FORT Koffee Klatch

[nlmcp]

Someone had opened up a credit card in a name similar to mine and the collection agency started harrassing me to pay. It got so bad that I had to hire a lawyer and threaten to sue. It turned out that when they can't collect (as they can't in most cases where identity theft is involved), they go after EVERYONE in that same area who has a similar name, hoping that one of them will be the right person. Doesn't seem very logical to me. I wonder, does anyone actually pay someone else's bills just 'cause they get those people's bills?

I met a friend of a friend at a Christmas party and heard the most horrifying story. She lives in Ohio, and one day a garnishment showed up on her work check. It was from Michigan where she lived about 5 years ago. She hired my friend as her attorney to get this taken care of. The garnishment was through a bill collection agency and involved a woman with a similar name but not the same name. The bill collection agency somehow got ahold of her name and put all this "AKA (also known as) information on her credit report putting the similar name on her report like she had been using it, got her SSN and used this to garish her wages at her employer in Ohio. When the attorney contacted the bill collection agency they refused to release any information because "this person is not named on the account" but they had no problem garnishing the wages of someone who was not on the account or messing up her credit report. This has been going on for a couple months now and may take several more months to get fixed.

[MRD]

Someone had opened up a credit card in a name similar to mine and the collection agency started harrassing me to pay. It got so bad that I had to hire a lawyer and threaten to sue. It turned out that when they can't collect (as they can't in most cases where identity theft is involved), they go after EVERYONE in that same area who has a similar name, hoping that one of them will be the right person. Doesn't seem very logical to me. I wonder, does anyone actually pay someone else's bills just 'cause they get those people's bills?



I moved out of my parents home after college and they STILL get mail for me--even though I gave everyone a change of address card when I moved. I'm sure I'm still getting catalogs and junk mail at the old places I've lived. But yeah, anything with money, you'd think people would be dilligent about sending their new info to their employers, customers etc.

I got mail for my deceased mom for over 2 years and I didn't care what it was, even if junk mail, I put: DECEASED, return to sender on it.
The worst was a phone call. She had her Discover card stolen and the person ran up a large dept on it. My mom had reported it stolen, Discovery would NOT work with her and eventually the amount, plus interest, penalties, etc., came to $10,000. She had hired a lawyer and we got nowhere with Discover card. I couldn't wait for them to call me after she died. They had been rude, threatening, unwilling to work with her. THey had the police report where her wallet was stolen, they had affidavits from store owners that the person that used the card did not look like my mother, it was a big mess for YEARS. So they called and I said: SHE DIED AND THERE IS NO MORE MONEY. They tried to get me to pay it and I just laughed and said: HA!
They threatened to put a lien on her estate and tie of up probate. I said: good luck. She died penniless and broke, there is not estate, there will be no probate, you will NOT be getting the money you did not deserve from my mom after years of harrassing her and threatening to put her in jail. So you can take your $10,000 and........... you can guess the rest. Most satisfying call of my life. I did have to send them a copy of the death cert. But it stopped it. We stil got calls for her though and the best was a call about a month after she died from her dr. office reminding her about an appt. This is the same dr. that signed the DC.
I finally moved and the mail for her stopped with that move as I didn't file a change of address for her.

[MRD]

Sorry to change the subject again -
Fibromyalgia - I too have fibromyalgia. And the thing that helps most is talking with others to see how they cope with the disease. It is so unknown. I have tried support groups, but all they did was compare medications and whine about how bad they had it. I found a Dr. in Olympia named Charles BAtes. He himself has fibro as did his mother. He believes there is great evidence that fibro is "caused" by the body becoming intollerant to certain FOODS, smells, etc. Ordinary substances become toxic and the body can no longer cope.The worst are Caffine, alcohol. sugar, wheat, chocolate, corn, dairy. He starts you out on a three week elimination diet and then adds foods like you do for babies. It works.I have seen amazing amazing results (www.beyondfibromyalgia.com). It is the hardest thing I have ever done - and have failed mightely, but I realize what I eat has tremendous impact on how I feel. Just passing on info.

Sorry for the double post, but this subject needed its own message.

THe mods prefer we don't start a support group here. Was wondering if I set up a yahoogroups would those of you with fibromyalgia be interested.

Mods, if I do start one, can I at least post the info here for those that wish to know about it? I won't post continulously, but just a link or info to get those of us with Fibro to the right place so we dont' tie up a reality tv forum with health problems.

I opened a yahoogroup for us. PM me for details and how to join. I am glad to know that I do not suffer alone and maybe through combined resources, we can be of help and support to each other with this painful and dibilitating disease and find ways to help each other find relief and to cope. Thanks.

[prhoshay]

I get mail for my former husband who has never lived at my address. What is with that? We've only been divorced since '93. I've even gotten mail for his now ex-, the third wife. I shred my unwanted mail....theirs goes into the trash intact!

[Vonna]

Sorry for the double post, but this subject needed its own message.

THe mods prefer we don't start a support group here. Was wondering if I set up a yahoogroups would those of you with fibromyalgia be interested.

Mods, if I do start one, can I at least post the info here for those that wish to know about it? I won't post continulously, but just a link or info to get those of us with Fibro to the right place so we dont' tie up a reality tv forum with health problems.

I opened a yahoogroup for us. PM me for details and how to join. I am glad to know that I do not suffer alone and maybe through combined resources, we can be of help and support to each other with this painful and dibilitating disease and find ways to help each other find relief and to cope. Thanks.

myrosiedogI am impressed, not too surprised, cause you do have the "can get it done" personality ...Wow....thanks for getting this going..and the mods do have a real point.....the boards could really get bogged down with all kinds of health issue groups....I sure didn't think about that ....

Jelle--thanks for the interesting information....sounds doable

[MRD]

myrosiedogI am impressed, not too surprised, cause you do have the "can get it done" personality ...Wow....thanks for getting this going..and the mods do have a real point.....the boards could really get bogged down with all kinds of health issue groups....I sure didn't think about that ....

Jelle--thanks for the interesting information....sounds doable

Jelle's list is very similar to the list that came in the info packet for my supplement drink and I know when I'm better about following the diet, my symptoms are less.

[veejer]

My daughter lived with me for about four months, twenty years ago. I still get mail for her almost every week. She has moved, and turned in change of address cards three or four times since then. She has also lived at her present address for about twelve years.

I've been married for over 20 years, my parents moved after I was married about 5 years, and my mom still gets mail for me in my maiden name at an address where I never lived.

[11sstephanie]

My grandparents get mail for my cousins on a daily basis.

Not only have my cousins never lived with them, but they don't spell the names right (Christopher becomes Chistofer...), but they don't use the right surname either. My grandmother is SURE that she's never given their names out to anyone, so she has no clue where it's coming from.

[Muduh]

I've been married for over 20 years, my parents moved after I was married about 5 years, and my mom still gets mail for me in my maiden name at an address where I never lived.

Bet that's some important mail too. lol Nice to know that they're on top of things,isn't it? If my daughter had applied, and gotten accepted for every credit card offer that has come here, she'd need a pickup truck to haul them around.

[just1paul]

Well on the mail subject, for the first couple of years I lived in my here (moved in 1997) I would receive mail for the previous tenant, (a young lady? who skipped out on everything including her rent.) so I finally printed up a bunch of labels return to sender - the person no longer lives here, and just stuck them on the envelopes. I would also get her collection calls, because apparently the dunderheads are looking up by apartment NOT phone number.
RING: Hello
Caller: Is Jane Kowalski there?\
Me: NO, hasn't been here for X amount of time
Caller: Do you know where she went
ME: I hope to hell because I'm sick of you people calling me.

I finally did the answering machine thing that I saw someone else here did also.