January 24th, 2008 by admin

So if you’re a reader of the site you’ll know that I was going for a free 42′ Plasma TV. If you’re not familiar with this you can get up to speed by reading the story here.  I completed the offers, I waited 9 weeks and I got nothing.  I emailed the company to inquire where my TV was and I was told that my acount was on hold because I violated their terms about providing truthful information (which I was shocked about for 2 reasons… #1. I did not intentionally give anyone false information and #2. I was not happy that after waiting 9 weeks they tell me this after I HAD TO CONTACT THEM, they could have told me this whenever they discovered they had a problem with my account instead of keeping me here waiting for my TV which was never coming).  They went on to say that if I wanted any more information I would need to write to their legal department.  How about an email or a phone call…?  Talk about making things a hassle for the customer (though they probably do this because they hope people won’t write).  So I wrote to their legal department.  I received a response today which said the following: “The social security number you provided was searched by the IRS and did not match any on the public records.  We regret to inform you that your account for PlasmaTV4Free.com will not be released from its hold. “

I have two problems with this… #1.  I provided my social security number from memory because I did not feel like searching for last year’s tax return to find it.  If I did not provide them with the correct number it must have been a simple mistake which I would expect them to allow me to correct.  But nope, no corrections allowed here, appearantly if you make a mistake you will pay for it by not receiving your free TV.  #2.  I am shocked that the IRS would relay any information concerning my social security number to them.  Your social security number is your most important form of ID and should also be the most secret.  The IRS should never verify your SS# to anyone, they should contact me if there is an issue.  Imagine if a scam company gives the IRS a list of SS#’s and asks them to verify them, will the IRS simply point out which ones are valid and which ones are incorrect?  Am I wrong here???

This experience has left a sour taste in my mouth.  I think the website that runs this offer is sad.  They made money off of the 12 offers I spent my time and money completing, and because I made an honest mistake (or so they say) they wipe their hands of me (and I will never know if the number I provided to them was my SS# or if I made a mistake, so this could all be a lie so that they don’t have to give me the TV).   So to PlasmaTV4Free.com… you suck.

I learned a lesson so I guess my time and effort trying to complete this offer taught me something at the very least…

October 5th, 2007 by admin

I bought a Magellan Maestro 3100 GPS for a trip I was taking. In the past I had thought GPS products (global positioning system) were not for me until a co-worker showed me his on a business trip. He had the Magellan 2000 and we used it to find a restaurant to go out to eat. After seeing the product in action I was sold, though at that time I didn’t have an immediate need for one… until I had to take a 1,300 mile drive to North Carolina… Read the rest of this entry »