Here it is, my first professional writing job.
Enjoy!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Finding My Blogging Voice
Sometimes I go a few days without a post, other days I just can't stop writing, today must be the later.
Furthermore, I am very excited that I will soon be featured as the Local Expert on Denver at the PlanetEye travel web site.
Think of it as my way to become a travel writer even though I don't get to travel as much as I used to.
Look for the link to be posted here soon.
Furthermore, I am very excited that I will soon be featured as the Local Expert on Denver at the PlanetEye travel web site.
Think of it as my way to become a travel writer even though I don't get to travel as much as I used to.
Look for the link to be posted here soon.
Ironic Advertising
You might have noticed that Google places ads on my blog. I thought it would be fun to experiment and see if I made much revenue off them.
I'm not, but I do think it is hysterical how the companies that I write negatively about, often end up advertised next to the post. Such is the nature of keyword advertising.
I'm not, but I do think it is hysterical how the companies that I write negatively about, often end up advertised next to the post. Such is the nature of keyword advertising.
Insane
I don't know what else to call this kind of thing that I am reading about more and more often, such as these articles here and here.
I really think this kind of thing should be criminal, i.e. someone should be arrested for filing a false police report against an 6 year old.
Anyone who does such a thing should also be fired from their job. I wonder how long it will be until almost every kindergartener is considered either a drug addict or a sex offender?
Certainly, I wouldn't want people with such obviously poor judgment ever teaching my child.
I really think this kind of thing should be criminal, i.e. someone should be arrested for filing a false police report against an 6 year old.
Anyone who does such a thing should also be fired from their job. I wonder how long it will be until almost every kindergartener is considered either a drug addict or a sex offender?
Certainly, I wouldn't want people with such obviously poor judgment ever teaching my child.
Unauthorized!
I recently read two articles, here and here, that have one thing in common; they are both situations where supposedly reputable companies have decided to charge their customer's credit cards for fees they did not disclose and/or authorize.
They reminded me of a similar situation that I had been in. I had purchased two tickets on United Airlines. I reserved the flights on their web site, and called the company to redeem two discount vouchers, neither of which could not be redeemed online. The person I spoke to confirmed the price, took my credit card information, and issued me two electronic tickets. I was asked to mail the vouchers to United, and I later received a receipt in the mail for the correct amount. When I received my credit card bill, I saw one charge for correct amount from United, as well as two additional charges from United labeled "ticket by mail" for $15 each.
I called the airline to complain that not only had I not ticketed the flight by mail, but more importantly, I was not notified of this charge and I did not authorize it.
I was first told their was nothing they could do. When I asked for a supervisor, I was then told that they would send me, get this, another voucher! I refused this offer and told them that they had made an unauthorized charge on my credit card and if it was not refunded immediately I would dispute the charge with the credit card company. I was refunded the charge.
The moral of the story is that companies can not charge your credit card without your authorization. Just because I give out my card number to purchase item A, it doesn't mean that they can charge you in excess of what you authorized for that purchase; or for item B or fee X. All charges and fees must be presented and a total amount must be given, or the charge is not authorized.
Furthermore, just the threat of a credit card chargeback is enough to get most companies to back down. Chargebacks are very costly, and the more chargebacks that are made, the more a company will be charged for each credit card transaction in the future. In the case of an airline or hotel chain that receives virtually %100 of it's revenue from credit card transactions, chargebacks are avoided at all cost.
Remember this next time a company tries to impose an unauthorized fee on you and fight back.
They reminded me of a similar situation that I had been in. I had purchased two tickets on United Airlines. I reserved the flights on their web site, and called the company to redeem two discount vouchers, neither of which could not be redeemed online. The person I spoke to confirmed the price, took my credit card information, and issued me two electronic tickets. I was asked to mail the vouchers to United, and I later received a receipt in the mail for the correct amount. When I received my credit card bill, I saw one charge for correct amount from United, as well as two additional charges from United labeled "ticket by mail" for $15 each.
I called the airline to complain that not only had I not ticketed the flight by mail, but more importantly, I was not notified of this charge and I did not authorize it.
I was first told their was nothing they could do. When I asked for a supervisor, I was then told that they would send me, get this, another voucher! I refused this offer and told them that they had made an unauthorized charge on my credit card and if it was not refunded immediately I would dispute the charge with the credit card company. I was refunded the charge.
The moral of the story is that companies can not charge your credit card without your authorization. Just because I give out my card number to purchase item A, it doesn't mean that they can charge you in excess of what you authorized for that purchase; or for item B or fee X. All charges and fees must be presented and a total amount must be given, or the charge is not authorized.
Furthermore, just the threat of a credit card chargeback is enough to get most companies to back down. Chargebacks are very costly, and the more chargebacks that are made, the more a company will be charged for each credit card transaction in the future. In the case of an airline or hotel chain that receives virtually %100 of it's revenue from credit card transactions, chargebacks are avoided at all cost.
Remember this next time a company tries to impose an unauthorized fee on you and fight back.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)