I took MSN up on their offer too. However posting something like that is the wrong way to approach it. You're explicitly saying you intend to take up MSN on the no-obligation-'loan' without ever giving their service a fair trial.
This smells legally shaky to me, as well as ethically dubious.
Myself, 4 of the guys from my department, and one other manager and developer all got caught up in the frenzy and stampeded en masse to the Best Buy down the street. The chronometer hit 5:00 PM and we were gone.
Once on location, I forged ahead and engaged BB personnel whilst my cohorts faded into the aisles. The pimply-faced chap in computers was immediately suspicious when I asked about the deal. His first question: "Who told you?" Grinning innocently, "Told me about what?" "Did somone from the store call you?" "No dude, it's all over the net." "Where?" "Slashdot." "Whats that?" Grin. "Nevermind."
I reviewed the contract for about 15 minutes and decided to plunge ahead. Blinded by peer pressure and the tantalizing proximity of so many easy goodies, the entire rest of the gang followed.
Since installing my loooovely new speakers and receiver, I've taken the time to really think about the possibilities here and carefully check the contract. I would humbly offer to the readership the following:
Opening paragraph. "We know that you will like our service... to give MSN... a full and fair trial [and] are prepared to lend you a purchase credit of up to $400.00 to help you get online." (emphasis added). I interpret this asinine statement as, they are willing to 'lend' me $400 worth of toys to _try_ their service. Hey, whatever floats their boat, I'm happy to oblige.
"You are not obligated to continue as a MSN Internet Access member for any particular length of time." Well, hot damn! That pretty much wraps up any doubt for me.
The only places they mention repaying the purchase credit, is if you return a portion of your purchase for a refund, and "the total amount of your purchase less the refund is less than the Purchase Credit." In that case, your Purchase Credit is nullified, but you are liable to pay Best Buy the difference (the rest of the stuff you got with the Purchase Credit).
Of course, I see several potential risks. I think all of them are avoidable with minimal effort.
MSN bills you anyways. I'm hoping this is easily fixed with a call to the credit card company. Nowhere did I give authorization for MSN to hit my credit card for $400. I will dispute any such charge, and my understanding is that without evidence, MSN's charge will be reversed.
MSN hits your credit report. Again, I'm hoping this can be fixed by disputing with the credit reporting agency. I have a contract that explicitly says I have no obligation.
The fraud thing that was brought up. Well, I'm certainly not trying to defraud MSN. They know I will like their service. They are so confident that I will like it, they are going to 'lend' me $400 purchase credit, that they are never going to require me to pay back.
So, legally, I feel like I'm in the clear. The contract being offered 'lends' me a purchase credit of $400 to give MSN Internet Access 'a full and fair trial'. I fully intend to hold up my side of the bargin. Ethically, I also don't have any qualms about this. Most telling was the quote in the news article I read from the MSN guy, who was delightfully arrogant enough to basically say he was aware of the situation, but was so confident that people would love MSN that he wasn't concerned. Well, power to you, brother! I'm more than happy to give MSN a fair shake. God bless their little hearts. Of course, I'm going to have to borrow an external analog modem. I don't use one currently.:} -- calnetX-XX.gtecablemodem.com sd
Slashdot Mirror
I took MSN up on their offer too. However posting something like that is the wrong way to approach it. You're explicitly saying you intend to take up MSN on the no-obligation-'loan' without ever giving their service a fair trial.
This smells legally shaky to me, as well as ethically dubious.
Spin, baby, it's all about spin.
sd
Myself, 4 of the guys from my department, and one other manager and developer all got caught up in the frenzy and stampeded en masse to the Best Buy down the street. The chronometer hit 5:00 PM and we were gone.
Once on location, I forged ahead and engaged BB personnel whilst my cohorts faded into the aisles. The pimply-faced chap in computers was immediately suspicious when I asked about the deal. His first question: "Who told you?" Grinning innocently, "Told me about what?" "Did somone from the store call you?" "No dude, it's all over the net." "Where?" "Slashdot." "Whats that?" Grin. "Nevermind."
I reviewed the contract for about 15 minutes and decided to plunge ahead. Blinded by peer pressure and the tantalizing proximity of so many easy goodies, the entire rest of the gang followed.
Since installing my loooovely new speakers and receiver, I've taken the time to really think about the possibilities here and carefully check the contract. I would humbly offer to the readership the following:
Of course, I see several potential risks. I think all of them are avoidable with minimal effort.
So, legally, I feel like I'm in the clear. The contract being offered 'lends' me a purchase credit of $400 to give MSN Internet Access 'a full and fair trial'. I fully intend to hold up my side of the bargin. Ethically, I also don't have any qualms about this. Most telling was the quote in the news article I read from the MSN guy, who was delightfully arrogant enough to basically say he was aware of the situation, but was so confident that people would love MSN that he wasn't concerned. Well, power to you, brother! I'm more than happy to give MSN a fair shake. God bless their little hearts. Of course, I'm going to have to borrow an external analog modem. I don't use one currently. :} -- calnetX-XX.gtecablemodem.com sd