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.

     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!