When is it enough? You know what I mean. You get the nice little chain email that talks about being a true friend or how much you mean to someone and you are suppose to send it back and to all your other friend. So you send it out… then you get it back… do you have to send it back to those people that sent it back to you or are you good and the message received that you are both great people?
Really do you run the risk of not sending it back to the people you sent it to and hurt their feelings, or do you resend it to them to confirm and then they have to send it back, so it becomes a never-ending barrage of chain emails.
Then I have to ask, myself and those that send me the emails… if you really cared about someone that much… do you really need to send them those cute little chain letters. I mean shouldn’t you let them know everyday that you value them as people? Plus, should you really be sending those chain letters and cramming peoples’ email boxes with them. Is that really anyway to show you care?
Now, it isn’t that I mind getting them. Some are really nice, and I am not perfect and I know that there are people in my life that I forget to let know that they matter to me. Some of the chain letters are important as that they spread a message of hope for a good cause, many are reminders that we are not alone in life and that we are all humans and need to care for one another. Some are funny and provide the pick me up you just might need on one of those days…
I guess what I am saying is, if you get them send them, if you don’t get it back don’t take it personal… just know that you made someone’s day.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Words of the Wise
If you sell things on eBay or Craigslists or other places like that I highly advise that you only accept credit cards or paypal for payment. Why you ask, oh well let me tell you.
There are slimy people out there that are giving fraudulent cashier checks and money orders. Do not think for one minute that just because you ask the bank teller if they are legitimate and they think they are and you make the deposit all will be hunky-dory.
Obviously you can tell that I am a writer… well, maybe you can’t. That is besides the point. I accept payment from clients through my paypal account, I do this for protection really. I have been ripped off by enough people that owe me money and have not wanted to pay, have paid with a bad check or a money order that I am as cautious as I can be and still make a living being self employed.
Though paypal and I have had our differences they do what they can to help make sure that fraud is not being committed with their service. My bank advised me that if you do anything on line, with eBay or paypal they recommend setting up a second and separate checking account because of all the crap they have seen. So we did just that.
My husband received two checks. We thought that they were cashier checks, the bank said they were international money orders. Anyway, to be safe, we deposited them and had a hold put on them to make sure that they cleared and all was peachy keen.
Last night I log into our account to see where we are at and if those items had infact cleared… well they didn’t. Turns out that they were fraudulent. As that I trust few people I wasn’t surprised really, that is the point of that separate account. What I was surprised about was that the bank not only took the credit that they had given for the deposit, which was held for 7 days to make sure it cleared, they then charged us the amount of those two checks in the new account as well as froze our personal account and charged us that amount on that account as well. In the end what the Loss Prevention Department at our bank was trying to tell me that we owed them almost $4000 because the deposit we had made was returned.
No matter how many times I went over it with this woman she kept telling me we owed that money because we got a credit for it. When the deposit came back they had to take that away. Ok… I got that, I was good with that. But to be triple charged for something that I never had access to, never spent, never took, never touched NO I was not good with that!
She decided to transfer me to a “manager”. What she did was send me to another department to this poor man that tried to help me, but is wasn’t his department. In the end I think he was as upset as I was and he said, “You have to call Loss Prevention back.” While the phone rang and I prayed to not get the same woman as I held back the tears and tried to not drop the phone because I was shaking so bad this wonderful woman named DeeDe answered that phone… and she helped me… she understood what I was saying, and she fixed the problem. What had been done never should’ve been done and all will be okay. We are of course out $70 for overdraft fees that we shouldn’t have but because of what they did we ended up with them, but she couldn’t return them, I have to go to the branch where the account was opened and talk to the manager and explain what happened and ask for the fees back.
I think I will let my husband take care of that. I am done dealing with the bank for now.
BUT.. the purpose here is that I want to educate you on your banking and what is allowed and what isn’t.
First, when you make a deposit at your bank, you become financially responsible for that deposit. So if you are in doubt over ANY deposit that you EVER make ask them to place a hold on that deposit to make sure that it clears. The hold is usually five or seven days. It may seem like a lot, but it will save you a lot of money.
If you don’t place the hold and you spend that money and it comes back, you have to make up that money and all fees that are associated with that money. But only for the amount of the deposit.
So in my case, I got the “credit” but we had the hold in it. So when it ended up coming back all the bank should’ve done was take away that credit. All the “money” was there so it should’ve put our account back to the balance that was there prior to that deposit.
What they tried to do was take the credit, which they should’ve and then charge me that amount as well. Which they SHOULD NOT have done. Then on top of that they looked at our personal account we had with them and then charged that account the amount as well. Which they SHOULD NOT HAVE done.
Now, had I not been on top of our finances and called the bank until I got someone to listen to me and go through it with me, we would’ve ended up owing the bank almost $4000 erroneously. And do you think that they would’ve called and said, “I am so sorry for our f**k up here is your 4 grand back.” Ummmm… no. I like our bank, I think they are great… let’s be realistic.
So my advice to you is this:
Have a separate account for anything that you do on the internet.
Have a hold placed on ANY deposit you are not sure of – I don’t care if it is check from your Uncle.
Stay on top of your finances. – That is what online banking is for!
Do not let up until you find someone that will listen to you!
There are slimy people out there that are giving fraudulent cashier checks and money orders. Do not think for one minute that just because you ask the bank teller if they are legitimate and they think they are and you make the deposit all will be hunky-dory.
Obviously you can tell that I am a writer… well, maybe you can’t. That is besides the point. I accept payment from clients through my paypal account, I do this for protection really. I have been ripped off by enough people that owe me money and have not wanted to pay, have paid with a bad check or a money order that I am as cautious as I can be and still make a living being self employed.
Though paypal and I have had our differences they do what they can to help make sure that fraud is not being committed with their service. My bank advised me that if you do anything on line, with eBay or paypal they recommend setting up a second and separate checking account because of all the crap they have seen. So we did just that.
My husband received two checks. We thought that they were cashier checks, the bank said they were international money orders. Anyway, to be safe, we deposited them and had a hold put on them to make sure that they cleared and all was peachy keen.
Last night I log into our account to see where we are at and if those items had infact cleared… well they didn’t. Turns out that they were fraudulent. As that I trust few people I wasn’t surprised really, that is the point of that separate account. What I was surprised about was that the bank not only took the credit that they had given for the deposit, which was held for 7 days to make sure it cleared, they then charged us the amount of those two checks in the new account as well as froze our personal account and charged us that amount on that account as well. In the end what the Loss Prevention Department at our bank was trying to tell me that we owed them almost $4000 because the deposit we had made was returned.
No matter how many times I went over it with this woman she kept telling me we owed that money because we got a credit for it. When the deposit came back they had to take that away. Ok… I got that, I was good with that. But to be triple charged for something that I never had access to, never spent, never took, never touched NO I was not good with that!
She decided to transfer me to a “manager”. What she did was send me to another department to this poor man that tried to help me, but is wasn’t his department. In the end I think he was as upset as I was and he said, “You have to call Loss Prevention back.” While the phone rang and I prayed to not get the same woman as I held back the tears and tried to not drop the phone because I was shaking so bad this wonderful woman named DeeDe answered that phone… and she helped me… she understood what I was saying, and she fixed the problem. What had been done never should’ve been done and all will be okay. We are of course out $70 for overdraft fees that we shouldn’t have but because of what they did we ended up with them, but she couldn’t return them, I have to go to the branch where the account was opened and talk to the manager and explain what happened and ask for the fees back.
I think I will let my husband take care of that. I am done dealing with the bank for now.
BUT.. the purpose here is that I want to educate you on your banking and what is allowed and what isn’t.
First, when you make a deposit at your bank, you become financially responsible for that deposit. So if you are in doubt over ANY deposit that you EVER make ask them to place a hold on that deposit to make sure that it clears. The hold is usually five or seven days. It may seem like a lot, but it will save you a lot of money.
If you don’t place the hold and you spend that money and it comes back, you have to make up that money and all fees that are associated with that money. But only for the amount of the deposit.
So in my case, I got the “credit” but we had the hold in it. So when it ended up coming back all the bank should’ve done was take away that credit. All the “money” was there so it should’ve put our account back to the balance that was there prior to that deposit.
What they tried to do was take the credit, which they should’ve and then charge me that amount as well. Which they SHOULD NOT have done. Then on top of that they looked at our personal account we had with them and then charged that account the amount as well. Which they SHOULD NOT HAVE done.
Now, had I not been on top of our finances and called the bank until I got someone to listen to me and go through it with me, we would’ve ended up owing the bank almost $4000 erroneously. And do you think that they would’ve called and said, “I am so sorry for our f**k up here is your 4 grand back.” Ummmm… no. I like our bank, I think they are great… let’s be realistic.
So my advice to you is this:
Have a separate account for anything that you do on the internet.
Have a hold placed on ANY deposit you are not sure of – I don’t care if it is check from your Uncle.
Stay on top of your finances. – That is what online banking is for!
Do not let up until you find someone that will listen to you!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Thoughts of Gratitude
It is that time of year once again, when we all need to stop and take a moment to look at our life and be thankful for where we are, who we are and for those that have helped to put us here. While I truly believe that this is something we should every day, it seems that around the holidays the feelings are even greater… So here is my list of truly heartfelt gratitude to those that mean more to me then life, to those that have had an influence on my life, those that have helped me be the person I am right now, to those that have that are helping me get to where I want to be and to those that presented challenges that I have over come.
First I thank my husband for being the man that he is and choosing to be with me when he could be with anyone in the world. For giving me unconditional love and support faithfully and loyally.
To our children I thank you for being the individuals that you are, and the good people you are turning out to be. I may not say it enough but there is not a day that goes by that I am not proud of you and truly glad that they universe could’ve given you to anyone but gave you to me.
To my mom, thank you for giving me life, being an inspiration and loving me unconditionally. I know that you sometimes wonder if I am ok or if I miss you, I am and I do. You raised a strong woman and I thank you.
To my sister… it is you I miss the most.
To my brother in law and nephew, next to being having me for a sister you are the greatest things that have ever happened to her and I am so thankful that you are a part of our family. I wish that we got to see you more, but we are looking forward to Christmas.
My brother I love you and hope that you and your family are doing well. Hopefully we will see each other soon.
The Critters… especially Trish, I am so grateful that you are more then friends but you are family. It is hard to remember what life was like before we were friends and I know I can not see a day when we will not be a close and you will not mean as much.
To the Arendts for taking us in and treating us like family.
My heterosexual lifemate, we have traveled an interesting journey together, one that I know will never end. I am incredible grateful to the universe for blessing me with your friendship.
Antonio, I am grateful that you have seen my talents and believe in them and I foresee great things in our working relationship. Truly you are the LOA in action. Thank you!
The Flannerys, I can not even begin to put into words how grateful I am that I have been blessed with your friendship. Michelle if angels walked on Earth I would believe that you are one of them. Know that we all love and appreciate you and your entire family. We have built a lifelong friendship.
The Forrests, thank you for wanting to become friends and knocking on the door to introduce yourself. May distance not hinder the growth of our friendship.
Pam, thank you for giving me the compliment of being “force of nature,” and being the person that you are.
The Stupid Woman and her Inconsiderate Man I thank you for proving that it takes all kinds of people to make up the world, and it is possible live in a dark house with no windows and mirrors so that you can even fool yourself about the type of person you really are. I hope that one day the Inconsiderate man truly becomes a man for the sake of his children and becomes an honest person because his wife deserves better. May the stupid woman open her eyes and realize that she deserves better.
I am grateful to the universe for all that it has provided me and all that it continues to provide.
I know that I have not named every person I am grateful for, but know that there isn’t a person I have come into contact with that had not taught me something and for that I am grateful.
To the loved ones that I have lost, while you may be in the afterworld I am grateful for the memories of you I still hold.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
First I thank my husband for being the man that he is and choosing to be with me when he could be with anyone in the world. For giving me unconditional love and support faithfully and loyally.
To our children I thank you for being the individuals that you are, and the good people you are turning out to be. I may not say it enough but there is not a day that goes by that I am not proud of you and truly glad that they universe could’ve given you to anyone but gave you to me.
To my mom, thank you for giving me life, being an inspiration and loving me unconditionally. I know that you sometimes wonder if I am ok or if I miss you, I am and I do. You raised a strong woman and I thank you.
To my sister… it is you I miss the most.
To my brother in law and nephew, next to being having me for a sister you are the greatest things that have ever happened to her and I am so thankful that you are a part of our family. I wish that we got to see you more, but we are looking forward to Christmas.
My brother I love you and hope that you and your family are doing well. Hopefully we will see each other soon.
The Critters… especially Trish, I am so grateful that you are more then friends but you are family. It is hard to remember what life was like before we were friends and I know I can not see a day when we will not be a close and you will not mean as much.
To the Arendts for taking us in and treating us like family.
My heterosexual lifemate, we have traveled an interesting journey together, one that I know will never end. I am incredible grateful to the universe for blessing me with your friendship.
Antonio, I am grateful that you have seen my talents and believe in them and I foresee great things in our working relationship. Truly you are the LOA in action. Thank you!
The Flannerys, I can not even begin to put into words how grateful I am that I have been blessed with your friendship. Michelle if angels walked on Earth I would believe that you are one of them. Know that we all love and appreciate you and your entire family. We have built a lifelong friendship.
The Forrests, thank you for wanting to become friends and knocking on the door to introduce yourself. May distance not hinder the growth of our friendship.
Pam, thank you for giving me the compliment of being “force of nature,” and being the person that you are.
The Stupid Woman and her Inconsiderate Man I thank you for proving that it takes all kinds of people to make up the world, and it is possible live in a dark house with no windows and mirrors so that you can even fool yourself about the type of person you really are. I hope that one day the Inconsiderate man truly becomes a man for the sake of his children and becomes an honest person because his wife deserves better. May the stupid woman open her eyes and realize that she deserves better.
I am grateful to the universe for all that it has provided me and all that it continues to provide.
I know that I have not named every person I am grateful for, but know that there isn’t a person I have come into contact with that had not taught me something and for that I am grateful.
To the loved ones that I have lost, while you may be in the afterworld I am grateful for the memories of you I still hold.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
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