Laurapenpusher’s Weblog

Well, I should know better. I spent 5 years as a customer service rep with one company and during that tenure, a good portion of my job entailed checking on possible frauds. While there were a few illegal operations uncovered, most were the garden variety business opportunity where the customer plunks down hard-earned money and when they don’t get rich, the business puts it back on them – too lazy, too stupid, too whatever! Over and over again, I relayed the old adage: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” So many times, I advised customers not to hand over their wallets without checking with the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General’s office in whatever state the company was located. If they were pressuring for a commitment immediately, it was time to back off and walk away.

I got burned because I didn’t follow my own advice and Ms. Bitch is on a roll today! There were a few red flags, but I ignored them. Fortunately, I only lost $50 (with another possible $25/month for the next year although that part of it I may be able to stop), but right now isn’t the time for me to be frivolous with my money.

While some of the attendees appeared to be fairly well versed in computer technology by the questions they asked, most were not. When I asked specific questions, I should have backed up as soon as I heard the answer. It wasn’t a direct answer, but rather implied what I wanted to hear and I jumped in.

Today, after I had calmed from my earlier rage, I started looking over the material given at the workshop. I’m to attend an all day workshop tomorrow now that I’ve signed up, to receive additional “training.” Reading the fine print more carefully, I discover in order to get the services I want (you know, the ones I asked about?), it will cost another $3000 (yes, three thousand dollars)! I went to this thing because my mother wanted to go and needed me along. I also wanted to learn more about specific internet services. What really upsets me though, were the number of ordinary people in attendance who also gave up the green and the plastic. My mother is 78 years old and lives on a comfortable, but fixed income. And she was not alone! There were probably 200 people with a good third of them my mother’s age or older. The others were about my age or Generation Xer’s. I know many of them thought the same thing I did regarding the services we thought we were getting.

After I made this little discovery, I went back online and started searching on the company. They were under investigation in their home state and in seven others at one point. The complaints were a mile long. I’m not just angry at the company but at myself. How many times have I been told I can’t get anything good if I’m not willing to take a risk and how many times do I need to get burned before I start telling people what they can do with their risk-taking?!

Well, I’m going to the workshop. While the PTSD creates problems for me getting out of my apartment and among people, Ms. Bitch doesn’t have the same problems and I’m giving her full rein.