Four Rules You Should Break

Commercial enterprises will often impose rules and restrictions on consumers that benefit no one except the business itself. These rules survive because many of us are intimidated into obeying, however, some rules are meant to be broken. Here are four situations where you should refuse to be ordered around.

·        Have you ever been in a retail shop and noticed a sign reading, “You break it, you bought it”? Well, courts normally don’t recognize this rule. Generally, you are under no obligation to pay for a mishap, as accidents are a part of doing business and should be covered by the store’s insurance. Also, the storeowner should know that breakage is a legitimate business deduction. If you are too mortified to insist on not paying, agree to pay for the cost of the item, not its selling price.

·        Most appliances and gadgets come with a warranty card that the manufacturer claims must be filled out and returned to ensure warranty coverage. The manufacturer wants consumers to think that unless the card is completed, the appliance is not under warranty. In fact, warranty coverage remains in effect regardless. Manufacturers want the card because it provides valuable marketing data. They also may use the contact information in the event of a product recall. So only provide your name and address when you return the card.

·        Contractors, like housepainters and remodelers, often will say they must be paid up front for at least a portion of the cost of a project. Don’t succumb. Contractors are notorious for getting sidetracked by bigger, more lucrative jobs. So refuse to pay them anything up front until all the materials are delivered and the job is started. Then pay one-third, holding back the rest until the work is completed. 

·        Credit card issuers often will say they must have your Social Security number on file. If you refuse, they will not issue you a card. You should not give in. Other than certain government agencies and your bank, which must report income to the IRS, no one should have access to your Social Security number. The security of your number is paramount in preventing identity theft and other types of financial fraud.

– Adapted from Family Circle

Attorney’s Night Before Christmas
 

Whereas, on an occasion immediately preceding the Nativity festival, throughout a certain dwelling unit, quiet descended, in which could be heard no disturbance, not even the sound emitted by a diminutive rodent related to, and in form resembling, a rat; and

Whereas, the offspring of the occupants had affixed their tubular, closely knit coverings for the nether limbs to the flue of the fireplace in expectation that a personage known as St. Nicholas would arrive; and

Whereas, said offspring had become somnolent, and were entertaining re: saccharine-flavored fruit; and

Whereas, the adult male of the family, et ux, attired in proper headgear, had also become quiescent in anticipation of nocturnal inertia; and

Whereas, a distraction on the snowy acreage outside aroused the owner to investigate; and
Whereas, he perceived in a most unbelieving manner a vehicle propelled by eight domesticated quadrupeds of a species found in arctic regions; and

Whereas, a most odd rotund gentleman was entreating the aforesaid animals by their appellations, as follows:

“Your immediate co-operation is requested. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen; and collective action by you will be much appreciated, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen”; and

Whereas, subsequent to the above, there occurred a swift descent to the hearth by the aforementioned gentleman, where he proceeded to deposit gratuities in the aforementioned tubular coverings.

Now, therefore, be ye advised: that upon completion of these acts, and upon his return to his original point of departure, he proclaimed a felicitation of the type prevalent and suitable to these occasions, i.e.:

“Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!”

– From FunnyMail.com