1USA Newsletter May 11, 2001

1USA Customer Newsletter
Friday, May 11, 2001

Protect your friends and neighbors from computer scams

Our friends and neighbors need our help
- whether they know it or not.

My fellow 1USA Customers, our friends and family members are being ripped off, and it's up to us to inform them about and protect them from the computer marketing scams. If we don't, they'll throw away their money and have every right to come back and say, "Why didn't you warn us about this?"
Have you seen these ads?
Uh huh. And when you read the fine print, the free lunch costs a mere $1,699.95.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Most people are smart and talented in their chosen profession, however, they may never have used a computer.
Kids are using computers in school, and people are curious about the Internet, so they go out and buy one -- Without calling you first.

Over the years, I've reminded my friends time and again, "If you ever decide to buy a computer, call me first. I'll help make sure you don't get ripped off."

Recently, out of the blue, my uncle Ed called me saying he'd bought into one of those free computer deals where you're stuck with a 56k Dialup Account for three years with NO allowance to upgrade to DSL or 1USA Satellite Service.
He claimed he received a free printer, but then he added that it was free "after rebates," and he hasn't received the rebate check yet.
And guess what? He's having problems with it already. Go figure. Now he calls me frequently when needs my help to get him out of jams - all the time.

"The kids did something on it... and now I can't get my e-mail."
Honk if you've heard that one before.
Now he's stuck ON HOLD for 35 minutes at a time, waiting for their Tech Support to answer.
(He wouldn't have this problem if he'd signed up with 1USA.)

Marketing to the masses
He told me he got a "good deal" by signing up to purchase three years of MSN.COM
I said, "Let me do some math here. You got a free computer, but you're paying $22 per month for Internet access for three years - which is 25% more than what 1USA would charge. And your printer will be free as soon as you get your rebate check." There's something wrong with this picture.
For $792, he could have purchased a better new computer outright. He could have signed up for Internet access from 1USA who doesn't require a three-year commitment.
With 1USA, there are lots of good features like:
- there are no busy signals.
- virus-protected email
- telephone support from a Guru, not a Geek.
Now he's stuck.

I haven't read the fine print in the agreement he signed. However, I have some serious concerns about the deal.
- What kind of warranty do you get with the free computer?
- What are the terms for service and repairs or replacement if the PC has problems?
- Are you tied to a specific modem and baud speed for your Internet access for the whole three years, or do you get a faster connection as technology advances?
- Do you get any trade-up allowance for your old PC? (Think about the differences between the machines that came out three years ago and the ones that are new and hot today.)

We who recommend or authorize PC purchases in our businesses would never buy a computer the way my uncle Ed did. If he had called me first, I would have recommended another course and hopefully saved him a few bucks and a lot of headaches.

Uncle Sam can help too...
What happens if you or someone you know wants to report possible fraudulent or potentially illegal marketing practices? Report your complaint to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Consumer Response Center. To contact the CRC: Call 202-FTC-HELP (202-382-4357) from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. EST, Monday through Friday.

Get the word out
Do you agree that our relatives and friends are being ripped off by companies trying to cash in on the Internet craze?
If so, please post a comment in the 1USA Members Area. Then write or call your family and friends who are considering buying a home computer, and start teaching them how to be smart computer shoppers.
Your Testimonial goes a long way!
Your.
.

California ISPs go off-line because of the Rolling Blackouts
If you have had emails returned this past week from OneMain.Com and other ISPs, it's because they have been off-line due to no Electricity.

Also, some of the trunk lines of QWest in Kansas City was experiencing an outage that lasted more than 30 hours this past week. If you tried to visit a website hosted on their trunk lines, the websites weren't reachable.

Don't download Internet Explorer 6 Beta yet
There is a problem: Emails coming in will have NO SUBJECT LINE.
I had a similar problem and did some research which led me to this "fix."
To correct my problem, I had to replace the mlang.dll that came with Outlook Express 6
with the previous working version. In my case, the previous version was 5.50.4522.1800. I am also an IEAK guru and in IEAK 6, most of the non-browser components are still versions 5.50.nnnn.nnnn.

• Florida boy, age 13, convicted as an adult for willful murder of 6-year-old by imitating Wrestling moves seen on TV. More info...
(So why weren't the parents held responsible for not teaching their kid right from wrong?)

• 1USA Web-based Email

• New Pennsylvania law allows a 7 year prison term for knowingly transmitting a virus.

• New website: FreeHomeComputer.Org
"Just had to send another note saying what a great job you did on our website and how pleasant it is to work with 1USA. I am trulely impressed with your knowledge and your tolerance with my lack of knowledge while building this web site. Bill Leo"

• New website: MeyerJewelry.Com

• Springtime Landscaping questions & answers.

• MagicalFunMail.Com is the Featured Site of the Week on Womensnet.net for the Magical Friends Letter Club and Story idea. Congratulations, Marcie!

• Local Weather frame moved to BerksCountyPA.Com - and by the way, includes the 1USA home page. If you make that your new home page, you won't miss a thing.

• New website: LeadershipLights.Com

• New website: PlanetMoneyWorks.Com

• New website: OleyPA.Net

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

This page has been visited [an error occurred while processing this directive]
You are visitor number [an error occurred while processing this directive]

	1USA Customer Newsletter Friday, May 11, 2001

	Protect your friends and neighbors from computer scams Our friends and neighbors need our help - whether they know it or not. My fellow 1USA Customers, our friends and family members are being ripped off, and it's up to us to inform them about and protect them from the computer marketing scams. If we don't, they'll throw away their money and have every right to come back and say, "Why didn't you warn us about this?" Have you seen these ads? Uh huh. And when you read the fine print, the free lunch costs a mere $1,699.95. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Most people are smart and talented in their chosen profession, however, they may never have used a computer. Kids are using computers in school, and people are curious about the Internet, so they go out and buy one -- Without calling you first. Over the years, I've reminded my friends time and again, "If you ever decide to buy a computer, call me first. I'll help make sure you don't get ripped off." Recently, out of the blue, my uncle Ed called me saying he'd bought into one of those free computer deals where you're stuck with a 56k Dialup Account for three years with NO allowance to upgrade to DSL or 1USA Satellite Service. He claimed he received a free printer, but then he added that it was free "after rebates," and he hasn't received the rebate check yet. And guess what? He's having problems with it already. Go figure. Now he calls me frequently when needs my help to get him out of jams - all the time. "The kids did something on it... and now I can't get my e-mail." Honk if you've heard that one before. Now he's stuck ON HOLD for 35 minutes at a time, waiting for their Tech Support to answer. (He wouldn't have this problem if he'd signed up with 1USA.) Marketing to the masses He told me he got a "good deal" by signing up to purchase three years of MSN.COM I said, "Let me do some math here. You got a free computer, but you're paying $22 per month for Internet access for three years - which is 25% more than what 1USA would charge. And your printer will be free as soon as you get your rebate check." There's something wrong with this picture. For $792, he could have purchased a better new computer outright. He could have signed up for Internet access from 1USA who doesn't require a three-year commitment. With 1USA, there are lots of good features like: - there are no busy signals. - virus-protected email - telephone support from a Guru, not a Geek. Now he's stuck. I haven't read the fine print in the agreement he signed. However, I have some serious concerns about the deal. - What kind of warranty do you get with the free computer? - What are the terms for service and repairs or replacement if the PC has problems? - Are you tied to a specific modem and baud speed for your Internet access for the whole three years, or do you get a faster connection as technology advances? - Do you get any trade-up allowance for your old PC? (Think about the differences between the machines that came out three years ago and the ones that are new and hot today.) We who recommend or authorize PC purchases in our businesses would never buy a computer the way my uncle Ed did. If he had called me first, I would have recommended another course and hopefully saved him a few bucks and a lot of headaches. Uncle Sam can help too... What happens if you or someone you know wants to report possible fraudulent or potentially illegal marketing practices? Report your complaint to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Consumer Response Center. To contact the CRC: Call 202-FTC-HELP (202-382-4357) from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. EST, Monday through Friday. Get the word out Do you agree that our relatives and friends are being ripped off by companies trying to cash in on the Internet craze? If so, please post a comment in the 1USA Members Area. Then write or call your family and friends who are considering buying a home computer, and start teaching them how to be smart computer shoppers. Your Testimonial goes a long way! Your. .
	California ISPs go off-line because of the Rolling Blackouts If you have had emails returned this past week from OneMain.Com and other ISPs, it's because they have been off-line due to no Electricity. Also, some of the trunk lines of QWest in Kansas City was experiencing an outage that lasted more than 30 hours this past week. If you tried to visit a website hosted on their trunk lines, the websites weren't reachable.

	Don't download Internet Explorer 6 Beta yet There is a problem: Emails coming in will have NO SUBJECT LINE. I had a similar problem and did some research which led me to this "fix." To correct my problem, I had to replace the mlang.dll that came with Outlook Express 6 with the previous working version. In my case, the previous version was 5.50.4522.1800. I am also an IEAK guru and in IEAK 6, most of the non-browser components are still versions 5.50.nnnn.nnnn.

	• Florida boy, age 13, convicted as an adult for willful murder of 6-year-old by imitating Wrestling moves seen on TV. More info... (So why weren't the parents held responsible for not teaching their kid right from wrong?) • 1USA Web-based Email • New Pennsylvania law allows a 7 year prison term for knowingly transmitting a virus. • New website: FreeHomeComputer.Org "Just had to send another note saying what a great job you did on our website and how pleasant it is to work with 1USA. I am trulely impressed with your knowledge and your tolerance with my lack of knowledge while building this web site. Bill Leo" • New website: MeyerJewelry.Com • Springtime Landscaping questions & answers. • MagicalFunMail.Com is the Featured Site of the Week on Womensnet.net for the Magical Friends Letter Club and Story idea. Congratulations, Marcie! • Local Weather frame moved to BerksCountyPA.Com - and by the way, includes the 1USA home page. If you make that your new home page, you won't miss a thing. • New website: LeadershipLights.Com • New website: PlanetMoneyWorks.Com • New website: OleyPA.Net