When you’re wronged, cheated out of money, what do you do? How do you react? At 17 I fought for severance pay when I was fired in order to support nepotism. I was out, family was in! I seriously fought for that severance. Karen at 17. Later in life I took someone, an animal breeder, to the mat over 250.00. I was relentless, her worse nightmare for 6 months. In both cases I got my cash.
This time I’m in the right but I made the mistake. This time I called a locksmith without doing the proper “get 3 estimates” and “check better business bureau” routine. It cost me dearly. Financially and emotionally. You can imagine what it feels like to have a shady outfit work on your locks. …and we’ve all been bilked at least once in our lives, I imagine anyway. I’ve been cheated out of money before but this one really ticked me off. Mostly because I knew better. Had I used my head I could have saved money and avoided the ensuing drama.
The Sheriff came out last night since I was seriously upset by unscrupulous locksmiths. I noticed him driving by late before I went to bed. He really was a great guy and understood how I might feel.
Yesterday I did have a reputable and helpful locksmith come out and re-key my locks. He taught me a lot about locksmiths in general, The Associated Locksmiths of America and their push to regulate the industry in some way. Can you imagine? It’s not regulated but in a few states. …and Florida is not one of them. I should clarify “regulate” ~ I simply mean licensing.
More on Locksmith Scams: Click here.
The following States require licensing for locksmith services: AL,CA, IL, LA, NJ, NC, OK, TN and TX.
~~~
I’m sad that I allowed this to happen. I’m sad that in order to fight this I’d have to put myself-health through what I know is unwise for my body. It’s a bitter pill I swallow for the mistake I made. Sure, I got taken but I knew better.
I’m going to sit and sew today and make something of the day, pull myself out of this self-flagellating state of mind. Talk about health! That pity crap isn’t doing me any good. Like my Dad once said when I blew it “Not pretty, not at all. Just don’t let it happen again!”
…which makes me wonder how often I was an airhead like this as a kid. Sometimes it’s like the “think” link is disconnected.
We all need to feel secure in our home. Nice to know the local sheriff is watching out for you. So did they over chharge you or what?
your dad was right, just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again.
and go ahead and sing it, we all know the notes!
Perhaps your lesson was our lesson. Thanks for sharing! Now go and sit and sew! Be good to yourself. We all have our disconnected 'think link' moments!
This is a TEST post. You'll know what I mean.
Karen L.
What a wretched experience! The unscrupulous ones need to be fined, arrested, run out of town, whatever! But stop beating yourself up about it — we all make errors from time to time!
Glad you were going to have a sewing day and hope it put you in a much better frame of mind!
I love the pic of your doggies…the one with “Cookie, anyone?”
Karen L.
I know exactly how you feel about making what you consider a 'stupid' mistake. When I make one (and I've lost count of how many I've made in my life), I wear a hair shirt for the longest time. I realize it is better to forgive me and move ahead with life. My stupidity then goes on the looooong list of mistakes never to make again.
I'm thankful you're safe, and hopefully you didn't do a number on your health. Sending happy, healthy thoughts your way….
Ah yes…”to err is human….”
Forgive yourself, my dear. Please do. You've learned…and thank God you're safe!!! Sew and sing and dance and crank the music up loud and scream. Do what you want…and thank God you're safe.
Thankful hugs….
Don't beat yourself up over this. We all do boneheadded things! You got your locks fixed and it's all OK now. Enjoy your relaxing and safe sewing day!
oh pooh! Don't you just hate it when something like that happens and you just absolutely can't find anyone else to blame? I know I do – and believe me, I've had plenty of experience of broken “think-links”
Damn…this sucks! Take care of you!
Hugs,
Anett
It's so unfortunate that we even have to consider a possibility like this. Hope you're able to put it behind you and not let it get you down.
Good for you winning what was your's! Sorry you had a back experience with the locksmith. Just goes to show we cannot be too trusting and that not everyone in business is honest. Hope you had a good day sewing and it relaxed you.
Hugs, Karen L.
I'm glad you got re-keyed after the hose job…
So.. you wanna talk about airhead kids??? Allow you to introduce you to my 10 year old son… He walks right into people.. He's not allowed to drive until he is oh, 27 I'm guessing!
We constantly say 'watch your driving' – to train him to really look both ways!
Oh Karen, so sorry you had such a thing happen. At least you got someone reliable to come and ease your mind.
Take care and let it go. You have alerted others and that's good.
Hugs
Oooo this makes me fightin' mad that some horrible person did this. I hope they get caught! Good for you to chalk it up and move on to sewing. Just listen to the little chugga chugga of your sewing machine and all will be well! I'm headed out to see Harry Potter soon–escape escape
Sending hugs and let-me-at-'ems.
Well, I'm truly sorry that you had to go through that experience. I find it so sad that it is so rapidly becoming the norm to NOT be able to trust people, rather than to trust openly. Of course we need to use common sense, always should…but still, how in the world did scamming get so huge and so easy to do? It's frightening. Hmmm…now I think I need a little sewing therapy myself, LOL.
Ouch — tough lesson. And no, you are not alone about fighting when you feel you have been cheated. Been there, done that. Relax, take a deep breath and revel in your sewing. Let your creativity take over. Hugs
I am so sorry you had to go through this stressful thing. Thank you for the heads up though. I find it sad that there are such dishonest people in business.
I am glad you are now safe. Sew today girlfriend, let the hum of your sewing machine ease your thoughts, & comfort you.
Despite wanting to have a trusting heart nowadays it is very difficult to do … everything you do should be double checked. Sorry you went thru such an event …
How are you feeling, Karen? Hope things are smoothing out for you.
TTFN ~ Marydon
Oh Karen….all of us have had a disconnect with our think link at one time or another. Thank you for making us aware of this, but do try to move on (and believe me, I know hard hard this is to do) and know that you've done a good service to those of us who read this who will be much more aware now. Yes, sit and sew is a good thing – you are in our thoghts – and Sophie's, too!
Take care…
It is scarey to think locksmiths aren't regulated somehow…this may be one yo just need to let go and put it in the life lessons folder.
We had a segment on the TV news recently about locksmiths and scams and it was quite an eyeopener. You are right though, we've all been taken at some point, but it is time to move on and put your mind at ease with something enjoyable. Great basket, BTW.
I think that the people most likely to be scammed are those who are the most trusting. My mother, now deceased, was victim of one of those phone scams that prey on the elderly. Every afternoon a “nice young man” would call and chat her up. He was especially nice to her because she “had won the Canadian Lottery”. All she had to do was send a money order to cover the processing fees….
By the time we realized what she was doing, she has lost thousands. She has been gone for many years now, but my blood still boils over the level of depravity of people who would take advantage like that. Not only did they take money that she had worked all her life to save, they also stole her dignity; she was so ashamed that she had been duped.
I'm just hoping that there is a special place in hell waiting for them — and for your “locksmith.
Been there!!……sounds like you had a frightening(sp) time…..glad everything is OK now…..and thanks for the heads-up on lockmsiths….didn't know either!!
Enjoy your day……LindaMay
Magical voice here….we talked and ever had a great chat! I'm hoping today your mind is at ease. I'm glad you posted this…get the word out…make us more aware! Unfortunately lesson learned at your expense of aggravated day and sleep.
Now…move on elsewhere in mind and spirit….get creative today!
Wow – I'd never have thought of that kind of thing happening – I usually think that people are honest to start with. This is a good lesson for all of us, though it was you who had to pay for the experience. I certainly will keep this in mind and remind my friends. I'm sorry that it cost you so much – that always hurts and I know things are in tight mode right now because of earlier expenses, but I am certainly glad that you are safe.
Thanks for sharing this – and be good to you – you are super special and the jerks that conned you are the ones that should have guilt (though somehow they never do). So sit and sew – and we'll be thinking of you today, happy for your safety and your bravery to share this story. It can help keep us all safe. Now go sew girl – sew, sew, sew.
Sounds like things are more secure now than they were . . . perhaps that, in itself, needs to be enough in this situation. Here's to the power of “sit and sew” … be gentle with yourself!