It's All So Confusing - Part 3

Yesterday morning I got a call back from the Verizon supervisor who was trying to find some way to merge our Millenicom mifi into our current Verizon account.  Basically, I was told it would involve a new and separate account for the mifi, with the only option being $99.99/month for 20 GB's.  I asked how long that would last or if Verizon intended to notify us in a couple of years that the plan was no longer valid and to select from existing plans. The way she answered you would have thought I stumbled on a company secret.  Once again we were getting no where over the phone, so I decided to drive to the Verizon reseller store for what turned out to be another saga.

I had researched Verizon plans and told the clerk at the store that for the extra $30/month I would go with the promotional 30 GB plan, which only until today was being offered as double the GB's for the same price as 15 GB.  Seems simple enough - add my mifi to my current account with their GB plan.  Wrong.

It was determined that if our basic prepaid phones were changed over to the "more and everything" plan, setting up a new account we could then add the mifi.  The Verizon website shows that the basic phones would then be $10/month less on the new plan, however the downside was that I would have to pay $35 for each device set up charge.  Sheesh.  I asked the 20-something clerk why I had to pay a set up charge on the mifi since it was simply switching from Millenicom (now Verizon) to Verizon.  She said she would call Verizon and ask.  She was then caught up in the Verizon phone hell.

After several hours the clerk finally said she had it all figured out and not only would there be no set up charge on the mifi, there would also not be a set up charge to transfer the phones from prepaid.  DO IT!  I'm tired and want to go home.  No such luck.

After several more calls to Verizon she was able to set up the phones, but in trying to transfer the mifi she had to phone in again for what seemed like the 20th time.  She was told she would have to call the Verizon number that was given to Millenicom customers to make that happen.  After 68 minutes on hold (yup, Verizon made no provisions for their own representatives to call in) she finally got them to transfer the mifi.  After being in the store for 5 hours - yes, 5 hours - we were finally done.

When I got home I went online and checked the new account, only to find out the basic phones were not set up with the $10/month discount on each for the "more and everything" plan.  So, instead of only costing me an additional $30/month from where I was, it will cost an additional $50/month.  That is, of course, unless I want to either drive back to the Verizon reseller store for a third time or call back into the Verizon phone hell.  I think I'd rather go to the dentist.  It would be less painful.

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It's All So Confusing - The Saga Continues

The Millenicom - Verizon saga continues.

Monday, along with other Millenicom customers, I got a message on our mifi telling me to call an 800 number to make arrangements for the transfer.  When I called that number I got some guy who told me I had the wrong number.  I apologized and double checked my mifi for  the number I had dialed.  I called the number again and got the same guy who explained to me that he was with Verizon, but in the government services section.  He didn’t know why they had told me the incorrect number.

Not sure what to do, I went to the Verizon website and after searching through a bunch of listings trying to get me to ask my question on the website, I finally found a customer service number, which turned into another ordeal.  I talked with several of their representatives and none of them knew anything about the transfer.  

Getting no where with Verizon on the phone, I decided to make the 25 mile drive to the Verizon reseller store where I explained the situation to the 20-something clerk.  She was as clueless as everyone else, so she phoned Verizon and gave them my information.  I was told someone would be calling me within 24 hours.  I didn’t have much faith that would happen.

Fellow blogger Croft Randle had sent me a link yesterday that explained that Verizon was offering Millenicom customers an option of paying $89.99/month for the same 20GB’s with a contract for one year and $99.99/month thereafter or $99.99 month without a contract.  I had checked options and costs, concluding that staying with the current plan was best.

Fast forward to today - 48 hours later - I got a call from Verizon, thinking I was fully prepared.  The only option I was given was the $99.99/month and when I asked about the $89.99 with one year contract I was told that wasn’t being offered.  That certainly seemed suspicious, however I said to go ahead with the plan being offered and since we already have our phones with Verizon to just attach it to that account, which is being paid automatically from a credit card.  It just got worse from there.

As best as I understood it, you can't attach the transferred mifi to an existing account without setting up a new account and then the offer isn’t the same.  “Fine”, I said, “then go ahead and do the separate account for the mifi and just do automatic payment from my same credit card - I’ll give you card number.”  “Okay”, she said, “but we’ll need your social security number and driver’s license number for a credit check.”  

What the the hell?!  I asked her why she needed that since, #1:  I was already a Verizon customer and #2: it is the same credit card they have been doing the automatic payment on our two phones.  I told her I wasn’t comfortable giving that personal information and was concerned about identity theft, especially since we’ve been customers for years and using the same credit card for automatic payment.  

After going back and forth, both of us repeating the same thing, I told her I wanted to speak to a supervisor.  After a long wait on hold, she came back on the phone and said her supervisor agreed with what she was telling me.  Okay, I want to speak to her.  After another long wait on hold, I explained the same situation to her.  

The short of the long is that the supervisor is going to call me back after she does some more checking to find out why they can’t set up the mifi account and do automatic payment from my credit card. I have no problem with a credit check if I’m borrowing money, but have never had any business or utility tell me that they needed a credit check on a credit card payment. 

Before I retired I worked as a sales representative covering 5 states for a Wichita manufacturer.  I told my customers if they ever had a problem to call me first and not the factory to avoid getting shuttled from person to person.  I told them if they had a problem I’d fix it - my fault, their fault, whose fault, I don’t care.  Just call me first and I’d get an answer.  

Even when you go to a Verizon store to solve a problem no one seems to be able to work through the quagmire of Verizon.  I’m still confused.  Stay tuned.

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It's All So Confusing

Not unlike other RV’ers we have (had?) a Millenicom mifi, which was the best plan going when we switched from a Verizon plan.  For about 90 bucks a month we got 20 MB, nearly double what Verizon offered and a way better price.  This was especially important because we cannot get conventional internet here on the farm.  Suddenly, a couple of weeks ago Millencom announced they had given over all their customers to Verizon, which was the provider for Millencom service.

   

We were suppose to be hearing from Verizon on the switch over, however to date Verizon has been silent.  Some former Millencom customers are changing to the Verizon “more and everything plan” (or whatever gimmick name it is called).  So, today I decided since we haven’t heard from Verizon I’d look into what our costs would be to make the change.  What torture that turned out to be.

As usual, Verizon has a confusing labyrinth of plans, especially for someone like me who is not a tecno nerd.  For just that reason we have two basic cell phones, with "basic" being the operative word.  They ring and we answer.  We dial and can talk to others.  The most sophisticated thing they have is texting, which is not one of my often used features.  Our kids have the so-called “smart” phones, with all the gizmos and leaves me clueless.  But, our two basic phones work fine.  We also have the mifi for internet access and now that is becoming confusing.

After spending half the morning winding through Verizon’s website, trying to put together a package that included what we already have for basic phones with their mifi plans, near as I can tell we would pay more and get less if we switch now.  Yeah, I even reluctantly tested the water by checking to see what our cost would be for two “smart” phones and their mifi on that “more and everything” plan and that was enough to scare me away.

I’m still not sure what, if any, plan would be at or near the same cost we have now and still provide the equal amount of time.  I gave up.  I guess we’ll have to drive 25 miles to the Verizon reseller store and see if the 20-something clerks can figure it out.  

It’s all so confusing.

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Fall On The Farm

We are still enjoying the nice harvest weather in the 70's every day and the fall colors.

The nice neighbor farmer has started harvesting his corn and his cows are still grazing good grass.

Taking advantage of the nice weather this weekend, we decided to hitch up the camper and take a short 45 mile drive to take in a play.  We stayed at a county fair campground within a few miles of the playhouse.  The playhouse is called The Lofte and originated 28 years ago as a community players theatre in an old renovated barn.

A couple of years ago they moved into a brand new building constructed as a theatre.  A lot of planning and fundraising went into the new theatre and it is one of the nicest around. Uniquely, it is located in the country, south and halfway between Lincoln and Omaha.

The play we attended was the Hitchcock-inspired farce, “ Wrong Window!” 

New York couple Marnie and Jeff think their neighbor has killed his wife. However, the woman’s body soon disappears and the bumbling witnesses sneak into the cross-courtyard apartment to solve the mystery. In all, there are over 30 script references to the works and characters in Alfred Hitchcock films. 

The production is directed by and stars Kevin Colbert as Jeff. His wife Marnie is played by Brandy Palatas of Papillion. Rounding out the cast are Scott Pope and Scott Nielsen of Eagle, Melinda Mead of Plattsmouth, John Bell and Ken Patry of Omaha, and Jeff Johnston and Ken Snyder of Elmwood. Alyssa DiPaolo of Lincoln gives a stunning performance as the dead body.

The weather has been cooperating and the fall colors are great here on the farm.  We are still able to hook up the camper and head out whenever we care to, enjoying short trips and community theatre. Retirement life is good.

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Voting Rights, Not - Part 2

No surprise, the conservative controlled U.S. Supreme Court has denied a request to block the stringent Texas voter ID restrictions signed into law by Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry in 2011. The law will allegedly prevent voter fraud, even though such cases are few.

The move comes after a U.S. appeals court granted a request by the state to stay a lower court decision that struck down the law, meaning the measure will be in effect for the November elections.

It is one of a series enacted in mostly Republican-governed states requiring voters to show certain forms of identification before being allowed to vote.

Voter ID laws come on the heels of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June 2013 that overturned parts of the Voting Rights Act. That ruling freed several states, mostly in the South, from strict federal oversight.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos overturned the Texas law, arguing it discriminated against Hispanics and African-Americans and impinged on their right to vote. Ramos said the law would effectively disenfranchise some 600,000 voters, a figure the state disputes.

The Supreme Court decision was unsigned and did not provide a supporting legal argument. Justice Ginsburg, joined by Justices Sotomayor and Kagan signed a six-page dissent.  (Source:  Reuters)

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Have I Mentioned...

We are back from our trip to Minnesota where we especially enjoyed the fall colors.

The weather here on the farm is deceptively nice.  I say deceptively because I am well aware that winter is not far behind.

In my younger days I got along fine with the cold and snow, but as I get older I’ve come to dread winter, especially after avoiding it on our trip south this past winter.  I hate the cold and snow.

DREAD

This year our trip south will be delay as our daughter is expecting a baby sometime in late December.  So, we will be spending these nice days on the farm getting things ready for winter - including winterizing the camper, getting the mowers ready for winter storage, prepping the tractor, bringing in hoses and all the related chores.

Have I mentioned how much I hate the winter cold and snow?

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Schell's Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest at the Schell Brewery in New Ulm, Minnesota.  These people know how to throw a party!

We got to the brewery at 10:30 and by 11:00 the party was in full swing, with brats, sauerkraut, Schell's German Band and SCHELL'S BEER!

The Schell Brewery was founded by German immigrant August Schell in 1860 and is the second oldest family owned brewery in America.  In September 2010 Schell Brewery celebrated its 150th Anniversary.

Schell's Oktoberfest - it just doesn't get any better. 

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Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are...

North Korean’s despot leader has been mysteriously absent and missed another key political event today.  Kim, a heavy smoker, has shown striking weight gain over the past year and recent TV footage had shown him walking with a pronounced limp. The pudgy (and I use this word guardedly since I resemble that remark) has not been seen publicly for a month. 

This is the guy who had his own uncle whacked to keep control and is pals with the other wacko Dennis Rodman. 

Competing theories for his disappearance range widely from an extended rest period to a leadership coup, via a long list of possible illnesses and ailments including broken ankles, gout and diabetes. Unification Ministry spokesman Lim Byeong-Chul noted numerous reports in the North Korean state media of Kim exercising his authority.  “Judging from these, it seems that Kim Jong-Un is ruling normally,” Lim said, adding that the government had no specific intelligence on Kim’s health. 

Going absent for a while is not unprecedented for a North Korean leader, but it is more obvious with Kim, as he has gone out of his way to get his mug in the media whenever he can since taking over after the death of his father Kim Jong-Il.

Who knows where Kim is, but undoubtedly he will pop up somewhere, sometime... just like a whack-a-mole.

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Back in Minne•SO•ta

We're back in Mankato, Minnesota to see our daughter and her husband.  Since moving here this summer, she has found a job teaching and he is a grad student teaching part time.  The weather is perfect, however fall is definitely in the air.

Another reason we are here is to attend the Oktoberfest in New Ulm.  It is one of the best in the country.

It is especially fun because the Schell Brewery, the second oldest brewery in the nation, is located in New Ulm.

We've been to New Ulm several times and toured the brewery.  I've tried most of their beers and especially enjoy their dark beers.

We're looking forward to the festivities in New Ulm and at the brewery this weekend.  I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend.   

PROST!  

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Voting Rights, Not.

In the wake of new voter laws, PBS Frontline has initiated a website entitled Ballot Watch.  After the U.S. Supreme Court eviscerated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 some states, which are predominately Republican controlled, have rushed to change their voting laws to make them more restrictive.  Ballot Watch is a comprehensive guide to the patchwork of voting laws.

Twenty eight states that have passed new voting laws in the past five years.

These shifts in the election landscape come against an historic backdrop of racial discrimination in voting — in particular against African Americans, but also Latinos, Asian Americans and Native Americans. In 1965, the U.S. passed the landmark Voting Rights Act, which prohibited such discrimination, and the federal government began to single out states with a pattern of denying the vote to minorities. 

Fifteen states were ultimately required to submit proposed changes to their voting laws to the federal government for approval ahead of time — an action known as “preclearance” — before they could take effect.

In June 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned that provision in Shelby v. Holder, saying the preclearance requirement was outdated because it judged states on their past actions, not their present behavior.

In the wake of the Shelby decision, 6 states — Mississippi, Alabama, Virginia, Texas, North Carolina and Florida — that had been covered under the preclearance requirement implemented new restrictive laws, including stricter voter ID requirements or, in the case of Florida, cutting back on the number of hours during which voters could go to the polls ahead of Election Day.

Also, 3 swing states that were not covered under the preclearance rules have passed restrictive laws that have been challenged in court.

Pennsylvania’s new voter ID law was blocked by the state Supreme Court earlier this year.

Earlier this month, a federal court allowed a Wisconsin law that introduced new voter ID requirements to proceed in time for the November midterm election.

On Sept. 29, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed a new Ohio law that imposes cuts to early voting to proceed for the November midterm election.  (PBS Frontline)

In a country where voting is supposed to be a right, partisan politicians are usurping this right by passing restrictive voting laws, clearly aimed at dissuading specific classes of individuals from voting.  All of this has been made possible by a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court and is an outrage.  Anyone who cannot see past the smoke screen of excuses these states have come up with to pass these restrictive voting laws has no understanding of the right to vote. 

PBS Frontline Ballot Watch can be found HERE.    

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