Primedia Inc. im coming to get you
I've been receiving email solicitations for Motor Trend Magazine. These are sent by Primedia, a New York, NY based company. They use a service called cheetahmail to send out their email direct marketing. Unfortunately Cheetahmail doesn't seem to be able to unsubscribe me. I've done it 5 times! So, that's their fault and I've filed a complaint with the FTC. If you have this problem, do the same. It's the only way to get them to stop!
Stop Silverleaf Resorts – call Mark Guenther
I get a lot of people on here who have problems dealing with Silverleaf Resorts, a timeshare company that does a lot of direct marketing. I would encourage unhappy customers to band together and organize. Mark Guenther posted a comment on a previous post.
My name is Mark Guenther and I have been hounded by this company for the last year. I live in the atlanta area and I have been getting these calls about cars and money. I did some research and I have traced what I think is back to chicago. The man I usually get is Bill Carson at 773 465 5370. The reason I am writing is if anyone has recieved one of these blue cards or any address to meet a representitive please email me or call me at 404 579 8189 this is my office line. I would like to put a stop to this. I am not a lawyer but I have the time and the energy to do something
Check out my previous articles about silverleaf: article 1, article 2
Or read about Westgate Resorts, a slightly better behaved version.
Good luck! If you want me to set up a more organized effort / forum, let me know!
Why you should sign up for websites with a throwaway email address
Whenever I sign up for a website, I sign up with the name of the website at pintmaster dot com. This is so I can track who sells my information on by the addresses I get spam to. Well, let this be a lesson to ye. Recently broke "Performancing" seems to have sold their email list. I just got some spam sent to that name at pintmaster dot com. Had I given them my personal address, I would likely have to change emails to prevent the spam coming in. Now I can just make performancing at pintmaster dot com a black hole email. Here's the spam email for reference:
SINOSTEEL CORPORATION
17B Xichang'an Street,
West District,
Beijing P.
R.CHINA.430074
Tel: +86-13-710107624
Fax: +852-301-62379
Email:mrleechen007@yahoo.com.cnDear Sir/Madam,
REF/SINOS/299U
I am Mr.Lee Chen, Managinig Director of Sinosteel Corporation.
We deal on the following Products listed below:
-Baosteel -Wuhan Iron & Steel Corp
-Anshan Iron & Steel Corp
-Taiyuan Iron & Steel Corp and so on.We export these Raw Materials into America,Africa, Canada, Asia and
Europe. We are currently running this Business from Beijing, China
(H/OFFICE) where I am located for now.We are searching for Representatives who can help us establish a medium
of getting to our Customers in Canada, America,Asia,Africa and Europe
as well as making payments through you to us.Please, if you are interested in transacting business with us,
we will be glad to have you as our Partner. Your area of
Specialisation or Occupation is of no relevance in respect of
resolving to assist us.Note that subject to your satisfaction,you will be given the
opportunity to negotiate your mode of which we will pay for
your services rendered (as our Representative in Canada,
Africa, America, Asia and Europe).We often give out 10% to
our Company Representative (each) that works with us.Please, if you are interested, acknowledge the receipt of this email
for further instuctions from Board of SINOSTEEL CORPORATION by
forwarding
to us your Particulars:
Name:
Title:
Company:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Country:
Tel Number:
Fax Number:
E-Mail:Thanks in advance, Representative Inquiry
Mr.Lee Chen
Managing Director.
Email: mrleechen007@yahoo.com.cn
.
Download updates and software from Microsoft even without the Windows Genuine Advantage check
Have you been trying to figure out how to keep your Windows up to date so you dont spread viruses, but are concerned that if you update, Windows will stop working?
muBlinder is a piece of software that allows you to bypass Microsoft's Genuine Advantage check and download their software - such as Windows Desktop Search 3.0, Windows Defender, Internet Explorer 7.0 (which breaks Outlook 2003). It's available and update from the p2plife forums (unfortunately you need to register to download it), but the solution works, and is relatively easy to update. Another solution that doesnt allow you to download the extras is WindizUpdate, a plugin for firefox that replicates the way Windows Update works.
Silverleaf Resorts isnt all that bad?
Well, according to one of its employees, it isnt. Since we have an obligation to be fair and balanced (we dont), I thought I would post the comment received from an irate silverleaf employee on another post on this site about the numerous "idiots" whom they solicit for timeshares. Please note, this comment has been transcribed verbatim. I apologize for the author yelling in caps:
JUST TO LET YOU KIDS KNOW WE ARE REGISTERED WITH THE “BBB�….NO IT DOES NOT SAY ON THE LETTER OR POSTCARD YOU RECEIVE IN THE MAIL THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS YOU HAVE TO MEET THATS WHY BEFORE YOU DRIVE OUT THERE THESE PEOPLE CALLED “VACATION COORDINATORS� AS YOU PEOPLE CALL THEM (THE EMPLOYEES AT SILVERLEAF CALL THEM VERIFIERS) GET ON THE PHONE AND QUALIFY YOU BROKE ASS PEOPLE BEFORE YOU WASTE YOUR TIME DRIVING SOMEWHERE YOU WOULDNT EVEN BELONG IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE ONLY GOD FORSAKEN REASON WHY PEOPLE CALL THIS A “SCAM� IS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE LIARS THEMSELVES. THE ONE AND THE ONLY REASON ANYONE WOULD BE TURNED DOWN AT THE RESORT IS BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE PROMOTION. DO YOU IDIOTS EVEN KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE SAY “NOW PLEASE BE AWARE YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PRESENT 2 FORMS OF I.D. , ONE BEING A DRIVERS LICENSE AND 2 BEING A MAJOR CREDIT CARD, MARRIED COUPLES MUST TOUR TOGETHER (EVEN IF YOU ARE LEGALLY SEPERATED THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE LEGALLY DIVORCED AND STILL MARRIED COUPLES TOUR TOGETHER GENIOUS) AND DEPENDING ON WHAT STATE YOU LIVE IN AND WHETHER YOU ARE SINGLE OR MARRIED THE INCOME REQUIREMENTS RANGE FROM TX- MARRIED 40K …SINGLE 45K
GEORGIA-MARRIED-45K SINGLE 50K…IL & NY/MA-MARRIED-50K SINGLE 55K….YOU GO THROUGHT 3-4 PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT SAME SHIT BEFORE YOU EVEN GO OUT TO THE RESORT SO MAYBE SOME OF YOU SHOULD OPEN YOUR EARS DOUCHE BAGS…SO ANYONE THAT WRITES A COMMENT BASHING THE “AWARDS VERIFICATION CENTER� WHICH YOU PEOPLE REALLY DONT EVEN KNOW WHERE THE 2ND CALL CENTER IS REALLY LOCATED CAN GO SCREW YOURSELF…I HAVE WORKED HERE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW THE COMPANY HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR ALMOST 30 AT THAT. NOW ANSWER ME THIS…IF WE ARE REGISTERED WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS THIS LONG AND ARE ALSO STILL OWNING OPERATING AND ALSO OPENING RESORTS ALL AROUND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DO YOU REALLY THINK WE ARE LOSING OUT ON THE 100 PEOPLE ON THIS PAGE WHO SAY “OH I DONT GIVE A SHIT� BUT YET GAVE SHIT ENOUGH TO WRITE COMMENTS ABOUT HOW ANGRY THEY WERE? UHH NO! YOU PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT FOR EVEN THINKING YOU COULD PUT SUSAN MURRAY BEHIND BARS…DO YOU PEOPLE EVEN KNOW WHO SHE IS? NO. WHEN YOU CALL THE AWARDS VERIFICATION CENTER AND ASK FOR SANDRA OR KIM OR TRAVIS THOMAS DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHO THEY ARE? NO. BECAUSE YOU PEOPLE ARE ALL MORONS FOR NOT SPENDING AN HOUR OF YOUR WORTHLESS LIFE GETTING AT THE LEAST A VACATION FOR 2 PEOPLE PAID FOR. WHAT KIND OF MORON DOES THAT? YOU PEOPLE ARE RIGHT WHEN YOU SAY OH NOTHING IS FREE IN LIFE. WELL NO SH*T NEITHER IS YOUR TIME THATS WHY TO THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SPENDING 90 MINUTES OF YOUR USELESS NON-PRODUCTIVE POOR LIVES OUT HERE WE GIVE YOU 2 PRIZES FOR NOTHING…YOU PEOPLE ARE IDIOTIC USELESS AND DUH EVERY D*MN BUSINESS IN THE WHOLE F***ING COUNTRY HAS BAD THINGS WRITTEN ABOUT THEM SOMEWHERE BUT HOW LONG DO SCAMS REALLY LAST? 30 YEARS…UHHH COMMON SENSE PEOPLE NO…ESPECIALLY SINCE EVERY COUPLE MONTHS OUR LAWYERS AND JUDGES GO OVER THE SCRIPTS WE READ AND SAY “OH YES THATS PERFECTLY LEGAL� ARE YOU SERIOUSLY THINKING YOU PEOPLE WHO DONT HAVE A MIND OF YOU OWN BELIEVING THESE CLOSED MINDED�OH I DONT HAVE TIME FOR ANYTHING EXCEPT MY GAY MARRAIGE� PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY SAY TO KEEP YOU FROM SEEING A GORGEOUS RESORT AND RECEIVING 2 PRIZES FOR NOTHING????? I WENT OUT TO THE PINEY SHORES RESORT WHICH IS LOCATED OFF 45 ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR NORTH OF HOUSTON…GOT BOTH MY PRIZES AND LEFT HAPPY…I HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED MY VACATION PACKAGE AND WENT ON THE TRIP TO VEGAS…OH WAIT YOU KNOW WHY I ACTUALLY RECEIVED MINE? FIRST OF ALL I SET THE APPOINTMENT AND ACTUALLY SHOWED AND DIDNT LIE LIKE A FILTHY RAT SECONDLY I DIDNT F***ING LIE TO 3-4 DIFFERENT PEOPLE SAYING OH YES I MEET ALL OF THOSE QUALIFICATIONS AND THEN GO TO THE RESORT LIKE A MORON AND CHANGE MY MIND ALL OF A SUDDEN AND SAY “OH WELL I GUESS I DONT MAKE 40K A YEAR LIKE I SAID 4 DAYS AGO� MORONS YOU PEOPLE ARE WORTH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND YOU MEAN NOTHING TO THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD. GOD HATES YOU AND YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GO PLAY IN TRAFFIC
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
*A LOYAL CITIZEN AND SILVERLEAF RESORT INC. EMPLOYEE*
So there you have it folks, Silverleaf is not the problem - YOU ARE! The car would be yours if only you werent a liar and an idiot 
Politicians are all liars. Here is an unbiased way to see how!
A while ago, I found out about Factcheck.org. They are an organization that essentially calls bullshit when politicians start mudslinging.
From the horses mouth:
We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit, "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.
I strongly encourage to sign up on their site to get their email updates. They are especially relevant around election time as sort of a gut check to see if the jerk you are planning on voting for is really honest. Most arent
Jesus Camp
Im kinda scared. This seems very cultish. I wonder what type of parent promotes this kind of activity.
Does the car make the man?
I bought a 2004 Honda Accord EX 3.0 V6 a couple of months ago before I was single. The payment on it is about 450 bucks. Now I am single, I got this stupid idea (from people at work) that I needed to buy a BMW 3 series. Now, the young and irresponsible me wants to buy a BMW 3 series. However, the responsible me believes that the Honda Accord was the right decision and it would be stupid to get rid of it.
A friend of mine suggested that buying the BMW may be an attempt (wrongly) to compensate for something I feel is missing from my life. I think this is the case. For some reason, I thought having a 3 series would make me more fun, exciting, attractive? to women. Well, that's really retarded. I think that it is natural to feel that way because that is what society pushes on us.
Now I realize that although appealing to have a nice car now, I would much rather be rich later. There is a saying in texas: "Big Hat, No Cattle". I've decided that many of the irresponsible youth you see at the hotspots in Houston are essentially "Big Hat, No Cattle". As much as my young reckless urges tempt me to be irresponsible, I am glad I have not.
The car does not make the man. I am embarassed to have thought it had any impact. Cars are fun and a waste of money, but they are essentially tools, and at 24, I dont need to be wasting money changing my tool to get me from a to b
Answerstop Voicemail Monthly Fee – voicemail you didnt sign up for!
My colleague in my office started getting this on her phone bill and I have to sit across from her. I've heard her yelling her head off at these people trying to get this service removed.
The number for these people is +1-866-928-1093 and apparently, the people in charge are Mike and Christina.
Services they illegally put on your phone bill include:
- Answerstop Voicemail
- Privacy Plus Voice Mail
- Voice Express
- VoiceXpress
- Antivirus Email
It's hard to pinpoint who is perpetrating the crime here, but the companies involved and allowing it to happen are below. If you know any other names, please post them in the comments, and I will add them here when I can:
- Enhanced Services Billing, Inc.
- ESBI
- Billing Concepts
- BSG Clearing Solutions Gmbh (why is a company in germany getting away with screwing americans?)
- Zero Plus Dialing, Inc.a
- ZPDI
- USBI
- OAN
- HBS
- ESBI Spec Serv & Prod
Various addresses for these people include:
PO BOX 15624
CLEARWATER FL 33766
PHONE 1-888-523-3724
Enhanced Services Billing, Inc.
7411 John Smith Drive, Suite 200
San Antonio, TX 78229-4898
HBS Billing Services
4242 Medical Drive, Suite 2100
San Antonio, TX 78229
Other Resources
- FTC Website mentions ESBI
- ESBI Website - to submit a complaint!
- ZPDI - Behind the screen
- A little self-promotion from Billing concepts
I hope this little blog helps someone. I hate scams & if anyone has any information on how to deal with these scumbags, please share it with the rest of us to help get rid of this scourge on society.
