Joby's BlogBlog of a Bald Fat Guy

Earlier I posted that I was revamping Need2Blog.com.

That has been done and now it needs your help.

Most of you who read my rantings here at Joby’ Blog are bloggers yourself. I know you have your favorite plugins, addons, widgets etc… so let’s hear them.

You will be given FULL credit for recommending the Blog resource.

Post a comment here on Joby’s Blog or on Need2Blog (here) or use the contact page of Need2Blog (here)

Let’s fill it up with good stuff folks.

- Joby

I am not sure ‘lost’ is the word… more like STOLEN.

About two weeks ago, I went to H&R Block. They were offering an advance against your upcoming taxes. We needed just a little help for Christmas. Last year we received our taxes on the Emerald Debit Card. This advance would be added directly to that card.

Advance granted – Wife determines what gifts and for whom – we plan accordingly… All should be in-line right?

Well not so much.

4 days ago, she decides to check her written balance against the balance listed online. SUPRISE! There is a pending charge to Comcast for $100.00.

The phone calls ensue.

OMGosh! I am used to automated systems… “Press 1 if your irritated” – “Press 2 if your pissed” – “Press 3 before throwing your phone out the &^$% window” – BUT I have never experienced one like I did with H&R Block.

I was informed that although the person on the other end was ‘live’ they would be speaking to me with the assistance of a computer. The auto-responses to my questions/statements/demands were priceless. Think of ‘HAL’ from 2001/2010 or better yet the computer from War Games “Shall we plaaay a Gayyymmee?”

Anyway I digress…

I demand they take the charge from the card as it was not authorized. I explained to them that I had already spoken to Comcast and the charge was not ‘pending’ in my que, nor was it already applied to my balance. In short the $100.00 was not being used to pay MY COMCAST BILL!!!!

The computer spits out some blah blah about my needing to fax a statement in order to get the refund. I “went off” I told the ‘person’ that was not acceptable. Suddenly the computer voice was that of a young Asian woman. Very well versed in the English language. Why did I have to speak to a damn computer when she was perfectly capable? Just one more aggrivation…

Bottom line people… I love H&R Block. I do not however enjoy their fraud protection policy. We have faxed them twice about the issue and have yet to hear as much as an appology.

Looks like the person who got their Comcast paid this month is going to be much happier than my 8yr old who was going to get a Wii, but not now…At least he did not know it was coming.

Enjoy your free cable dooshbag!

- Joby

Let me start off by saying this is not a paid advertisement for either one.

I currently have  AT&T (Cingular) – both on my personal phone and my current work BlackBerry.

The reason I bring up the debate is that my BlackBerry is my lifeline at work. I am “on call” this week so it is absolutely imperative that I am able to receive email. But, they have decided to upgrade their towers to accommodate 3G.

That in itself is great, but did they stop to consider the number of non 3G BB’s there are in the area? Because of their actions, I have to wear two different BlackBerry devices. One from AT&T and one from Verizon.

The Verizon device never faltered or lost connectivity once during the test period.

My employer made a call to our AT&T Rep and informed them that if I did not have service by Monday they were switching me to a new provider.

Now I don’t think myself all that important, but I do find it coincidental that when I got home last night, I had full EDGE connection all night. Even in my basement.

So, tomorrow the Verizon BlackBerry goes back in the drawer and my new BlackBerry – yeah they took away my old clunky 8700 and gave me a Curve to see if it would connect any better – will be come better acquainted .

- Joby