Fraudulent credit card charges; wheee!

This morning I got an email from one of my credit card issuers, telling me my online statement was ready for viewing. I haven’t used that card in months, so I immediately checked it out. There was a $9.55 charge from an “RSI Partners” that I absolutely didn’t recognize. I called the company and, while I was holding, did a Google search for the company name. Several websites came up on which people had posted that the same charge had been applied to their cards without their permission. I found postings as far back as September of 2005, so these sleazebags have been at it a while. It looks like others are running similar scams in which they charge a small amount of money to a large number of credit cards in the hopes that most people won’t notice. Sadly, I’m sure it’s a pretty successful trick.

It took longer on the phone than I expected—I’ve only ever had to deal with this sort of thing with American Express, and then it was handled immediately. With this card, I had to verify tons of information and the customer service representative, while polite, was very slow. The whole issue will be forwarded to the fraud department within the company and should be resolved within 10 days. I’m also getting a new credit card. While it will be taken care of, I find it a little scary because I’ve always been careful with my credit card information.

During my lunch break just now, I sent a complaint to the Maryland Attorney General’s office and the Maryland Better Business Bureau. Hopefully this bunch will be shut down soon, but I’m sure they’re only one of many…

From some of the librarian blogs I read...

From The Centered Librarian: Free Audiobooks from BMW

From Librarian in Black: Royalty Free Photos

Speaking of Budget Living...

I hated finding out that the magazine went out of business, as J and I both enjoyed reading it. Just the other day, I learned that they'd be finishing up my 2-year subscription (for which I paid $5) with Good Housekeeping!! Not quite the same thing...

Eyeslipsface.com

I'm not sure if any of you ladies are aware of this site, but it's an online cosmetics store where most of the products sell for a dollar. After reading about the site in Budget Living a while back, I spent about $10 bucks in trying various products. I wasn't terribly impressed with the eye shadows or foundations, but found the Moisture Care Lip Color in "Bark," a brownish-pink neutral shade, to be worth $10 alone.

They've just released a line of products called "Elements," consisting of compacts that you can fill with eye shadow, blush, and lip colors of your choice. I'm a sucker for lip gloss, so I tried the "Lighten Up" predesigned compact for lips. I got my compact the other day and was pleased to find that all of the shades complement my skin tone and wear quite well, despite feeling a little greasy when they first go on. My one gripe is that the little pots of gloss don't stay in the compact all that well (it's supposed to be magnetic).

They've got a number of tools for a buck as well, and some cute cases for slightly more.

I consider the following to be the real bargains:

Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara
Super Glossy Lip Shine
New Moisture Care Lip Color
Therapeutic Conditioning Balm (At this price, I can have a tube of lip balm in every room of the house!)
Shimmering Facial Whip, if you're into that look (I'm not).
Natural Radiance Blusher
Toe Separators
Mechanical Eyelash Curler
e.l.f. Professional Shine Eraser
e.l.f. Signature Case

I want my penny

This post reminded me of a pet peeve of mine: when I pay for something that costs .99 (or 1.99, 2.99, and so on) with bills rounded up to the next dollar amount, and the clerk slams the register shut without a word...and without giving me my penny in change. I realize it's just a blasted penny, but it's the principle of the matter. The clerk, not me, is making the decision that I don't need my change back.

I suppose in transactions such as these I'm meant to just walk off without my change, before it becomes clear I'm waiting to be handed back my penny. I suppose that's what most people do. If I stand there waiting, I feel foolish. If I were to ask for the penny, I'd feel doubly foolish.

In J.D.'s situation, I would have had no qualms about asking that the coupon be applied correctly. But when it comes to the penny in change, I admit I haven't the nerve to make a fuss about it, even though it burns me up.

Moving is hard on the furry ones

My poor dog has no idea what's going on. He's a shelter dog and had at least two other owners besides us; therefore, he's a bit anxious and likes predictability. He'd love it if every day mirrored the last. He doesn't understand why I'm packing things up, or why this strange lady is suddenly always coming over. (At least he likes the realtor.)

Last night another couple was supposed to come look at the house as a back-up, so, I took him to Erikson's Dairy in Maynard, which offers free ice cream to dogs. Below is a picture I took of him checking out the scene after finishing his plate of ice cream topped with a biscuit (my cell phone camera is pretty cruddy):

Moving updates

Things have been moving fast and furious here lately. The last five days I’ve been packing up a moving “pod” for J, seeing his car off, and continuing to get the house and yard in tip-top shape. Our efforts on the home front have paid off—we got an offer before the house was even listed on the market! My broker shared some pictures with another broker in her office, who in turn shared them with a client, who drove by last Friday and submitted a full-price offer that same day. It was contingent on her seeing the inside yesterday, and she loved it.

An inspection is scheduled for this Friday, and the Purchase & Sale agreement is scheduled to be signed on the 16th. We are continuing to show the house until then, just in case. Please keep your fingers crossed for me! The woman wants to close on August 1st—the timing is near perfect.

I never want to see another moving pod again. I managed to twist my knee carrying out a chair that I likely shouldn’t have been carrying by myself. I’m limping around a bit today.