(no subject)

[vanillafluffy]

When I got over to J's yesterday, a friend of hers had dropped by (complete with whiny offspring), so I got to sit around for a while trying to keep a cheerful smile stapled to my cheeks while they talked about paperwork and someone who's a thief and some DVD J is borrowing and on and on.

Then the interlopers departed, and J wantedv to talk about tomorrow's event---except by then, I was in the grip of the notorious 4PM fade and my brain was temporarily offline. Basically, what to wear, when to be there, pack a lunch, yawn....

After an hour of that, we finally got on to the subject of my finances...which is not a happy subject. However, she *did* perpetrate a couple of techno miracles. First and foremost was setting things up so that I can access my FPL (electric) bill online. FPL has been a nightmare; because the account is still in my late father's name (dead since 1985, btw), the phone reps won't talk to me and I can't change it into my name, because they want a deposit that would choke a horse.

To add to the epic WTFness of the situation, when she got into it, we found out that an online account had already been set up. I was astonished when I saw the info: the email address belonged to HWSNBN. Considering how long ago that must have happened---he moved out in 2003---I'm still gaping like a codfish. Looking at the history of late payments, I wonder if he's been getting notices every time. And if he has, why the hell he never mentioned it back when he kept coming back here every weekend? IDEK.

So that's done, and then we did the same with BrightHouse (cable/net/phone). That was none too satisfactory. Their CSRs keep contradicting each other, and the one I got yesterday claims that I cannot possibly reduce my bill. That with the promo I have, if I turn in my DVR and converter and reduce the number of channels, I'll wind up paying $40 MORE a month.

I have a past-due balance, for which I got an extension til the 30th of this month. After that, it looks like I'm going to be relying on my PAYGo cell phone, digital converter box and other people's wireless. Which is going to be hideous, but my benefits are fixing to run out, and it's all I can do to keep my insurance paid and the utilities on for the next little while.

By the time we got through with all that, I was wrung out. J popped for pizza, and we watched some more Trauma. We've been working our way through that series, which I seriously miss---at this point, we're 7/23rds into it.

This morning, I had a workshop sponsored by AARP, which gives you tests of things like basic math skills, general computer knowledge and interpersonal teamwork skills. (I got 100% on the math portion, which floored me.) There's a pantheon of tests one can take, and I figure the more I can accumulate, the more secure I'll feel claiming the skills on resumes and in interviews.

The gal who ran it was cool. At one point, she did a demo on how to create an account for the system, and used the pseudonym "Nora Charles", which made me smirk---and I don't usually smirk at 9AM. She said she wondered if anyone would get the "Thin Man" reference. Told her I'm a huge Myrna Loy fan, and she mentioned that she's reading the books and picturing Myrna and William Powell. (Although in the books, Asta was a schnauzer. Just a little canine trivia....) She also admired my little blue shoes, worn with the blue and brown print skirt and cream colored top, and my glasses frames. She had on some lovely peridot earrings and a darling crochetted shrug. It's always an extra boost to get a compliment from someone who is herself well-dressed. It carries more weight, somehow.

Nearly 9---I'm gonna go enjoy my cable while I've got it.
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Comments

[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

Sounds like your cable company is in cahoots with mine. When my promos expired a few months ago my bill went up $18.00, even though I'm still getting the exact same services. So I called to see if I could reduce something, or qualify for another promotion, etc.

The guy was very nice, looking into bundles and what-not. I couldn't believe it when he told me I was already getting the best price - that if I bundled cable tv, internet *and* landline phone (which I'm not currently getting) it would actually cost me MORE.

The hell?

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

What really irks the hell out of me is, the person I spoke to earlier this week who quoted me a figure as what I'd pay if I turned in the DVR---and yesterday's broad said oh no, that's not correct, it would be MOAR. (As in $80 more instead of $30 less. WTF?!)

So I'll keep going til they turn me off, then I take back the equipment and worry about paying it when I get a job. My credit? Thanks to the student loansharks, that's already FUBAR, so...whatever.
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[jdsgirlbev.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I SO wish I could say "Try this!" and all your financial worries would fade away. D:

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

I firmly believe that having people on my side thinking good thoughts will tip the balance in my favor eventually. Which may be naive of me, but even so, I have friends, which is more than a lot of people do, rich or poor.

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[ang5fam.livejournal.com]

Well, we've never had a DVR or any of the fancy stuff butyou just confirmed why I never changed from Ma Bell for the home phone. The bundle promo's run out eventually and then I would end up paying more for home phone service. We've also had the same # for over 25 years and I don't want it messed up.
A couple of months ago, our bill was going to go up as well- I did manage to reach a very helpful young man who changed it around so that my new bill is actually $1 cheaper and I have more features. i didn't understand how he did it but I said "thanks" and took it. The gherkins before him never offered what he did. I think you just have to land on the right phone person.
I've paid the FPL and cable online for years- so glad you got signed up. It's so much easier. You can even request an FPL extension online. When they ask for the name, you have to type in whomever's name is on the bill.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

I am going to miss the DVR in a big way. Not sure what I'll do about net yet. I don't look forward to trips to the library, but at least they offer A/C.

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[ang5fam.livejournal.com]

Not JUST A/C but ice cold A/C and quiet! I love the library.

[cbtreks.livejournal.com]

It'll be interesting to see, when you're employed again and making a good living, if the same cable company can suddenly get you an even better package deal because it's a new account. I've heard of people who cycle between 2 companies so they always have the best new deal, or who even cancel and then restart at intervals for the same reason.

Online bill pay is so much better - much easier than trying to figure out when to mail the check. Don't want it to hit the bank before the paycheck does, but mailing the day the paycheck hits will get it there late. . .don't miss that at all.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

Mail checks? I'm not quite that antiquated! I usually opted for pay by phone OR went to a pay station with cash (there's one not too far up the road). But this does give me more options, which is good.

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[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

If you're up to trying Bright House one more time, tell them to direct your call to the retention department. The CSRs usually don't give a crap if you drop service, but the retention specialists do. I managed to get AT&T to agree to lower St. P's phone/internet bill by $50 doing that. AT&T's best effort was still $36 a month higher than Comcast, which we did switch too, but it was worth the effort of seeing what hoops Satan's Own Phone Company would jump through to keep business from walking out the door.

And *many-many hugs* for you, sweetie.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

I'll need to call around; I'd prefer to find a phone company that will let me keep my number, since it's the one on all my apps and resumes.

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[ang5fam.livejournal.com]

What about keeping the home phone on and getting the good ole dial-up for the internet? That with the digital converter box wouldn't be so bad- at least you could get online. It's super cheap, too.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

I'm exploring my options. AT&T wants to do a credit check, which probably means they'll want a godawful deposit. It's always something.

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[ang5fam.livejournal.com]

I think we were the last family on the planet to get rid of dial-up and go to high speed internet.
Maybe AT&T will work with you- I have found folks to be most helpful lately when I am trying to work out payment plans and such. So many are in the same boat that they really have no choice but to try and be helpful.