Sometimes You Just Want to Unplug From The World

So yesterday was a bit weird.   I received a letter from Capital One, thanking me for "applying for a credit account from the above merchant," and informing me that they were "unable to approve" my application "at this time."  I examined "the above" and found "Best Buy Company."   Here's the problem: I hadn't applied for a credit card from Best Buy.

I was a little alarmed and called the number in the letter that had been provided for obtaining "specific reasons or to review" my application.   I think I reached someone who was in the U.S., but it quickly became clear that it was someone who was working only with scripts and had little or no idea what Capital One did or why.  I explained that I had not applied for a Best Buy credit card and she stumbled through changing scripts to the "fraud" script.  After a lengthy pause, she asked me for name, address, date of birth, and the "reference number" in the letter.  After several more pauses she told me that someone applied online using my name and that it was OK, because Capital One required "additional verification" so the application had been denied.   I asked if that meant someone had used my correct name, address, and date of birth.   I'm not certain what her answer was, because she stumbled through that part of the script also, repeating Capital One's requirement for "verification." 

She told me the "least she could do" (I swear that's what she said a couple of times) was put a notation on the application file that it had not come from me and she would also enter it into Capital One's "fraud database."   I asked if that meant that should I actually apply for credit from a business that uses Capital One, I would be subject to providing additional "verification" information.  Her response: "That's a good point."  I wanted to ask what was the "most she could do" but by that time, it was clear it was the same as the "least."  That was apparently all her scripts told her.

The letter also included information about the credit bureau Capital One had used, Trans Union, who I could ask for the information used from their records, since "our credit decision was based, in whole or in part, on information provided..." by Trans Union.  There was an 800 number to call, so I called it.  As might be no surprise, Trans Union has designed its phone system to shield their employees from any contact with the public, and all the options were for automated systems to buy one of their "products," or obtain a copy of my credit report.   There was no one to ask if my credit report, going forward, will show I was denied credit from Best Buy.

Just a couple weeks ago, we had to close a credit card account because the bank (not Capital One) had identified a questionable online charge, which in fact, was not made by us.  So they issued new cards.  I don't know if it's coincidence, or if I should be very worried about what's going on.   I know Capital One has had a number of humorous TV ads over the years, but my encounter with them makes me wonder whether they are a real bank or that they know what they're doing.  They are clearly not invested in customer service.

The credit bureau report I looked over yesterday showed nothing unusual, so for the moment, everything's OK.  I can't wait to see what's in the mail today.

Two Very Funny Videos

This is a first: I'm posting links to a couple of very funny parody videos that make fun of a couple of REALLY big Internet companies.   

The first is a jab at Amazon, which is now promoting next day and same day delivery.  How could they top that?   Think about it.  Then watch the Youtube video.

The second one takes a shot at Google, that company that keeps coming up with all sorts of things we didn't know we needed until they came up with it.   Like the car that drives itself and that email system that doesn't ever throw any messages away even if you put them in the "Trash" and any number of other innovative products.   Here's another one: this video explains how Google will help you get rid of those clunky smart phone keyboards and really start multitasking. 

If you don't find these videos funny, I'd like to hear why not.

Fanboy?

I largely abandoned the world of Windows about 5 years ago when I bought a MacBook laptop computer after a nearly new Compaq laptop had it's fourth or fifth hardware failure. Hard drive, optical drive, and several other components managed to break on that not inexpensive Compaq in less than 2 years. We had similar problems with my wife's Dell desktop, and had to deal with Dell's reluctance to stand behind it's product warranty. As an avid computer user for a few decades (dating back to the Commodore 64), I had lots of experience with the Windows/PC "it's not our problem" method of dealing with computer malfunctions. Either the hardware manufacturer (Compaq, Dell, whatever) blamed the erratic behavior on a Windows glitch, or Windows insisted that the problem was rooted in hardware issues. Frustrating, tiresome, and remarkably unfulfilling.

So I bought a Mac. The transition was surprisingly easy and for the very few Windows programs I needed to use (my genealogy program mainly) I could still run it in a Windows virtual machine. When problems occurred, Apple seemed to just fix things, rather than try to blame the problems on another company. Of course, since Apple produced both the hardware and operating system, it had only itself to blame, and what's the point of that?

So the point of this post is that while I have thoroughly enjoyed my Mac, my iPod, and most recently, my iPhone, I don't consider myself an Apple "fanboy."   The term is sometimes used to describe people who are utterly devoted to Apple and its products, even in the face of evidence that they are merely bits of plastic and metal.

Yesterday, I bought a $99 device called an Airport Express.  This thing is amazing. The device is tiny, about 3 x 4 inches and plugs directly into a power outlet. It has three ports, or connections, for USB, ethernet, or audio output. It performs a ridiculous number of functions, from serving as a wi-fi hotspot, hosting a USB printer or external hard drive on a home network, to my purpose and the reason for my rapture.  You can travel with it and use it, for example, in a hotel that offers a wired connection for internet, but not wireless.   Plug in the Airport Express to the wired connection and you have your own wireless network.

We listen to a lot of internet radio. There are thousands and thousands of internet radio stations, mostly free, for any type of music you can think of, from Jazz to electronica to classical (one of our favorites is Radio Paradise). For a long time, we used a desktop computer (the afore-mentioned Dell) to receive the signal and route it to our home stereo system via wires in the wall and attic. During that time, we've had to endure repeated hiccups and failures as the computer froze, spontaneously rebooted, or issues with the wires connecting the computer to the stereo.

The Airport Express connects to our existing home wi-fi network, and uses a $3.99 cable from its audio jack to the stereo amplifier. Now comes the really cool part. Any computer on the home network which runs iTunes can stream music to the Airport Express and therefore, to the stereo. No wires needed. And it works out of the box. Even the windows computer can send internet radio to the stereo with iTunes. And since iTunes is aware of our collection of 7500+ song files, iTunes can also stream them to the stereo. It was so easy to set up and run, it was surprising even to someone predisposed to Apple products. The stuff "just works."

But wait. There's more. Apple also offers a free iPhone app. You know, "there's an app for that." There's an app for this. The iPhone app offers the ability for you to control iTunes from your phone. So if the stereo is in the other side of the house, and you're in the family room listening to music, and the phone rings, you can use the iPhone "Remote" app to pause the music, lower the volume, or just stop the playback. And you can 'link' the iPhone app to any computer connected to your home network that is running iTunes. You can control music or internet radio from any of these computers using your iPhone. It is very slick and "just works."

I just may be an Apple fanboy now. I don't think I've been this excited about a computer since my Commodore 64.