Around and around we go.....

I called the first number to Microsoft and talked to a man with a slight accent....of what kind I'm not sure. He was either Tad or Ted but he was very nice. He took all the information I had to give, even saying that eBay would work with them in this case. Glad to know. I want this thief caught! Then he gave me another number to call about getting a replacement. He didn't know anything much about that but kept saying I could buy another software package from them.

I had to laugh at Glen's comment about getting "John" from India because that's precisely what happened. Although "John" was super nice....friendly, compassionate and probably knowledgeable, I could only understand about 1/3 of what he was saying. Never have I said "pardon me" so many times. I even had him wait for a minute so I could change to my other phone which has a volume control on it. Why is it that when we have a hard time understanding due to an accent, we think that if we can hear it at a more intense volume, that we will be able to decipher it better? It did not help, by the way. I finally was able to understand where to find the form I needed to fill out in order to report piracy and also to "have a chance" at getting replacement software once I sent them my discs and documentation. So, I will send that off tomorrow or the next day.....insured and certified. Its up to them to decide whether I deserve replacement software and if they decide in my favor, it will take a month to get it. I was referred to yet another number (thank goodness for toll-free).

This was in reference to my Windows XP, which is not what its supposed to be either. About all I was getting out of that is that I can purchase a new set of discs. Forget the fact that this would involve wiping my entire hard drive and starting over from scratch. What happens to all my stuff? Why....for a price, they can store it online for you while you do this. XP is no longer for sale, so I would have to buy Windows 7, which may not be compatible with my existing programs. Yet another number was given to me to find out if my programs would work. This guy also gave me the impression that I was some sort of moron for buying a computer at an auction and also for buying the Word program for $139 when it sells for nearly $500.....and that should have raised some flags. Well, no....it didn't. I was buying software that had already been upgraded to a newer version (2010) and I thought that the older version (2007) would be less money because of that. I decided I wasn't in the mood to be belittled, so I said I would research buying new software and let him go. He was condescending and not very friendly.

So, now I wait. Yes, I have learned a lesson. Buy computers and computer software from well-known establishments, ones that can prove they are authorized Microsoft dealers. Check your PC's and laptops to make sure you have your certificate of authenticity on the side or bottom. If not.....you likely have illegal copies. But of course the certificate of authenticity could be counterfeit (as what happened to me). I think Microsoft needs to come up with a better way.

And the icing on the cake.....

I open up my Microsoft Word program to write a letter and a sign appears advising that my copy may not be genuine and to "click here". I do so and it routes me to the MS website. Long story shortened.....I contact tech support for some help. They are very prompt at replying. I have to send them my numbers off of the software I have, and he'll get back with me.

I bought that software and installed it about a year ago. I thought I had bought it from a reputable place. When I received it I was even more convinced that I had bought the authentic product; it had all the necessary paperwork and certificate of authenticity as well as a product key. I've been happily using it all this time, blissfully unaware.

I have a counterfeit copy and I'm LIVID. I bought this through eBay. I have no receipts to speak of. Its been long enough I can no longer find the transaction on eBay. I can find where my Paypal account paid them, but I can't find the actual transaction that states what the product was. MS claims they will replace the software if they are convinced I innocently bought it and its a convincing copy (doesn't look like someone whipped it up in 5 minutes). Oh....its that all right. Its an excellent copy....someone took some pains to make sure this looked authentic.

Just one more thing to think about. I will give them what I have and hope for the best. I'm not going to be optimistic. However I do have one major bitch. WHY did they wait so long to let me know it was counterfeit. If it was closer to the purchase date, this thief could have been caught....the listing was up on eBay for a while. They tell you things to look for that would alert you that it was counterfeit...like the hologram being pasted on instead of part of the disc. Well, how in the world are you supposed to view that before you buy it....you absolutely cannot....not even in a store where you personally go. You cannot open the package unless you purchase it. Once again.....bend over.....the consumer gets screwed. And in the meantime, my OFFICE software only functions with the bare bones features, which is not acceptable for what I do with it. Open Office is looking better all the time.

Some snippets.....

During this time of year we have an organization that puts bins at both the entrance/exit doors of the building where I work for the purpose of accepting food donations. The organization then transports them all back to a central location and they are distributed....probably after being checked over first to make sure the food is acceptable.

I have a couple stories concerning this. We've been getting in a lot of donations and the bins are over-flowing....which is really good, especially during these hard times. It makes your heart swell to see such an outpouring of compassion.

Well, we have a certain resident in the area who is quite colorful, to say the least. The other day she walked in and helped herself to several choice bags of food and started to leave the building. She was intercepted and kindly told that these items are for the needy and she said that she certainly was needy. Then it was explained to her that they had to be taken back to a central location before being distributed and if she would contact that organization, then she could get what she wanted from them. She reluctantly agreed and put back the bags. None of us really think that she qualifies but that will be up to the organization to decide.

The second story is just plain sad and will make you angry. A lot of people put food in those bins that is expired. A woman called one of the offices (thank God I wasn't the one to take that call) and said she was bringing up a lot of food but wanted to know how fast it was going to be distributed because it had all expired....some just expired and some up to a year. The employee who answered our phone got it across to her that why in the world did she think that just because someone was needy, that they deserved to eat expired food? The woman argued that it was perfectly good as long as it didn't sit around too much longer....then our employee said....then YOU eat it. HA. I love it!

I'll end this post with a warning. A friend of my grandson's cashed his small paycheck at a convenience store a couple days ago. When he got home he was looking at the cash and thought some of it looked a little odd. Come to find out.....$120 of it was counterfeit. All twenty dollar bills.

From what we are finding out....but I don't have 100% of the details....if you get counterfeit money, you are stuck with it. No bank is going to change them for good money. You might be able to get the business you got them from to change them out.....in good faith if they want to keep you for a customer...but it would certainly depend on the business. And...of course, if you can PROVE you got them from there in the first place. For the most part the business doesn't want to get stuck with them either. So you should make a police report, of course, but don't plan on getting your money back. Cash your paychecks at a BANK. You are not going to get counterfeit from a bank and on the off-chance that you DO, they will replace it if you can prove you got it from them. (so check your money right as you get it) Remember, the 20's have that strip embedded in them.

In these times, we are going to be hearing more and more about stuff like this. Matter of fact, anything that isn't nailed down probably will be stolen from you. You can purchase a counterfeit detection pen very reasonably at any office supply store. You make a mark on the money in question and if it turns a certain color, then its not any good. We should all have one of these pens on us so we can check. Make sure you check your change very carefully. With the excellent capabilities of today's printers, a really good copy of money can be made. Professional counterfeiters don't fool with twenty-dollar bills, but that's what's showing up now. These people are amateurs with good computer equipment and I guess they figure no one really scrutinizes a small bill and they'll get away with it easier. Their thinking seems to be correct. Be careful.....its a jungle out there!