There is Only One Me!

I haven’t even seen the movie, but I might be starring in the sequel. My phone keeps ringing...

No, it’s not a Hollywood agent wanting me to play the part of the empty-nester wife and Mom. The calls all have to do with Fraud departments. 

Someone who I have named “creepy thief,” keeps trying to open up new credit card accounts using MY private information. Conversations I've had this week include “No, I did not order $3000 worth of Nordstrom gift cards.” “No, I did NOT want to open up a new Capital One credit card.”

Whoever this person is lives in Atlanta, Georgia and they are persistent. (My brother-in-law lives there. “Is this you, Mark, playing a joke?”) This person knows just enough of my private information to sound legit. 

My hubby has notified all the correct people and departments so we are protected. That’s why I keep getting called; every action is checked and reported. It still makes me uneasy though, and frustrated. Why are they picking on me? If they’ve done any research at all then they’d know we’re scraping by trying to have our fourth child graduate from a private university. We also took the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace class so we're trying not to be in debt!

It is NOT fun having my identity stolen!

I know there is really only one me. Psalm 139:16 reminds me, "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." Depending on who you are, I am known as: Mike's wife, mom of four, youngest daughter, little sister, Aunt Jane, girlfriend, Mops mentor, member of Chapel Hill, Hoosier girl, Chi Omega sister or employee at Charlie Barnes. 

I love being known by those titles. The identity that I am MOST proud of though, is “the daughter of the King.”

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” 

John 1:12

"Hey you creepy Atlanta thief person~you might continue trying to borrow or steal my identity but you will never take away my true identity!"

Have you ever dealt with fraud? Do you know your true identity?

In His Grip, 

Jane                            Thanks for reading See Jane Learn!

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time...

July has not been the best month for our family finances... We've been the target of fraud, medical bills are arriving, plus I'm still legally blond and gullible. 

I've been putting off going to the Mall partly because of the expensive bridge toll, and mostly so I won't get too excited at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale when all I really need are two things at the cosmetics counter. Some of my favorite beauty products are pretty inexpensive and found at drugstores or Target, but a couple items I love are made by Bobbie Brown and Clinique which is only found at department stores. I'll have to share my personal favorites in a future post.

So...I'm almost out of eye cream and serum and I was scanning Facebook when BAM! Christie Brinkley and Diane Sawyer (two faces a bit older and a lot prettier than mine) were attached to some products. The deal was a trial for just the cost of shipping. I was excited to get eye cream and serum for under $12 and it would keep me from heading to Nordstrom!

WARNING! DO NOT DO WHAT I DID. THERE ARE SOME ADDED COSTS NOT MENTIONED...

My bank notified me I'd overdrawn due to an unexpected charge of over  $175 from the Lumare Skin company. What??? I immediately called and had a little "chat" with the company's customer service. I had been enrolled in an ongoing deal... (Did any of you ever order Proactive for your teens and thought that was annoying?)

I never saw prices or membership mentioned. I'd unknowingly opened one of the products so I can't return it but I am getting half my $$ back and I'm NOT EVER GETTING MORE OF THEIR PRODUCT. I will use it up and I'd better start to look TV and magazine ready!!

It's been awhile since I've made such an idiotic choice that sounded like a good idea at the time.

My hubby has also been guilty of falling for "the deal." There was a vacation weekend when we lived in upper Illinois and had four littles under the age of eight. that we will never forget. My hubby found a "great deal" for a family "resort" on Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin. The photos and description were just what we were looking for and the price was right! It was a two hour drive and we couldn't wait to have fun beach time.

Perhaps their marketing was not completely honest?? Or brilliant, depending on how you look at it...

Here's what we found upon arrival at the "resort": a room so small we couldn't open the door all the way without crashing it into one of the saggy beds (where would our port-a-crib go?), a dirty room without air-conditioning, and no sunny beach area (just a rocky, shady, high-bank dirt area.) Needless to say we were discouraged. We tried to make the best of it the first night and went for a boat ride the next day.

While out on the lake saw something in the distance... Cue the choir singing.

The most beautiful resort was right next door. Even though money was tight, my hubby made the wise decision to move us over to the Osthoff Resort for our second night. It was amazing. The kids played at a sandy beach, we swam in the pool, and the big kids got to see 4th of July fireworks over the lake. It was worth it to spend a bit lot more. 

The place we stayed our first night back in the mid-90's is no longer in operation. It's been completely remodeled, changed owners and is probably fun for young families. Hopefully the brochures are truthful.

Lesson Learned: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is... RESEARCH!

Have you ever made a decision that sounded like a good idea at the time but you later came to regret?

In His Grip,

Jane

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