======================================================================== THE GRIPE LINE: ED FOSTER http://www.infoworld.com ======================================================================== Tuesday, August 31, 2004
LATEST WEBLOG ENTRIES ======================================================================== * Freebie Privacy Policies * PayPal's $2,000 Spending Limit * Fine Print Follies ADVERTISEMENT -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- FREE LINUX EVALUATIONS Visit the InfoWorld Open Source Spotlight for the latest free evaluations of Linux software. Downloads include: SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8, Nterprise Linux Services, Groupwise 6.5, and Ximian Desktop 2. Register to DOWNLOAD NOW http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=86B51B:2B910B2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- FREEBIE PRIVACY POLICIES ======================================================================== Posted August 30, 11:29 PM Pacific Time If you enjoy being on the FTC's "Do Not Call" list as much as I do, listen to a word of advice. Make sure you, and your kids, avoid all these websites that claim to be giving away freebie iPods, flat screen TVs, or sweepstakes prizes. If not, the thing you might actually win is a renewed stream of telemarketing calls. A reader recently pointed out some interesting language in the privacy policy of a "free sweepstakes" website that a friend of his had been foolish enough to join. By registering with the site, the privacy policy stated that one was agreeing that "such act constitutes an inquiry and/or application for purposes of the Amended Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 CFR §310 et seq. (the "Rule"). Notwithstanding that your telephone number may be listed on the Federal Trade Commission's Do-Not-Call List, ... (the sweepstakes company) retains the right to contact you via telemarketing in accordance with the Rule." No, I'm not going to name the sweepstakes operation, as I don't want to give them any free publicity. In any case, similar language is in the privacy policies of a number of other freebie websites. And even when they are not so explicit about voiding the Do Not Call list, the privacy policy of many of the giveaway sites say things like "We may sell the personal information that you supply to us and we may work with other third party businesses to bring selected retail opportunities to our members via direct mail, e-mail and telemarketing." In a recent story ( http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=86B50F:2B910B2 ) I noted that, while privacy policies don't seem to be all that binding on the vendor, the reverse unfortunately does not seem to be the case. You can give away your privacy rights by "agreeing" to a privacy policy you never read. As much a blessing as the Do Not Call list is proving to be, it is also making the telemarketers desperate to find new ways to prove they have an established relationship with you that allows them to call. And that means we all must keep in mind that freebies on the Internet often come with a steep price. Read and post comments about this story here ( http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=86B503:2B910B2 ), or write me at ... For the full story: http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=86B506:2B910B2 PAYPAL'S $2,000 SPENDING LIMIT ======================================================================== Posted August 30, 8:11 AM Pacific Time How should an online financial services company treat its loyal and reliable customers? Well, it could refuse to have anything more to do with them unless they provide additional personal financial information to "verify" who they are. That seems to be PayPal's approach, anyway. In the last month I've seen a flurry of gripes from readers who have been informed by PayPal that they have now reached the $2,000 limit puts on payments funded from accounts with only a registered credit card. Per the PayPal terms of service regarding payments ( http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=86B4FF:2B910B2 ), therefore, the customer would be required to "verify" their account by registering a bank account as well. "My view is that this is an obtrusive intrusion into my privacy and potentially dangerous," wrote one reader. "Maybe I shouldn't be so sensitive -- my bank account and routing numbers are on every check I write -- but I see no reason for them to have that information. I use PayPal for buying small things on eBay, and it's taken me over three years to flow $2,000 through the account. Since the limit seems senseless, I assumed they would revise it, let me start over or whatever ... I called them ... For the full story: http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=86B512:2B910B2 FINE PRINT FOLLIES ======================================================================== Posted August 29, 11:17 AM Pacific Time They say you should always read the fine print, but is that really a good idea? If you don't actually have a choice in the matter, perhaps it's better to just save yourself the aggravation. Variations on the old shrinkwrap idea seem to be everywhere you look these days. A reader recently received his IBM/Lotus certification welcome kit in the mail. On a label on the outside of the envelope he noticed the following: "Use of this Certification Welcome Kit is subject to the terms and conditions of the IBM certification Agreement included in this package. You should not open this envelope unless you have read the Agreement, in full, and have accepted those terms. By breaking the seal on this envelope, you signify that you have read the Agreement and that you accept those terms. If you do not wish to be bound bythe Agreement, please promptly return the Certification Welcome Kit, with the seal unbroken, to Lotus software at the address on the envelope. Please note that in the event that you do not accept the terms and conditions of the Agreement, you are not authorized to use the applicable IBM logo or mark." That seems like ... For the full story: http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=86B50C:2B910B2 Contact Ed Foster at [EMAIL PROTECTED] . Ed Foster's "Reader Advocate" column, http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=86B515:2B910B2 , can be read exclusively at his GripeLog Web site: http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=86B51C:2B910B2 ======================================================================== ADVERTISE ======================================================================== For information on advertising, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] UNSUBSCRIBE/MANAGE NEWSLETTERS ======================================================================== To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your e-mail address for any of InfoWorld's e-mail newsletters, go to: http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=86B501:2B910B2 To subscribe to InfoWorld.com, or InfoWorld Print, or both, or to renew or correct a problem with any InfoWorld subscription, go to http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=86B51A:2B910B2 To view InfoWorld's privacy policy, visit: http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=86B518:2B910B2 Copyright (C) 2004 InfoWorld Media Group, 501 Second St., San Francisco, CA 94107 This message was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------ Yahoo! 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