Never could get into Family Guy. I'd catch it flipping channels, something would make me laugh and then something immediately following would make me change channels in disgust. South Park ellicits a similar reaction from me, though the disgust tends to more towards revulsion.

ION, some company has been calling my house for the last week or so, leaving messages on my machine that start well before the beep, so I just end up getting the last 5 digits of a phone number followed by "Please call at your earliest convinience. This is not sales related." Well, today I got a message with the first part still missing, but I got a whole phone number. So I decide to call. I get a "Thank you for calling. Please wait while we connect you message", no company name stated.

Someone finally answers and I can't make out the company name. He asks for a reference number. I tell him I don't have one, they keep leaving only part of a message on my machine and I just today got an entire phone number. He asks me for my phone number. I ask him to tell me who I'm calling first.

He says "Allied Interstate".

I ask what type of company it is.

His response "A business company". WTF? "Can I have you telephone number please?"

What business is the company in?

"I will tell you after you give me your phone number."

I don't understand why I have to give you my phone number just to find out what business your company does.

"I'll be happy to tell you once I have your phone number."

This is ridiculous.

"Please, tell me your phone number."

"No. Bye." and I hang up.

So I do a google search [link] and it looks like they're a debt-collection company that's been in quite a bit of legal trouble for their practices, including harassing payments out of the wrong people. I can only imagine they're at it again as the only debt I currently have is my car payment and I've never been delinquent.

So the question becomes, how do I stop these jackasses from calling me? I have a feeling it's related to a couple months back when I was getting messages for someone who used to live upstairs years ago to call a collection agency back, but the number they kept leaving on my machine was invalid and they never called when I was home.

I had those for a while Kalshane. I figure that it you can't have a person call me, I can't be bothered with you.

When I had one like that they became preoccupied with me proving, somehow, that I wasn't the person in question. I'm not sure what their leverage was, since they were looking for a different name and address.

Kalshane, call your local consumer protection office (or check their website.) They'll have tips on how to file complaints against these companies, and what local (and federal) laws they may be breaking with their actions.

When I had one like that they became preoccupied with me proving, somehow, that I wasn't the person in question. I'm not sure what their leverage was, since they were looking for a different name and address.

Well, the address is going to be the same, since the guy in question lived in the apartment upstairs, though a long time ago. The local utilities can't seem to decide the address scheme, as some address my bills to Apt B while others do Apt 2 and one does Apt BASM, so I don't know how much of a sticking point the whole different apartment thing will be with these yahoos.

Kalshane, call your local consumer protection office (or check their website.) They'll have tips on how to file complaints against these companies, and what local (and federal) laws they may be breaking with their actions

Will do. Thanks.

Good advice from Overheard in New York.

[link]

Beauty and the Geek is actually pretty cute

::blush::

Beauty and the Geek is actually pretty cute

I'm kind of shamelessly addicted. It broke my heart when little Joe got sent home.

It broke my heart when little Joe got sent home.

Yeah, but it was kinda cool to see "oh I love him so, how can I lose him now" girl pout. She's that chick that has a new boyfriend by the second day anywhere.

I LOVE DANCING WITH THE STARS!

I am such a pathetic TV consumer. I have noooooo taste.