I would suggest following up with the young gentleman in a couple of weeks re feedback to him from bosses about the letter.
Good idea. That branch of the bank is apparently a training center (it's located a few blocks from our local university), so there's a lot of turn-over. He might well be moved to a bigger and better position by the next time I actually go into the bank. However, I have his email, which I assume will be his as long as he works for that bank (one of the largest in the country).
TICTH earthquakes. 6.4 yesterday morning, and 7.1 this evening. I'm over 150 miles away from the epicenter, but that last one was a bit much. The folks out in Ridgecrest must be besides themselves.
TICTH travel booking websites (Skyscanner, I'm looking at YOU) that don't accept payment by debit card, and travel booking websites (Expedia, I'm looking at YOU) that say they accept payment by debit card but don't.
We don't currently have a credit card, and pre-paid ones only seem to go up to $500, which is un fat lot de bon. I suppose we'll have to use a travel agent, but I begrudge their fees when I could do it myself.
Thanks, Huia. We had a swarm of earthquakes in the 80s and early 90s, but I don't think I've felt a big shake since the Northridge quake 25 years ago. Stuff didn't even fall off my shelves because I'm so far away, but feeling two in two days seems like a bit much.
Over 7 is pretty damn big, isn't it? Having never lived anywhere seismically interesting, I really can't imagine the feeling of an earthquake. Prayers that you all stay safe.
7 and up is considered a major earthquake, and this one was felt here in Los Angeles County, in Las Vegas, and as far north as San Jose (which is a little south of San Francisco). Fortunately this is taking place on a relatively small fault in a lightly populated area, but some folks at the epicenter will have serious damage.
@Piglet, would they accept PayPal? I have found it secure, and if you’re suspicious about it, you can always cut off the payment methods once you’ve used it. It can be set up to draw from a debit or credit card or, I think, direct from your bank. (Forgive me if you know all this already.)
Getting back to passwords, my approach is to use something from my past life that a hacker would not know. One possible system (not the one I use) is first names, last names, or nicknames of your childhood friends. You can string them together in an order that's easy for you to remember because of a specific episode. You include one or more numbers that belong to this part of your life, e.g. the number of your scout troop.
I use lyrics of things I connect with whatever I'm trying to password, then initial letter of words of half a verse or more, then l33t - changing letters for numbers or symbols. Or things from my past that aren't obvious.
Getting back to passwords . . . one possible system (not the one I use) is first names, last names, or nicknames of your childhood friends.
Nevertheless, be careful. Software available to hackers will check common words, common names, and even common nicknames.
At a law firm where I worked in the IT department, we had about 700 users. In connection with a particular software upgrade, we had to know users' passwords. Naturally lawyers had all kinds of objections re letting us have them. One of our staff members . . . well, let's just say he "knew about these things." He turned a particular piece of software loose one Friday evening, and on Saturday morning we had all but about a dozen or so of the 700 passwords!
Reg numbers of old cars seem to stick in my head, and are a combo of letters and numbers. And 'Dad's blue Cortina' is a neat prompt that no-one else is going to know, not even him
I did wonder about that - I have a PayPal account that I've used for buying clothes online - but the travel websites don't seem to mention it, so I'm inclined to think not.
It would be worth asking re PayPal - it's a useful tool, and AFAICT quite reliable.
I can also recall the registration numbers of my Dad's Hillman Minx and subsequent Austin Somerset (both now classic cars), but not, for some reason, that of the rather splendid Wolseley 6/80 (more engine than car) which succeeded the Austin.
Ahem.
TICTH the OPer of a certain pair of threads, who is trying my patience summink rotten, to the extent that I have considered a call to Proper Hell™.
However, I can't be bothered - it's not worth it - and the glass of red WINE I have by me is far more interesting and enjoyable. Besides, I have no popcorn available.
But a little bit of Hellish flaming might Do Some Good.
Hey! I had a blue Cortina (Mk 1, of course), and I can remember the registration number...
Ours was a MkII- 1300, no 1600E nonsense for us, even if we were an Essex Family. (That's a security breach, since you now know the last character of my password is somewhere between what, E and K (or was it J) missing out I ). We had a yellow MKIII after that with a spectacular mustard vinyl interior. Oh how it burned the backs of my legs, in shorts.
...Despite a large increase of illegal fireworks being set off in recent years, the city's big idea for dealing with it this year consists of a PR campaign. Sure, scofflaws are going to see that placard on the bus that says fireworks are illegal and think better of it.
The police hereabouts made a big deal about how they were stepping up enforcement in the run-up to the Fourth, but when I called them to complain, they told me they could do nothing unless I gave them an exact address.
I gave them the street name, but they wanted a house number. "Ma'am, we can't just send officers to drive around and look for people setting off fireworks." Mind you, it was after 11 p.m. in a suburban neighborhood, and it would probably have been pretty easy to spot them.
Stopped clocks, ill winds, etc. If the damned tariffs can't be stopped on other things, it would be nice if the Law of Unintended Consequences could make this a quieter time of year.
TICTH Starbucks. Not content with calling the police to remove two African American customers last year because they didn't buy anything, yesterday they asked a group of policemen to leave because they were "making people uncomfortable." Why can't they be like all the other fast food places, sell you your food if you come up and ask for it and then ignore everything that happens in the dining area, including spilled drinks, dirty tables, and loud arguments.
Next they'll be asking attractive young people to leave because they might tempt customers to do something naughty. Gives "You're the cream in my coffee" a whole new meaning.
[Songwriters Ray Henderson, Buddy G. DeSylva and Lew Brown are turning in their graves, and Miss Amanda is reaching for her wrap.]
I've always found Starbucks overpriced and underwhelming.
I only ever patronise it if I've arranged to meet D. in Chapters bookshop, which has a Starbucks in it, and offers the comfort of a chair and table where one can sit and do a crossword or read a book.
I've always found Starbucks overpriced and underwhelming.
This. I like strong coffee but theirs is ridiculous! Maybe they'll throw out their yuppie customers next on the grounds that they discourage the hoi polloi from coming in. Then they'll throw out the hoi polloi because they keep the yuppies away.
This talk of fireworks has reminded me of an incident from my past. I'd guess I was about 10 years old when we went to the next town to us to watch a fireworks show. It was in a park in the middle of town. In the midst of things, a star shell went off on the ground. Pretty spectacular!
We heard the next day that a neighbor boy suffered a broken leg. It didn't occur to me until years later to wonder if he'd had any involvement in the accident. That family seemed to get into interesting scrapes...
Underwhelming is not just my opinion but that of many down here. Some years ago they closed over 90% of Australian outlets. Over heated, burnt beans and SWEET! Banner Lady’s daughter kept a job, I think. BL does not seem to have joined new Ship. I miss her.
TICTH the blithering idiot who closed the west doors of the Cathedral this morning just after the procession, thereby denying us the lovely little breeze that had been doing its best to keep the place a civilised temperature.
TICH Christchurch City Council. The arterial road that my small road is connected to is being dug up and traffic has been re-routed down our quiet little Crescent. I understand the necessity, but the flyer in my letterbox only referred vaguely to "traffic diversions" -it didn't actually say what was happening andit was delivered after the close of business on Friday, so it wasn't possible to ring and check what specifically was happening.
Of course it doesn't help that I am feeling delicate (and grumpy) with a cold and a headache.
Ugh, I feel your pain. Literally, that is. They are building a new roundabout where a major road intersects with the highway and while traffic can go through there, anyone who wants to avoid it is going down my street. This has been going on for a month and it is going to take at least another month. So many cars and trucks and noise. And that delivery, I called our City Council on doing that and am hoping they won't do it again. Actually went in a spoke to it at a meeting - bitterly, I was not a happy camper to be notified of an important meeting that way.
They say here in Fredericton that there are two seasons: Winter and Construction, and so it has proved. We're having to go all round the houses to get to the Cathedral, and some of the diversions lead to roads that have had their surfaces removed ...
Mind you, I have every admiration for the brave souls who actually do the roadworks in 30°-plus heat!
Went to MW a church yesterday afternoon that, on their website, advertised a youth-led prayer service at 5:00. Some distance from home. Pulled into the parking lot and waited for others to show. At 4:55 no other cars had arrived, and no signs of life otherwise. Left and stopped for dinner on the way home at a favorite spot.
Pity -- looked like an interesting church. A denomination I didn't even know existed until someone mentioned it on another thread. I may give them another try another time.
But how do you expect to attract new members if you can't even bother to update your website with accurate service times? If the "youth-led prayer service" was accurately advertised, clearly no one showed for it, so attracting new members might just be in your best interest, don't you think?
I'm delighted to report that flights have now been booked, albeit through a travel agent. We went to the bank and asked if there was a reason why Expedia wouldn't accept a debit card when the website said they would, but didn't really get an answer, so we thought, sod it, the travel agency is just down the road.
It cost rather more than doing it ourselves, but I think it was a better plan than trying to phone them to find out why they wouldn't take our card.
Strangely, when I went to book a B&B for the nights before and after the wedding we're going over for, Expedia were quite happy to accept the same card.
Based on past experience, I've concluded that Expedia's level of "customer service" is not only bottom-of-barrel, but bottom of the pit under the floor on which the barrel rests.
I once booked a flight from Phoenix to San Diego via Expedia. After checking in, getting my seat assignment, passing through security, and waiting at the gate for the flight to arrive (it was late), I happened to check my e-mail. There was a message waiting for me from Expedia saying that my San Diego ticket had been canceled and that instead I had been booked on a flight to Dallas. I checked with the gate attendant and was told that sure enough, my ticket had been canceled and my seat had been reassigned to a standby passenger. Fortunately there was still a seat left, so I was able to get on the flight after all (once it finally arrived at the gate, that is).
Expedia "customer service" told me blame the airline, not them. But the cancellation had come from them, not the airline!
Ever since then I have booked flights directly with the airline, never again with Expedia.
I'd like to moan long and hard about the management company of the block of flats where my mother lived before we moved her into a care home. We are selling the flat and everything should be pretty straightforward, except they are not providing the buyer's solicitors with the information they require in anything like a timely fashion. They are charging us about 50% over the going rate for the privilege of (not) passing on the information, which is just rubbing salt in the wounds.
@Sarasa Buying and selling properties is stressful at the best of times - you mother's management company sound ghastly.... Wishing you the guts and tenacity to keep going in spite of their unhelpful behaviour. (Well, "unhelpful" is putting it very mildly.)
Buying and selling properties is stressful at the best of times
Over here, the latest trend is companies that will buy your house as-is, with no inspection, no repairs, and no closing costs, at a fair price.
After listing my condo through a Realtor for what seemed forever, and showing it to many who seemed interested but never made an offer, and to one who made an offer but then withdrew it, I finally turned to two of these companies.
The first made me an offer that I thought was too low. The second made me a higher offer that I thought was fair, so I accepted it.
The transaction went smoothly without any glitches at all.
@Amanda B Reckondwyth How interesting that it is worthwhile for these companies to make offers in this way...but I'm delighted to hear there was a good outcome!
I've seen adverts for those type of companies in the US @Amanda B Reckondwyth but have always thought they'd probably give you too low a price. Good to hear different. I think I'll call the buyer's solicitors to hell too. Having claimed they hadn't had information, they now admit their email wasn't working properly, oh and they are being very, very picky.
I've seen adverts for those type of companies in the US but have always thought they'd probably give you too low a price.
The price is especially reasonable when you consider that you have no closing costs, including broker's fee. If I had sold my condo the traditional way, my closing costs would have been about $7000. So I was able to accept an offer less than what I might have gotten the traditional way but still fair.
I gather that similar companies operate in Ukland, though I have no idea if they're OK, or not! Caveat emptor , as usual, but perhaps worth checking out, if the usual channels suck...
I wonder if we could do with a company like that to buy my dad's old house. It's structurally fine and in a good postcode, but needs a bit of (mostly cosmetic) TLC, as things like the kitchen, bathrooms and decor are very dated. Sadly, my sister thinks the asking price isn't high enough, so I suspect we'll be in for a long wait.
Not sure how it works in Scotland, but selling a house by auction can be a good way of proceeding. A good auction firm will advise as to a suitable price.
I did this with My Old Mum's place - it wasn't exactly in VGC, having been damaged in a gas explosion (quite apart from having 1960s décor, and precious little in the way of 'mod cons'!), but the eventual selling price comfortably exceeded the reserve price.
Naturally, there were various fees and commissions to pay, but still, the end result was satisfactory, and hassle-free, as far as I was concerned. I was, perhaps, fortunate, inasmuch as there were at least two people bidding agin each other at the auction proper. This, of course, can't be guaranteed, but, if the house doesn't reach the reserve price, at least you won't have lost anything (much)!
I wonder if we could do with a company like that to buy my dad's old house. It's structurally fine and in a good postcode, but needs a bit of (mostly cosmetic) TLC, as things like the kitchen, bathrooms and decor are very dated. Sadly, my sister thinks the asking price isn't high enough, so I suspect we'll be in for a long wait.
I'd be looking for somewhere like that...not everyone wants to pay top whack for someone else's taste in recently-upgraded interior decor, especially if you don't like recent trends towards what my builder mate describes as 'Darth Vader's kitchen'. Most of the UK 'I buy anything' ads I have seen look like people trying to make a fast profit out of folks who *need* to sell. Not a nice position to be in.
All the agents who have viewed the Dowager's house (50 years old and not seriously upgraded in 40) say not to tart it up with a new kitchen or bathroom as any new owner will want to 'put their stamp on it' and 'make it their own' <projectile vomiting>, but good advice all the same.
Mrs. S, decrying estate agents' version of 'English'
Comments
TICTH travel booking websites (Skyscanner, I'm looking at YOU) that don't accept payment by debit card, and travel booking websites (Expedia, I'm looking at YOU) that say they accept payment by debit card but don't.
We don't currently have a credit card, and pre-paid ones only seem to go up to $500, which is un fat lot de bon. I suppose we'll have to use a travel agent, but I begrudge their fees when I could do it myself.
At a law firm where I worked in the IT department, we had about 700 users. In connection with a particular software upgrade, we had to know users' passwords. Naturally lawyers had all kinds of objections re letting us have them. One of our staff members . . . well, let's just say he "knew about these things." He turned a particular piece of software loose one Friday evening, and on Saturday morning we had all but about a dozen or so of the 700 passwords!
I can also recall the registration numbers of my Dad's Hillman Minx and subsequent Austin Somerset (both now classic cars), but not, for some reason, that of the rather splendid Wolseley 6/80 (more engine than car) which succeeded the Austin.
Ahem.
TICTH the OPer of a certain pair of threads, who is trying my patience summink rotten, to the extent that I have considered a call to Proper Hell™.
However, I can't be bothered - it's not worth it - and the glass of red WINE I have by me is far more interesting and enjoyable. Besides, I have no popcorn available.
But a little bit of Hellish flaming might Do Some Good.
Ours was a MkII- 1300, no 1600E nonsense for us, even if we were an Essex Family. (That's a security breach, since you now know the last character of my password is somewhere between what, E and K (or was it J) missing out I
I gave them the street name, but they wanted a house number. "Ma'am, we can't just send officers to drive around and look for people setting off fireworks." Mind you, it was after 11 p.m. in a suburban neighborhood, and it would probably have been pretty easy to spot them.
Stopped clocks, ill winds, etc. If the damned tariffs can't be stopped on other things, it would be nice if the Law of Unintended Consequences could make this a quieter time of year.
[Songwriters Ray Henderson, Buddy G. DeSylva and Lew Brown are turning in their graves, and Miss Amanda is reaching for her wrap.]
I only ever patronise it if I've arranged to meet D. in Chapters bookshop, which has a Starbucks in it, and offers the comfort of a chair and table where one can sit and do a crossword or read a book.
This. I like strong coffee but theirs is ridiculous! Maybe they'll throw out their yuppie customers next on the grounds that they discourage the hoi polloi from coming in. Then they'll throw out the hoi polloi because they keep the yuppies away.
We heard the next day that a neighbor boy suffered a broken leg. It didn't occur to me until years later to wonder if he'd had any involvement in the accident. That family seemed to get into interesting scrapes...
Of course it doesn't help that I am feeling delicate (and grumpy) with a cold and a headache.
Mind you, I have every admiration for the brave souls who actually do the roadworks in 30°-plus heat!
Pity -- looked like an interesting church. A denomination I didn't even know existed until someone mentioned it on another thread. I may give them another try another time.
But how do you expect to attract new members if you can't even bother to update your website with accurate service times? If the "youth-led prayer service" was accurately advertised, clearly no one showed for it, so attracting new members might just be in your best interest, don't you think?
It cost rather more than doing it ourselves, but I think it was a better plan than trying to phone them to find out why they wouldn't take our card.
Strangely, when I went to book a B&B for the nights before and after the wedding we're going over for, Expedia were quite happy to accept the same card.
I once booked a flight from Phoenix to San Diego via Expedia. After checking in, getting my seat assignment, passing through security, and waiting at the gate for the flight to arrive (it was late), I happened to check my e-mail. There was a message waiting for me from Expedia saying that my San Diego ticket had been canceled and that instead I had been booked on a flight to Dallas. I checked with the gate attendant and was told that sure enough, my ticket had been canceled and my seat had been reassigned to a standby passenger. Fortunately there was still a seat left, so I was able to get on the flight after all (once it finally arrived at the gate, that is).
Expedia "customer service" told me blame the airline, not them. But the cancellation had come from them, not the airline!
Ever since then I have booked flights directly with the airline, never again with Expedia.
@Sarasa Buying and selling properties is stressful at the best of times - you mother's management company sound ghastly.... Wishing you the guts and tenacity to keep going in spite of their unhelpful behaviour. (Well, "unhelpful" is putting it very mildly.)
After listing my condo through a Realtor for what seemed forever, and showing it to many who seemed interested but never made an offer, and to one who made an offer but then withdrew it, I finally turned to two of these companies.
The first made me an offer that I thought was too low. The second made me a higher offer that I thought was fair, so I accepted it.
The transaction went smoothly without any glitches at all.
I did this with My Old Mum's place - it wasn't exactly in VGC, having been damaged in a gas explosion (quite apart from having 1960s décor, and precious little in the way of 'mod cons'!), but the eventual selling price comfortably exceeded the reserve price.
Naturally, there were various fees and commissions to pay, but still, the end result was satisfactory, and hassle-free, as far as I was concerned. I was, perhaps, fortunate, inasmuch as there were at least two people bidding agin each other at the auction proper. This, of course, can't be guaranteed, but, if the house doesn't reach the reserve price, at least you won't have lost anything (much)!
I'd be looking for somewhere like that...not everyone wants to pay top whack for someone else's taste in recently-upgraded interior decor, especially if you don't like recent trends towards what my builder mate describes as 'Darth Vader's kitchen'.
Mrs. S, decrying estate agents' version of 'English'