I am SO pround of my long-distance carrier!!

[Coexist]

:loveya: Working Assets :loveya:

They just sent me my bill, and along with that came the list of great progressive causes they supported with cash this year.

$4,064,242 was the total for 2005

some examples of where the money went:

$119,210 to the ACLU
$54,733 to the Center for Constitutional Rights
$83,493 to NARAL
$120,253 to Planned Parenthood
$64,388 to Earth Justice
$120,392 to NRDC Action Fund
$71,597 to Global Fund for Children
$55,711 to Union of Concerned Scientists
$69,164 to National Coalition for the Homeless
$72,758 to Wellstone Action
$66,992 for American Library Association
$65,252 for Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education
$56,787 for Media Matters for America

They raise this money through their phone service. A percentage of my bill goes to that fund, along with my monthly "round-up". And the best part - the CUSTOMERS get a yearly ballot - we get to choose help choose who gets the $$$$.

Sometimes I pay them to send one of their Action Alert letters for me, or I use their email form.

Sometimes I order one of their great progressive books from my bill - just check it off - it comes in the mail and the charge shows up on my phone bill.

Sometimes I just like visiting their site for the great toons! Here is a Tom Tomorrow one from I checked out today:

They let me know how my Senators and Congresswoman voted on their actions issues. They showed my how to "Opt Out" for my kids, so recruiters don't call them.. and much more.

And the bill comes on 100% post-consumer recycled paper with soy-based ink.

So anyway - I just wanted to share that.

[helderheid]

1. I love them too!!

[mdmc]

2. good stuff

:kick:

[callous taoboy]

3. I used to be with W.A. for long distance, but I found the bills to

be too high. Plus, I already give to many of these causes.

[trotsky]

5. I just broke with Working Assets after more than 10 years.

Their rates are 2 to 3 times what you can get from other carriers. If you are concerned about the causes, then switch carriers and donate your savings, because WA only gives what, like 1% of their profits?

I'm concerned that their donation policy is much more of a simple gimmick than something that really makes a difference. Sucker progressives out of their money, give just a tiny fraction away to progressive causes, pocket the rest.

Their credit card is thru MBNA, with known right-wing leanings.

I just can't trust them anymore.

[Coexist]

6. honestly, I can't say I would send the few bucks a month to anyone

for sure, or if it would get lost in the shuffle. .10 per minute is reasonable to me. I love them still.

[callous taoboy]

11. Through my union I'm on Total Call-

2 cents per minutes most of the time, anywhere in the U.S.

[callous taoboy]

10. You beat me to the MBNA connect, trotsky:

And the MBNA connect makes the whole deal seem suspect to me as well.

[texastoast]

12. You are right about MBNA

MBNA seems to be roping in all kinds of causes offering 0% for an intro period, then dumping the sponsoring organization.

I got a Rails-to-Trails MBNA card a couple of years ago. A few months ago, I got a letter from MBNA saying they would be happy to keep my account open though they are no longer associated with RTT. I closed the account.

[texastoast]

7. Yeah, but

does your phone bill get printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper with soy ink?????????

:P

[Matariki]

4. they're great, but they're also expensive

i use americanfone - costs about .03 a minute and leaves me money to donate to causes of my choice.

i used to have working assets, i like them in theory. thought about getting their credit card. do they also have a mutual fund or something?

[wryter2000]

8. They're my company, too.

WALD rules.

[SmokingJacket]

9. Too expensive, though.

I like the concept of automatic giving, though, so I signed up to give to Doctors Without Borders automatically each month --

[Gidney N Cloyd]

13. Other than the cost per minute, how do they compare for minimum >

monthly charges? I hardly ever make a long distance call but I'm paying about ten bucks a month to !@$@#$ MCI for the privilege of retaining their services.

[Coexist]

14. none that I can see on my bill.