January 30. The Ultimate Blog Challenge.
Sometimes the best laid plans can go asunder. That’s what happened to mine. I was already prepped for the gym – class booked, dressed and bag packed. I had 30 minutes to spare. My intention was to make some marks on this page as a springboard for an awesome post when I get back from exercise. As it was I got called by the guy to choose a free gift from this survey he was doing for ‘Costco’. I did not want any of the gifts and left it up to him. The gift was ‘worth’ $90 but he had to pay for shipment. I thought it was a bit odd. Then his credit card was rejected. I said use mine. It was moments after that we thought, hey, this is a scam. He doesn’t do shopping at Costco. I do. And he gets the email for the survey?
No harm done. We phoned our credit card companies and cancelled our cards and will be issued new ones. I will get billed for $13.00 at the most. Money is not the only cost here. It cost us peace of mind and all that energy we spent cancelling our cards. By the time I got off the phone to my credit card company, it was too late for my class. I was left with a bunch of bad jittery energy in me. I had to lose them so I headed out to the ski tracks.
It was no surprise that the parking lot was empty, being Monday morning and cold. But it was sunny and no wind. It was a peaceful winterland for me. Being the only traveller on the road, I did as I pleased, stopping in the track to take a photo, to blow my icy nostrils and to have a rest. No one had to side step around me. After making a round, I was able to let go of some if not all of my angst and carry on with what I had planned for the day.
The scammers weren’t finished with us. They don’t give up easily – calling us, too, on the guy’s cell and the house phone. They left a message – ‘this is not telemarketing, press 1 to continue. The good news is I’ve just checked my credit card account online. No transaction posted today and no further phone calls. I guess this is a good wakeup call to pay attention to those faint and funny warnings from within. If it is too good to be true, then it is. Nothing is free. Curb that desire for ‘free’.
Now it is almost 6 pm, that supper hour. I had hoped to have this written in early afternoon. I had hoped to have cleared and tidied up more. But I am grateful to get this waker upper, to be mindful and be in the moment, to pay attention to my life and to rid useless time wasting, energy depleting things that does nothing to enhance my life.
onethousandandtwo 
Ugh!
And what a beautiful day!
Good catch on the Scam!
For awhile, I’d get wierd email requests – ‘I’m traveling to your town, and want my child to have music lessons in your instrument every day for two weeks …’ (or massage for 5 people daily at your clinic … and aphasia just ‘to your town!!’)
I wasted time the first few tries, trying to find out when they were coming, or asking them to schedule sessions through our office … but then saw posts from other musicians or therapists (apparently the scam was to overpay, then get the scamee to ‘reimburse’ the scammer …. fortunately we never got that far- bit I was irritated!!
Too bad they don’t put their talents for better use. Obviously they have smarts.
You faced so many challenges today, dealt with them and then moved on. Love your attitude and perseverance!
Thank you, Victoria. I think maybe I needed the jolt. 😀
I got what I felt like was a scam call and I talked to them longer than I should have. Instead of getting a productive job, these people have gotten really good at hurting people. Even though it was a pain, I’m glad you mitigated the damage. Beautiful photos!
Hey Lily Kudos on ridding yourself of that nasty stuff that scammers try to lay on us. Here it is almost midnight and as usual, I am scrambling to get my blog done for the day. Then I can relax. Blog on!
Thanks, Doug. I think you are a night owl. I used to be but now am an early bird.
I joke when I say that I am an early morning person because I go to bed at 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning. 🥱😴
😂
You’ve got a great attitude about a frustrating day. I had one today and it made me super whiny but, now that it’s nearly over, I realize that having a bad day makes me appreciate the good ones that much more.
Thank you, Alice. I try not to waste time and energy on things I can’t change. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. I have to remember I’m just human.
Beautiful Weather in a nice place to take a walk. I am so sorry about the scammer but at least you caught on and was able to stop them. Have a good day and I look forward to seeing you in the next #UBC in April I hope.