Shady Business Practices - and not so bright people

Several weeks ago, I received a call from Conn's stating that I was a reference for "Melissa Morris", when I said I didn't know anyone by that name than began spelling my ex-husband's last name (it's of German origin and not easily pronounced). I explained that I was not related to her, that I had been married to and divorced from her ex-husband, and the I would NEVER be a reference for her. The lady apologized and we hung up. I called Conn's asking how Melissa had gotten my number and they told me they would check into it - they never did.

Today, April 21, I received a series of calls, I ignored the first call because I was at work and did not recognize the number. They immediately called back, I again ignored the call, and they called right back. I called the number back, and spoke to Monica - she asked for my number, stated that there was nothing in the system for my number (good thing - I don't have a Conn's account!) During this call, there was a voicemail left on my phone. I called the 800 number for the "Corporate Office" and was asked if I knew Melissa "former married name" - I explained how we came to have the same former married name. I then asked how the hell Melissa got my phone number - I was then told the most disturbing thing.

Conn's skip-trace department checked her "associates" and because I have the same former married name and we are similar in age they "assumed" we were sisters. This is disturbing for several reasons:

1. No public records connect she and I - the only records for me with that name are in conjunction with my ex-husband (including the divorce).
2. I have no accounts with that married name on them.
3. My current phone number is in no way linked with that name, in fact it has been in my current married name for over a year, and has never been in my maiden name or my former married name.
4. Who in the hell is Conn's to be looking up my information when I have no account with them, and never have, nor will I ever (especially now).

I was assured that Melissa doesn't have my information. I asked to be taken off their list - the lady I was speaking to told me to that I was not on a list, that this was generated and not stored. I proceeded to tell her that I had already explained my quasi-relationship to Melissa to one of their operators and that I do not want to receive another call regarding Melissa. She "apologized for the inconvenience" but was not really apologetic.

I am now on my second marriage. I have not been married to my first husband for almost 4 years. I have not had contact with him for almost 3 years. I have not had contact with his first wife (I was the second) since 2002, and that was not a pleasant run-in.

I never gave Conn's permission to access my personal information. If they are checking associates of people, shouldn't they at least have the brains to determine that a) that's not her maiden name, and b) it's not my maiden name either. This is incredibly shady and if they call me one more time - harassment. One more call and they get reported to the Attorney General's office, the Better Business Bureau and anyone else I can think of, including the local TV stations.

I don't normally make a public issue of things, but please boycott Conn's, especially their credit programs. They are at best participating in shady business practices

Dang It!

I missed a month, and entire month, here on the blog. Guess it's been a little crazier than even I realized. Last month, I got hit, got an insurance check for the "repair" to my POS car. Hubby worked and started getting more than he can do on his own (YAY!). I worked, and worked, and worked, then took a day off and then worked some more. We didn't really have any adventures in March, although we did get hooked on two cable series (thank you Austin Public Library for having them on DVD). We like Rome and The Tudors. I know most people have learned about these "historical" times but seeing them come to life helps cement them in my mind. My problem with history have never been remembering, but more contextualizing it. Who was alive at the same time? I guess getting the big picture is rather hard to do when you are staring at the intricate details of one time period or another. Now that weekends are nice again, we went out to Lakeway (Lake Travis) on Saturday and wandered around - must recommend the Hudson Bend Meat Market, they make and smoke their own bacon (YUM!) and sell great longhorn cheese. And we wandered around the Lower Colorado river and it's environs (that water is COLD, we got our toes wet, but not much more). Hopefully, I will blog more this month and get some new photos posted!