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Kokua Line
Question: I was informed that the federal government was going to assess email users 5 cents for every email message sent through Bill 602P in Congress. Is there any truth to this? Email postage warning
just another hoaxAnswer: No. Among others, the Web site http://www.urbanlegends.com debunks this as a "completely false rumor," which originated in April 1999 in Canada. The rumor first revolved around Canada Post, then morphed in May 1999 to fit the U.S. market.
The bogus warning sent out over the Internet says "Congressman Schnell" has introduced Bill 602P to allow the federal government to impose a 5-cent surcharge on each email message, with the money to be collected by Internet service providers and turned over to the U.S. Postal Service.
There is no Congressman Schnell and no Bill 602P.
In a news release issued in May 1999, immediately after the hoax came to light, the Postal Service said it "has no authority to surcharge email messages sent over the Internet, nor would it support such legislation."
Q: A group of kids came to our house recently selling World's Finest candies. Apparently they canvass different neighborhoods to raise money. They said they were part of the Student Work Program of Hawaii. What kind of programs does this group do?
I spoke to their supervisor, who picked them up after an hour of canvassing. He told me they take the kids on camping trips twice a year and that the program was to teach them sales skills. He also said he is registered with the labor department.
But when I asked the kids about the program, they said they used the money to go to Maui and couldn't answer other questions.
A: Neither the state Office of Consumer Protection nor the Better Business Bureau of Hawaii had any information or complaints about the group.
We did a search of the state's business registration files and found a listing for Student Work Program of Hawaii as a domestic nonprofit, at 1925 Kalakaua Ave. But no one has responded to our request for information and no telephone number was available. If anyone connected with the program has information, please call Kokua Line.
In general, the word to the wise is that if you have any doubts about solicitors, check them out before you make a donation.
"The important thing for consumers to realize is that when someone comes to the door, they shouldn't automatically assume that it's a nonprofit," said Stephen Levins, the state's acting consumer protector.
You can check with the BBB, 536-6956, or the Office of Consumer Protection, 587-3222.
You can also check business registrations in the state on the Web at http://www.state.hi.us, by clicking on business names.
Another handy reference is GuideStar, "The Donor's Guide to the Charitable Universe," at http://www2.guidestar.org/index.html
It lists more than 630,000 nonprofit organizations in the United States.
Auwe
In recent weeks, the Police Department has been ticketing people who are caught speeding. How about those who drive too slow in the fast lanes? I feel these people should be warned or also given a ticket for obstructing traffic. They may be one of the reasons there is road rage. Also, trucks should be driving in the slow lane. On the mainland, if you are not driving with the flow of traffic, you could be cited. -- Concerned citizen
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com