How do you feel today?

[Loredoctor]

I bet it's partially post-Elohimfest letdown, Lore. It'll pass. Eventually. Maybe.

It's partially that. I find that in Brisbane it's difficult to connect with people - maybe I am just not truly an 'aussie'. I've always been able to connect well with watchers. Chatting to Nav, Cleburne and Covenant Jr was a pleasure, and it made me realise that I would find similar souls in the United Kingdom. But it's more than that. It's also that London has a certain 'vibe' - I love its energy, its refined atmosphere, its cosmopolitan spirit, its architecture, climate, etc. I know as a tourist it is easy for me to say these things . . . .but in so many ways London is a better city than Brisbane.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Yep, definitely post fest depression. All of us from the last ones here in the states suffered it mightily.

[Loredoctor]

Australia isn't for me . . .

Oh, and here are 160 wgds

[Cameraman Jenn]

THANKS!!!! Every bit helps.

[CovenantJr]

I love its energy, its refined atmosphere

I take it you never made it to Camden market then?

[Wyldewode]

Sorry to hear you are sad, Loremaster.

I feel like I have been screwed over. Again. I'm in a fight with my old insurance company. I tried to cancel my account with them twice. . . the last time in writing about a month ago. However, they continue to withdraw $100 a month out of my account, and now I do not have money to buy groceries or do anything that isn't absolutely necessary for the next two weeks. What little money is left over in my account I have to keep to put gas in my car--which I have to have or I will be out of a job.

And now I'm going to have to call and fight with customer service to get them to discontinue the withdrawals and to get them to refund $600 or so to me. I hate conflict, but I'm starting to have thoughts about castrating my old insurance agent.

Right now, I absolutely hate my life.

[CovenantJr]

Can't you just cancel the direct debit?

[Wyldewode]

I dunno? Maybe I should go to the bank and see if they will do it. I'm just worried about paying a stop payment fee. . . though it would certainly be less than $100. My friend works in insurance, and she says that they are bound by law to refund me the money since I provided them with proof of alternate coverage dating from the time I tried to cancel the policy.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Go to the bank. They shouldn't charge you. Then go to the insurance company in person with your bank statements and another copy of the proof of insurance and make them give you a check right there.

[CovenantJr]

Indeed. The bank won't charge you for cancelling a direct debit (unless it's run by some kind of crime syndicate). Once you've done that, the insurance company physically can't take your money anymore, which, to my mind, is the first priority. Then get onto the insurers again about the cancellation of your account - ideally by phone and in writing simultaneously (going something like this: "blah blah...(recap history of the dispute)...blah blah...I have now cancelled the direct debit at my bank so you will receive no more payments, and I have sent a letter, which should arrive shortly, confirming the content of this phone call". As long as you have copies of any written correspondence, they don't have a leg to stand on and can't justify hitting you with any kind of charge for cancelling the direct debit. If your first attempts to cancel were by phone only, they could try to weasel out of refunding everything they owe you (always confirm telephone conversations in writing), but if they're even half professional they should keep call logs.

[aliantha]

And call your state attorney general's office. They may have advice for you about handling the insurance company.

For that matter, call the Better Business Bureau.

[Damelon]

Send a certified letter to the insurance company that contains copies of your prior letters and demand a refund.

[balon!]

catch the building on fire late at night?

[lurch]

This is why i have chose to never execute the automatic payment to any of my utilities, insurance, etc. I trust myself more than i trust them.

Unfotunately, i cannot figure how it is that i am unable to sleep in this a.m. Another hour would have been nice. Perhaps later today i will exercise that hour.

[danlo]

Must be something in the desert air cause I woke up too early too. Lyr in situations like this the bank is your advocate-twice we have been charged for things that we never even signed up for on the internet. Bank of American called those companies, nailed them to the wall and refunded our money, twice.

[Wyldewode]

Thanks, guys. I'm working on getting all of that straightened out. In the good news department, I won $75 playing bingo at the company picnic, so things aren't as dire as they seemed.

Anyhow, you guys are the bestest!

[Auleliel]

I'm feeling better now than I was last week. Thanks to everyone for the "hugs" and support.
I'm also feeling hungry. Although I had a fabulous lunch (my first trip ever to Panera), dinner (in the dorms) consisted of a bowl of cheerios and a bag of cheetos.

[CovenantJr]

I have a cold. Not a major issue, certainly, but it's one of those constant-sneezing type of colds, complete with head full of something that feels like porridge.

Really, I should be more concerned over how I got it. I had to drive my friend to A&E because his asthma started giving him trouble. He's being kept in for two days. In exchange for my help, he gave me his cold (which was obviously contributing to the asthma problem).

[Avatar]

Well I hope you learned a valuable lesson.

--A

[Cameraman Jenn]

I feel ok today. Not fabulous. Not bad. Just ok.