Jan 19 2010
International travel and Internet Woes…
So, last week we upgraded from high speed lite (1mbps) to normal high speed (up to 7mbps theoretically), I say we because it took Primus (our ISP) a week to actually make the change (despite daily instructions to “power cycle the modem” and regular assertions that “it should be working now”).
Add to that the fact that person or persons unknown purchased about $2200 worth of airline tickets using my Visa (Yeah, flights from Manilla to Beruit, sounds like a dream vacation) and I can’t help but feel that I’ve spent WAY too much time on hold and talking with CSRs.
This week it all seems to be resolved, and we’re back to neat (for the time being at least).
Considering the starting point and destination, you should have called the airline and asked for the kosher meal for “your” flight. That would have made their flight oh so comfortable for the occupant of the seat.
Mrs. Carbonman had over $3K charged on her debit card in December. The bank called her and advised that there was ‘anomalous’ activity in several of her accounts. Fortunately they reimbursed her after a short investigation. NOW she uses her credit card instead of debit! (Who listens to a security professional in their own home?)
Varooom! ‘Real’ high-speed, eh? Welcome to the 21st Century!
Arghhh …. if I never have to speak to another customer ‘service’ representative in my life, it’ll not be long enough. You have my sympathies on that one.
As far as those charge cards … am seriously thinking of going back to ‘cash’ … am loathe to encourage the thieves (both kinds … ‘inside’ and outside the banks).
Greg: Good suggestion! Sad part is it took me a few days to access my online statement, then another day or too to decipher the transaction details, it appears that the flights were booked for same or next day (go figure that credit card scammers wouldn’t want to wait around).
CM Ah Debit cards. I’ve had mine compromised on what, three occasions? Talk about jumping through hoops, the last time my account was frozen for 4 weeks, I had to get a notarized (at my expense) statement declaring that I had no knowledge of the transactions. The only good thing to come from that was that I left HSBC and moved to my credit union during those 4 weeks.
Yech! Credit cards offer much better protection.
Matti Blamo… high speed!
I guess we were lucky, When my wife’s debit card was hacked the bank called us after only two transactions of about $450 total. We got reimbursed after only a couple of days.
Merle