I've been getting calls for the past two weeks from a "L--ing Office, part of CIT". All at about 8am. Naturally, this is too early for me to pick up the phone so all I get are hissing messages left on my machine; day after day. At first, I thought it was just some cold calling for financial services or something close to that. It didn't even occur to me that they were looking for me as opposed to my roommates until I heard what sounded like my name being said on the message left by a Brenda yesterday. So I finally scribbled down the number and the account they uttered on the back of an envelope nearby so that I can play detective and figure out what's really happening.
This morning I placed a call to their 1-800 number and got a 30-something guy on the phone. "You owe us for back payments on the credit card machine you leased from us," he said on the phone.
"What - ?"
"You been leasing a machine from us for the past 28 months, but the account we withdraw from has been closed," he said.
Was I making money by leasing machines without my knowledge? Schizophrenia or dementia setting in?
"I've never leased any credit card machines," I explained a little unsure of myself.
"You're Eddie Wong, right? Is your social 601-##-####?" he asked.
"Nope, that's not me." I confidently replied.
"Oh, okay, I'll cross you off the list. Your name must've popped up because we're looking for an Eddie Wong in San Francisco on Balboa Street."
What?! I was on a list of "possible suspects" for defrauding this company and I didn't even know it? I didn't know people could get your name and number and harass you without you having kidnapped their kids or at least stolen something. To them, Teddy Wong in Albany must've sounded close enough to Eddie Wong in San Francisco.
In the movie Hudson Hawk one security guard says to another while they're wasting time (that's what you do as a security guard, right?) thumbing through the phone book, "673 Wongs in the phone book. " To which the other replies, "Hmmm. That's a helluva lotta wong numbers." Laughter
That joke has never been more true. Too bad I had to be a part of it.
Comments (1)
Are you sure you're not Eddie Wong? Or are you Emmie Fong? Or are you Tommy Chong?
Yeah, if you want to come over tonight, we could get a six pack and watch a movie or something. I can't spend that much more money. Getting around town is getting really expensive.
If you want to drive around town and get sloshed, that would be cool. Just find someone who doesn't mind be the designated driver!
Posted by marc | August 21, 2002 12:52 AM
Posted on August 21, 2002 00:52