As several readers discussed in yesterday’s post, utility, phone, and cable companies usually require your Social Security number in order to perform a credit check before activating service. You don’t have to provide it, but they don’t have to extend their services to you either. Here’s one reader’s explanation of how he was able to turn on water, electricity, gas, and an AT&T land line without turning over his SSN.
gas
85% Of Gas Stations In Nashville, TN Are Without Gas Right Now
By 9.20.08
East Tennessee and Middle Tennessee both primarily receive fuel supplies through spurs of the Colonial pipeline, which carries refined gasoline from the Texas Gulf Coast to the Northeast. [Hurricane] Ike damaged and knocked out power to many of those refineries, cutting the amount of gasoline fed into the pipeline.
Oil Prices Down But Airline Fees Remain
By 9.18.08
Airlines have added all sorts of fees to compensate for their increased oil costs recently. Now that oil has dropped, the fees are gone, right? Nope. Now that we’re all acclimated to a la carte pricing, which airlines have lusted to implement for ages, don’t expect it to be going away anytime soon. $2 fee to have the window open, $4 to have it shut.
By 9.15.08
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Gas prices spiked in Ike’s wake this weekend, in some places to over $5. [AP]
Minerals Management Service Take Pay-For-Offshore-Oil-Play Scandal "Extremely Seriously"
By 9.11.08
THE QUOTE: In an interview, MMS Director Randall Luthi said the agency took the report “extremely seriously”
"King Of Cars" Closes Hummer Dealership, Will Start Selling Smart Cars
By 9.8.08
The Wall Street Journal’s “Deal Journal” blog says that the owner of the car dealership that serves as the backdrop to A&E’s “King of Cars” will close his Hummer dealership and begin selling “Smart Cars.”
Pricey Stove Recalled For Shooting Flames At Your Face
By 9.5.08
Here’s something you might want to get fixed. Wolf Appliance Inc., of Madison, Wis. is recalling 24,000 of their gas ranges because the 18″ oven has a tendency to shoot flames when the door is opened. This has resulted in 15 minor burns.
GM Extends Employee Pricing Through September
By 9.3.08
GM has extended its employee-discount-pricing plan to the end of September on all 2008 and some 2009 models. Please buy our cars. Someone. Please. [GM Employee Discount Site via Kicking Tires]
Expensive Cars Are Cheap Right Now
By 8.28.08
Consumer Reports analyzed late-summer car deals and the results are none too surprising. The biggest incentives are on gas-gourgers and big vehicles, the cars no one wants right now.
American Driving Declines By Steepest Amount In 100 Years
By 8.28.08
From November to June, American driving dropped by 53.2 billion miles, according to the Department of Transportation. Billion. 53.2 billion fewer miles. That’s insane, and kind of beautiful. [NYT]
10 Cheapest Cars To Drive
By 8.26.08
Hybrids are all the rage right now but fuel costs aren’t the only thing you should be thinking about. After taking into account repairs, maintenance, and financing, these 10 cars offer great deals.
Thieves Snatch Almost $20,000 Worth Of Fuel From Gas Station
By 8.20.08
Gas thieves have stolen over 5,000 gallons of fuel from the Open Pantry Citgo in Wauwatosa, WI according to WauwatosaNow.com.
The 11 Least Fuel Efficient Hybrids
By 8.18.08
A hybrid vehicle might be more fuel efficient than the non-hybrid version of the same car, but some hybrid vehicles can get as few as 19mpg. Check out this list of the least fuel efficient hybrid vehicles before you head out to the dealership.
Pump Gas In The Morning To Save Money? Nah.
By 8.12.08
Consumer Reports wants you to know that it’s OK to sleep in, because you’re not going to save money by pumping gas in the early morning. Why not?
Always Print Your Gas Pump Receipt As Proof Of Purchase
By 8.11.08
I pulled out of the lot, turned left, and I wasn’t more than 200 yards away when a cop comes up behind me, lights flashing. I knew I couldn’t have been speeding so I was genuinely confused. He said the woman at the United Dairy Farmers said I drove off without paying for gas.
Oil Prices Drop, Sadly
By 8.8.08
The price of oil dropped $2.19 today, to $117.91, spurring a stock market and dollar rally. Sounds like good news. Except that it’s dropping because the market thinks more people won’t be able to afford to drive their cars as much. Who’s up for a “staycation?”
Ditching Your Gas-Guzzling SUV Could Be More Expensive Than You Think
By 8.3.08
SUVs are worth so little that it could take 15 years for a more fuel efficient vehicle to pay for itself in gas savings. Before rushing to trade-in your gas-guzzler, do the math and make sure it isn’t economical to hold onto your unfashionable behemoth. Here are three questions to consider…
Spirit Airlines Drops $10 Fee For Ordering Tickets Online
By 8.2.08
As quietly as it came, the $10 “web convenience fee” Spirit levied for the favor they were doing you by letting you book online, has gone. The fee no longer appears in Spirit Airlines’ contract of carriage. A small victory for common sense, though they’ll probably just figure out a way to make it up somewhere else. How about $5 fee for takeoffs and landings?
