#they have proof with emails and call logs

[tanglepelt]

Dc x idea 124

Sam and Danny do a student exchange program. Danny was Volvontold to do it by mr.lancer who got his parents to agree. Sam’s parents were more then happy to force her to do it. The school she was being sent to had a Wayne.

Tucker would be staying back in amity to help Valarie with the ghosts.

The two amity Parker’s quickly caught attention at the transfer school. The two kept to themselves and wanted nothing to do with it. At one point they were caught bad mouthing the justice league. That caught attention especially from Damian Wayne.

Danny: it’s not that we don’t like hero’s

Sam: it’s that they claim to give a shit but don’t! That hotline is bs. Nothing comes from it.

Damian: they deal with world ending crisis not small time crime from a town in Illinois.

Danny: duh. Dude we don’t call when box ghost is stealing all the shoe boxes. Or when spectra did her hospital gig yet again. Then the time lunch lady decided it was mandatory meatloaf Monday and-

Sam: *elbowing Danny* we’ve only called with potential world ending threats. Like when the ghost king yoinked our town into the ghost zone and threatened to destroy earth without the return of his ring. Then the time undergrowth was going to feed our entire town to his plants then move on to the world.

Danny: don’t forget technus. Know how last month how phones, tvs and most electronics only were displaying a green face screaming of taking over the world. It only lasted like what 2 mins for you guys. But man that was a rough week for us.

Sam: Tucker got a hold of someone just for them to laugh In his face despite offering proof and video footage.

Sam/Danny: we’ll keep bad mouthing the justice league. Deal with it.

Sam: besides we have a much better heros then the justice league. Two of them who actually care.

[mariacallous]

In 2022 I wrote an op-ed for NBC News Think about leg hair, of all things. The piece detailed a monthlong experiment during which I stopped shaving. Aside from one paragraph about bodily autonomy and Roe v. Wade, I thought it was a mild article. Boring, even.

The internet disagreed. Within an hour of publication, I started getting angry, all-caps emails. Then it started on Twitter. I was called everything from stupid and self-absorbed to a Sasquatch. I was accused of hating men and pressuring women.

The deluge lasted nearly two weeks. By the end of it, I had dozens of nasty emails, nearly a thousand social media notifications, and zero idea how to handle what I’d experienced.

Unfortunately, these instances of online harassment are becoming more common. In 2021, the Pew Research Center reported that 41 percent of US adults had experienced online harassment; the Anti-Defamation League reported an increase to 52 percent in 2023. Public and semipublic figures are especially at risk, as noted by recent studies on American journalists, Zimbabwean journalists, and female members of parliament in Sweden.

But the truth is, on social media anyone with an account can experience harassment. Here’s what to do if it happens to you.

Document Everything

Knee-deep in hate mail, I reached out to a former thesis adviser who’d written op-eds. How had he handled the trolls?

His reply: Document everything. If you have to report the harassment to a social platform or to law enforcement, you will need a body of evidence that proves the harassment.

Save the nasty emails in a special folder, either manually or by using keywords to filter and route all of the relevant mail automatically.

On social media, screenshot what people say. Doing this gives you lasting digital proof, which is important if the trolling comments disappear later on, either because the trolls deleted them or because someone reported the comments, which led to them being removed. Save all of these screenshots in a folder that can easily be shared with anyone investigating your harassment.

Documenting harassment is common advice, featured in resources ranging from writing-specific organizations like PEN America to wider organizations like the University of Chicago and the National Network to End Domestic Violence.

Don’t Respond

Another common piece of advice is “don’t feed the trolls.” In theory, if you don’t react to harassment, the trolls get bored and leave. Some have argued that this advice has failed us, as it puts the onus on the victim to stop the cyberbullying; it suggests that it’s not the trolls who need to stop but rather the victim who needs to turn the other cheek.

This is a fair critique; social media platforms should build better moderation systems and restrict users who breach standards on harassment. Ideally, events like the 2024 child safety hearing before US Congress will lead to changes that make the internet safer for everyone. In a perfect world, the onus is on Big Tech.

But internet safety is a work in progress, and in the meantime it’s on us to decide how we want to respond. Many of the accounts spamming me were obvious trolls. They had incendiary usernames and profile pictures. Looking at their comments, which were antagonistic at best, I knew I wouldn’t change their minds by responding. Nothing I could write would make them consider my point of view.

So I followed the American Psychological Association’s advice and let the storm pass. I logged off social media and routed the nasty emails into a special folder, out of sight. I spent my energy on things I enjoyed instead, no trolls involved.

Or Maybe Do Respond

Walking away isn’t the best option for everyone. If you choose to respond, there are both indirect and direct ways to address harassment. The former could include muting threads or blocking accounts. You could also report comments or users for behaviors that breach community standards, such as hate speech, threats, and bullying (which most platforms claim to prohibit). These options may prevent the same trolls from harassing you, or another user, in the future.

If you feel safe and want to respond directly, consider counterspeech, a strategy that addresses and undermines hate by redirecting the conversation in a constructive way. Some choose to reclaim hashtags, such as the K-pop stans who in 2020 flooded the #WhiteLivesMatter hashtag with K-pop videos.

Others create larger discussions around hateful posts, typically focusing not on the troll but on the content of their argument (so, not “You’re sexist” but “Saying XYZ is problematic because …”). This is exactly what I did, some six months after my experience, when I wrote about hate mail for HuffPost, focusing on sexism and the importance of dismantling it. Reframing the conversation helped me feel less powerless.

Though organizations like the United Nations recommend counterspeech, some research has suggested that it may be ineffective: While a 2021 study on anti-Asian hate found that counterspeech discouraged hate, another study on racism and homophobia saw mixed results.

Do Something You Enjoy

Whether or not you respond, give yourself time to work through your feelings. Do something you enjoy, like going to the gym, meditating, or playing your favorite video game. Anything goes!

Social support, in particular, is important for processing your experiences. This is because one of the goals of online harassment is to make you feel isolated; intentionally enjoying time with loved ones can combat this. An older 2014 study noted that social support can come from anyone in your life, ranging from your peers to your family. More recently, a 2020 study listed the myriad benefits of social support for those experiencing bullying, including increased confidence and decreased anxiety.

So text your friends and coworkers. Make dinner plans with family. Rant to your partner—or ask for a distraction. Any and all of these can help you feel less alone. You can also seek professional advice via a therapist or a cyberbullying hotline.

If you decide to take an extended break from the internet, ask a friend you trust to keep an eye on your social accounts. They can continue to take screenshots of new harassment and notify you if the frequency of incidents increases.

If the Harassment Escalates

If rude comments turn into stalking, hacking, doxing, or death threats, it’s time to contact the authorities and get legal assistance. Continue to document everything; you’ll want a body of proof to ensure you’re taken seriously. If you’re in immediate danger, call emergency services.

Practicing good cyber hygiene can help you protect your information. To deter hackers, use strong passwords, which are longer than 16 characters and include numbers and special characters. Don’t reuse passwords, and set up multifactor authentication to ensure that you’re notified if someone tries to log in to your account.

To deter doxing, stalking, and further harassment, adjust your privacy settings on social media. If possible, set your accounts to private until the storm passes. Also, depending on the platform, you should be able to limit the ability to reply to your posts so that only people you follow can republish your posts or leave comments. You can also just disallow comments entirely. If you have both professional and personal accounts, keep them separate so that work-related harassment is less likely to follow you home.

You may want to limit who can see your location data on social media, since many platforms tag every post with geolocation data unless you opt out. This is usually something you can turn off in your profiles’ privacy settings. Additionally, browser extensions like Privacy Party can help you keep your privacy settings on social media up to date automatically, so you don't have to think about it.

If things get so bad that you feel it's safest to minimize or erase your digital footprint, paid services like Delete Me can remove identifying information like your address, phone number, and social media activity from hundreds of online databases and data brokers. This makes it much harder for people to uncover this information in web searches. Services like Tweet Delete can automatically delete years worth of social media posts, replies, and likes—either wholesale or within a specific range—from your accounts.

Online harassment can be isolating and terrifying, but with a plan, you’ll be prepared to respond—and to mitigate its impacts on your life.

[orionis13]

Tonight is the first night of Chanukah, and I have decided that to “celebrate” I will be contacting my representatives every day for the next 8 days to call for a permanent ceasefire in Palestine, and I urge you to do the same. There are countless easily accessible templates for emails, phone calls, and letters that take less than 5 minutes to complete and put pressure on our reps, who are aiding and abetting a literal genocide. If you are able, you can also donate to reputable esim providers (the Cartoonist Cooperative has really easy links, and you can get art) to keep people connected thru internet blackouts

As incentive, I am offering a fullbody colored sketch to anyone who chooses to dm me after these 8 days with proof of contact with their reps (dated screenshots of emails, dated call logs, etc. just nothing with your personal info). This is not a large scale, highly organized project; this is just an option that hopefully inspires you to take consistent action.

I think there is a horrible irony in the Zionist love of Chanukah; how can you see yourself represented in a story about standing against oppressors and still enact the same violent oppression against those you deem lesser. You are not a hero, you are not brave, you are a coward laughing as people are murdered in your name, and your memory will only bring shame

The real bravery is that of the Palestinian people, who despite the odds stacked against them continue to survive. This is far more in the spirit of a holiday about resistance than a celebration of genocide will ever be.

We will not be silent. We will not give up on the people of Palestine. They will survive and be free.

I hope this is clear enough to make sense to people, please feel free to let me know any questions/concerns you may have. Chag sameach

[merl-out]

Breaking Customer Promises and The Harms of Online Business

I ordered a laptop from BestBuy on sale. The next day, I received an email that the order was cancelled. I pulled up a chat to ask why exactly my order was cancelled.

They don't deliver to hotels.

Okay. Sure.

I asked if I could change the address to my work place and was told to fully re-order everything and I would receive a refund for the post-sale price difference. Okay. Sure.

I received the laptop, and it wouldn't turn on.

I took it to my nearest BestBuy. They swap it out easy as pie. I think to myself, "I should've just gone here from the beginning."

Ah, but no matter. I have a laptop and it works great!

I wait a week. No refund. I call them. They assure me, I'll receive an e-mail with the refund in 48-72 hours. Okay. Sure.

I wait another week, just to give them space to process the influx of end of year orders. No refund. I call them again. "The billing cycle takes a month," they tell me, "the refund will come in around 30 days."

Okay. Sure.

It's been four months, friends, and I finally reach out again. Armed with my case ID number, three BestBuy supplied chat logs of customer service agents promising me my refund, a free day and a whole lot of righteous fury. How could they deny me this? I explain all of this to John, the customer service agent. And what does he say to me?

"Sorry to hear this, it is very disappointing, however I will try to resolve your issue as soon as possible. I would like to inform you that, we do not have an option to honor the price match for the old price for canceled order."

…What? Excuse me? I explain again, "They've all told me differently. I have evidence of your company representatives promising me this refund."

"I’m truly sorry to hear about your experience and I’m sorry you are having to face this issue. Please accept our sincere apology for the inconvenience caused and incorrect information provided by previous agent. As it is canceled order we do not have an option to honor the previous sale price." John tells me, merciless.

But it wasn't just one agent, I argue. I have proof. They all told me the same thing. So, I Karen. I admit it, I tell him, "Let me speak to a supervisor."

"I can surely arrange for a supervisor, but I want to let you know that I've thoroughly investigated all potential solutions in this situation. Believe me, if there were any available options to provide you with refund, I would have already taken care of it. Getting a supervisor wouldn't have been necessary since I've already explored this option on your behalf." John tells me.

And here's the thing, friends, I do believe him. He doesn't seem like a bad guy, even though he's complicit in stealing money from me, but in the words of an anachronistic Anne Boleyn, like what was I supposed to do? What's the worst thing that can happen, John, if I ask to speak to your manager? Explain it to me.

Is it a waste of my time? Four months after the theft occurred, to chase down $430 like some cadaver dog sniffing up and down a river after the frost melted to see if I can pick up on a trail? After four months, will one more conversation, one more long shot, really be the straw that breaks my back?? At worst, what will happen, John? Will I waste more company time? Good. I hope I waste at least $430 of company time. Frankly, I hope I waste more.

A supervisor is reviewing the chat logs now before they get back to me. They're a floor supervisor, but they didn't provide a name. Pray for me, friends.

[namor-the-sub]

I’m about to start keeping a running log of work calls. I can’t with these people today.

So far:

Call 1: called wrong department checking on the status of an order they didn’t pay for yet.

Call 2: another person cheated by the unfair shift of RGB to CMYK who wanted us to fix it immediately and ship 25 hardcover custom printed books with a one day turn around.

(Got Nam flashbacks since I just unloaded a crazy person who complained about our commercial grade print quality after comparing it to a “superior” FedEx spiral bound book that used completely different substrates. Good luck mass producing that.)

Call 3:

Them: “I’m taking a look at my proofs and I noticed the designer used the image I asked them to use. So that means I can use it, right?”

Me: *already knows where this going* “ What do you mean?”

Them: “well I found it online when I was searching Google so I assumed it’s fine to use. Since it’s in the proof now I guess that means I can use it.”

(This happens A LOT too. People assume that because they can find it on Google, it’s free use for a self-published book cover. We have to then gently explain copy and usage rights. This is after the client specifically signed an Intellectual Property Rights disclaimer prior to check out certifying they created all of the content.)

Now onto email time and brief reprieve from today’s nonsense.

[orphancookie69]

Disney Dreamlight Valley: Dreamsnaps

So, Disney Dreamlight Valley came out with something called Dreamsnaps. It is a weekly photo submission competition to earn free moonstones. This has pro's and con's, but this was-to me-one of the first unique things this game did. But, like anything else regarding this game, there was not much explained about it.

Before we even get to the ability to do a Dreamsnap, this will start with Venellope's quest. She is glitching and you take a photo and submit it to "fix" her and that starts your dreamsnap journey.

So on Week 1, Dreamsnap Wednesday's, you get a prompt. It will either be a Decoration Challenge or an Outfit Challenge. I noticed a trend where it alternates Decor one week, then Outfit the next week. There will be 2-3 Mandatory tags you have to hit, and 2 Suggested tags. You can sort furniture or clothes by the tags. Every system has a different button for this, but I myself play on Nintendo Switch. Once you are ready to go-you take a photo and click "Submit Dreamsnap". There is also a Dreamsnap Tab in the start menu.

On Week 2, you vote for the submissions you like best. There is no limit to how many votes you cast, you will look at 2 photos and click which one you like better. The minimum amount of voting will get you 50 moonstones per week.

On Week 3, you get your results from that particular challenge in your mailbox (in game). You will get a score, based on how well you hit the mark for the mandatory/suggested tags, and a ranking based on people's votes. The rewards are varying amounts of moonstones and pixel dust. The pixel dust adds up and helps you level up from level 1 to level 10. There is a reward at every level, with a big trophy at level 10. At the time of writing this, I am at Level 9.

The catch is this is ongoing with a new challenge coming weekly. So on any given week you are voting on something, while submitting something else, while receiving the results of something else entirely. So I started keeping track of what challenge was what, the scores, and my submissions. It is possible to send the photo you are planning to submit to your phone, but you need to do so after you take it but before you submit it. Once you take a photo, there is now way to look at previous photos taken to send it to your phone. You send it by way of scanning a QR code.

Now, at the time of writing this post, and since I have been playing since the beginning of the prerelease-I have done 32 dreamsnaps. One would think that by now, I might know what I am doing? If you ask my mom, who I help each week with the submissions, I am a great dreamsnap teacher. But my scores are all over the place, so I decided to look at the numbers and see what a proper analysis would tell me.

For me, I treat every dreamsnap as if its both decor and outfit, hoping that will help my score. One of the problems is, one part of the "win" is objective and the other part of the "win" is subjective. I also have played this since the beginning, which means I have a fully decorated Valley-there is a limit on how many items you can have and I am under it but just barely, but its not like its a baren wasteland. Also, you can not have any "Touch of Magic" items in your photo. No custom creations can be seen or unseen, this goes for clothes or furniture. Having characters from the Valley in with you seems to help, you can also do different poses with different animals when in camera mode. The premium shop changes on Wednesday's as well, save up for the good stuff there.

The Proof is in the Numbers:

I logged my results on a note on my phone, emailed them to myself, and put them into a google sheet. Here is what I found:

For combined outfit/decor

I average a 45.47 score

I average a 56,914 ranking

I average 554 moonstones

I average 139 pixel dust

For Outfit alone,

I average a 48.12 score

I average a 54,096 ranking

I average 646 moonstones

I average 142 pixel dust

For Decor alone,

I average a 42.99 score

I average a 59,556 ranking

I average 468 moonstones

I average 137 pixel dust

My Best Dreamsnap:

My best submission is Winter's Here (#24). An outfit challenge, 77.59 score, 11,114 ranking, 2500 moonstones, and 178 pixels.

My Worst Dreamsnap:

My worst submission is Arendelle's Showcase (#25). A decoration challenge, 26.72 score, 85,353 ranking, 300 moonstones, and 127 pixel dust.

Best Decoration Dreamsnap:

My best one is actually one earlier, but I was not saving them at the time. The one I can show is Holiday Cheer (#21). Decor challenge, 56.87 score, 58,567 ranking, 600 moonstones, and 157 Pixel Dust.

Worst Decoration Dreamsnap:

The worst one is It Came From Outer Space (#27). Decor Challenge, 23.85 score, 59,242 ranking, 300 moonstones, and 124 pixel dust.

Best Outfit Dreamsnap:

While my best submission ever is already posted, I will show this one that was my higest ranking one. A Day at Disney (#22). Outfit challenge, 57.46 score, 15,289 ranking, 1500 moonstones, and 158 pixel dust.

Worst Outfit Dreamsnap:

My worst one is not saved, maybe a good thing in retrospect? But I will show you Under The Sea (#20). Outfit challenge, 32.46 score, 85,575 ranking, 300 moonstones, and 133 pixel dust.

Tips:

No touch of magic items

Make sure Decor and Outfit are on point

Bring in characters

Pose with pets

Buy clothes and furniture, you never know when you are going to need what.

Pay attention to the premium shop, you never know when you could use the stuff there.

Hoard supplies to be able to make stuff at a crafting table to be able to use for photos.

Decorate the valley, within the limit.

Use all the options in the camera: poses, shot types, filters, frames.

This was an interesting dive into whether or not the system is rigged or what I could do better. If you want to look at your own scores, take a look at your mailbox. What tips and tricks would you add to this post?

[icewindandboringhorror]

Daily Log 4

Trying out (probably just temporarily) making short daily-ish notes about things, in an attempt to see if it helps me be more reflective or productive lol.

Activities: Woke up late because I went back to sleep with a headache briefly, then kind of struggled to focus all day ToT

Worked more on the aforementioned tapestry/painting type of thing. I've done the base layer of painting for the main image, now I'm lining in darker outlines. I wanted to finish the center art before getting into the intricate borders. Still haven't translated the text lol..

Made a small bowl and also a little box with a lid out of more avocado pits. Still just with random nail cuticle tool things and kitchen knives, as I don't have proper carving tools.

Finished editing and proofreading the new poll adventure post!! I don't have time to post it tonight because I need to get to sleep early but.. I have it Completely 100% Ready.. finally..

Also washed the clothes I got together yesterday. Called about the bloodwork. Sent an email to a doctor.

Reviewed some writing documents to get back into my game maybe?? (basically, I started working on a visual novel type game a few years ago, decided it was a huge project so kind of put it on the backburner for a while in favor of things that were more easily finishable/tangible. then later on a game website I play (similar to neopets or something, there are collectable little creatures, etc.) there was an opportunity for me to design a pet on site, so I made a smaller shorter visual novel centered around that, where people on the site have to play the game in order to earn the pet, and I have a google form for them to answer a few short questions about it. All of the feedback is quite positive (reached 200 responses a while ago! though still only like 4 comments on the itch.io page lol.. Mandatory Form vs. Optional Comments evil showdown), but sometimes I get commentary that's really enthusiastic and inspires me to start back working on the OTHER bigger game. The small game was kind of like, a proof of concept that was safe because I had a guaranteed audience, that has helped me gain more insight for the larger one.

Anyway, since I've abandoned the Main Large Game for so long, I have to re-read and review/probably rewrite A LOT of things just to pick it back up again as A Thing I'm Actively Working On, so it's another one of those tasks that I do maybe 45 minutes of and then realize it's going to take days and days and get discouraged lol..

Notable sights: Saw two cats in windows. No clovers. It rained a little today but I didn't get to go outside and see it. One of the pieces of asparagus in the fridge was like the size of a carrot, comically overgrown downright ridiculous looking asparagus. Maybe I'll get taller after eating it.

Goals moving forward: Consistent sleep schedule. Focus on social activities, finding new friends in the places I want to move, communicating with ones I have. Physical therapy exercises. Plant nasturtiums. Finish and upload videos, edit costume pictures & etc.

Notable foods: ASPARAGUS AGAIN BABEY.. yeaAAAAGHHH asparagus squad !!!!!!

[dreadofthegrave]

augh. whinging about life events

this is something that would be in a circle in twitter dot corn but i don't have circles here so i will simply put it under a readmore and assume that anyone who doesnt care will simply scroll by as i gen hope they will <3

anyways. last week was vacation and coming back from vacation i got thrown in the metaphorical frying pan. person who was supposed to be watching the house fucked off w/o telling us thursday afternoon (we came back sat night) leaving our cats and her cats (inc. a 5 month old kitten in a separate room) alone. which the other cats would have been fine alone for a few days but the litterboxes were full which makes me suspect she did not clean up before she left. kitten was left with no water and no food (she gave him food but he scarfed it down immediately. because he's A Kitten) and she had the audacity to try to lie to us!! about when she left when we straight up had proof from the security system logs that she was gone for longer than she said she was <3333

did i mention this girl is supposed to be living with us for a few more weeks lol lmao

we spent an hour and a half cleaning the house from the misc toilet and vomit stains around after having already driven a collective 7 hours home from our vacation spot.

we grilled her pretty hard after she came back sunday nite at like 9:30 pm and she kinda gave a half hearted apology and i emphasized that. i agreed to the kitten staying over (which she had thrown on me like. night before we leave) (she adopted the kitten the weekend we left for vacation) with the agreement that she would be taking 100% care of him which she was Not.

and then she fucked off again for all of monday. i think she stayed monday night but she was gone the next morning. she also sprang on me monday nite that "oh do you mind if i stay at my friends house the days i have work because it's closer to my workplace" (by a magnitude of like. hours) and i said yeah because it was LATE and i was WORKING the next day so i didnt have the energy to have a long conversation. i shouldn't have said yes.

she was gone all tues and wed. she didn't have work today so she should have come back to my house but she didn't because she was with her mom. didn't tell us that btw.

now it is thurs night she's probably going to arrive back way too late for me to have a conversation with her because i go to bed early. because i wake up early for work. my sister called her and had a long convo and i sent her a text message saying the kitten has to be gone by the end of this weekend because my sister and i have been taking care of HER KITTEN this entire week basically. when i already gave her a warning for being negligent with the kitten.

tired of hearing the kitten yowling the whole day because my sister and i are both busy and we can't play with him. me because i have my desk job my sister because she's prepping for her job starting next week. regardless ITS THIS GIRLS KITTEN NOT OURS THAT WE DIDN'T AGREE TO TAKE CARE OF

i haven't even broached the topic of payment because i expected to charge her rent for the couple of weeks she was living with us but since she's only been here like. a grand total of 8 hours (when she wasn't watching the house the week we were gone) should i just charge her for using our house as a boarding house for her cats. lol. lmao. im getting some payment out of this even if i have to bug her for it

all that aside. getting grilled at work for things partially my fault and partially not my fault and feeling indignant about it. got told i wasn't communicating well enough when i have been responding to every single silly little email that was sent to me so idk. maybe check your inbox then? anyways i have to finish a report tomorrow i've been putting off for. a disgustingly long time so this is a situation i put myself in but im still mad and stressed about it

good thing i talk to my therapist tmmrw because im just gonna be like hi :) the shit hit the fan my dude

oh as an aside my brain has been bad enough this week that i decided to take a break from twitter since i figured spending my limited free time endlessly scrolling through a collapsing social media site wasn't helping my brain trying to self-cannibalize. tumblr is. Okay. for now. debating filling my queue and leaving for x amount of time but for now i need some outlet

what else. had an onslaught of flies in the house this week. killed about 20 or 30 tuesday and wednesday. thankfully there seemed to be a lot less today so i'm hoping it was just a freak accident and not a serious problem. clothes dryer has been broken (still turns, but no heat) for three weeks now. repairman has stopped by three times with a fourth time coming. i'm about ready to pull the plug after the next time he comes and just buy a new dryer even if that's going to be $$$$ because... it's an old dryer. maybe its time is just up

didn't mean for this post to be so long LMAO if you made it this far you get a picture of harley (my mom's cat). i just gotta make it through this week [pained smile]

NINJA EDIT BECAUSE AS I WAS TYPING THIS UP THERE WAS A NEW KITTEN DEVELOPMENT. after i texted her she got upset enough to decide to drive to our house and pick up the kitten and leave which i mean. lol. lmao. i gave you a warning and you decided to still fuck off so that's not my fault at this point. she's still an hour away so i will probably be going to bed when she comes home. don't have it in me to have another 10pm serious conversation lol lmao lol

[lupismaris]

I realize that as an Admin my purpose in this office is to support others by doing grunt work and I am happy to do that grunt work (mailing, shipping, filing, calling, figuring out the logistics to do weird frustrating things that we haven't done before) but it comes with the expectation, nay, the hope that my colleagues who get paid SIGNIFICANTLY more than me will at least do the bare minimum of showing up or checking their emails in an 8 hours span and answering questions like "hey what's the FedEx log in since you're the only one who has it and refuses to let anyone else make use of it for some bizarre reason other than your imagined self importance and have now disappeared off the face of the earth for two months leaving me to make another FedEx business account in my own name so I can ship out proofs to the printers on time"

[deadweight-at7am]

Has anyone else just been having the most frustrating start to the year or... just me? I'm also laughing at how my stupid Fitbit is like "hey, you seem stressed" bc of my resting heart rate being higher than it usually is. It also seems it stopped logging my sleep at 3am last night so apparently I astral projected?

I'm finding that a recurring theme in my life is that everything has to be an issue. Nothing is easily solved. I want it to be solved easily, without consequence, but it rarely ever goes that way. Call the police on my asshat neighbors whose large breed dog that barks excessively and escapes constantly bc their door doesn't lock. The dog was loose in the front yard, no one was home, it was barking and barking for over 45 minutes (it's 9:45pm). Police respond and animal control puts the dog back in the house, which it escaped from even though I am yelling to the guy not to do that. I have to fight them to listen to me, my neighbor comes outside and echos what I'm saying. They were expecting me to just deal with it and let them walk away. Even after they shoved the dog back in the house it was barking and barking and wouldn't stop.

My son's Spanish teacher is a being a douche and is refusing to give him any credit on an assignment he did in class that she claims he used a translator for (without proof). I've been trying to ask her politely for weeks to please provide me with reasoning why he should be penalized with a zero for something he turned in. She can not provide proof, ignores my emails. Then I escalated it to her superiors. My son told me he didn't use a translator and instead used notes from some of his friends in the class. She refuses to give him any credit despite the fact that she can offer no physical proof of his "cheating". She could also just drop the grade from his grade book entirely. Strange hill to die on, but if she wants to throw herself down on it, I can as well. I freely admit my son has earned his fair share of bad grades but penalizing someone for something they actually did do and tried on? She responded to me with some curt email initially about how he "signed a contract" in the beginning of the year and I was so annoyed by her response I told her "a minor signing a 'contract' without a guardian present to witness it is not binding & is of no consequence to me".

People truly do expect you to give up and walk away when they push back. Especially if they want to be lazy. But unfortunately, for them (AND for myself, let's be real), I have no concept of giving up on anything that I see a rightful cause so I will go to battle over it. Is it a good thing? Maybe. Maybe not. This is the way I am. It is unlikely to change any time soon.

[aceparagoned]

out of uniform: sorry for not being around too much during the weekend. in regards to the post i made to explain some things, i decided to venture down memory lane, so to speak, about an incident mentioned in that post that i feel like the authors of the callout made about me thought that i was the sole person responsible for said incident when i wasn't. others also participated in the mess, so they are also at fault here. so this is my attempt to set things straight.

i'll discuss it further under the cut.

I've spent the past weekend combing through posts in relation to in 2011 where I've been accused of accusing someone of being a rapist, which turned out to be a false identification on someone else's part. Now, none of this is to absolve me of my involvement in the matter by trying to gather what information I could on the accused. It's here that I was, and I quote, a "dumbass plurk witch hunter" by participating in these two long-deleted plurks that, to my knowledge, have no archive elsewhere (Pastebin wasn't as commonly used back then to archive plurks for evidence down the line, and I have no idea how to search through that site to see if it's still archived, especially since the person could have set an expiration timer on it.) Again, this is just so that I can set things straight to where I wasn't the sole person responsible for this mess back in 2011.

This is the thread where I, and other people, were called a "dumbass plurk witch hunter" (playagame is one of my very old plurk accounts that has a lot of shit on it that I wish I never put out there) and the very last comment on the thread was from me saying that I did send him a PM to apologize. Evidence of this apology, though, was deleted by LiveJournal themselves because I know that I tend to not mass delete things, even if they're years old at this point. I also confirmed again, this time on my very old plurk account, that I had sent him an apology. (Please disregard the last comment I, as FREE☠JOKER made there since at the time, I had the emotional sympathy of a dumbass.) For even further proof that I apologized to him, here's a cap I took of my archived LJ post hosted on my Dreamwidth account. I am also still trying to log in to my Dropbox account where I at least have the conversation saved from Trillian and not LiveJournal.

This is the extent of my involvement where I tried to dig up information on him, but I was not the one who made the very false connection between him and the TC in question. This is from a private conversation I had with one of my friends that has known me since I was a cringy ass preteen who thought they knew everything about the world when, in fact, I knew nothing. If you'd like the full conversation for full context, then I don't mind providing it.

However, I did find these two posts from an account, whyljrpwhy, that is veritably not mine by a long shot. Whenever I made a new account, I tended to use keywords for my icons like these while whyljrpwhy uses keywords like these for their icons. That, and I've never had the email mostlybutthurt@priest.com before. I've normally used AOL, Yahoo, or Gmail for pretty much everything.

This originally was hosted on tumblr in the form of these PSAs: (this one has the link to the fandomsecrets post where the warning was crossposted here.) In the thread itself, you'll see where whyljrpwhy had some supremely bad takes in general for the whole situation that they were rightfully called out for, even when speaking to the TC that had been falsely accused of something as serious as this.

Once again, this post in no way absolves me of what I did back in 2011. I fully acknowledge what I did was wrong by trying to gather information on an individual that had nothing in common with the person being warned about, only that they both shared the alias TC. I've since tried, and still do try, my best to be the best person I can and learn from my mistakes.

Thank you, once again, for reading this post. Hopefully this is the last time I need to address this.

[notebooknebula]

Meet The $100 Million Underdog, Pamela Bardhi with Jay Conner, The Private Money Authority

Key Takeaways

How Pamela went from having over $100k in debt to achieving a 9-figure real estate career

Discovering why business is 100% a spiritual game

How Pamela drastically transformed her career trajectory through real estate

The life-changing power of private money to kickstart Pamela’s real estate career

Must-hear advice for attracting private money to your life

Taking the steps to map out your dream life

The importance of aligning your mind, body, and spirit

In today’s show of Real Estate Investing with Jay Conner, Pamela Bardhi joins Jay to empower the world through real estate, building different revenue streams, and igniting the Underdog in all of us.

Pamela Bardhi, the Real Estate Underdog, has been named by TIME Magazine as a Trailblazer in the Real Estate Industry. She went from delivering pizzas to a 9-figure real estate career featured in Forbes & Time Magazine by 28 years old.

She is a real estate developer by trade and has transitioned into becoming a real estate and life strategist through coaching, speaking, and building an international real estate team.

She hosts a world-renowned podcast called, Underdog, which is in the top 1.5% of podcasts in the world and streamed in 65+ countries.

She is fully dedicated to encouraging the world and igniting the fire in all of us. Real Stories, Real Hustle, Real Journeys. That is what she is all about.

Pamela has sold, developed, or acquired over $100 Million in Real Estate Assets in the Boston, MA market over the last decade. Her educational background includes Stonehill College, Babson College & Harvard Business School.

Timestamps:

0:01 – Get Ready To Be Plugged Into The Money

0:20 – Today’s guest: Pamela Bardhi

3:28 – Pamela Bardhi’s Start-Up In The Real Estate Business

6:49 – Pamela Bardhi, The Real Estate Underdog – https://www.theunderdogshow.com

9:06 – Business Is A Spiritual Game

15:21 – What Are You Most Passionate About Right Now?

18:07 – Early Struggles & Lessons Learned

20:54 – Best Ways To Raising Private Money

24:45 – Jay’s Free Private Money Guide: https://www.JayConner.com/MoneyGuide

25:58 – How To Maintain Your Drive & Motivation

30:17 – Importance of Having Multiple Streams of Income

31:59 – Connect with Pamela Bardhi – https://www.PamelaBardhi.com email: pamela@themoschegroup.com

Private Money Academy Conference:

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Free Report:

https://www.jayconner.com/MoneyReport

Join the Private Money Academy: 

Have you read Jay’s new book: Where to Get The Money Now?

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https://www.JayConner.com/Book

What is Private Money? Real Estate Investing with Jay Conner

https://www.JayConner.com/MoneyPodcast

Jay Conner is a proven real estate investment leader. He maximizes creative methods to buy and sell properties with profits averaging $67,000 per deal without using his own money or credit.

What is Real Estate Investing? Live Private Money Academy Conference

YouTube Channel

Apple Podcasts:

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Listen to our Podcast:

[errant-ezra]

I work in IT and have some recommendations that can help prevent scams like this!

1. Never follow a direct link unless you’re 100% sure it goes where it says it will go (for example, if you just signed up for a service and it sent you a confirmation link, that’s ok because it’s one that you are expecting. Even then, I recommend hovering over the link if you’re on desktop to make sure the url matches what it says it is). If you’re not sure, go to your browser and go to the site directly instead of clicking the link.

2. Make sure everything lines up. Are there misspellings? Does the email address make sense? When you hover over the sender, does it match what it says it should be? If it’s from a certain service, should that service have access to this email account (ex: I don’t have any social media connected to my work account, so any emails from them sent there would be suspicious)? If any of this feels off, dig a bit deeper before going ahead with it.

3. If it’s a phone call from the bank/anything else that seems urgent but requires personal info to validate, call them directly. You can even save the phone number so that if you get a call from someone who isn’t that number but claims to be, you know something might be up.

3b. If it’s a message or call from a family member or friend, but is very vague/asks for personal info/requires you to click a link, contact them directly. I keep seeing these Facebook posts that friends get tagged in which are just a link to a “video” with a caption like “is this you?” Or “I can’t believe they’re gone.” If you see anything like that, definitely let the friend/family member who posted it know so they can change their passwords. This is less common, but I’ve also seen people talking about AI voice replications being used to scam people- calling and pretending to be a family member in an emergency. I’m not sure if this is something that’s actually happening or more of an urban legend, but if you do get a call like this, obviously don’t send them any money or share any personal info unless they’re able to first provide proof that they are who they say they are. Personally, if any of my family members were in an emergency, I doubt they would be asking for money or my card info.

4. Scams and phishing are built on social psychology. It’s much easier to feed off a person’s fear/stress than it is to hack into a system externally. Are you being given an urgent call to action? Is there a threat of negative consequences if you don’t act quickly? If so, you are very likely being scammed. Once again, try to access whatever it is from an external source (call/go to the website yourself) to validate whether the issue is real. Bank calling about fraudulent charges? Check your online banking app or call the bank back. Subscription is lapsing and you should renew now to get 20% off? Go to the site and see for yourself if that’s the case. Login from an unrecognized device? Go to the page, change the password and log out from all devices.

5. If you ever get a double login screen, close out of the site, retype the url and try again. If you click a link and it takes you to a login screen (I’m sure you’ve all realized the pattern here by now) go to the site directly and login from there.

6. If you’re at all concerned that you may have fallen for a scam, that’s ok! It happens! It’s time to change your passwords, logout of the service on all devices, and (if it’s a bank or something else with sensitive info) contact the service and inform them of the potential issue.

7. Trust your gut. While you may not be consciously aware that something is off, a lot of times there are cues that we pick up on without even realizing. If it seems even remotely fishy, it’s *always* better to be safe than sorry.

How I got scammed

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/05/cyber-dunning-kruger/#swiss-cheese-security

I wuz robbed.

More specifically, I was tricked by a phone-phisher pretending to be from my bank, and he convinced me to hand over my credit-card number, then did $8,000+ worth of fraud with it before I figured out what happened. And then he tried to do it again, a week later!

Here's what happened. Over the Christmas holiday, I traveled to New Orleans. The day we landed, I hit a Chase ATM in the French Quarter for some cash, but the machine declined the transaction. Later in the day, we passed a little credit-union's ATM and I used that one instead (I bank with a one-branch credit union and generally there's no fee to use another CU's ATM).

A couple days later, I got a call from my credit union. It was a weekend, during the holiday, and the guy who called was obviously working for my little CU's after-hours fraud contractor. I'd dealt with these folks before – they service a ton of little credit unions, and generally the call quality isn't great and the staff will often make mistakes like mispronouncing my credit union's name.

That's what happened here – the guy was on a terrible VOIP line and I had to ask him to readjust his mic before I could even understand him. He mispronounced my bank's name and then asked if I'd attempted to spend $1,000 at an Apple Store in NYC that day. No, I said, and groaned inwardly. What a pain in the ass. Obviously, I'd had my ATM card skimmed – either at the Chase ATM (maybe that was why the transaction failed), or at the other credit union's ATM (it had been a very cheap looking system).

I told the guy to block my card and we started going through the tedious business of running through recent transactions, verifying my identity, and so on. It dragged on and on. These were my last hours in New Orleans, and I'd left my family at home and gone out to see some of the pre-Mardi Gras krewe celebrations and get a muffalata, and I could tell that I was going to run out of time before I finished talking to this guy.

"Look," I said, "you've got all my details, you've frozen the card. I gotta go home and meet my family and head to the airport. I'll call you back on the after-hours number once I'm through security, all right?"

He was frustrated, but that was his problem. I hung up, got my sandwich, went to the airport, and we checked in. It was total chaos: an Alaska Air 737 Max had just lost its door-plug in mid-air and every Max in every airline's fleet had been grounded, so the check in was crammed with people trying to rebook. We got through to the gate and I sat down to call the CU's after-hours line. The person on the other end told me that she could only handle lost and stolen cards, not fraud, and given that I'd already frozen the card, I should just drop by the branch on Monday to get a new card.

We flew home, and later the next day, I logged into my account and made a list of all the fraudulent transactions and printed them out, and on Monday morning, I drove to the bank to deal with all the paperwork. The folks at the CU were even more pissed than I was. The fraud that run up to more than $8,000, and if Visa refused to take it out of the merchants where the card had been used, my little credit union would have to eat the loss.

I agreed and commiserated. I also pointed out that their outsource, after-hours fraud center bore some blame here: I'd canceled the card on Saturday but most of the fraud had taken place on Sunday. Something had gone wrong.

One cool thing about banking at a tiny credit-union is that you end up talking to people who have actual authority, responsibility and agency. It turned out the the woman who was processing my fraud paperwork was a VP, and she decided to look into it. A few minutes later she came back and told me that the fraud center had no record of having called me on Saturday.

"That was the fraudster," she said.

Oh, shit. I frantically rewound my conversation, trying to figure out if this could possibly be true. I hadn't given him anything apart from some very anodyne info, like what city I live in (which is in my Wikipedia entry), my date of birth (ditto), and the last four digits of my card.

Wait a sec.

He hadn't asked for the last four digits. He'd asked for the last seven digits. At the time, I'd found that very frustrating, but now – "The first nine digits are the same for every card you issue, right?" I asked the VP.

I'd given him my entire card number.

Goddammit.

The thing is, I know a lot about fraud. I'm writing an entire series of novels about this kind of scam:

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865878/thebezzle

And most summers, I go to Defcon, and I always go to the "social engineering" competitions where an audience listens as a hacker in a soundproof booth cold-calls merchants (with the owner's permission) and tries to con whoever answers the phone into giving up important information.

But I'd been conned.

Now look, I knew I could be conned. I'd been conned before, 13 years ago, by a Twitter worm that successfully phished out of my password via DM:

https://locusmag.com/2010/05/cory-doctorow-persistence-pays-parasites/

That scam had required a miracle of timing. It started the day before, when I'd reset my phone to factory defaults and reinstalled all my apps. That same day, I'd published two big online features that a lot of people were talking about. The next morning, we were late getting out of the house, so by the time my wife and I dropped the kid at daycare and went to the coffee shop, it had a long line. Rather than wait in line with me, my wife sat down to read a newspaper, and so I pulled out my phone and found a Twitter DM from a friend asking "is this you?" with a URL.

Assuming this was something to do with those articles I'd published the day before, I clicked the link and got prompted for my Twitter login again. This had been happening all day because I'd done that mobile reinstall the day before and all my stored passwords had been wiped. I entered it but the page timed out. By that time, the coffees were ready. We sat and chatted for a bit, then went our own ways.

I was on my way to the office when I checked my phone again. I had a whole string of DMs from other friends. Each one read "is this you?" and had a URL.

Oh, shit, I'd been phished.

If I hadn't reinstalled my mobile OS the day before. If I hadn't published a pair of big articles the day before. If we hadn't been late getting out the door. If we had been a little more late getting out the door (so that I'd have seen the multiple DMs, which would have tipped me off).

There's a name for this in security circles: "Swiss-cheese security." Imagine multiple slices of Swiss cheese all stacked up, the holes in one slice blocked by the slice below it. All the slices move around and every now and again, a hole opens up that goes all the way through the stack. Zap!

The fraudster who tricked me out of my credit card number had Swiss cheese security on his side. Yes, he spoofed my bank's caller ID, but that wouldn't have been enough to fool me if I hadn't been on vacation, having just used a pair of dodgy ATMs, in a hurry and distracted. If the 737 Max disaster hadn't happened that day and I'd had more time at the gate, I'd have called my bank back. If my bank didn't use a slightly crappy outsource/out-of-hours fraud center that I'd already had sub-par experiences with. If, if, if.

The next Friday night, at 5:30PM, the fraudster called me back, pretending to be the bank's after-hours center. He told me my card had been compromised again. But: I hadn't removed my card from my wallet since I'd had it replaced. Also, it was half an hour after the bank closed for the long weekend, a very fraud-friendly time. And when I told him I'd call him back and asked for the after-hours fraud number, he got very threatening and warned me that because I'd now been notified about the fraud that any losses the bank suffered after I hung up the phone without completing the fraud protocol would be billed to me. I hung up on him. He called me back immediately. I hung up on him again and put my phone into do-not-disturb.

The following Tuesday, I called my bank and spoke to their head of risk-management. I went through everything I'd figured out about the fraudsters, and she told me that credit unions across America were being hit by this scam, by fraudsters who somehow knew CU customers' phone numbers and names, and which CU they banked at. This was key: my phone number is a reasonably well-kept secret. You can get it by spending money with Equifax or another nonconsensual doxing giant, but you can't just google it or get it at any of the free services. The fact that the fraudsters knew where I banked, knew my name, and had my phone number had really caused me to let down my guard.

The risk management person and I talked about how the credit union could mitigate this attack: for example, by better-training the after-hours card-loss staff to be on the alert for calls from people who had been contacted about supposed card fraud. We also went through the confusing phone-menu that had funneled me to the wrong department when I called in, and worked through alternate wording for the menu system that would be clearer (this is the best part about banking with a small CU – you can talk directly to the responsible person and have a productive discussion!). I even convinced her to buy a ticket to next summer's Defcon to attend the social engineering competitions.

There's a leak somewhere in the CU systems' supply chain. Maybe it's Zelle, or the small number of corresponding banks that CUs rely on for SWIFT transaction forwarding. Maybe it's even those after-hours fraud/card-loss centers. But all across the USA, CU customers are getting calls with spoofed caller IDs from fraudsters who know their registered phone numbers and where they bank.

I've been mulling this over for most of a month now, and one thing has really been eating at me: the way that AI is going to make this kind of problem much worse.

Not because AI is going to commit fraud, though.

One of the truest things I know about AI is: "we're nowhere near a place where bots can steal your job, we're certainly at the point where your boss can be suckered into firing you and replacing you with a bot that fails at doing your job":

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/15/passive-income-brainworms/#four-hour-work-week

I trusted this fraudster specifically because I knew that the outsource, out-of-hours contractors my bank uses have crummy headsets, don't know how to pronounce my bank's name, and have long-ass, tedious, and pointless standardized questionnaires they run through when taking fraud reports. All of this created cover for the fraudster, whose plausibility was enhanced by the rough edges in his pitch - they didn't raise red flags.

As this kind of fraud reporting and fraud contacting is increasingly outsourced to AI, bank customers will be conditioned to dealing with semi-automated systems that make stupid mistakes, force you to repeat yourself, ask you questions they should already know the answers to, and so on. In other words, AI will groom bank customers to be phishing victims.

This is a mistake the finance sector keeps making. 15 years ago, Ben Laurie excoriated the UK banks for their "Verified By Visa" system, which validated credit card transactions by taking users to a third party site and requiring them to re-enter parts of their password there:

https://web.archive.org/web/20090331094020/http://www.links.org/?p=591

This is exactly how a phishing attack works. As Laurie pointed out, this was the banks training their customers to be phished.

I came close to getting phished again today, as it happens. I got back from Berlin on Friday and my suitcase was damaged in transit. I've been dealing with the airline, which means I've really been dealing with their third-party, outsource luggage-damage service. They have a terrible website, their emails are incoherent, and they officiously demand the same information over and over again.

This morning, I got a scam email asking me for more information to complete my damaged luggage claim. It was a terrible email, from a noreply@ email address, and it was vague, officious, and dishearteningly bureaucratic. For just a moment, my finger hovered over the phishing link, and then I looked a little closer.

On any other day, it wouldn't have had a chance. Today – right after I had my luggage wrecked, while I'm still jetlagged, and after days of dealing with my airline's terrible outsource partner – it almost worked.

So much fraud is a Swiss-cheese attack, and while companies can't close all the holes, they can stop creating new ones.

Meanwhile, I'll continue to post about it whenever I get scammed. I find the inner workings of scams to be fascinating, and it's also important to remind people that everyone is vulnerable sometimes, and scammers are willing to try endless variations until an attack lands at just the right place, at just the right time, in just the right way. If you think you can't get scammed, that makes you especially vulnerable:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/24/passive-income/#swiss-cheese-security

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

[passportagent]

How to Book Tatkal Passport Appointment: A Step-by-Step Guide

Applying for a Tatkal passport in India can often seem daunting due to the urgency and meticulous process involved. At PassportAgents.in, we simplify this procedure for you, ensuring a hassle-free and smooth experience. Below, we have compiled a detailed guide to help you book your Tatkal passport appointment efficiently.

What is a Tatkal Passport?

The Tatkal Passport service is a fast-track process designed for individuals who need their passports urgently. Unlike the standard procedure, the Tatkal scheme accelerates both the application and issuance processes, typically delivering the passport within 1 to 3 working days.

Eligibility for a Tatkal Passport

Before applying, ensure you meet the following eligibility criteria:

Indian citizenship.

Valid address proof.

No criminal record or pending police verification.

The Tatkal service is applicable for both fresh applications and renewals.

Documents Required for Tatkal Passport

To avoid delays, prepare the following documents:

Mandatory Documents:

Proof of Identity (Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, etc.).

Proof of Address (Electricity Bill, Driving License, Rent Agreement, etc.).

Proof of Date of Birth (Birth Certificate, 10th Marksheet, etc.).

Additional Documents for Tatkal Service:

Annexure F (Verification Certificate signed by a Gazetted Officer).

Annexure I (Declaration for urgent passport issuance).

How to Book Tatkal Passport Appointment

Follow these steps to book your Tatkal passport appointment successfully:

Step 1: Register on the Passport Seva Portal

Visit the Passport Seva Portal.

Click on “New User Registration” and complete the registration process.

Log in using your credentials.

Step 2: Fill in the Application Form

Choose the option for a Tatkal Passport.

Fill in the required details accurately.

Save and review the application before submission.

Step 3: Pay the Fee

Tatkal Fee Structure:

Normal Passport Fee: ₹1,500

Tatkal Service Fee: ₹2,000

You can pay online using net banking, debit/credit cards, or UPI.

Step 4: Schedule an Appointment

Navigate to the “Appointment Availability” section.

Select a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) near your location.

Choose an available slot and confirm your appointment.

Step 5: Print the Appointment Receipt

After confirming the appointment, download and print the receipt. Carry it to the PSK/POPSK on the scheduled date.

What to Expect at the Appointment?

On the day of your appointment:

Reach the PSK/POPSK early to avoid last-minute hassles.

Submit your application and documents.

Complete biometric verification and photograph capture.

Attend the interview, if applicable.

How to Track Your Tatkal Passport Application?

Once you’ve completed the appointment, track your application status online:

Log in to the Passport Seva Portal.

Enter your application reference number (ARN).

View the status of police verification and passport issuance.

Alternatively, contact our team at PassportAgents.in for real-time updates.

Tips to Ensure a Smooth Process

Double-check all details in the application form.

Carry both original and photocopies of all required documents.

Opt for professional assistance to avoid procedural errors.

Why Choose PassportAgents.in for Tatkal Passport Services?

At PassportAgents.in, we offer comprehensive assistance, ensuring:

Error-free documentation.

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Contact Us Today: 📞 Call us: +91 7795688234 📧 Email: info@passportagents.in 🌐 Visit Us: https://passportagents.in/tatkal-passport/

Common FAQs About Tatkal Passport

1. Can I apply for a Tatkal passport if I’ve lost my original passport?

Yes, you can apply under the Tatkal scheme, provided you submit an FIR and a notarized affidavit.

2. What if no appointment slots are available?

Slots for Tatkal services open daily. Keep checking the Passport Seva Portal for updates or seek our assistance for priority booking.

3. Are Tatkal fees refundable?

No, Tatkal fees are non-refundable.

4. How long does police verification take for Tatkal passports?

Police verification for Tatkal passports is usually conducted post-issuance.

For any assistance, reach out to our team at PassportAgents.in, and let us make your Tatkal passport application seamless.

Resource: https://passportagents.in/how-to-book-tatkal-passport-appointment-a-step-by-step-guide/

[uifcalculator]

How to Check Your UIF Balance

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) is a vital safety net for South African workers, offering financial support during times of unemployment or inability to work. Knowing how to check your UIF balance is essential for staying informed about your contributions and benefits. This guide will walk you through the process step by step.

Why Should You Check Your UIF Balance and benefits? Regularly checking your UIF balance and calculate UIF benefits is important for several reasons:

Monitor Contributions: Ensure your employer is paying the correct amount on your behalf. Plan Financially: Be prepared for unexpected situations by knowing how much you can claim. Resolve Issues Early: Spot discrepancies in contributions or claims and address them promptly. How to Check Your UIF Balance There are several ways to check your UIF balance, whether you prefer online access, a phone call, or in-person assistance.

Online: Use the UIF uFiling Portal The UIF’s online portal is the most convenient method for checking your balance. Here’s how:

Visit the Portal: Open your browser and go to uFiling.co.za. Register or Log In: If you’re a first-time user, register by providing your ID number, email, and other details. Existing users can log in with their username and password. Access UIF Services: Navigate to the "UIF Contributions" or "UIF Claims" section. View Your Balance: Your contribution history and balance will be displayed here. Tip: Double-check that your contact details are updated to avoid login issues.

Visit Your Nearest Labour Centre For those who prefer face-to-face interaction:

Find a Labour Centre: Use the Department of Employment and Labour’s website to locate a centre near you. Bring Your Documents: Take along your ID, UIF reference number, and proof of employment. Request Assistance: Speak with an official to access your UIF balance and address any concerns.

Contact the UIF Call Centre If online access or in-person visits aren’t an option, you can call the UIF helpline:

Dial: 0800 030 007 (toll-free). Provide Your Details: Share your ID number and UIF reference number. Get Your Balance: The representative will assist with your inquiry.

Use the USSD Service For quick access via your phone:

Dial 134843# on your mobile phone. Follow the prompts to enter your ID number and other details. Receive your UIF balance and contribution history instantly. Note: USSD charges may apply depending on your service provider.

Common Issues and Solutions Missing Contributions: If your contributions don’t appear, contact your employer or report the issue to a Labour Centre.

Login Problems: Use the "Forgot Password" option on the UIF portal or contact the call centre for assistance.

Outdated Information: Update your personal details online or at a Labour Centre to ensure your account is accurate.

Why Staying Informed Matters Your UIF balance represents your financial safety net during challenging times. By regularly checking your balance, you ensure that your contributions are up to date and that you’re prepared if you need to claim benefits.

Whether you prefer online tools, phone support, or in-person assistance, the UIF system offers several ways to keep track of your benefits. Take advantage of these options to stay in control of your financial security.

Have questions or tips about UIF? Share them in the comments below!

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How to Check Your UIF Balance

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) in South Africa provides financial relief to employees who lose their jobs or are unable to work temporarily. Whether you are an employee, a former employee, or a beneficiary, keeping track of your UIF balance is essential. This blog will guide you through the process of checking your UIF balance, ensuring you stay informed about your benefits.

Why Is Checking Your UIF Balance Important? Knowing your UIF balance helps you:

Plan for Financial Emergencies: Understand how much you can claim if you're unemployed or unable to work. Track Contributions: Ensure that your employer has been submitting your contributions correctly. Stay Updated: Be aware of your eligibility and calculate UIF benefits and manage any discrepancies proactively. Methods to Check Your UIF Balance There are several ways to check your UIF balance, depending on your access to technology and convenience.

Check UIF Balance Online via the UIF Portal The Department of Employment and Labour provides an online platform for UIF services. Here’s how to use it:

Visit the UIF Website: Go to the UIF portal. Register or Log In: If you’re a new user, register using your ID number, email, and other personal details. If you’re an existing user, log in with your credentials. Navigate to UIF Services: Once logged in, find the "My UIF Claims" or "UIF Contributions" section. View Balance: Your UIF contributions and balance should be displayed here. Tip: Ensure your details are up to date to avoid errors when accessing your information.

Visit a Labour Office If you prefer in-person assistance or don’t have online access:

Locate the Nearest Labour Office: Find a Labour Centre near you via the Department of Employment and Labour website. Bring Required Documents: Take your ID, proof of employment, and UIF reference number. Request Assistance: Speak to an official and request a UIF balance inquiry. This method is helpful if you encounter issues with the online platform or need personalized guidance.

Contact the UIF Call Centre You can check your UIF balance by contacting the Department of Labour’s call centre:

Number: Call the toll-free helpline at 0800 030 007. Provide Personal Information: Be ready to share your ID number and UIF reference number. Request Your Balance: Ask the representative to provide details about your UIF contributions or claim status.

Use the USSD Service For quick access via your phone:

Dial 134843# on your mobile device. Follow the prompts to enter your ID number and other details. Receive your UIF balance and contribution details instantly. Note: This service may incur a small fee depending on your network provider.

Common Issues and Solutions Missing Contributions: If your employer hasn’t paid your UIF contributions, contact the Labour Centre immediately and report the issue.

Forgotten Login Details: Use the "Forgot Password" option on the UIF portal or call the helpline for assistance.

Incorrect Information: Update your details at the Labour Centre or through the UIF portal.