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How to bring down the System

Bruce Krasting's picture




 

There are a lot of angry people out there. I see it every day in my
writing. All you have to do is look at the comments at a site like Zero
Hedge to realize that fact. To some extent you saw this in the last
election. Those who vote (less than half the population) sent a message
and as a result there has been a significant change in the political
landscape.

But what do the voters get for sending the message? A slap in the face.
A few weeks later we get a monster tax break for high end earners, a
roll over of the tax treatment for hedge fund mangers (just obscene),
another $120 billion “stimulus” that won’t do a damn thing but add to
the debt and an extension of unemployment payment for yet another year
(now three years!)

If you pay bills (who doesn’t) you know that all banks, credit card
companies, utilities, insurance companies and all the others are just
nickel and diming us to death. Every month I am nicked for some damn
thing or the other. I think the FinReg rules that were supposed to
protect the average Jane or Joe actually just codified what the bastards
could charge. As a result we get hit with new fees, charges and higher
costs.

The very frustrating part of all this is that there is not a thing you
can do about it. Go write you congressperson, you’re lucky to get a form
response. Get on the phone to your CC provider and bitch over a $25
late charge on a $15 balance? Good luck.

I have been doing something for the past few months that might send a
message. If I continued for the next hundred years it would not make a
dent. If a hundred thousand did as I am doing it would be noticed but
still wouldn’t mean a thing. But if the number got into the millions it
would start to make a difference.

I have been sending 1 cent more than what is due on every bill that I
get. Citi sends a CC balance of $134.82? I send them $134.83.

I have a small sample of about 30 bills that I have been doing this
with. Well more than half get it right. On the next month CC bill you
get the Prior Balance as (-0.01). What this means is that a real person
actually got the bill and the check (or electronic payment) and made the
correct entry and gives you the once cent credit you deserve. This
result should not be surprising as people make incorrect payment amounts
all the time. What I am trying to do is force more human intervention.
That is time and money.

I paid a six-month insurance bill and added a penny to what was owed. So
far I have two letters that show the credit. How much does two computer
generated letters cost? At least a dollar a pop. There is no better
measure of success of my approach than to get a letter like this.

More exciting are the bills that do not pick up the one-cent variance.
When this happens your penny is lost. It will show up in an Exception
Report. Some computer recognizes that there is a penny that is not
properly accounted for. I assume that this happens (accidentally)
thousands of times a day. But what would happen if the number of
Exceptions all of sudden exploded to 20-50 million a month? Once again,
this would force humans to get involved.

The cost of this social protest is very minimal. Say you get 4 bills a
month. 48 pennies a year is the maximum cost. Based on my experience the
net cost would only be 20 cents or so. But the rewards on the 20 cents
just keep on giving. Every month after you can see the results. Either
they do it right or wrong. Either way there is an incremental cost. Your
penny is gumming up the system.

What if 10mm people did this on a regular basis? That would be a half
billion one-penny exceptions a year. If just one in ten resulted in an
“exception” it would mean that there would be an incremental cost
someplace of at least $50 million. In my dream world 25mm people would
do this and get just two letters a year as a result. Cost of that? Who
knows? It would imply 1.2 billion exceptions a year. That would be
noticed. (It would blow their collective minds if this started to
happen)

So if you’re mad at the system and want some revenge send an extra penny
to your friends at the gas-company, electric company, insurer, bank, CC
company, etc. I highly recommend it. The cost is negligible. Yes, it is
true that this form of protest will accomplish very little unless it
catches on like a fad. But should you get (as have I) some evidence that
your lousy penny is in fact causing someone someplace to spend time and
money trying to figure it all out you will beam with happiness at your
success. I am.

 

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Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:36 | 839946 RichardP
RichardP's picture

Sophisticated payment systems run by the larger businesses can handle negative balances.  No humans involved.  And why would you want to burden a small business with this overpayment thing if their humans have to be involved?  On the other hand, I have a small business with ten employees and our billing software handles negative balances.  Once a month we look at exception reports.  We don't refund anything under ten dollars, unless a customer asks for a refund.  That is a commonly-accepted business practice, except that the cutoff value varies a bit from one business to the next.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 12:37 | 839600 Armchair Bear
Armchair Bear's picture

and whenever they send you the credit card solicitations with the postage paid envelope - cram the whole mess back in with "NO" scrawled over it.

 

They pay someone to open the letter, as well as postage...

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 00:19 | 841097 Croesus
Croesus's picture

DO NOT SEND THEM 'NO' AS A REPLY:

If they send you a postage-paid anything - attach the envelope to something heavy, such as an old tire. 

They still have to pay for the postage, and this adds up to HUGE money.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 01:47 | 841182 Big Corked Boots
Big Corked Boots's picture

In my wilder days years ago I used to photocopy the free-postage cards and send messages to the company using thier own postage. The mailboxes in the 'hood would be bombed with the stuff.

Another guy I knew did what you suggested but attached the postage to a box filled with asbestos pipe insulation. I do NOT recommend this; if caught the penalties are huge. Don't let it get out of control.

EDIT - Rocky you are 100% correct. I have mailed legit stuff recently and had the postal clerk demand to see ID and proof of address. I now restrict my shipments to my local PO where they know me.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 18:45 | 841876 Croesus
Croesus's picture

There's a world of difference between sending hazardous material, and sending a rubber tire.

Ask your clerk the next time you're in the PO.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 01:23 | 841166 RockyRacoon
RockyRacoon's picture

You apparently know nothing about postal regulations.  Your plan is laudable but impractical as the USPS will not accept your tire into the postal system.   Just stuff the return envelope with newspapers so that it is over 1/4 inch thick which requires it to be parcel rate, under 13 ounces (remember the Unabomber?) so that you can just drop it into the receiving slot.  If you give it to a clerk they will not take it.   This shit is not new to the USPS and they've met geniuses like you before.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 09:00 | 841365 Croesus
Croesus's picture

Guess it just depends on who you know, Rocky. I have a relative that works for the USPS.

What I can tell you about those people, is this: Most of their jobs revolves around sorting BS junk mail from credit card companies, mail order catalogs, Val-Pak couponeers, and other crap like that. 

Most of them think it's funny as hell to make these companies pay for 1st Class postage on trash. 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:24 | 839919 decon
decon's picture

Armchair Bear,

I've been doing this for years except I don't bother to write anything.  I've seen a reduction in this kind of shit so I think eventually they may take you off lists because of it.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:04 | 839872 covert
covert's picture

cut the postage paid part off of it and send back a box full of rotten trash, live roaches etc. it makes a difference!

http://covert2.wordpress.com

 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 16:10 | 840233 Encroaching Darkness
Encroaching Darkness's picture

Knew a guy back in college (1980s) who wanted off the Columbia House opt-in record racket. He got his friends to collect about a dozen of their postage-paid sign-up cards from magazines, worked up to a dozen. He started sending them in with his info, saying "Take me off your damn list!" and taping them each to a BRICK.
Any idea how much a first-class BRICK costs to mail? He sent them in one at a time, a couple of days apart. By the third one he was getting pleading calls from Customer Disservice begging him to stop, they had already cancelled his account, etc.
As long as we're cataloguing techniques, I thought I'd throw that one in...

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 18:20 | 840545 tmosley
tmosley's picture

I beleive the upper limit is 60 pounds.  Rocks work well.  Been finding a lot of bills don't have the postage paid envelope in them anymore, probably for this very reason.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 20:49 | 842022 zhandax
zhandax's picture

I have to empty my shredder every few months and most of it consists of unsolicited credit card offers.  Just for shits and grins one month, I sent Chase's shit to City, Citi's to BOA, BOA's to Barclays, Barclays to Discover, and Discover's to Chase for a complete circle jerk.  It was good for a giggle, but I still had to cut out and shred any identifying information which was far more trouble than I am willing to spend on these fucktards.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:33 | 840146 Cleve Meater
Cleve Meater's picture

Boogers, dingleberries, scabs and earwax... Human detritus is always the most wretch-inducing.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 13:11 | 839713 What_Me_Worry
What_Me_Worry's picture

Genius!  Maybe send them a penny, too.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 12:54 | 839654 Ragnarok
Ragnarok's picture

Brilliant!  I think "NO" is a little kind though, something more colorful perhaps?

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 12:30 | 839587 Atlas Shrugging
Atlas Shrugging's picture

I posted this on williambanzai's thread but it is relevent here as well - "I have been lurking hear for awhile, reading and learning as much as possible.  I am a small business owner for 11 years and have committed to "going Galt" this upcoming year, looking out for me and my family but not at the expense of anyone else.  I am tired of feeding the beast and will be purposely downsizing, as I have figured that by not having to "have things", I can cut back and actually have a better quality of life with my family than working insane hours only to comply with excess government intervention and a higher tax rate.  Another HUGE benefit of this site is the eye-opening to PM's and their long-term worth.  Thanks to everyone here at ZH, my life is better and much more enjoyable because of you guys!" 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 21:13 | 840848 Kayman
Kayman's picture

Atlas

You were junked- that's a badge of honor.

Kayman

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:14 | 839896 waterhorse
waterhorse's picture

I'm new & lurk as well.  Love this penny thing.  I'm IN, will spread the word & suggestions to vary the amount by a few cents.  I do not like the environmental consequences of more paper though.  Recently closed my checking/savings with WFB after 25 years & don't know what took me so long, why I withstood some of the abusive practices there that do NOT happen at my friendly little community bank.  I have no more credit cards & indeed will stop feeding the beast.  I'm also suing BAC/MERS with the help of a skilled attorney over clouded title issues.  I don't know what will come of it, but I'm cautiously optimistic.  Happy New Year, everyone!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:08 | 839880 Enkidu
Enkidu's picture

Atlas - I agree --- this site is my saviour too (just an amateur investor). I also love reading the postings of Bruce. My rebellion is to never use the credit card (I have to occasionally for flights). I only use cash and try and pay everything down as fast as possible. I am not a consumer (no Xmas presents). My gift at Xmas is that I don't want anyone in a mall shopping. Thank you ZH and contributors to it.

Sun, 01/02/2011 - 05:00 | 842379 Dave
Dave's picture

For entertainment whenever asked for a photo ID show a passport and

watch the reaction.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 18:03 | 840518 DosZap
DosZap's picture

Paying for airline tickets w/cash, will get your ass flagged asap.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 22:19 | 840917 StychoKiller
StychoKiller's picture

Especially if it's a one-way ticket and you don't check in any baggage...

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:53 | 839997 Seer
Seer's picture

Huh?  I've flown several times and have NEVER used a credit card; actually, I've NEVER OWNED A CREDIT CARD!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:18 | 839901 The Alarmist
The Alarmist's picture

you should pay for an airline ticket with cash and then opt out of the body scan ... that will show the bastards as they snap on the rubber gloves to ....

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 20:49 | 840818 Mad Mad Woman
Mad Mad Woman's picture

LMAO

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 13:48 | 839824 Bearster
Bearster's picture

Thanks Atlas, your approach makes a lot more sense than Bruce's.

Bruce, your problem is that you are imagining a conflict of interest between "us" and "them".

The problem is not the lack of a tax-hike (which is not a "break") for "them".  The problem is that the government is consuming the entire economy!

 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:51 | 839992 Seer
Seer's picture

"The problem is that the government is consuming the entire economy!"

Myopic statement at best.  And if the government were gone?  Same paradigm, grow-or-die, only unfettered exploitation will bring about the endgame just that much sooner: fine by me, but you better watch out lest you are unprepared for what you will get.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 13:08 | 839707 lynnybee
lynnybee's picture

TO:  ATLAS SHRUGGING ...........

DITTO.   I'm just a mom & grandma in the midwest.    Thank god for ZEROHEDGE ...... I now understand & have some silver if nothing else.     "thank god for zerohedge"  ~~  there's the new bumpersticker !!!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 16:31 | 840280 Bob Sacamano
Bob Sacamano's picture

Which god are you referring to? 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 17:36 | 840441 dark pools of soros
dark pools of soros's picture

Lloyd's accountant of course

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 13:01 | 839676 Landrew
Landrew's picture

Daniel, is that you! My brother! I knew you would show up here sooner than later welcome!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 12:59 | 839675 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

indeed. ZH is one of about 5 sites where I can take refuge from the global economic crime wave going on.   Its getting harder to remember the last time I actually watched 'the news' its been so long. For this, I thank ZH and Happy New Year to its contributors and staff.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:28 | 839933 rosiescenario
rosiescenario's picture

I'll second that...though CNBC is useful as a depressant.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 12:52 | 839641 AchtungAffen
AchtungAffen's picture

I know what he means. Those a**holes are trying to tax my yatch now. Guess I'll just close another factory and open it in China. Take that, Stalin!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 12:50 | 839639 SheepDog-One
SheepDog-One's picture

Exactly, becoming a non consumer is the elites worst nightmare.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:03 | 839865 something fishy
something fishy's picture

+1

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 12:56 | 839655 Whatta
Whatta's picture

And become a barterer to whatever extent you can...in your local economy.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:23 | 840111 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

you said it, bartering is both a weapon and a survival tool

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 17:33 | 840423 dark pools of soros
dark pools of soros's picture

exactly - we have a local skills trade system in my town.. look up Time Banks in your area

 

watch the vid - http://www.pa-timebank.com/

 

I wonder when the gov will start 'time taxing'

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 12:29 | 839579 Smu the Wonderhorse
Smu the Wonderhorse's picture

Vive Bruce!  How about writing them a check with a fraction of a penny?  Would this gum things up even more?  "One-hundred thirty-four dollars and eighty-two and one-quarter cents"?

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 17:38 | 840431 anonnn
anonnn's picture

Better---Tape a real penny to the reply. It has to be handled by persons.

Done to a utility in the 1960s...they backed down on rate-hike [smaller hike].

Bruce, you reminded of that long-ago protest.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 06:46 | 841326 DukkButt
DukkButt's picture

I work at the Post Office in the back with the big letter sorting machines and one thing I can tell you is that putting coins in an envelope is asking for trouble. They use high speed sorting machines and coins (as well as jewelry and keys) are highly likely to catch on something in the machine. If you are lucky, it just pops the coin(s) out  of a small tear in the envelope. If you are unlucky, the catch tears your envelope in half or just plain shreds it. The machines feed at about 10 letters per second, so there is not enough time for it to stop before some serious damage is done. Just my (ahem) 2 cents worth.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 12:56 | 839662 masterinchancery
masterinchancery's picture

I have been rounding all bills up to the dollar for a long time; they haven't cracked yet.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 20:43 | 840816 Mad Mad Woman
Mad Mad Woman's picture

I know a couple of people that have paid their bills that way for years. Their reason for doing it is simplicity........they say they do it so it's easier to balance their checkbook each month.  :-)

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 13:05 | 839700 Bruce Krasting
Bruce Krasting's picture

No. As i said it would take millions doing this. Keep up the good work.

Sun, 01/02/2011 - 02:41 | 842334 dr_teeth
dr_teeth's picture

Bruce, we think alike. I've been doing this to Citi for over a year. It started by accident and I've been keeping it up ever since. I only use my card once every couple of months. When the Citi bill comes in I pay it in full and add an extra few cents. If I don't use the card next month, then for some reason Citi sends me a letter with a check saying that they are rfunding my the extra money I paid on my last bill. It only works if you pay them a little extra and then don't use the card for a month.

 

It's like every month they have to clean out the accounts that over paid. The letter, the check and the postage... all told it probably costs at least a dollar to do. I just find it so funny getting a check from Citi for 12 cents. You should see the teller's face when I go to cash it... and yes, I always use the teller.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:22 | 839915 RichardP
RichardP's picture

Any payment system for a large corporation is able to handle negative balances.  On recurring debts such as utilities, etc., the negative amount is simply added to the new balance - just like a positive amount would be if you missed your previous payment.  No human involved at all.  Same thing goes for department store credit cards.  The computer counts how long you have a negative balance. At a pre-determined time length, the computer will print a check for the negative balance and send it to be mailed.  All automated.  No human involvement.  Credit cards handle the negative balance the same way.  I'm just not sure at what point they would cut you a check for the negative balance.  Folks used to carry negative balances on their credit cards as a way of carrying "cash".

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 23:16 | 841012 tgatliff
tgatliff's picture

I agree that the computer does not care.  However, generally these systems have a 90 hold on batch jobs with negative balances.  Meaning, the negative balance will hold on their system until at least 90 days of inactivity occurs.   

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 13:16 | 839732 66Sexy
66Sexy's picture

It's a good start; this along with millions buying physical metals and removing their money from the system would be a nice chain reaction. God forbid they couldn't track our trades; buying and selling..

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:29 | 840134 koaj
koaj's picture

also, this goes without saying...pay cash for as much as you can. for all house hold handyman type fixes or jobs, pay cash as well

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