My car had been making a strange noise. So I took it to the mechanic's.
Me: My car is making a wheezing noise when I accelerate.
Mechanic: A wheezing noise?
Me: Yeah. Like it is gasping for a breathe and wheezing.
Mechanic: {blank stare}
Me: I know cars don't breathe but if they could, mine is wheezing.
Mechanic: Okay, when you accelerate, you say?
Me: Yes.
Mechanic: We'll check that out. Is that all?
Me: No, on the way over here, while driving on the highway, I heard a high pitched whistling sound.
Mechanic: Whistling?
Me: Yes, whistling.
Mechanic: Okay. {Typing slowly into a computer} Is that all?
Me: Yes.
Mechanic: Alright, we'll check those things out.
--30 minutes later--
Mechanic: Ma'm, we're not hearing any noises from your car. It sounds fine.
Me: Oh.
Mechanic: But we'd like to take it for a ride to make sure. Could you come with me and point out the sound?
Me: Sure.
(I must have seemed even more like a space case when after getting into the car I said, "Oh, that's where I left my coffee." It was in the cup holder. Luckily, I didn't add, "At least I didn't leave it on the roof.")
--After 15 minutes of driving --
Mechanic: Have you heard the noise yet?
Me: No. It's quite strange, I was hearing it on my way here this morning.
Mechanic: Well, it sounds fine now. If you hear the noise again later, bring the car back in. It's always good to check those things out.
Me: Thanks.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Monday, August 06, 2007
Spoof, I've got your money
There's a new credit card scam in town. L.L. Bean is the company in question and are currently losing a lot of money. If you have an L.L. Bean Credit Card - watch out. You may want to call and add a password to your account.
My mother, who rarely uses a credit card (she lives by the 'if the money is not in my pocket, I probably cannot afford it' policy, which she has passed on to her greatful children), opened her credit card statement to find over a $9,000 balance! After picking herself up off the floor and realizing the last thing she used the credit card for was to purchase sunglasses from L.L. Bean in April, she called up the company immediately. Turns out, someone (my guess is a disgruntled employee) was able to get her name, credit card number, security code on the back of the card, and probably her address. From that, and via the net, they were able to find out her phone number, birthday, and mother's maiden name... All the information they would need to call and get an ATM card for her account. The person(s) called LL Bean, gave the necessary information and an ATM card and pin number were sent to an address in Toronto Canada! My mother lives in Mass.
Apparently there are not limits on withdrawl amounts for a cash advance from ATM's in Canada, because over $8,700 in cash was withdrawn in a single day from various ATM's in early July. (The interest rate was 81% by the way.) LL Bean thought something was up but figured Bank of America would contact my mother. Bank of America didn't know what was going on and therefore never got in contact with my mother. She is apparently one of the first few in this new scam that is occuring. My mother did get the bill however. She is not being held responsible for the balance but feels violated and rightly so.
I want to know why a flag didn't go up when the ATM card and pin number were being sent to an address in Toronto while the bill was still on record to be sent to MA. It is quite scary. So be careful out there and if you have an L.L. Bean credit card, you may want to call and check in and see about getting a password put on your account.
My mother, who rarely uses a credit card (she lives by the 'if the money is not in my pocket, I probably cannot afford it' policy, which she has passed on to her greatful children), opened her credit card statement to find over a $9,000 balance! After picking herself up off the floor and realizing the last thing she used the credit card for was to purchase sunglasses from L.L. Bean in April, she called up the company immediately. Turns out, someone (my guess is a disgruntled employee) was able to get her name, credit card number, security code on the back of the card, and probably her address. From that, and via the net, they were able to find out her phone number, birthday, and mother's maiden name... All the information they would need to call and get an ATM card for her account. The person(s) called LL Bean, gave the necessary information and an ATM card and pin number were sent to an address in Toronto Canada! My mother lives in Mass.
Apparently there are not limits on withdrawl amounts for a cash advance from ATM's in Canada, because over $8,700 in cash was withdrawn in a single day from various ATM's in early July. (The interest rate was 81% by the way.) LL Bean thought something was up but figured Bank of America would contact my mother. Bank of America didn't know what was going on and therefore never got in contact with my mother. She is apparently one of the first few in this new scam that is occuring. My mother did get the bill however. She is not being held responsible for the balance but feels violated and rightly so.
I want to know why a flag didn't go up when the ATM card and pin number were being sent to an address in Toronto while the bill was still on record to be sent to MA. It is quite scary. So be careful out there and if you have an L.L. Bean credit card, you may want to call and check in and see about getting a password put on your account.
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