"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 10 Sep 2012 02:18:30 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 21:38:17 -0400, wrote:



I had to leave one because they insisted I prepay a fixed amount. I
had enough fuel to move on so I did. At the second, I had the same
problem, so I just said if they were afraid I'd run without paying,
I'd leave all 3 of my credit cards and my driver's licence - and they
relented and said one credit card would do. From then on, the next 2
fillups, I just said I'd done it at other stations and they accepted.

Couldn't you just pay at the pump? Something different about
Canadian cards?

My guess: they don't accept Canadian postal codes as zip codes.

What do I win?

First prize is a week in NWT
Second price is two weeks in NWT in January.

Forgot about those codes. I guess they work, but they don't have an
easily memorized flow to them like our all numerical zip.

I don't know
The North Pole is H0H0H0
Pretty simple to me

On Sep 10, 9:22*am, "Atila Iskander" wrote:
"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message

...





On Mon, 10 Sep 2012 02:18:30 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 21:38:17 -0400, wrote:

I had to leave one because they insisted I prepay a fixed amount. I
had enough fuel to move on so I did. At the second, I had the same
problem, so I just said if they were afraid I'd run without paying,
I'd leave all 3 of my credit cards and my driver's licence - and they
relented and said one credit card would do. *From then on, the next 2
fillups, I just said I'd done it at other stations and they accepted..

Couldn't you just pay at the pump? * Something different about
Canadian cards?

My guess: they don't accept Canadian postal codes as zip codes.

What do I win?

First prize is a week in NWT
Second price is two weeks in NWT in January.

Forgot about those codes. *I guess they work, but they don't have an
easily memorized flow to them like our all numerical zip.

I don't know
The North Pole is H0H0H0
* * Pretty simple to me- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I signed up for call-blocking thru my local phone company. I'm
allowed to input a list of phone number to block. I used to get a lot
of unwanted charities calling. Now I just put in their phone numbers
and I no longer have to deal with them.

On 9/10/2012 9:17 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Sep 10, 8:03 am, "HeyBub" wrote:
DerbyDad03 wrote:

I only do that with my cell phone. I only give my cell number to
those that I want to talk to. Every other place that requires a phone
number gets my home phone number. If I don't recognize the number I
don't answer it. I do have the advantage of still using a "local"
answering machine as opposed to voice mail for my home phone, so I
can screen calls but I honestly can't remember the last time I
actually picked it up.

Alternatively, you can supply a telephone number of (area code) 911-1234.
Should anyone use this number, they should be connected to your local
emergency service. The 911 people frown on people using the service for
non-emergencies. The caller may end up with a SWAT unit surrounding his
facility.

I've sometimes used the non-emergency telephone number of my local police
department or Rat Abatement bureau.

Good idea.

Let's all find ways to burden our 911 centers and police departments.
It's not like they have anything better to do with their scant
resources than answer calls from telemarketers.

Oh wait...this was from HeyBub. Odds are this was posted for no other
reason than to get a reaction.


It's sort of like the guy who told the police his infant was in his car
when it was stolen. The cops pulled out all the stops to find the guy's
car but no child was found. He told them that if he hadn't told them his
kid was in the car, the police wouldn't have done anything more than
file a report. HeyBub's ploy may be similar, the authorities won't take
action unless it affects them directly. O_o

TDD

On 9/10/2012 7:05 AM, HeyBub wrote:
DerbyDad03 wrote:

I only do that with my cell phone. I only give my cell number to
those that I want to talk to. Every other place that requires a phone
number gets my home phone number. If I don't recognize the number I
don't answer it. I do have the advantage of still using a "local"
answering machine as opposed to voice mail for my home phone, so I
can screen calls but I honestly can't remember the last time I
actually picked it up.


Alternatively, you can supply a telephone number of (area code) 911-1234.
Should anyone use this number, they should be connected to your local
emergency service. The 911 people frown on people using the service for
non-emergencies. The caller may end up with a SWAT unit surrounding his
facility.

I've sometimes used the non-emergency telephone number of my local police
department or Rat Abatement bureau.



I've given them another telemarketer's phone number before. ^_^

TDD

On 9/10/2012 8:01 AM, Frank wrote:
On 9/9/2012 7:58 PM, Fake ID wrote:
In article ,
Metspitzer wrote:
I hate computer generated phone calls.
I get one for my meds when I add a new prescription. I have asked to
be taken off the list and they do, but some how I get added back.

I appreciate the automated calls about my drugs being ready...

Charter came out and installed TV today. I get a recording
saying........If the install guy exceeded your expectations press 3 if
he met your expectations press 2 ect.

...but surveys are something else entirely. Hate them.

Just wait until the assholes behind "Rachael from Card Services" get
ahold of those "I'm your new best friend" voice response systems.

m


Oh, God, Rachael.
When I get this call, I always hit 1 to get a live operator and put the
phone down until they hang up.
Assuming these assholes call everyone in the country and if everyone did
this, it would cost them a fortune in operator time alone.

I remember reading about a busy mother who would hand off telemarketing
calls to her 5 year old. ^_^

TDD

On 9/8/2012 6:09 PM, Metspitzer wrote:
I hate computer generated phone calls.
I get one for my meds when I add a new prescription. I have asked to
be taken off the list and they do, but some how I get added back.

Charter came out and installed TV today. I get a recording
saying........If the install guy exceeded your expectations press 3 if
he met your expectations press 2 ect.

They started question 2. I hung up.

Tell you what, if I have a complaint I will call you. If you don't
hear me bitch (and I send you my money), you can assume you met my
expectations.


I would tend to give bizarre answers like "Your technicians disturbed my
dead mother in her rocking chair, I had to glue her arm back on."
or "You really shouldn't move the equipment in my meth lab, it could
cause an explosion." ^_^

TDD

On Sep 10, 12:09*pm, The Daring Dufas the-daring-du...@stinky-
finger.net wrote:
On 9/10/2012 9:17 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:





On Sep 10, 8:03 am, "HeyBub" wrote:
DerbyDad03 wrote:

I only do that with my cell phone. I only give my cell number to
those that I want to talk to. Every other place that requires a phone
number gets my home phone number. *If I don't recognize the number I
don't answer it. I do have the advantage of still using a "local"
answering machine as opposed to voice mail for my home phone, so I
can screen calls but I honestly can't remember the last time I
actually picked it up.

Alternatively, you can supply a telephone number of (area code) 911-1234.
Should anyone use this number, they should be connected to your local
emergency service. The 911 people frown on people using the service for
non-emergencies. The caller may end up with a SWAT unit surrounding his
facility.

I've sometimes used the non-emergency telephone number of my local police
department or Rat Abatement bureau.

Good idea.

Let's all find ways to burden our 911 centers and police departments.
It's not like they have anything better to do with their scant
resources than answer calls from telemarketers.

Oh wait...this was from HeyBub. Odds are this was posted for no other
reason than to get a reaction.

It's sort of like the guy who told the police his infant was in his car
when it was stolen. The cops pulled out all the stops to find the guy's
car but no child was found. He told them that if he hadn't told them his
kid was in the car, the police wouldn't have done anything more than
file a report. HeyBub's ploy may be similar, the authorities won't take
action unless it affects them directly. O_o

TDD- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The "authorities" whose number HeyBub is suggesting we use (911 and
local police stations) have no authority (or reason) to deal with robo-
calls from charities, political parties or whomever except to try and
block them from their phone lines, not your's or mine.

Do you really want the 911 centers and local police to be wasting
resources by answering calls from these organizations? How would you
feel if they were answering one of those calls when a loved one of
yours was trying to get through?

Of course, the fact that we are evening discussing this means that
HubBub probably accomplished his goal.

On 10 Sep 2012, The Daring Dufas
wrote in alt.home.repair:

I would tend to give bizarre answers like "Your technicians
disturbed my dead mother in her rocking chair, I had to glue her
arm back on." or "You really shouldn't move the equipment in my
meth lab, it could cause an explosion." ^_^

If I'm in the mood to toy with them, I'll pick up some piece of
technical literature, or a novel, and I'll respond to their questions
by reading from it in as conversational a tone as possible. Doesn't
matter what I say, but it needs to be plausible, well-formed sentences
that are completely irrelevant to their questions. It helps if I mumble
a little so they're not quite sure if they really heard me say what
they think I said. I can keep them going for quite a while this way,
but they eventually hang up of course.

In practice, though, I almost never bother any more. I get too many of
those robo-calls these days (in the past couple of months it's gotten
to be 2 or 3 a day sometimes,) so now I let all calls go to voice mail
unless I recognize the number on caller ID. I had been told that if you
answer in any way, even to say something rude and then hang up, their
computer system will flag your number as "good" and your number will be
put on the list to be sold and receive even more calls. I'm skeptical
about that now because I don't answer any more and I'm receiving more
junk calls than ever.

On 9/10/2012 11:54 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Sep 10, 12:09 pm, The Daring Dufas the-daring-du...@stinky-
finger.net wrote:
On 9/10/2012 9:17 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:





On Sep 10, 8:03 am, "HeyBub" wrote:
DerbyDad03 wrote:

I only do that with my cell phone. I only give my cell number to
those that I want to talk to. Every other place that requires a phone
number gets my home phone number. If I don't recognize the number I
don't answer it. I do have the advantage of still using a "local"
answering machine as opposed to voice mail for my home phone, so I
can screen calls but I honestly can't remember the last time I
actually picked it up.

Alternatively, you can supply a telephone number of (area code) 911-1234.
Should anyone use this number, they should be connected to your local
emergency service. The 911 people frown on people using the service for
non-emergencies. The caller may end up with a SWAT unit surrounding his
facility.

I've sometimes used the non-emergency telephone number of my local police
department or Rat Abatement bureau.

Good idea.

Let's all find ways to burden our 911 centers and police departments.
It's not like they have anything better to do with their scant
resources than answer calls from telemarketers.

Oh wait...this was from HeyBub. Odds are this was posted for no other
reason than to get a reaction.

It's sort of like the guy who told the police his infant was in his car
when it was stolen. The cops pulled out all the stops to find the guy's
car but no child was found. He told them that if he hadn't told them his
kid was in the car, the police wouldn't have done anything more than
file a report. HeyBub's ploy may be similar, the authorities won't take
action unless it affects them directly. O_o

TDD- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The "authorities" whose number HeyBub is suggesting we use (911 and
local police stations) have no authority (or reason) to deal with robo-
calls from charities, political parties or whomever except to try and
block them from their phone lines, not your's or mine.

Do you really want the 911 centers and local police to be wasting
resources by answering calls from these organizations? How would you
feel if they were answering one of those calls when a loved one of
yours was trying to get through?

Of course, the fact that we are evening discussing this means that
HubBub probably accomplished his goal.


No sane person would want to interfere with emergency services and
personally I would feel pretty bad if I was responsible for someone
getting hurt because I tied up 911 service but there are other
government numbers like the non-emergency number HeyBub said he used. O_o

TDD

On 9/10/2012 12:31 PM, Nil wrote:
On 10 Sep 2012, The Daring Dufas
wrote in alt.home.repair:

I would tend to give bizarre answers like "Your technicians
disturbed my dead mother in her rocking chair, I had to glue her
arm back on." or "You really shouldn't move the equipment in my
meth lab, it could cause an explosion." ^_^

If I'm in the mood to toy with them, I'll pick up some piece of
technical literature, or a novel, and I'll respond to their questions
by reading from it in as conversational a tone as possible. Doesn't
matter what I say, but it needs to be plausible, well-formed sentences
that are completely irrelevant to their questions. It helps if I mumble
a little so they're not quite sure if they really heard me say what
they think I said. I can keep them going for quite a while this way,
but they eventually hang up of course.

In practice, though, I almost never bother any more. I get too many of
those robo-calls these days (in the past couple of months it's gotten
to be 2 or 3 a day sometimes,) so now I let all calls go to voice mail
unless I recognize the number on caller ID. I had been told that if you
answer in any way, even to say something rude and then hang up, their
computer system will flag your number as "good" and your number will be
put on the list to be sold and receive even more calls. I'm skeptical
about that now because I don't answer any more and I'm receiving more
junk calls than ever.


I used to have a lot of fun with telemarketers and wrong numbers by
watching my caller ID and answering as The DEA, FBI Telemarketing Fraud
unit or The Gay and Lesbian Hot Line. "Gay and Lesbian hotline! We know
life sucks but we can help you lick your problems! This is Darell how
can I help you today Honey?" I do a fair voice impression of a queer
and I freaked out a lot of those pests. ^_^

TDD

On 2012-09-10, The Daring Dufas wrote:
unit or The Gay and Lesbian Hot Line. "Gay and Lesbian hotline! We know
life sucks but we can help you lick your problems! This is Darell how
can I help you today Honey?" I do a fair voice impression of a queer
and I freaked out a lot of those pests. ^_^

A little less drastic is the "Have you found The Way" gambit. Have
you been saved? Are you right with Jesus? "Yeah, verily, sayeth the
Lord....." etc.

nb

--
Definition of objectivism:
"Eff you! I got mine."
http://www.nongmoproject.org/

On 9/10/2012 12:13 PM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 9/10/2012 8:01 AM, Frank wrote:
On 9/9/2012 7:58 PM, Fake ID wrote:
In article ,
Metspitzer wrote:
I hate computer generated phone calls.
I get one for my meds when I add a new prescription. I have asked to
be taken off the list and they do, but some how I get added back.

I appreciate the automated calls about my drugs being ready...

Charter came out and installed TV today. I get a recording
saying........If the install guy exceeded your expectations press 3 if
he met your expectations press 2 ect.

...but surveys are something else entirely. Hate them.

Just wait until the assholes behind "Rachael from Card Services" get
ahold of those "I'm your new best friend" voice response systems.

m


Oh, God, Rachael.
When I get this call, I always hit 1 to get a live operator and put the
phone down until they hang up.
Assuming these assholes call everyone in the country and if everyone did
this, it would cost them a fortune in operator time alone.

I remember reading about a busy mother who would hand off telemarketing
calls to her 5 year old. ^_^

TDD

I quit talking to them to waste their time.
When I told one after fumbling around for a while that this was my
objective, he said, "You're an old man and you don't have that much time
left to waste." You know something, he was right

The cops jailed him for false reporting?

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"The Daring Dufas" wrote in message
...

It's sort of like the guy who told the police his infant was in his car
when it was stolen. The cops pulled out all the stops to find the guy's
car but no child was found. He told them that if he hadn't told them his
kid was in the car, the police wouldn't have done anything more than
file a report. HeyBub's ploy may be similar, the authorities won't take
action unless it affects them directly. O_o

TDD

In article ,
The Daring Dufas wrote:

No sane person would want to interfere with emergency services and
personally I would feel pretty bad if I was responsible for someone
getting hurt because I tied up 911 service but there are other
government numbers like the non-emergency number HeyBub said he used. O_o

TDD

I use my fax any more mostly outgoing and then on a couple of times a
month, so I use my regular phone line. I have been known to keep the fax
plugged in, answer the phone without saying anything, and if no response
of an obvious junk response, I hit the fax machine, they get a signal
and (hopefully) take me off the list.
--
America is at that awkward stage. It's too late
to work within the system, but too early to shoot
the *******s."-- Claire Wolfe

Have you read the Watchtower, lately?

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"notbob" wrote in message
...

A little less drastic is the "Have you found The Way" gambit. Have
you been saved? Are you right with Jesus? "Yeah, verily, sayeth the
Lord....." etc.

nb

--
Definition of objectivism:
"Eff you! I got mine."
http://www.nongmoproject.org/

On Sep 10, 2:17*pm, The Daring Dufas the-daring-du...@stinky-
finger.net wrote:
On 9/10/2012 11:54 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:





On Sep 10, 12:09 pm, The Daring Dufas the-daring-du...@stinky-
finger.net wrote:
On 9/10/2012 9:17 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:

On Sep 10, 8:03 am, "HeyBub" wrote:
DerbyDad03 wrote:

I only do that with my cell phone. I only give my cell number to
those that I want to talk to. Every other place that requires a phone
number gets my home phone number. *If I don't recognize the number I
don't answer it. I do have the advantage of still using a "local"
answering machine as opposed to voice mail for my home phone, so I
can screen calls but I honestly can't remember the last time I
actually picked it up.

Alternatively, you can supply a telephone number of (area code) 911-1234.
Should anyone use this number, they should be connected to your local
emergency service. The 911 people frown on people using the service for
non-emergencies. The caller may end up with a SWAT unit surrounding his
facility.

I've sometimes used the non-emergency telephone number of my local police
department or Rat Abatement bureau.

Good idea.

Let's all find ways to burden our 911 centers and police departments.
It's not like they have anything better to do with their scant
resources than answer calls from telemarketers.

Oh wait...this was from HeyBub. Odds are this was posted for no other
reason than to get a reaction.

It's sort of like the guy who told the police his infant was in his car
when it was stolen. The cops pulled out all the stops to find the guy's
car but no child was found. He told them that if he hadn't told them his
kid was in the car, the police wouldn't have done anything more than
file a report. HeyBub's ploy may be similar, the authorities won't take
action unless it affects them directly. O_o

TDD- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The "authorities" whose number HeyBub is suggesting we use (911 and
local police stations) have no authority (or reason) to deal with robo-
calls from charities, political parties or whomever except to try and
block them from their phone lines, not your's or mine.

Do you really want the 911 centers and local police to be wasting
resources by answering calls from these organizations? How would you
feel if they were answering one of those calls when a loved one of
yours was trying to get through?

Of course, the fact that we are evening discussing this means that
HubBub probably accomplished his goal.

No sane person would want to interfere with emergency services and
personally I would feel pretty bad if I was responsible for someone
getting hurt because I tied up 911 service but there are other
government numbers like the non-emergency number HeyBub said he used. O_o

TDD- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Let's recap...

HeyBub listed 3 options:

1 - 911
2 - Police non-emergency
3 - Rat Abatement bureau

You said:

"HeyBub's ploy may be similar, the authorities won't take action
unless it affects them directly"

I assume you'll agree that the first 2 of HeyBub's (BTW, he's winning
again) suggestions should never be used. Even the Police non-emergency
staff have more than enough to do without fielding calls from
telemarketers or political parties because people like HeyBub are
giving their number out.

Now, as for the Rat Abatement bureau, do you think they would be
considered an "authority" that can/would take action against the
robocalls? Not any more than a water district, a parks and rec
department, a public works department or any other non-emergency
department would. All you would be doing is annoying them instead of
being annoyed yourself.

Seems to me that there are a couple of numbers that could be used:

1 - If you really think that sending the calls to an "authority" would
help, then use the number of the Federal Trade Commision (1-877-FTC-
HELP) since they manage the National Do Not Call Registry. Using any
other agency's number, non-emergency or not, is not only a waste of
time and resources, but makes the offender just as bad, if not worse,
than the telemarketers themselves.

2 - Compile a list of robocall numbers from your call log and use
them. Let them call each other. ;-)

DerbyDad03 wrote:

It's sort of like the guy who told the police his infant was in his
car when it was stolen. The cops pulled out all the stops to find
the guy's car but no child was found. He told them that if he hadn't
told them his kid was in the car, the police wouldn't have done
anything more than file a report. HeyBub's ploy may be similar, the
authorities won't take action unless it affects them directly. O_o

TDD- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The "authorities" whose number HeyBub is suggesting we use (911 and
local police stations) have no authority (or reason) to deal with
robo- calls from charities, political parties or whomever except to
try and block them from their phone lines, not your's or mine.

Do you really want the 911 centers and local police to be wasting
resources by answering calls from these organizations?

Yes

How would you
feel if they were answering one of those calls when a loved one of
yours was trying to get through?

Personal anecdotes or possibilities have no place in any decision process.

You make a good point, though, about 911 being possibly overburdened. That
may very well be true in your neighborhood. In mine, the 911 operators have
a lot of crossword puzzle time.

The Daring Dufas wrote:

I used to have a lot of fun with telemarketers and wrong numbers by
watching my caller ID and answering as The DEA, FBI Telemarketing
Fraud unit or The Gay and Lesbian Hot Line. "Gay and Lesbian hotline!
We know life sucks but we can help you lick your problems! This is
Darell how can I help you today Honey?" I do a fair voice impression
of a queer and I freaked out a lot of those pests. ^_^


Sometimes my answer is: "Suicide Prevention Hotline - don't do it! Hello?
Hello? Just hang in there, an ambulance is on the way."

On 9/10/2012 6:01 PM, HeyBub wrote:
The Daring Dufas wrote:

I used to have a lot of fun with telemarketers and wrong numbers by
watching my caller ID and answering as The DEA, FBI Telemarketing
Fraud unit or The Gay and Lesbian Hot Line. "Gay and Lesbian hotline!
We know life sucks but we can help you lick your problems! This is
Darell how can I help you today Honey?" I do a fair voice impression
of a queer and I freaked out a lot of those pests. ^_^


Sometimes my answer is: "Suicide Prevention Hotline - don't do it! Hello?
Hello? Just hang in there, an ambulance is on the way."


There's a fellow who does this thing where he's a homicide detective
investigating the murder of (himself) and starts interrogating the
telemarketer asking him where he is then pulls away from the phone
telling a nonexistent LEO to contact xx city police to go to the
telemarketer's location to question a person of interest in a murder
case. It's fun to screw with those pests sometimes when I have time and
in the mood. Lately, The Birmingham News sales people have been calling
and I answer as an excited Asian immigrant who loudly says "I didn't
murder dat guy, I already tell police it was uder guy! I awreddy tell
reporta dat I din do it! Why you keep call me?!" It's a lot of fun. ^_^

TDD

On Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:56:57 -0500, "HeyBub"
wrote:


You make a good point, though, about 911 being possibly overburdened. That
may very well be true in your neighborhood. In mine, the 911 operators have
a lot of crossword puzzle time.

Morton Dean called me once (at work) from CBS News, New York.
Announced himself and asked "What can you tell me about the Haitians?"

Being the kind person I am, I said, "Morton I can't you a damn thing,
but I'll give a number to call."

It was another LEO agency. He never called me back.

I sent him to pester them. No way would I ( I could) or could I tell
him what he wanted to know. (not letting him quote an un-named
source).

On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 22:04:35 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 21:38:17 -0400, wrote:



I had to leave one because they insisted I prepay a fixed amount. I
had enough fuel to move on so I did. At the second, I had the same
problem, so I just said if they were afraid I'd run without paying,
I'd leave all 3 of my credit cards and my driver's licence - and they
relented and said one credit card would do. From then on, the next 2
fillups, I just said I'd done it at other stations and they accepted.

Couldn't you just pay at the pump? Something different about
Canadian cards?
Pay at the pump required the ZIP code - Canadian postal codes not
accepted.

On Mon, 10 Sep 2012 02:18:30 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 21:38:17 -0400, wrote:



I had to leave one because they insisted I prepay a fixed amount. I
had enough fuel to move on so I did. At the second, I had the same
problem, so I just said if they were afraid I'd run without paying,
I'd leave all 3 of my credit cards and my driver's licence - and they
relented and said one credit card would do. From then on, the next 2
fillups, I just said I'd done it at other stations and they accepted.

Couldn't you just pay at the pump? Something different about
Canadian cards?

My guess: they don't accept Canadian postal codes as zip codes.

What do I win?
Affirmation

On Mon, 10 Sep 2012 02:36:36 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

wrote:
On Sun, 9 Sep 2012 23:19:43 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

wrote:
On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 10:15:40 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On Sun, 9 Sep 2012 06:43:22 -0700 (PDT), bob haller
wrote:



KMart requires zip code PLUS PIN number.....

Easy solution shop ANYWHERE ELSE!!!!!!


I suspect we'll see more of it. Credit card fraud is rampant. Simple
things like the zip code cuts down the mis-use quite a bit.
And it makes it IMPOSSIBLE to buy (a full tank of) gas at many gas
stations in the USA with a Canadian Credit Card. I had to explain
several times to each of numerous cashiers at gas stations across the
north central US this summer that I was going to fill the car, and ,
no, I did not know how much it was going to cost, but I'd leave the
credit card with them until the tank was filled so there was no danger
of me running off without paying..

So, was it really "impossible" to buy a full tank of gas or were you
eventually able to after offering your explanation?
I had to leave one because they insisted I prepay a fixed amount. I
had enough fuel to move on so I did. At the second, I had the same
problem, so I just said if they were afraid I'd run without paying,
I'd leave all 3 of my credit cards and my driver's licence - and they
relented and said one credit card would do. From then on, the next 2
fillups, I just said I'd done it at other stations and they accepted.

I found this at http://www.i75online.com/CreditCardWorkaround.html

"3. A Canadian Zip Code - A number of readers have contacted me to suggest
entering "00000," "11111," "12345" or "99999" (depending upon gas brand).
Other suggestions have included punching in the 3 digits from your postal
code followed by two zeros (e.g., L5G 4N9 would be entered as "54900"). All
claim that these work at their southern destinations.
When tested, we have found these to be regional or brand specific. There is
no continuity in this solution and when you drive into a station away from
your home base, you really do not know whether you are going to be able to
actuate the pump or not with your card."


Tried several ov them in both (IIRC) indiana and michigan. Didn't
work. American Zip codes are numbers only - cannot enter Alpha
characters on a numeric keyboard - so the postal code with extra zeros
was a non-starter.