Random collection call from 610 378 5373

I received a phone call about two hours ago from 610 378 5373, a number belonging to:
Accounts Recovery Bureau, Inc.
Harry Albert, President
555 Van Reed Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610

The man who called would not tell me at first who he was or why he was calling. I should have hung up but was concerned when he told me it was an emergency matter.  He wanted to verify my address and private information, would not let me speak or answer any of my questions citing sensitive personal reasons.

I was informed that this was over a hospital bill I refused to pay, I told him I’d tried to contact the hospital about this matter before and hadn’t heard back, I was confused about which hospital matter this was in reference to.  He used a raised voice and rude tone to ask me why I hadn’t paid my bills, and told me I did not contact the hospital because I didn’t even make a small payment and that’s why he now was calling.  I told him something along the lines of “I don’t appreciate your fucking attitude, so you send me a fucking bill in the mail and I’ll deal with it but to not call me back at this number.” Details are lost to me because I was so pissed off, he told me his name and company but I can’t remember now.  He began yelling over me “Pay your bills Mrs. Smith and you won’t get collection calls” “Pay your bills, Pay your Bills, PAY YOUR BILLS” (he was trying to drown me out so he couldn’t hear me telling him not to contact me via phone.) He also said something about severe legal action but I was too busy drowning him out by informing him I would not put up with bill collector harassment and intended to call the police if it continued.

I contacted the hospital (St. Claire in Crawfordsville, IN) about this matter about half an hour ago and was told that the account was still in possession of the hospital, they were not aware of who this was contacting me or how they got my information but I am NOT to give them any money and will pay the hospital directly. The bill in question was one my insurance had refused to pay and I was not notified of because they had the wrong address.   I do not pay collection agencies, ever.

I Googled the company and found some interesting information, many many complaints of harassing phone calls.   I read reports of continued harassment after the bills were cleared up, and collection attempts over bills that were 10+years old. (beyond statute of limitations in most states.)  Based on reports scattered all over the internet it looks as if this company enjoys harassing people whether they actually owe them money or not, as some folks report abusive messages and lectures on manners after telling them that they have the wrong number.  Read some of these links for yourself, it’s very interesting…some even have rude and disgusting comments from persons claiming to work for the company (who knows how true that is.)

I’m actually considering not doing any further business with any hospital connected to the Sisters of St. Francis if they intend to do use companies such as this who treat people soo poorly.   Their mission statement is all about  Continuing Christ’s ministry and providing care to those who need it even if they can’t pay.  Christ’s ministry my ass, more like throwing you in the lion’s den.

 

 

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/6103785373

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-610-378-5373

Blog Neglect

I have been neglecting my blog.  This is primarily due to my work schedule, but may also have something to do with the Nintendo Wii my husband and I purchased about two weeks ago.

Because I’m a masochist, I purchased Wii Fit!  Of course, I’ve pushed myself daily to get off my ass and workout, which is something I have had trouble being consistent with in the past.  I must say, I do enjoy being told on a daily basis that I’m fat and probably trip while walking (haha Wii fit, that one NEVER gets old.)

Wii fit aside, I also purchased an incredibly cute and fun game called Animal Crossing – City Folk.  I played a bit with my friend Gabe who allowed me to steal some oranges to plant in my town.  *yay* Oranges!

That’s enough of the update, I have a post on family dysfunction and funerals to make at a later date when I’m feeling more articulate.

eBay bitch drama

From: acrazylady@aol.com  (I should have known better when I saw she was an AOL user, who uses AOL anymore?)

Sent: Fri 9/04/09 8:49 AM

I am glad you did. You are rude for requesting and cutting communication. I was not interested in working with you period. The truth is you don’t have any money to order. Making Big jewelry costs more. So sorry.

———-

I was checking into ordering several handmade pieces from this user, but I’m really glad I didn’t.  FYI the previous e-mail was me telling her that I’d decided to go elsewhere as she can’t seem to hold her tongue.  She was angry I took more than a day to respond to an e-mail. She replied three times on the 27th, one reply said something to the effect of “Why did you bother contacting me if you don’t reply?”  Sorry sweetie, some of us have real jobs and lives to tend to. 

Welcome to conservative Indiana

Occasionally I’m served up a healthy reminder of where I live, Conservative Indiana, which is technically North of the Bible Belt, but might as well be part of it!

Tonight the reminder came not from driving past one of the many “revivals” (a service held during the week, meant to revive the spirit and keep you from backsliding into sin between Sunday services)  Nor did it come from being stuck behind a beat up pre-1990 vehicle with a bumper sticker spouting something about God knowing how many people I’ve slept with in my lifetime.  This time, the reminder came ever so humorously in the form of an edited theater sign at Carmike Cinema in Crawfordsville, IN.

Welcome to Indiana

Now, I know it’s a bit hard to see, but I assure you, the word “Basterds” has been scraped off by an employee of the theater, and the tile reads “Inglorious B”

Enjoy internet!

BTW: I did not go to see this film, instead I watched District 9, which was excellent.

Awaiting death

Justin and I had planned a vacation to Ely, MN. It has been a long-time ambition of mine to see a bear in the wild, and we planned to spend a day hiking outside of Ely after visiting the North American Bear Center.  The master plan was to have uncle Vince house/dog sit for us as our Airabella is slightly aggressive around folks she isn’t acquainted with.  We also wanted somebody staying at the house due to a much too recent attempt at breaking in while I was sleeping on the sofa.

Life happens, or death in this matter.  No matter your tentative plans, no matter your longing desires or needs for escape, life happens.

Quickie post -things that bother me – chewing noises.

I really hate when I’m watching a movie, enjoying myself, the experience…when all the sudden, an “eating scene” pops up. Now, most people aren’t crazy like I am, and chewing/slurping/tearing/cutting/clanking noises don’t bother them. I have an extreme aversion to these scenes in movies and on tv. I can hear the food mixing with the saliva, I can hear it being switched from side to side, digesting right there on camera. Some movies keep it fairly quiet and quick, but I’m often overcome with nausea when watching a scene that is purposefully filmed in a disgusting way. I hate when these scenes linger on, focus drawn on the disgusting sloppy, slurpy chewing and ripping noises.

Excuse me, I’m going to be sick.

The only thing worse than chewing scenes in movies or on TV is the sound of crunching, chomping popcorn in the theater.  Why do they sell popcorn in theaters?  Wouldn’t it make sense to sell something quiet to snack on?  Why can’t they sell Bananas or ice cream bars?    Popcorn is loud, smelly, and greasy, which make it one of the most offensive foods around.  I hate sitting in the theater and sliding my hand down the armrest, only to discover the lingering deposits of greasy fake butter some fuckwad has wiped there.

Sometimes it is quite obvious how unstable I am, I typically hide it well, but anyone who has ever gone to a movie with me has been witness to the inner struggle my neurosis presents when theater patrons begin rattling candy wrappers, chomping popcorn and slurping soda.  Some days, it’s all I can do to get up and go to the bathroom to prevent myself from standing up in the theater and shouting something to the effect of “Would all you morons please go to the lobby to eat before you fucking make me vomit?”

I think I’m a prime candidate for xanex.

The lost art of Cybersex

I will never forget my first experience with a chat room.  I logged in excitedly after an online friend showed me a chat room  he had found.  (This was back in the mid 90’s so instead of the flowing glitch-free chat rooms we know today, this was a bit of hacked up code, it was more like a scrolling message board. )  I was in the room for all of 5 minutes, when someone sent me a private message asking where I was from.  When I responded “Indiana, what about you?” the user replied “you wanna cyber?”  I was only 14, and being the little prudish girl I was in those days, I closed out the window to get away.  I quickly learned that the internet was full of nothing but perverts who wanted to have cybersex with you.

I work as a community administrator for a website I won’t mention here, I spend hours each day reading through abuse reports.  I see all sorts of reports on users for cybering in private rooms and have yet to come across anything creative or inspired after being at my job for a year and a half.  I remember the long artistic cybersex sessions I would take part in out of sheer boredom. I would throw in some creative lines like “I run my fingernails down your back, digging into your skin.  I wipe the blood across your cheek and lips.”  What can I say, I was a sick kid.   The point is, the moves were thought out, they made sense and were realistic bits of fine erotic literature compared to the simplistic drivel the teens today peck out.

Last night, I came across a report that contained something similar to this:

user1: Hey bby wnna cyber?

user2: yes do me

user1: take off your clothes!!!

user2: takes off all her clothes!!!!!!

user1 : Jumps on you and humps u til u cum.

user 2 orgasm – oH BBY!

user1 : can I get ur #

user2: no.

In truth, I have no idea how old the two users were.  They could have been adults for all I know, but it’s doubtful.

Where is the detail, the creativity?  Where is the passion?  A good cybersex session should be as realistic and detailed as possible, it should be inventive and passionate.  When you are cybering, you should be able to articulate all of your deepest desires and play them out with another party, simply typing “humps you ’til you cum.” is NOT cybering, hell it barely counts as “talking dirty.”

Are we losing our passion and creativity as we evolve as a society?  How long before cybering is simply typing “I had sex with you just now” and leaving it at that?  I really do wonder what it is that is causing this generation of teenagers to be so dull and unimaginative.

Of course as a community administrator, it’s my responsability to issue bans to the users who are cybering, and I am able to do this efficiently. I recognize the danger in allowing teenagers to have sexual conversations with persons they do not know,  I am just disapointed that things seem  be getting so…vanilla.

Escape

When the world starts falling apart, it is all we can do to find something in which to lose ourselves.  Amidst all the painful moments in my life over the past couple of years, I’ve found reasons to smile, to keep moving on.  Justin has helped me through so much, though I fear in the process I’ve pulled him down a few rungs into my own personal hell, he seems happy to roast here with me giving little complaint.  

Hiking with Barry

Justin and I went for our weekly Turkey Run hike, this time we brought Barry along with us.

Here he is preparing for his trek into the woods

This is Barry

A poem from Little Red Riding Hood

I’ve had this stuck in my head for weeks, it was tacked on at the end of Little Red Riding Hood, the gruesome version (Charles Perrault) in which Red does not survive the attack:

Little girls, this seems to say,
Never stop upon your way.
Never trust a stranger-friend,
No one knows how it will end.
As you’re pretty, so be wise,
Wolves may lurk in every guise.
Handsome they may be, and kind,
Gay, or charming never mind.
Now, as then, ‘tis simple truth,
Sweetest tongue has sharpest tooth.

And of course we all know that the story was about much much more than a little girl being eaten by a wolf.