valeka's Blog

I wasn't surprised to hear about the man in Seffner who has had tremendous difficulty with Capital One.  For over a year I wrangled with them over a different issue.  I was the victim of a theft.  Someone helped themselves to my mailbox and managed to cash one of the courtesy checks that came with my Capital One bill. 

I immediately notified Capital one...the "What's in your wallet" people.  Did they do anything they guarantee in their written materials regarding the theft?  No.  I followed the complaint format to the letter.  I notified them in writing within the required amount of time, I filed a formal complaint with their "fraud squad" and each month sent a letter asking for the status of the investigation.  I couldn't even get them to tell me where the check had been cashed, or whom it had been made out to.

In August of last year, after 5 months of no response from Capital ONE except for their demand that I pay the $268 that someone helped themselves to, and the late charges I incurred because I didn't know I was supposed to pay this disputed claim...they sent a letter telling me that the case had been resolved.  The letter did NOT say how it had been resolved.  I wrote, and wrote and wrote...I called...I got people with accents so heavy I could barely understand them (and I've lived around the world and can pick up things pretty quickly) who were obviously reading scripts and had no clue about what I was asking. A basic understanding of English words does not give an understanding of concepts or questions. 

Capital one has never investigated, called or even attempted to take care of this former customer.  So isn't it interesting that they can use intimidation and harassment when someone owes them $400, but if they owe it to the consumer--and they do owe me--they are suddenly completely and absolutely silent.  My heart goes out to the man that lost his temper--I truly do know how frustrated and upset he feels.

One of the routes I like to take home winds through some tall oak trees, through a couple of orchards, down by a lake and then through some picturesque fields where horses and cows graze and then to my little road. 

For some reason the orchards on Kingsway Road seem to call anyone who has an old couch to toss away, an old microwave, video recorder, bags of trash, unused insulation, chairs, toys...well, you get the idea.  I don't know who owns the orchards but I do know that they have to clean up after the thoughtless people that dump their trash there. 

I wanted to write something witty and profound about this, but the truth is, I'm too disgusted.  There's nothing funny about throwing an old mattress into a field because you're too sorry to take it to the dump, put it out during the yearly "large refuse" collection times, or call someone to come and get it.  Well, here's a message from a country girl:  We Don't Want Your Trash!  And dumping is illegal. 

Here's hoping the illegal dumpers all get caught!

I was a little concerned about the new set and having to become accustomed to a new morning anchor all in the same week, but I am so glad I tuned in early this morning.  First of all, the new set is a delight!  It looks rich and really seems to showcase what you all are trying to do--present the news in a perfect setting.  And Narissa (I apologize if I'm spelling her name incorrectly) Prest is wonderful.

My favorite moment was when Dave Osterburg was saying something cute and she said that Tom had been a perfect gentleman but she just *knew* she was going to have a little bit of trouble with Dave.  I laughed right out loud! 

Thanks for giving me a good early morning chuckle.

Excuse me for preaching here, but I suddenly feel a need to add to Fox's already impressive stories about car rip off places.  Every time your investigative team does one of these, my man and I cheer.

I went to get my oil changed at a place that offered a coupon for the service.  I explained in VERY clear terms that this was all I wanted.  My husband is a mechanic but if the price is right, we can actually save money by utilizing a discounted oil change.  While I was waiting I listened to the service rep come in and tell an older lady that her car needed a complete radiator flush because the fluid in the radiator was the wrong color...she said, "But I've been bringing it to you."  He didn't bat an eye.  He claimed that the auto makers put in the wrong coolant and she needed to change it immediately before it ate holes in her radiator.  Her car appeared to be about 5 years old with no leaking underneath. Even I know that coolant comes in several colors and the reddish one is just fine. I did my best to try and assure her that she might want to consult with the folks at her nearest auto supply store (FOR FREE!) but she made the appointment for the radiator flush because she didn't believe he would be telling her something that wasn't absolutely true.

The same rep also told me that I needed to replace a tire because he could tell it had a slow leak.  There was and is nothing--and I mean NOTHING--wrong with that tire. We check our tires regularly and this one has never even gone low on me. These folks are supposed to sell-up and it's up to us as drivers and consumers to get second opinions.

If you aren't aware, you can do this for free.  You can go and talk to the people at your local auto supply place and it won't cost a thing.  At some of them they'll even come out to your car and hook up a device that will help them and you determine exactly what is wrong with your car.  It's a neat little meter and again, the service is free.  They will also install the windshield wipers you purchase from them at no charge.  In my experience, they want to help you do as much yourself or with their assistance so you will be riding in a safe and cost-effective vehicle. 

In this case, it's true, some of the best things (services) in life are free!

What is the worst road in the area?  I read Floyd Freak's post and I don't travel Hwy 60, but I do occasionally take Nebraska into downtown.  What a rough ride that is!  There are some potholes out there that can completely alter the frame of your car if you aren't careful.  There's also one on Thonotosassa Road that's a real doozy.  What about trying to make your way down Busch, or the part of Waters Avenue that hasn't quite been upgraded to match the newer parts? 

I would love to know what other people think is the worst road in Hillsborough County.  Oh, and if we had a contest, do you think our Department of Transportation might pay some attention to that worst road?

I forgot to engage my brain before opening my mouth and announced to the entire family that I'd be thrilled to have my 3 little grandsons (all under the age of 7) spend the weekend with me.  When my babies were young, we found a lot of things to do at little or no cost.  But I've been out of the loop for awhile.  I could really use some practical suggestions on fun and interesting things to do in the Tampa Bay area that won't wipe out my retirement fund.

Many Thanks,

    Granny V

     I attended the informal Hartline hearings to find out about the proposed changes for the 28X bus that travels from just outside Plant City to downtown Tampa.  What I learned was such a shock!  First of all, Hartline is not in Plant City.  If you've ever wondered why you can't catch a Hartline bus from Plant City to Tampa, it's because Plant City voted (before I became a rider) not to be included as a part of Hartline. 

     What this means is that Hartline has had to work around Plant City's insistance that they can provide their own services by getting close, but not INTO Plant City.  That type of short-sighted thinking boggles the mind!  How crowded do our roads have to be before the city fathers realize that we all have to work together to move people from one point to another?

    The proposed service is not perfect as one of the new locations doesn't have any type of shelter so it's going to be a very wet wait in rainy weather.  But given the restrictions on the bus service by people who seem to have forgotten that we lost out on an olympic bid because we don't have a good mass transit system, it's going to be okay.

     Oh, and if you have never visited the downtown Hartline transit center, you may want to stop in there and see just how crowded and busy it is during the week.  If you provide the busses, Hillsborough County, the riders will come.

    Hartline is presently proposing a change to the 28X bus that travels from Plant City to downtown Tampa twice in the morning, and back from Tampa twice in the late afternoon.  What is being proposed is that the bus change from making several stops on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard to picking up passengers only on Thonotosassa Road in Plant City and at the Baptist Church at the intersection of hwy 92 and Mango Road.  According to Hartline, this will eliminate parking in areas where Hartline does not have contractual permission to use the parking lots as park n ride stops, such as Walmart and Winn Dixie.   They also believe that this will also mean a faster commute once road work starts on sr 579 (Mango Road). 

   Since the parking lot at the Baptist Church is already amost full every day, where will people park?  In my opinion, forcing regular bus riders to drive a distance to the park and ride will make it seem easier for them to just drive the entire way to work--which will only feed the present traffic problems.  Aren't there other places that could be used as Park & Ride stations?  Perhaps on hwy 92?      

    Hartline has scheduled 2 hearings, one to be held at 5:30 this Friday, March 16 and the other one on Monday, March 19.  For more information, please go to the Hartline Website.  If you'd like to keep a few of us Plant City folks on the bus and off I-4 in our cars, you have a stake in this.  And if you have property that could be used as a park and ride, HELP!  Hartline and the bus riders need you.

    In case you don't venture downtown often, we've had some excitement here today.  The workers pulled up in front of the Edgecomb building (the newest courthouse) and began putting up a big statue.  I am guessing that the statue is Lady Justice...but with the gold adorment that looks like Gasparilla beads around her head and neck, I don't think I'll be the only person to mistake her for a Gasparilla wench. 

     Is it just me or does it seem a bit strange that the same congress that can't balance the budget can change time?  This year, despite how it will confuse our computer calendars, congress has decided we're leaping into daylight savings time early to "save energy."  Whose energy?  I'm exhausted just thinking about how tired I'm going to be when I have to get up an hour earlier to go to work.  Even more tiring is thinking about what congress might decide to change next

     Still, having some additional daylight hours could mean more time for the local road crews to finish the road projects they've started.  More daylight could mean more time for city and county planners to take a good look at what we're losing every time a big developer decides to raze an orchard or fill in some wetlands for some more apartments or homes.  More daylight could mean a chance for us all to take a good look as a county where we've been and where we're going.  And that spirit, the one that has us writing letters, calling friends and reminding them that their votes and opinions count, and doing what we can to ensure healthy neighborhoods, is one thing congress can't change.--well, that and the crow of the rooster in our neighborhood who *never* has been able to figure out when it's really time to get up!

I was so excited when I saw the construction equipment showing up on state road 579(Mango Road) in Seffner.  The road has needed resurfacing for a long time.  I didn't even mind that my truck rocked like a coconut in a typhoon as I made my way down uneven lanes or waited as the construction group moved heavy equipment.  Surely the new road would be smoother and have turn lanes in such important places as Joe Ebert road where a new subdivision snarls traffic, or Pruett Road where there are plans for even more development as well as the daily school traffic.  WAHOO! 

And then the work stopped.  Oh sure, the road is smoother once you get on it.  It's the getting on that jars a person's breakfast.  And where are the turn lanes?  A crew came along and scraped our road, put down new surfacing but it is just as difficult to manueuver from Pruett road on to 579 as it ever was.  So, here's a word to the wise for folks living on the other side of I-4 on 579--don't get your hopes up when you see the construction gear arriving.  For the weeks of torment you'll endure while the road is being redone, you'll get exactly what you have now.  2 lanes and no consideration for the new traffic moving to the area.