In case you haven’t heard there’s a drought here in Georgia- and especially here in metro Atlanta. Lake Lanier, Atlanta’s premiere water source, sits 16 feet below where it should be this time of year. By year’s end it’s expected to be 36 feet below normal, making it unusable.So, what does this mean? Well, it means some people are out of luck…The governor has instituted restrictions on all things from landscape watering to car washes (more on that in a second). While I do empathize about the situation- how in the world did it get this bad?From what I’ve read it’s between the lack of rain nationwide (global warming?) and, the ultimate reason, a lack of water management. The Army Corp of Engineers monitors the water level at Lake Lanier and how much water it feeds into the natural streams of Alabama and Florida. According to a recent MSNBC article:
More than a billion gallons of water is released from Lanier every day. The Corps of Engineers bases its water releases on two requirements: The minimum flow needed for a coal-fired power plant in Florida and mandates to protect two mussel species in a Florida river.
I can understand the coal-fired power plant (I suppose)- but a billion gallons for two species of mussels! Gimme a break.So, why am I complaining about this? Well, I am 100% unable to wash my car. As someone who rents (not for long), I don’t have the luxury of attaching a hose and going to town. Not only did my apartment complex shut off the water supply to the car-wash section of our complex- but two local car washes also have closed up shop until the drought is lifted.So, unless I want to go to Target, purchase about ten 5-gallon plastic buckets, fill them with water, and then schlep down to my car- it ain’t getting clean anytime soon.With that I leave you with a couple pictures I snapped outside the Best Buy yesterday. The nastiness just stopped me in my tracks. The car used to be white. So, until I can steal some an uninterrupted water supply anytime soon- this will be what I’m driving around town in until the drought in georgia is lifted.
Last week I was a victim of credit (well, debit) card fraud by a company called digismarket.com. They claim to see eBooks on various items… Funny that some include “how to run a business.”
At any rate, I have never been to their site much less purchased something from them…imagine my astonishment when I noticed that I had a $4.95 transaction posted from them. I contacted Wachovia and they started a fraud search immediately. I cancelled both our debit cards and received new ones. I also contacted the better business bureau and filed a formal complaint against the company. Finally, I contacted the “support” at digismarket..here’s our correspondence:
September 6- Me to them
To Whom It May Concern (or Johanna Ray):
I have a charge in the amount of $4.95 (digismarket.com) posting from
my debit card. I have never once bought anything from your website nor
have even planned. I am expecting a full refund or I will be
contacting the State of New York Attorney General’s office about your
operation. It appears that MANY, MANY others have fallen prey to your
practices:
http://www.sygyzy.com/2007/02/07/e-books-are-the-new-419/
Please contact me ASAP to resolve this matter.
September 6- Their response
Hello,
Please tell me the name and last name of the cardholder, the last four
digits of the card number and the date of the charge so I will be able
to find the transaction in the database and in case if you didn’t
purchase our goods I will make the refund.
Sincerely yours,
Digismarket.com Support Team
September 6- My response
I want my $4.95 refunded immediately. If necessary, I will take legal action.
I have notified my bank and their fraud department is starting an investigation. Also, I have made a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau and have notified them of the website listing many other people complaining about being charged wrongfully- see below. The local NY office will be contacting you.
Govern yourself accordingly.
Complaint Submitted
Your complaint has been submitted. Your complaint number is: 5477009. The complaint has been transferred to the local BBB to be handled in their system. You may wish to copy or print this information for further reference. Press OK when ready.
The complaint is being handled by the BBB listed below. Please contact them with any questions.
Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan New York (New York, NY)
257 Park Avenue South
New York , NY 10010-7384
Phone: (212)533-6200
Fax: (212)477-4912
Email: inquiry@newyork.bbb.org
Web: http://www.newyork.bbb.org
September 7- Me following up.
I am still awaiting my refund and your answer. In addition to the BBB, I have contacted my bank’s fraud department and I plan on contacting the Attorney General’s office of New York.
Please respond.
September 7- Their second response
Dear Chris,
We have made the refund for you. It can take up to 7 business days for
money to return depending on the bank. Thank you again for cooperation
and reporting about this situation.
And yes, they finally did refund my $4.95..however, that is not the point! How in the world did they get my card? What thieves! There seems to be a slew of others who have also fallen prey, too.
If you are a victim of digismarket.com I would do the following:
1- Cancel your charged card ASAP
2- Notify your bank and/or credit card company immediately
3- Contact Digismarket.com’s “support” demanding a refund:
Johanna Ray
d/b/a Digismarket.com
johanna.market@gmail.com
16 Hudson Street
Selden, NY 11723
607-821-2630
681-346-6445
4- Contact the New York Attorney General’s office:
Consumer Helpline: 1-800-771-7755
Crime Victims Hotline: 1-800-771-7755
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit: 212-417-5397
Environmental Crimes:1-800-771-7755
For the Hearing Impaired: 1-800-788-9898
5- Contact the New York Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan New York (New York, NY)
257 Park Avenue South
New York , NY 10010-7384
Phone: (212)533-6200
Fax: (212)477-4912
Email: inquiry@newyork.bbb.org
Web: http://www.newyork.bbb.org
7- Leave a comment below or at sygyzy.com’s article on the matter
Believe me- this isn’t the end..by a long shot.
Yeah, it’s been a slow week. Well, not in the rest of the world but in my little world it has been. I’ve been leaving before 6pm at work and for me that’s like a new lease on life. So, I’ve decided to pick up on the little (yet stupid) things people do in corporate america that irritate me. Continue reading →
Exchange “communist” for “terrorist” an you’ve got the perfect explanation.
read more | digg story
A Florida man who said he only wanted to do the right thing by driving his beer-drinking friends instead was designated for disrespect by a bar owner who allegedly beat him up before tossing him. Now the Florida legislature is getting involved in the issue.
File this under ignorant. Just another reason why I hate Florida. I mean, I do like getting my drink on every once in a while. And I DO always appreciate (and thank) the DD…. You know why? Because it sucks to be the DD in a crowd of drunks. Plain and simple. And for this bartender to get on his high horse and throw him out for not ordering anything? That’s just ridiculous.
Read more here.
