FreeCreditReport.Com

For all those people out there like me, who thought free meant exactly that, free. Let me tell you how wrong we are. I went to the website to get my yearly free credit report and make sure all was well. I couldn't remember where I had gone in the past and that crazy jingle kept popping into my head. So, off I went to get my credit report.

Jump to this afternoon. I was going through my credit card account and discovered this strange charge for $14.95. So, like a smart person, I called my credit card company to find out what the charge was. This is where I discovered it was for my FREE report. I assured the VISA company that I could handle this and immediately called the toll free number for FREECreditReport.com.

I am greeted by a woman who immediately wants my SS# and for security reasons my mothers maiden name. Now giving anyone my SS# is not what I call secure. :) I then explain to her that I would like my account closed and the $14.95 refunded to my credit card account. She got quite an attitude with me about how I should have read the screens more completely. I assured her that I didn't care that it had been on the pages I read and filled out. The information was so hidden and non obvious that most people probably missed this. Especially since it was advertised as FREE. She got some more attitude with me about how they were within their rights to charge me the charge and so I just explained to her the way this was going to work. Either she credited my account with the money or I would dispute the charge with my credit card company. Either way she wouldn't be getting my money. Now, I really have her attention and she explains that as a "courtesy" they will credit the money back this one time. I assured her there wouldn't be a next time and that I knew I couldn't be the first person to call about this problem.

Ugh!! I just hate it when companies, purposefully try to con people! It is so wrong! Yes, I fell for it. But, I'm here warning the rest of you not to do it!!!

Apparently if I had read every word on the page I would have seen that I was signing up for some ridiculous service. Now, I know I should have read every word, but who does that. The company knows that too. That's why they advertise like they do.

For those of you wanting your actual FREE credit report, you can go to annualcreditreport.com. There is a $6.95 charge if you want to actually see your score. The report itself is free though.

Part Job Over

Well, after all my sleep deprived days of work, my Pottery Barn time is over. Williams-Sonoma corporate office has put out a hiring freeze like lots of companies and seasonal people are out. Even though the money was helping pay off some bills, the hours were killing me. I will say that a few months to get my home back in order will be nice and I could go back at a later time. The manager said she wanted to stay in touch with me so that when the hiring freeze was over she could possibly bring me back. So, now I may go looking for another part time gig, but I'm going to get things in order at the house and with Bailey first. Let me know if you know of any part time work. :)

Bailey is Coming Home!!!!

Yes, you heard it right! My baby is coming home! I called yesterday afternoon for my weekly check in (that usually doesn't prove too enlightening) and was greeted with "Miss Patterson, I was about to call you! Bailey is ready to go home." As you can guess I was thrilled and managed to choke out a "really?" He explained that Bailey has a new outlook on life and is doing fabulously.

Now to setup my training appointment and pickup date. Hopefully my PB schedule will be up today and I can find a day that I'm not working to go get him. I want to make sure that I have time for my training and then some re bonding time for us the night he comes home. I just hope everything is a great as I am expecting. I am very excited and yet a little apprehensive about my ability to continue what Jim has started for me. I'm sure I will have lots of new things to share once I've been through training. :) Wish me luck!

Oh, and to top it all off, he asked if I was interested in having Bailey groomed before he comes home! I was ecstatic about this option as I was already wondering how nasty he would be since he hasn't had a bath in 8 weeks. Is it worth it for me to traumatize him his first night home with a bath or just let him stink and get my house dirty. Jim told mehe has a "good" groomer down the street that he uses regularly and she has already met Bailey. Better yet, it's going to cost $40. Petco charges me almost $60 after you tack on the "special handling" charges for my special needs dog. Woo Hoo! I get my baby back and he will be clean too!

Hors D'Oeuvres

Coctail Weenies? Have you made these before? As I’ve researched most people start with Lil’ Smokies and then proceed to make some type of sauce for these. I’m partial to the grape jelly and chili sauce version myself, but to each his own.

At a recent family gathering we decided to opt for appetizers instead of a sit down meal. My aunt was in charge of the cocktail weenies. I’m going to go ahead and mention that she probably won’t get this assignment again. J Because what to my wondering eyes did appear? Chopped up hot dogs in sauce. I was told this was because she was “Retired” and on a budget. What? Lil’ Smokies cost a whole $1 more than plain hotdogs? Craziness!!