What's bugging you? (2012)

[Patrick425]

A few years ago, we started getting calls from a law firm in GA stating that we owed money for something (I don't even remember what they claimed it was for). The person on the other end was extremely rude and threatening. I looked up the firm on the internet and found several complaints of similar calls. We received 2 or 3 of these calls over a 2 or 3 week period and then they stopped. I never reported it and nothing ever showed up on our credit report. Even though it was obviously an attempted scam to try to scare people into paying off a debt that they did not really owe, it was still a little unnerving at the time.

[Invader3K]

Yeah, a lot of times they will buy a debt, and try to coerce people with the same name or a similar name to pay for it. Like if it's someone named Joe Smith they'll call every Joe Smith in the country and try to claim it's their debt. Very illegal, but unfortunately they get away with it far too often because they scare people with threats.

[hawing]

Yeah, a lot of times they will buy a debt, and try to coerce people with the same name or a similar name to pay for it. Like if it's someone named Joe Smith they'll call every Joe Smith in the country and try to claim it's their debt. Very illegal, but unfortunately they get away with it far too often because they scare people with threats.

So they would call us for the debt of an unrelated third party? The third party has the same first name as my SO, but their surnames are extremely different. It's not like we knew this guy so well that we'd have co-signed a loan with him or something.

 

My concern was that somewhere along the line he might have listed our phone number (without our knowledge or consent) as a way to reach him. That would seriously piss me off, not to mention further justify why we ended the friendship in '05.

[Nottso]

As some of you already know, my wife (name withheld) is a Correctional Officer. Inmate threats happen from time to time and are mostly just a bunch of hot air. Unfortunately they just let one out that has threatened unnamed wife's life, as well as the life of a female Sergeant, that's crazy enough and has enough history to be taken seriously.

 

This particular little turd also lives in the next town over, which is only 4 miles away. His picture has been sent to local law enforcement agencies, and our local cops have added an extra patrol past our place. His picture is also posted at each entrance to the house and in all of our vehicles. The female Sergeant mentioned above has taken the same measures.

 

The wife is on lock-down. She isn't to leave the house without myself, my son in law, or a co-worker at her side. Just another day in the life of a Wisconsin public servant.

[PrestigeWorldwide]

Just another day in the life of a Wisconsin public servant.

 

My wife was an assistant district attorney for five years and had her life threatened several times. We had to implement the same measures you described numerous times. Scary.

[jjgott]

Yeah, a lot of times they will buy a debt, and try to coerce people with the same name or a similar name to pay for it. Like if it's someone named Joe Smith they'll call every Joe Smith in the country and try to claim it's their debt. Very illegal, but unfortunately they get away with it far too often because they scare people with threats.

So they would call us for the debt of an unrelated third party? The third party has the same first name as my SO, but their surnames are extremely different. It's not like we knew this guy so well that we'd have co-signed a loan with him or something.

 

My concern was that somewhere along the line he might have listed our phone number (without our knowledge or consent) as a way to reach him. That would seriously piss me off, not to mention further justify why we ended the friendship in '05.

 

Yeah, if you take out federal student loans, you are required to list two "references" who do not live with you in case they skip out on payments. Most likely you were listed by this guy as a reference. I always asked the people I had to list if I could list them before filling out my loan application. I'm not sure if ignoring the calls or answering and saying you were listed as a reference in error would be a better course of action.

[hawing]

Well, we haven't received another of those calls, so at the moment I am inclined to let sleeping dogs lie (while knocking wood and touching iron). If I'm ever actually home when a call like this comes, I'll waste no time stating that we were listed as a reference without our knowledge or consent.

 

That is some kind of chutzpah, listing an acquaintance for something like that with no notification. Hmph.

[1992casey]

The WTMJ traffic reporter bugs me. She speaks so fast that I can't understand a word she says. She reminds me of the Kara character on [cite]The Cosby Show.[/cite]

[hawing]

The night staff at my library reported that a visitor last night was irate because (among other things) our copy card dispenser doesn't accept $100 bills.

 

How common is it for vending equipment to be programmed for $100 bills? If that's what I was carrying (and, sidenote, I don't think I've ever been in personal possession of a $100 bill), I don't think I would expect every service provider I came in contact with to be prepared for that denomination.

 

From the night staff's description of this patron's tirade, it sounds like she came with many unrealistic expectations - but the $100 bill issue is for some reason the one that fascinates me most.

[Bikeage77]

We moved two months ago and while I shoulda known better, found out this morning that our street has same side parking. so my day started out with a $20 parking ticket. that's not how Fridays should begin. It just ain't right.

[Bikeage77]

It also drives me up a wall when people try to throw "AKA" into facebook or message board posts.

 

Proper use: "I'm going to Miller Park AKA The Keg"

 

Improper use: "I'm going to brewerfan.net AKA that's when I get all hammered and post things on the drunk thread"

 

How hard is it to just re-read "also known as" to see if that makes sense. It's not that difficult, yet people screw it up constantly.

[TURBO]

facebook in general bugs me...

 

[hawing]

The night staff at my library reported that a visitor last night was irate because (among other things) our copy card dispenser doesn't accept $100 bills.

 

How common is it for vending equipment to be programmed for $100 bills? If that's what I was carrying (and, sidenote, I don't think I've ever been in personal possession of a $100 bill), I don't think I would expect every service provider I came in contact with to be prepared for that denomination.

 

From the night staff's description of this patron's tirade, it sounds like she came with many unrealistic expectations - but the $100 bill issue is for some reason the one that fascinates me most.

Update: The patron called Friday morning to continue her tirade. She literally told my colleague that she's from Vegas and EVERYONE accepts $100 bills there. OK...I'm sure they do. on the strip. Maybe not in the public library for 25-cent copies.

[Patrick425]

Well, if my son ends up attending Madison after he graduates from high school, I'll have to make him aware of this completely antiquated copy card dispenser that does not accept $100 bills. This would be quite the hardship for him to have to endure. In fact this might cause him to take UW-Madison off his list of possible colleges to attend.

[sauveb]

The colleague should have told her that when someone in Vegas puts a quarter into a machine and gets exactly what they want those $100 bills are commonly given as tips.

[1992casey]

If she's from Vegas, what are the chances of this woman even making $100 worth of copies? Is she going to expect a refund when she leaves?

[Invader3K]

When I was in Vegas a few months back, an atm fee alone was like six bucks, so who knows what other crazy stuff people are used to there.

[hawing]

Actually, Patrick425, the technology that so infuriated Vegas Patron is on its way out in the next year or two. So don't dissuade your son from UW-Madison just for that reason. Besides, if he keeps a flash drive on him, he can scan for free.

[Baldkin]

The "Honey Badger" Badger-5 lottery ticket radio commercial.

[Patrick425]

http://media.jrn.com/images/650*420/29828121-ap_aptopix_mideast_egypt.jpg

 

 

This image that was in the Journal/Sentinel this morning is bothering me because the lack of any real description that went with it. There was a story about the protests in Egypt that accompanied the story. However, the caption that accompanied the picture, only said this:

 

Protesters push soldiers Sunday in front of the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's opposition called for more protests, seeking to keep up the momentum of its street campaign after the president made a partial concession overnight but refused to rescind a Dec. 15 referendum on a draft constitution.

 

That's actually the caption from the JSonline website. The caption that was in the physical newspaper was even less descriptive. I have several questions regarding this picture, but two big ones:

 

- What is really going on here? Why is the father with his two children facing the opposite way of the crowd and why are several people in the crowd extending their arms and pushing him and his children towards the soldiers?

- What is the deal with the solder that is 2 or 3 people deep directly behind the father with the two children. What is he smiling about during this seemingly very tense situation?

 

Not looking for any taboo political discussion on this forum regarding the situation in Egypt. I just find the picture fascinating and I want more information!!

[NeedMoreFans]

My mother treating me like I'm still a child even though I'm 32. I have a great uncle that is apparently turning 80 on Thursday, and she sent my sister and I an e-mail suggesting we send him a birthday card. I don't even send my grandparents birthday cards.

[Nottso]

My mother treating me like I'm still a child even though I'm 32. I have a great uncle that is apparently turning 80 on Thursday, and she sent my sister and I an e-mail suggesting we send him a birthday card. I don't even send my grandparents birthday cards.

 

I tell my ma (with finger point for emphasis): "Don't talk crazy or you're going to the home." Works like a charm.

[hawing]

My mother treating me like I'm still a child even though I'm 32. I have a great uncle that is apparently turning 80 on Thursday, and she sent my sister and I an e-mail suggesting we send him a birthday card. I don't even send my grandparents birthday cards.

I can tell from your post that this must be a general pattern with your mother, but does she usually harp on you for relatives' birthday cards? I'm only asking because 80 is a milestone year, so maybe that was part of her request this time.

 

Fun fact that belongs more in the random thoughts thread, but I'm putting it here: One of my grandfathers and one of my great-aunts turned 90 the same year. It caused quite a stir among the card store ladies in Monroe when my mom went looking for a "90th birthday" card in both March and June.

[1992casey]

I think it's the milestone age. In typical years, one probably wouldn't send a card to a great uncle.

 

I hate the card thing in general, though. I wouldn't mind if they weren't so bad. They're either syrupy, tasteless, unfunny, or whatever.

 

My great aunts and uncles are long gone, and on one side of the family, you'd have needed a scorecard to keep track of them. I'd see some of them occasionally as a kid. I'd say "hi," they'd say "my how you've grown," and then I'd hang out with relatives closer to my age.

 

But I have an aunt who'll turn 90 this summer. She'll probably get both a card and a phone call. Under normal circumstances, I prefer phone calls for communicating with my aunts. I'll call each of them three or four times a year.

 

On another note, Time Warner cable customers are going to lose their ability to plug a TV directly into a wall cable outlet. Granted, that method sucks for HDTV and satellite customers are used to needing boxes. But it's still one of the few current advantages to cable, and it does work well with old sets.

[Patrick425]

On another note, Time Warner cable customers are going to lose their ability to plug a TV directly into a wall cable outlet. Granted, that method sucks for HDTV and satellite customers are used to needing boxes. But it's still one of the few current advantages to cable, and it does work well with old sets.

 

Wait...What!? Link please. If this is true, then my days with TWC may be coming to a close. It has been one of the biggest arguments for sticking with TWC. We have two boxes, but we also have TVs in the kitchen, basement, and 3 bedrooms without boxes.