Hang Up on the NSA - check out the only phone co. suing NSA!

[Zan_of_Texas]

Working Assets joins the blogosphere
in opposition to Big Telecom/NSA database


Working Assets is the only telephone company participating in the ACLU's lawsuit against the National Security Agency.

We believe that the warrantless monitoring of phone conversations ordered by the Bush administration is illegal and unacceptable.

We oppose the sale of domestic calling records to the NSA by AT&T, BellSouth and Verizon.

http://www.workingforchange.com/webgraphics/nsa.html

New service questions: 888-822-7684 long distance
888 822-7691 wireless
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Above is from Working Assets' website.

I've been using Working Assets for my long distance for a number of years. They are progressive; they donate millions each year to progressive causes that their customers choose, a full range of national and international issues.

I spoke with their customer rep tonight, who was very nice. She said they are VERY VERY busy with callers asking about their NSA policy, or making comments. I asked how many of the callers supported the data collection of phone calls by the NSA that was revealed this week.

Not one, she said.

!!!!!

Anyway, if you're shopping for some new phone service, now you have another one to check on....

[ThoughtCriminal]

1. Tyhe lawsuit I'm itching to hear about

Customers suing the Telcoms that illegally gave records to the NSA.

[northofdenali]

10. There are 2 against Verizon already -

one in, I think, Virginia, and one in Washington State, both for $5 billion (each), class action suits.

[Justice Is Comin]

11. You don't even have to wait.

It happened this afternoon. Two lawyers filed a 5 billion dollar action against Verizon.

Check RawStory and enjoy.

[Rainscents]

2. BWAAHAHAHAHA!!!

I love this one... "FREE CALLS TO WH and CONGRESS!!! I LOVE IT!!! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I'm switching now!!! Thanks for the link!!!

[bunny planet]

3. Unfortunately Working Assets was bought by MBNA last year.

They are one of the most offensive of the credit card companies.

[Zan_of_Texas]

4. I don't think that's accurate.

Working Assets has used several different large credit card companies for their branded credit card operation.

I hate all large credit card operations except Capitol One, myself. Unfortunately, Working Assets hasn't picked that one.

I have used Working Assets for many years, and I think the relationship is just that MBNA is their credit card processor. Doesn't have anything to do with the phone service of Working Assets.

If you have contrary documentation, please post it.

[bunny planet]

7. Oh yes it is. I had a Working Assets credit card and now it says MBNA on

my bills. I wish it weren't true but it is. They actually apologized to customers when it happened. I still think their website actforchange is very helpful for consolidating petitions and activism opportunities.

[Zan_of_Texas]

9. Okay, but you're missing a distinction.

I agree that Working Assets' credit card is affiliated with MBNA.

There are dozens of groups that affiliate with major credit card companies. American Kennel Club, you name it. The group gets the customers, the credit card company actually handles the billing, etc.

It doesn't mean that MBNA OWNS Working Assets. It's an affiliation.

I won't defend MBNA.

But, read the website and make up your mind.

$50 million in donations to progressive causes by Working Assets. Weigh that against the politics of most of the other companies you pay bills to every month.

http://www.workingassets.com/aboutwa.cfm

[kestrel91316]

12. I have Working Assets long distance and the bill says "Working Assets"

They sure don't ACT like a company owned by MBNA, lol!

[hvn_nbr_2]

19. I had a Sierra Club credit card that said MBNA on it, so your conclusion..

would be what?

[nicknameless]

20. Yikes, you scared me.

I agree with those who suggest that it's just the bank their card is affiliated with.

I used to have a Working Assets card years ago. The bank back then was Fleet.
I had nothing but problems with them (unjustifiable fees that they ended up reversing every month) and had to drop the card.


Less than 24 hrs ago, I discovered that Colgate had bought Toms of Maine. So that's enough acquisition bad news for one day.

:)

[bunny planet]

8. Not sure of the exact relationship, just know my credit card bill says

Working Assets at the top and MBNA in the address line. I was very distressed when I got the letter notifying me of the merge or buyout or new co-relationship and thought about canceling the card.

Just wondering, why do you like Capitol One. They used to hound me to open a credit card account with them, I continually refused, and they actually sent me a card, unsolicited in the mail, which I promptly called them up and canceled.

[ConsAreLiars]

15. Working Assets is NOT owned by MBNA.

Whatever made you make such a bizarre claim. Their credit cards are contracted out to MBNA (not the best choice, I agree) but "owned by"? That is an outright lie.

[bunny planet]

16. I'm not lying. I have a Working Assets card but my bills say MBNA.

I don't have their phone service. Someone here just now was kind enough to explain that they contracted their billing out to MBNA and are not wholly owned by them. You didn't need to call me a liar. When I first got the letter telling me MBNA would now have something to do with my Working Assets card I called and the person helping me with Customer Service explained the relationship to me (it was awhile ago). He even apologized to me for their association with MBNA as I was upset due to their connection to the bankrupcy bill. If I mistakenly thought that MBNA now played a greater role in my credit card company, I certainly have had that cleared up for me now, I still have their name (MBNA's) on the most prominent part of my bill every month.

Again, I don't appreciate being called a liar, it was just an honest misunderstanding. I should not have made the statement that MBNA now owned Working Assets. It is what I sincerely thought had happened though.

From now on, I will say that MBNA is the contracter for my Working Assets credit card. That they have anything to do with it is upsetting to me but I will be more careful in the future to make the distinction.

[robbedvoter]

5. Working Assets uses Sprint lines - Spring is also NSA bought

Hard to extricate ourselves from their claws...

[Zan_of_Texas]

6. Working Assets' website says that Sprint is saying they have not

cooperated with the NSA.

That is at least the initial information they have from Sprint.

Do you have different info?

[robbedvoter]

13. Someone posted here yesterday that they talked to WA

At the time, they didn't know Sprin't's position, but the poster said he/she verified and they were NSA. If this is no longer true, it's OK.

[magellan]

17. Sprint ARE cooperating w/NSA according to a Feb '06 USA Today article

See this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1162729

[Zan_of_Texas]

23. Thank you, Magellan.

Okay, it looks now like the PREVIOUS NSA warrantless surveillance had Sprint cooperation with the NSA -- they coughed up the info for NSA but didn't require warrants.

(It remains to be seen whether NSA and Sprint cooperated in the latest massive database of call records.)

Nice work, Sprint. NOT.

Telecoms let NSA spy on calls

By Leslie Cauley and John Diamond
USA TODAY
Feb. 6, 2006
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-02-05-nsa-telecoms_x.htm

The National Security Agency has secured the cooperation of large telecommunications companies, including AT&T, MCI and Sprint, in its efforts to eavesdrop without warrants on international calls by suspected terrorists, according to seven telecommunications executives.

[uppityperson]

18. I saw that too.

If they are using Sprint lines, does that mean the calls are reported? What about cell? Cell towers are shared so my head is spinning. Go QWest. Edited to add, except I hate Qwest's service, customer relations. Oh well. Go QWest.

[genieroze]

14. Put this link on your webpage.

I can't use them I have another year with those traitors at Verizon.

<a href="http://www.workingassets.com/nsadatabase" TARGET="_blank"><img src=""
width="150" height="200" border="0" align="right"></a>

[JesterCS]

21. i put it on Myspace

on my main page and on a bulletin that all my friends can read, just in case they dont see my page.

[jasmeel]

22. I'm looking into switching my phone over to them ASAP!!