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It's back!!
Jul 4, 2008

Got a letter today saying the investigation was complete and the money would be reimbursed within 7 working days. The letter was dated 2nd July, so that would mean the money would be back by 11th July. I checked, just for the hell of it. The money's already there. This weekend I'm going out and spending some of it!

(1 reply, Latest reply: Jul 4, 2008)

The fraud story continues
Jun 23, 2008

I phoned the Fraud Department's Customer Service number this afternoon. First they couldn't find an account with my sort code and account number. When they did find the claim for my account, I was told it was scheduled to be investigated today - nearly 2 weeks after I reported the fraud. They'll investigate and post a form for me to sign and return. That should happen today or tomorrow. Some investigation!

Assuming the form goes out first class, I'll get it on Wednesday - if I'm lucky. Even if I return it the same day, it will be Thursday before they get it back, and probably Friday before I get my money back. That's 2.5 weeks from the time I reported the fraud.

I understand that banks are supposed to deal with fraud claims within a week. My bank says they have a backlog. If that many customers are falling victim to ID theft, maybe the problem's with the bank, not the customers.

(5 replies, Latest reply: Jun 26, 2008)

It's always somebody else - until it's you
Jun 10, 2008

I always thought identity theft/cloned cards was something that happened to other people. Then I opened my bank statement today and found that my account had been stripped. I'd gone from a healthy balance to almost overdrawn. I phoned my bank immediately and they stopped my debit card. I'll be going to my branch to fill in a fraud claim form, which I was told is the quickest way to get the money back.

I'd like to buy myself something to cheer myself up, but my card has been stopped and I've got about £5 in cash. I was planning to buy a laptop, but that will have to wait. It feels like my only option is to drown my sorrows in tea (possibly with a generous helping of rum).

Like a fool, I originally posted this in the 'Discuss this entry' area for my personal space. Eejit!

I've been to the bank and reported the fraud. It will take about a week for my new debit card to arrive, but it will take about 2 weeks for the money to be returned.

(3 replies, Latest reply: Jun 10, 2008)

Frog rescue
May 31, 2008

On Thursday night (29th May), hubby decided our grass needed cutting. After a while, he knocked the window to get my attention. He called me outside to see a frog he'd found. The fence around the garden is brand new and goes all the way to the ground. The only way out was through a small gap by the gate. That may have been how the frog got in, we're not sure.

The frog couldn't stay where it was. Hubby wanted to finish cutting the grass and the frog needed to get to the local river. (We assume that's where it was heading for.) By teamwork we managed to get the frog into a bucket. I carried it to the fields near our house - the river runs through the fields - where I released it.

Please note that the river is shallow and not fast flowing. The area is part of the river's flood plain (it floods very rarely) and used to be marshy. Frogs have been known to cross people's gardens to get to the river since before hubby was born, so it's a reasonable assumption that that's where the frog was headed.

(5 replies, Latest reply: Jun 26, 2008)

Petless
Sep 3, 2007

This morning Bonnington was still making the horrid grinding sound when he ate. To make things worse, there was an asthmatic sound as he purred. We took him the vet, and we were seen straight away even though we didn't have an appointment. The grinding noise was Bonnington grinding his teeth because he had a bad tooth. The asthmatic sound was fluid in his lungs! In fact, he had a major problem with fluid in his tissues. The vet said Bonnington also had a tumour in his thyroid. The bad tooth and the thyroid were treatable. The oedema was another matter. The vet would have had to do tests to find the cause. We'd noticed for some time that Bonnington was getting thinner, despite eating well, but that his abdomen was getting big. The thinness was down to the thyroid problem, the swelling was down to oedema. Today, his paws were swollen, too. That had come on rapidly.

To get to the point, the vet said that Bonnington would probably only live a few more weeks, even if he were treated. We'd already decided that we wouldn't prolong his life if he was seriously ill, so hubby signed the consent form and Bonnington was put to sleep at about 9am today (Monday 3rd September). And, yes, I cried. I'm still crying.

I keep telling myself it was a good thing. Bonnington isn't suffering any more, we don't have to buy pet food, things aren't going to get knocked over, no more 'presents' of dead wildlife, etc. But there's a group of bowls on the dining room floor that aren't going to be used for some time. There won't be a welcoming purr from somewhere as we go in to the kitchen/dining room. For the first time in 16 years we don't have a cat in the house and it feels empty.

(2 replies, Latest reply: Sep 5, 2007)