Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Dear Heloise: When I was informed by my bank that my ATM card (which requires my code to access funds) would now contain a credit possibility, I said that I would change banks if it didn’t deactivate the credit possibility!
The bank agreed to cancel my ability to use it as a credit card, which means that if I lose the card, NO ONE can use it as a debit card to empty my account, and only someone who knows my code can use it as an ATM card.
If I lose the card, I can call my bank and cancel it. I have used the card to obtain money in other countries and used a credit card for purchases and hotels. Thus, I don’t have to worry, because I won’t lose any money if I lose the card. Pat W., Tyler, Texas
Dear Heloise: I have a couple of hints about toll-free calling, after much aggravation and time spent on the telephone:
• If I reach a call prompter, I have found that many times not speaking or making any selection on the keypad routed me to a live representative! I did have to sit through several options, but in the end, I was able to talk to a person.
• If I reach an agent I can’t understand or who can’t seem to help me, I thank the person, hang up and redial. Most times I reach a different representative and have better luck.
Lee E., via e-mail
Dear Heloise: Have you wondered what causes some shirts to fray and wear out faster than others?
Research from the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute stated that under typical conditions, the average life expectancy of a shirt is about two years. This may vary depending on the fiber content, amount of abrasion, strain placed on the shirt during wear, how the shirt is constructed and how it is laundered. Heloise
Dear Heloise: We had a crystal statue of a large bird with outstretched wings perched on a globe that sat on a wooden shelf in front of a large picture window that faced south.
After a while, we started to notice little burn marks on the shelf. We determined that the sun was beaming through the tip of the wing, which was acting like a magnifying glass and burning the shelf. Needless to say, we moved the bird to a safer location. Zach White, Waldoboro, Maine
Yikes! This happens occasionally. Thanks for the caution for my readers. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I went to put away my summer straw handbag with cloth lining and noticed a lot of hair, dirt and stuff in the bottom of it. Turning it upside down didn’t seem to help. So, I took a piece of wide packing tape and wiped it all around the bottom of the bag. Clean! Joan deGarmo, Haymarket, Va.
SBlt Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate