INews Newsletter - Dec 04, 1998
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* * * I N e w s * * *
A publication of Internet Nebraska, composed and distributed by
* * * manager@inebraska.com * * *
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Volume 1, Number 26 December 4, 1998
Welcome to another issue of INews, Internet Nebraska's customer newsletter.
This biweekly newsletter communicates service bulletins, announcements and
other useful information to our customers. Please let us know what you
think of it. Archives of INews are located at http://www.inebraska.com/inews
In this issue: IN Billing
Grand Island Grand Opening
Gift Certificates Abound
E-Santa
*** That is NOT an Extra Fee ***
We find it makes sense to review our billing practices with the customer
base once a year or so. Many users have come from other ISP's whose
routines varied from our own, and some of our old-timers appreciate a quick
once-over on the subject, too. With the influx of new customers from the
Hastings/GI areas, we want to be hyperglobalmega-clear about how things
work.
We consider payment for a given term due at the start of that term. This
is kind of like how rent often is. If you pay it before the 1st, you're
ahead; if you pay it after the 1st, you're past due (though usually not
late enough to be penalized if it's soon after the 1st).
Because IN bills on every day of the month from the 1st through the 28th,
the start of your term could be any of those days. Most of our new
Hastings customers have the 1st as their renewal date.
Another aspect of our routine that sometimes confuses people is that we
bill for a term one month ahead of the due date. We do this so you have
plenty of notice of another month's fees coming due. Suppose mom needed
that operation in November, and you were unable to get your November 1
flat-rate payment made. On December 1 you would receive a bill which
looks like this:
> We hope that you are enjoying your access to the Internet system. Your
> Internet Nebraska account with username CUSTOMER will be
> renewed on 99/ 1/ 1. Accounts are billed by email one month before
> the renewal date and we should receive payment prior to the renewal
> date.
Note that we're referring to renewal for the month of January, and not
asking for some kind of annual or "new provider" fee.
> Your previous balance was: 39.90
This balance is $19.95 for November, and the $19.95 for December that we
haven't yet received. It falls under "previous balance" because we wrote
a month ago that it was due by now, and we still haven't gotten it.
> The charge for renewal is: 19.95
This money is not yet past due, but on January 1, it will be.
> -------
> Your new balance is: 59.85
>
> Please remit payment to:
>
> Internet Nebraska
> PO Box 5301
> Lincoln, NE 68505-5301
This is absolutely the best place to send payments, if you are not on an
automatic credit card or electronic funds transfer program. Our agents
are not required to handle payments, and do so out of the goodness of their
hearts sometimes.
> To help ensure proper credit, please note your username (CUSTOMER) on
> your check.
Always so very, very important.
> Thank you for going online with IN.
The most important part of all.
We hope this has cleared up any confusion, but we'll be happy to answer
whatever questions you might have about this. Just drop
accounts@inebraska.com a note.
*** MicroAge Lincoln - Advertisement ***
MicroAge Lincoln is a full service computer
partner to the Lincoln, Nebraska area.
We offer business clients a full range of
services, including: software training,
network design and support, hardware repair,
and product sales. Whether you are
interested in computer training for yourself,
or you are a business that needs a network,
team up with MicroAge. We are committed to
your success.
-- http://www.microagelnk.com/index2.html
*** Grand Island and Doniphan On-Line at Last ***
Internet Nebraska service is now available in the Grand Island and Doniphan
areas. The Grand Island access number is (308) 398-0500. The Doniphan
area access number is (402) 845-2733. Some areas are allowed to dial both
Doniphan and Grand Island as a local call, and we would appreciate if these
users used the Grand Island number, since more lines are available there.
All dial-up accounts in Grand Island and Doniphan come with 56k and ISDN
access.
To help kick-start our Grand Island operation, we are offering an
incredible special deal to new Grand Island customers for a limited time.
Sign up for any of our three month plans and we'll throw in another 3
months for free. (That's unlimited access for $8.99/month for the first
three months!) Tell your friends and family in Grand Island about our
great specials, or give them an IN gift certificate for the holidays!
Internet Nebraska software and sign-up materials are available in Grand
Island from Computer Hardware, 416 W 3 St, (308) 384-6939.
In addition to dial-up access, Internet Nebraska offers a full range of
Internet services, including web design and hosting, network consultation,
and dedicated Internet connectivity.
(Erratum: In our last INews, we reported the Grand Island access number as
348-0500. As we write above, it's 398-0500.)
*** Extreme Interactive - Advertisement ***
Internet Nebraska is excited to announce we're sponsors of Extreme
Interactive's Nebraska Frag Fest on December 5 and 6. If you think you're
a "fragmaster," get down to 6802 P Street (behind the main East Park
building), and let the bloodshed commence.
Total Gaming Experience: Extreme Interactive of Lincoln, NE has all a
hard-core gamer could ask for. We have playstations, n64s, and high-speed
3d accelerated networked computers for multiplayer gaming.
-- http://www.ex-interactive.com/
*** Gift Certificates Available ***
Those who are putting off that gift shopping have a very easy out, you
know. Internet Nebraska gift certificates are available year 'round, and
grow increasingly handy as December gets older and older. We'll even be
here on the 24th, so get (or keep) that loved one on-line with a
certificate for whatever amount you choose, and avoid that nasty sales tax.
*** The Capital Soccer Association - Advertisement ***
Capital Soccer Association specializes in
teaching soccer. However we recognize that
soccer, or any other youth sport is merely
one tool in the development of a young
child. Teamwork and sportsmanship through
knowledge and proficiency of the game are
our main goals.
-- http://www.capitalsoccer.com/
*** Holiday Shopping On-Line ***
If the idea of muscling through crowds of frenzied shoppers and fighting
over parking spaces at the mall doesn't exactly fill you with joy, take a
break from the holiday mayhem, and do your shopping on line. If you can
buy it in a store, chances are, you can buy it on the net.
Some holiday shopping sites:
Toys and Games
http://www.etoys.com
http://www.faoschwartz.com/
http://www.toysrus.com/
Books
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com
http://www.borders.com
Movies and Video
http://www.bigstar.com
http://www.blockbuster.com/video/
http://www.newreleasesvideo.com/
Music
http://www.cdnow.com
http://www.towerrecords.com
http://www.musicblvd.com
Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. To find more places to
spend your money on line, just go to your favorite search engine (Yahoo,
Excite, Snap!, etc.) and enter a search request.
Keep in mind that whenever you purchase something on line, you will need to
enter a valid credit card number. You should confirm that the site you are
on is "secure" before sending sensitive information over the Internet.
Most secure sites are eager to inform you of that fact, but you can always
confirm this by looking for a locked padlock (or unbroken key) icon at the
bottom of your browser.
Happy Holidays and may all your on-line credit card transactions be secure.
*** Schaefer's TV & Appliance Center - Advertisement ***
Schaefer's is an independently owned and
operated television, appliance, and home
theater retailer in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Born out of a small corner drugstore four
decades ago, Schaefer's TV & Appliance is a
22,000 square-foot "superstore" today,
specializing in commercial/professional-grade
appliances, whole house sound systems, home
theater and central vacuum systems. The
success of Schaefer's is key to repeat
business. If a customer happens to have a
problem with a product, Schaefer's will bend
over backwards to get it solved. Our service
center is the largest in the city, and has been
voted Lincoln's #1 servicer for 10 years in a
row! A knowledgeable sales staff, express
delivery, easy financing, and our customer
service representatives are just a few of the
ways in which we at Schaefer's distinguish
ourselves from the rest. Stop by our showroom
at 48th and R in Lincoln, or call us at
402-464-8888, and see for yourself.
-- http://www.schaeferstv.com/index2.htm
*** Advertise on Our Home Pages ***
What better way to advertise your business than on a web page that is
seen tens of thousands of time every month? None, if you're paying as
little as we charge for it! Give us a call at our office, 434-8680, and
ask how you can reserve banner spots on some of the hottest URL's in the
state, including our new search, kids, news, and restaurant pages. The
advertisers in this issue did, and we recommend them highly.