DirecTV's bill arrived yesterday ...

... and there was no pro-rating of any charges despite our cancelling service within three days of installation. Not even any kind of discount to reflect their failure to provide us with either Internet or telephone service despite selling us those services.

In my opinion, DirecTV broke the contract - not us - by selling us services that are not available in our area and failing inform us otherwise. And so they will not be getting any early-termination fees from us. Nor will we pay for an entire month of TV/Internet/phone when all they provided was TV, and for only three days at that.

I tried to call DirecTV this afternoon to straighten this out, but was put on hold and had to listen to not only Muzak but also intermittent SHOUTING COMMERCIALS just like the crap you get when you watch TV, except on the phone! Oh boy!

That wait didn't last long; I was already tired of ranting at people on the phone so I just hung up.

The previous hour had been spent trying to get in touch with my auto insurance company. A letter arrived today stating that there had been an accident claim against my insurance on Dec 02, 2011. In Tampa. While both I and my car were far, far away.

It seems that someone (who shall remain nameless) was rear-ended while driving their work truck and incurred some medical bills. Unfortunately this individual had let their auto insurance lapse. So, their lawyer filed a claim against MY insurance under the fraudulent pretense that this individual lives with us in Florida. Not so; the person is married and has a house and family of their own. Neither does this person have access to my car. They lived there once upon a time, but moved out three years ago owing $160.

As you can imagine, I was enraged. I was finally able to speak to the person who had written the letter. She said that a few days later she sent another letter explaining that the claim had been dismissed out-of-hand because the party in question had no connection whatsoever to my car or house. My rates will not be affected and I will, for now, not press charges of insurance fraud - a 3rd degree felony, by the way.

My poor Lisa has been working herself too hard in an attempt to take care of her mother. In the process, she fights against the pain until she is completely worn out. On the bright side, she is getting much stronger and can overdo it for much longer before requiring a "bed day." That's what she is having today and I am doing everything within my power to let her rest.