Kobe’s Blog

Sean In Chicago, originally uploaded by Kobe2005.

Hanging with nephew Sean.

With Papa, originally uploaded by Kobe2005.

I said goodbye to Dad later this afternoon at O’Hare. It was an end to a 5 week long trip to America that took him to Grand Blanc, Michigan and Atlanta, Georgia as well. All in all, it was a very nice trip. I had the rare opportunity to capture many kodak moments.

I’ve usually been quick to setup direct debit on services such as cable modem and phone. Well, today, I finally understood the reasons why some people think it’s the worst thing one could do. I switched from comcast to rcn barely a month ago and gladly setup direct debit for the $45 a month - 5 month promotion they had for cable tv and internet.

Well today, I received my bill and decided to check what the taxes came to — expecting to see a total due of about $60. To my surprise, RCN had charged $225. I called to inquire and they told me it included a transfer from a previous address. I asked which address, and they mentioned an address I lived about 3 years ago.

I have had rcn about 3 times since I moved from the said address, and have had an account balance of $0 until the day I decided to give them a free ride to my account. To make matters worse, when I asked for more information about the bill, they kept tossing me from the billing to their financial department and back. In the end they put me on hold for about 2 hours and never came back. When I dialed again, I got an automated message saying the office was closed.

I just filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and another to my financial institution. This is daylight robbery and I won’t let it stand.

It’s almost 2Am in Chicago on January 1, 2006. I had planned earlier yesterday to write my final entry for the 2005 before midnight. I never got around to doing that. Time, they say, waits for no man.

Last year, for the most part lived up to its billing. It certainly could have been better, but all in all, it was good. There aren’t that many regrets. Instead, I have a whole host of things to be proud of. I’m also very glad I got to see Dad at the end of the year. My resolutions for 2006 include spending some time Mom.

If you’ve been spending time reading my blog, I’ll take this opportunity to wish you a happy and prosperous new year. May all your goals and wishes come true.