing is a fabrication of the truth. If AmEx is
> >> going to cancel your card for shopping in those places, why is it
> >> possible to use their card there? It doesn't make any sense.
> >
> >They lowered someone's credit line for using it at Walmart.
> >I saw the letter AMEX sent him to say his limit was lowered
> >because he used it at some place where others who did
> >turned out to be high risk. It's not a question of did it happen.
> >It's documented.
> >
> There have to be other circumstances. It makes no sense to do
> business with a firm and lower the credit rating of every person who
> uses your card there.

I agree. I doubt that it is "every person". There are probably
multiple criteria. But the triggering criteria, and the one mentioned
in the letter, was where the customer shopped.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

sf wrote:
> On Tue, 3 Feb 2009 10:46:30 -0500, "Nancy Young"
> > wrote:
>
>> sf wrote:
>>
>>> I think the whole thing is a fabrication of the truth. If AmEx is
>>> going to cancel your card for shopping in those places, why is it
>>> possible to use their card there? It doesn't make any sense.
>>
>> They lowered someone's credit line for using it at Walmart.
>> I saw the letter AMEX sent him to say his limit was lowered
>> because he used it at some place where others who did
>> turned out to be high risk. It's not a question of did it happen.
>> It's documented.
>>
> There have to be other circumstances. It makes no sense to do
> business with a firm and lower the credit rating of every person who
> uses your card there.

Read the original letter. AMEX at first admitted it. Besides,
corporations not making sense, it happens.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:
> George wrote:
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>> I just realized ... I got a couple of prescriptions filled today,
>>> now AMEX knows I have bronchitis! One foot down deadbeat road!!
>>
>> Not to worry. If Obama gets his way we will have a national database
>> which will contain all of our health records like it or not. Of course
>> since the smart people in the government will be running it there is
>> no possible chance of misuse...
>
> I don't like it. I think we already have that. Once it's in the
> doctor's computer, all the insurance companies find out, that's what I
> think.
>
> nancy

They have that but it isn't totally coordinated and an absolute mandate.
Of course with the new system important folks like the tax cheats
Geitner, Rangle and who else would be exempt from participation. That
was cynical but likely they will be since they have their own ultra
deluxe private health care and retirement system just for them that is
on our tab.

Michael "Dog3" wrote:
> Gloria P > :
> in rec.food.cooking
>
>> Every time I have offered a credit card to pay for something big like
>> that (cars, furnace, replacement central a/c) the vendor has offered a
>> substantial discount if I paid by cash or check. Each time the
>> discount was worth way more than whatever air miles, rebate, etc. I
>> would have received from the credit card.
>
> Hon, we paid cash for both our cars at the same dealership. The first car
> was in Oct '07. The 2nd car was in Feb '08. Gas prices were astronomical.
> We got an incredible deal on the first car. They practically gave us the
> 2nd car. We couldn't be more pleased with the deals we got. Cash seemed to
> have some clout when it came to negotiations.
>
> Michael
>

I also think we shouldn't be locked out by merchant agreements from
getting a cash discount. I for one don't want to pay for someones
"rewards" if I am paying cash. From what I can gather merchant
agreements vary from to state to state. In my state and surrounding
states merchants can't offer a cash discount.

> Nancy Young wrote:

>>> Not to worry. If Obama gets his way we will have a national database>>>
>>> which will contain all of our health records like it or not. Of
>>> course>>> since the smart people in the government will be running it
>>> there is>>> no possible chance of misuse...
>>
>> I don't like it. I think we already have that. Once it's in the
>> doctor's computer, all the insurance companies find out, that's what I >>
>> think.
>>
>> nancy
>
> They have that but it isn't totally coordinated and an absolute mandate.
> Of course with the new system important folks like the tax cheats Geitner,
> Rangle and who else would be exempt from participation. That > was
> cynical but likely they will be since they have their own ultra > deluxe
> private health care and retirement system just for them that is > on our
> tab.

Paranoid and underinformed both!
The Feds have had their own gold plated insurance scheme for as long as I
can remember.

Your health insurance will work the way the population of citizens require
it to. Instead of muttering about how it will be, write your Congress reps
and Sens and say what you find unacceptable.

As much as Americans are scared to death about "socialized medicine" I, in
Italy, have all my records and am responsible for keeping them and
presenting them when needed. I was so used to them being in the various
doctors' offices that I was careless about this. They have current info
only. So, see, it doesn't have to be as you imagine. It will be that way
if no one takes the trouble to express discomfort and follow through.
Democracy means taking responsibility, right?

On 03 Feb 2009 15:50:28 GMT, Michael "Dog3" wrote:

> "Nancy Young" > news:fKLhl.2195$jz5.601
> @newsfe09.ams2: in rec.food.cooking
>
>> Michael "Dog3" wrote:
>>> "Nancy Young" > news:UbHhl.5998$aJ3.4674
>>
>>>> I saw that guy on tv! Man, do they have a list of stores so I
>>>> know where not to use my card?? Crazy.
>>>>
>>>> Oh, right, there is no such list. Way to go.
>>>
>>> Gawd. I knew this type of thing went on with insurance companies and
>>> other companies but I'd never dream of AMEX doing this type of thing.
>>> Sheesh... I refuse to walk into a Walmart so I'm safe on that one but
>>> what about other retailers I might shop at? I might be on THELIST
>>> (TINL)
>>
>> (laugh) TINL included car repair places. Like ... if you get your
>> car fixed, you're one foot into deadbeatland?
>
> Worse yet, I don't know if I've ever used a credit card at Shop 'n Save
> or Aldi's. Here in St. Louis they are the discount type grocers in my
> area. I'm sure they are not on the "good list" (TINGL).
>
> Michael

all i can say is that it's a good thing my crack dealer accepts only cash.

your pal,
blake

On Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:13:09 -0500, Nancy Young wrote:

> Michael "Dog3" wrote:
>> "Nancy Young" > news:fKLhl.2195$jz5.601
>> @newsfe09.ams2: in rec.food.cooking
>
>>> (laugh) TINL included car repair places. Like ... if you get your
>>> car fixed, you're one foot into deadbeatland?
>>
>> Worse yet, I don't know if I've ever used a credit card at Shop 'n
>> Save or Aldi's. Here in St. Louis they are the discount type grocers
>> in my area. I'm sure they are not on the "good list" (TINGL).
>
> I just realized ... I got a couple of prescriptions filled today,
> now AMEX knows I have bronchitis! One foot down
> deadbeat road!!
>
> I really don't know what a discount store is. To me that's like
> a dollar store or something? How about Marshalls and TJMaxx.
> Whatever. I think they are reviewing their policies as we speak.
> At the very least let us know what behavior is a problem with
> them so the consumer can avoid the trap. Not asking too much?
> Let us know what the rules are?
>
> Honest, I thought the rules were Get your bill and pay it on
> time according to the agreement. And don't mess up on any
> other bills, either. Silly, naive me.
>
> nancy

see, now they have these computer algorithms to assess risk and whatnot.
that's how they discovered that bundling up shaky mortgages and re-selling
them was absolutely no-risk. step three: profit!

your pal,
blake

On Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:39:09 -0500, George wrote:

> Nancy Young wrote:
>> Michael "Dog3" wrote:
>>> "Nancy Young" > news:fKLhl.2195$jz5.601
>>> @newsfe09.ams2: in rec.food.cooking
>>
>>>> (laugh) TINL included car repair places. Like ... if you get your
>>>> car fixed, you're one foot into deadbeatland?
>>>
>>> Worse yet, I don't know if I've ever used a credit card at Shop 'n
>>> Save or Aldi's. Here in St. Louis they are the discount type grocers
>>> in my area. I'm sure they are not on the "good list" (TINGL).
>>
>> I just realized ... I got a couple of prescriptions filled today,
>> now AMEX knows I have bronchitis! One foot down deadbeat road!!
>
> Not to worry. If Obama gets his way we will have a national database
> which will contain all of our health records like it or not. Of course
> since the smart people in the government will be running it there is no
> possible chance of misuse...
>

yeah, it would be a real shame if obama tinkered with the absolutely
flawless health care system we have now.

blake

On Wed, 4 Feb 2009 13:56:57 +0100, Giusi wrote:

>> Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>>> Not to worry. If Obama gets his way we will have a national database>>>
>>>> which will contain all of our health records like it or not. Of
>>>> course>>> since the smart people in the government will be running it
>>>> there is>>> no possible chance of misuse...
>>>
>>> I don't like it. I think we already have that. Once it's in the
>>> doctor's computer, all the insurance companies find out, that's what I >>
>>> think.
>>>
>>> nancy
>>
>> They have that but it isn't totally coordinated and an absolute mandate.
>> Of course with the new system important folks like the tax cheats Geitner,
>> Rangle and who else would be exempt from participation. That > was
>> cynical but likely they will be since they have their own ultra > deluxe
>> private health care and retirement system just for them that is > on our
>> tab.
>
> Paranoid and underinformed both!
> The Feds have had their own gold plated insurance scheme for as long as I
> can remember.
>
> Your health insurance will work the way the population of citizens require
> it to. Instead of muttering about how it will be, write your Congress reps
> and Sens and say what you find unacceptable.
>
> As much as Americans are scared to death about "socialized medicine" I, in
> Italy, have all my records and am responsible for keeping them and
> presenting them when needed. I was so used to them being in the various
> doctors' offices that I was careless about this. They have current info
> only. So, see, it doesn't have to be as you imagine. It will be that way
> if no one takes the trouble to express discomfort and follow through.
> Democracy means taking responsibility, right?

plus, if there was a national health system, then no insurance company
could find about your nasty secrets *and cancel your coverage*. you
wouldn't have to worry.

your pal,
blake

On 03 Feb 2009 21:23:07 GMT, Michael "Dog3" wrote:

> "Nancy Young" > news:A2_hl.3206$jz5.2540
> @newsfe09.ams2: in rec.food.cooking
>
>> Michael "Dog3" wrote:
>>> "Nancy Young" > news:fKLhl.2195$jz5.601
>>> @newsfe09.ams2: in rec.food.cooking
>>
>>>> (laugh) TINL included car repair places. Like ... if you get your
>>>> car fixed, you're one foot into deadbeatland?
>>>
>>> Worse yet, I don't know if I've ever used a credit card at Shop 'n
>>> Save or Aldi's. Here in St. Louis they are the discount type grocers
>>> in my area. I'm sure they are not on the "good list" (TINGL).
>>
>> I just realized ... I got a couple of prescriptions filled today,
>> now AMEX knows I have bronchitis! One foot down
>> deadbeat road!!
>
> Unh-huh... now you're in for it ;-)
>
>>
>> I really don't know what a discount store is. To me that's like
>> a dollar store or something? How about Marshalls and TJMaxx.
>
> I dunno exactly. To me Walmart, Aldi's, Dollar Tree and stores like that
> are discount stores. I've never been to Marshalls or TJMaxx so I don't
> know about them.
>
> Michael

i like marshall's. name-brand shirts for, say, twelve-fifteen bucks or so.
i don't think they have their own 'lines' of goods.

your pal,
blake

On 03 Feb 2009 21:27:13 GMT, Michael "Dog3" wrote:

> Gloria P > :
> in rec.food.cooking
>
>> Every time I have offered a credit card to pay for something big like
>> that (cars, furnace, replacement central a/c) the vendor has offered a
>> substantial discount if I paid by cash or check. Each time the
>> discount was worth way more than whatever air miles, rebate, etc. I
>> would have received from the credit card.
>
> Hon, we paid cash for both our cars at the same dealership. The first car
> was in Oct '07. The 2nd car was in Feb '08. Gas prices were astronomical.
> We got an incredible deal on the first car. They practically gave us the
> 2nd car. We couldn't be more pleased with the deals we got. Cash seemed to
> have some clout when it came to negotiations.
>
> Michael

it pays to ask. you might at least get the 2-3% (?) off the purchase price
that the store pays the card company for the privilege.

your pal,
blake

Giusi wrote:
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>>> Not to worry. If Obama gets his way we will have a national database>>>
>>>> which will contain all of our health records like it or not. Of
>>>> course>>> since the smart people in the government will be running it
>>>> there is>>> no possible chance of misuse...
>>> I don't like it. I think we already have that. Once it's in the
>>> doctor's computer, all the insurance companies find out, that's what I >>
>>> think.
>>>
>>> nancy
>> They have that but it isn't totally coordinated and an absolute mandate.
>> Of course with the new system important folks like the tax cheats Geitner,
>> Rangle and who else would be exempt from participation. That > was
>> cynical but likely they will be since they have their own ultra > deluxe
>> private health care and retirement system just for them that is > on our
>> tab.
>
> Paranoid and underinformed both!
> The Feds have had their own gold plated insurance scheme for as long as I
> can remember.

Sure, that was my point.

>
> Your health insurance will work the way the population of citizens require
> it to. Instead of muttering about how it will be, write your Congress reps
> and Sens and say what you find unacceptable.

Believe me I do. But I think it is just me and maybe 5 others because
everyone else is worried about important stuff like the next American
idol. The politicians are pretty much free to work for their owners
because no one is paying attention. And that is even true on a local
scale. Recently it was revealed that there is (and previously rumored)
major corruption with the judiciary and row offices in the county. I
have only met one person who actually had the slightest idea of the
issue even though the actual details were carefully laid out by the FBI.

>
> As much as Americans are scared to death about "socialized medicine" I, in
> Italy, have all my records and am responsible for keeping them and
> presenting them when needed. I was so used to them being in the various
> doctors' offices that I was careless about this. They have current info
> only. So, see, it doesn't have to be as you imagine. It will be that way
> if no one takes the trouble to express discomfort and follow through.
> Democracy means taking responsibility, right?
>
>

blake murphy wrote:
> On Wed, 4 Feb 2009 13:56:57 +0100, Giusi wrote:
>
>>> Nancy Young wrote:
>>>>> Not to worry. If Obama gets his way we will have a national database>>>
>>>>> which will contain all of our health records like it or not. Of
>>>>> course>>> since the smart people in the government will be running it
>>>>> there is>>> no possible chance of misuse...
>>>> I don't like it. I think we already have that. Once it's in the
>>>> doctor's computer, all the insurance companies find out, that's what I >>
>>>> think.
>>>>
>>>> nancy
>>> They have that but it isn't totally coordinated and an absolute mandate.
>>> Of course with the new system important folks like the tax cheats Geitner,
>>> Rangle and who else would be exempt from participation. That > was
>>> cynical but likely they will be since they have their own ultra > deluxe
>>> private health care and retirement system just for them that is > on our
>>> tab.
>> Paranoid and underinformed both!
>> The Feds have had their own gold plated insurance scheme for as long as I
>> can remember.
>>
>> Your health insurance will work the way the population of citizens require
>> it to. Instead of muttering about how it will be, write your Congress reps
>> and Sens and say what you find unacceptable.
>>
>> As much as Americans are scared to death about "socialized medicine" I, in
>> Italy, have all my records and am responsible for keeping them and
>> presenting them when needed. I was so used to them being in the various
>> doctors' offices that I was careless about this. They have current info
>> only. So, see, it doesn't have to be as you imagine. It will be that way
>> if no one takes the trouble to express discomfort and follow through.
>> Democracy means taking responsibility, right?
>
> plus, if there was a national health system, then no insurance company
> could find about your nasty secrets *and cancel your coverage*. you
> wouldn't have to worry.
>
> your pal,
> blake

Sure, they will just schedule your operation for 18 months ahead instead
of the usual 9.