AUTO RENEWAL SCAMS... reading the fine print

Scam

PCTOOLS and other software and service companies have gone to great lengths to make it as difficult as possible for customers to stop the automatic renewing of their products and services. The fine print is in the “terms of purchase” where PCTOOLS claims that by buying their product you agree to have your product, service, or subscription automatically renewed. And of course, you never agreed to that since the salesman never told you anything about it and you didn't see it on any of the PCTOOL advertisements. So it's a big surprise when you get the email notice of automatic renewal and you discover they've rigged everything so you can't just cancel this renewal... you're going to have to WORK HARD AT IT. They've already got your credit card number and they know that a certain percentage of novices will probably give up and let the renewal go through.

Looking on the email, you see no customer service phone number so you can pick up the phone and call… there's no convenient “cancel automatic renewal” button or link somewhere... they made sure of that... so what do you do?

You can follow the directions in the email notice for “opting out of auto renewal,” which say “go to my account” but the last thing you needed when you bought the software was to set up another unnecessary account and password to remember. After finding yourself in an infinite loop of being bounced back and forth between two screens it becomes apparent this doesn't work either.

It’s likely this interruption in your day will cost at least a half hour of your time as you go through the rat maze of figuring it all out and finally getting someone on the phone who speaks and understands English to stop the runaway train.

The first number google listed as PCTOOLS support ended up with someone from "Iyogi" (tech support outsource for PCTOOLS) with a heavy accent who wanted to backdoor into my computer. That was a totally ridiculous request... but they do that so they can terrorize you into thinking that if you don't renew, you may end up with a dead computer and none of your files.

When I refused to allow it, he didn't understand and finally got his supervisor on the phone who couldn't even find the correct number of PCTOOLS for me to call.

This is what’s happened to many American businesses where most everything is outsourced and greed reigns supreme. I do not recommend this product as there are many comparable products that cost less, one for free (CACHE CLEANER) ...some even packaged within security software that offer the same features and performance. And most important... they won't be automatically stabbing your credit card with renewal fees you didn't agree to pay.

The Pathology of Corruption

What could be more odious to the public than being forced to cover the cost of bailing out Wall Street Bankers who bankrupted the whole country? Or what about the greatest environmental disaster in the world with government regulators in bed with the oil companies?

We’ve come to accept that thievery and corruption have no limits as to the scale and depravity on which corruption can operate right under our noses. And you have to ask, why did it take ten years for anything to happen after someone first blew the whistle? Where was the media? Where were the watch dog agencies that were supposed to protect the public? Where was the prosecution of legal remedy? So you might think this is only endemic to the Federal government? Think again.

What about a local governing board that establishes ground rules to protect the public from a known threat and its own agency of government that was supposed to secure these critical protections for the public …countermands the governing board and promotes the financial interests of a corporation against the people ...and ten years of public suffering result? That’s not too small is it? Especially when you multiply ten years times a thousand households affected.

And let’s not forget the big ticket item that bears the heaviest cost to the public… the apathy generated by these events that depletes public faith in our system of government as communities are forced to accept the abuse they were supposed to be protected from.

And so, here’s what we have:

When it's time to relax

About fifty people from family and extended family gathered from everywhere in the country, from California, North Carolina, Connecticut and elsewhere... to celebrate Vivian's graduation from Medical school... and of course to celebrate family, Mother's Day and friendship. Siesta Key near Sarasota/Tampa was the target and what a marvelous place it turned out to be. Her brother next to her got his Doctorate in Neuro Psychology last year and is working at Yale University for his fellowship.

$49,000 to a company that doesn't know if its qualified to do the work

Monday 5/12 -- NUMBER 3 VIDEO on the mayor's remark about employees now posted on next page

City manager Robert Baldwin recommended his friends company without going out to bid. Matrix rep (right) didn't know if they were qualified

July update - Lantana Airport & helicopters

Click here for 20 minute video report

Find out what's been going on since the petition signing began on April 24th and how effective the 227 signatures were at improving the situation with helicopter training schools.

Statement made to the County Commission July 20th

in behalf of the communities surrounding Lantana Airport

July 20th, 2010 Tuesday
Statement made by William Coakley/Lantana Airport Agenda Item 8, matters of the public

I’m William Coakley (5934 Lake Osborne Dr/Lantana) and with me today is Larry Silver who is also a Lake Osborne Estates resident and is Chairman of the board of Directors of that Civic Association.

CITY MANAGER STANTON BOOTED OUT

In this joyous season, I am celebrating the potential for renewal in Lake Worth which began with a bold move to clean out city management from the top down.

From Paul Boyer to Susan Stanton… inept, corrupt, wasteful and often cruel leadership disregarded the public and common sense honesty and openness.

Yes, I know there are those who are disappointed to see Stanton fired but dwelling on one side of her performance while ignoring the other side of the story… is delusional.

Officials blame FAA and helicopter schools

January 17th Casandra Davis (standing) noise abatement officer, and Jerry Allen Deputy Director of the department face strong criticism from residents of five surrounding communities of the airport fed up with helicopter schools routinely violating County 'good neighbor' standards and insisting on training over people's homes and families. The meeting quickly heated up when the question came up as to why the DOA (Department of Airports) after ten years... hasn't managed to gain an ounce of compliance from helicopter schools to the County's 'good neighbor' guidelines.

CLICK HERE FOR 1:08 video of the meeting

What happened to the ARC FLASH study?

In April of 2009, an ARC FLASH STUDY was commissioned by the utility director who is now being given $72,000 for her last three months on the job.

An ARC FLASH study is required by federal regulators for safety reasons and LWU was due to complete this study by January 2009 but granted an extension to comply. An ARC FLASH study specs out the clothing, tools and headgear to be worn at specific locations where high voltage danger could cause harm to electric utility employees. Such harm did occur when an employee got severely burned while working near a high voltage area in 2009.

I was delighted to see that the Commission decided to save the City Museum, and with it dear Beverly Mustaine's job. What does it say about us, though, that we were prepared to shut down the museum and yet we continue to fund a center for illegal aliens? Jo Ann Golden and I sharply disagree on this issue. I say get the illegals out of town. She says coddle them or else they will commit crimes. If that is not negotiating with terrorists than I don't know what is. There are so many parts of Lake Worth that I simply can no longer visit because it breaks my heart to see how third world they have become, compared to their beauty when I was growing up here. What do you think?

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT HELICOPTER SCHOOL
Palm Beach County Helicopter Training

Before you spend a hundred thousand of your or your government’s money, make sure you get the most for your money with the least hassle and cost. The County has four airports, three of which cater to General Aviation interests and have helicopter training schools based on them… 1. Lantana Airport known as Palm Beach County Park Airport, 2. North County Airport, and 3. Pahokee Glades Airport.

LWM Radio plus new "Throw the bums out"

Throw the bums out version featuring Susan Stanton CLICK HERE

September 24, 2009 7 PM Show CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO OF SHOW #2

September 21, 2009 7 PM Show CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO OF SHOW #1

NOTE: items that appear ONLY on the front page do not tally a correct hit count

Hidden from public view for FIVE YEARS ...

document shows helicopters ...to stay above airport

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO EXPLANATION OF WHAT THIS DOCUMENT MEANS Part 1 ten minutes

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO EXPLANATION Part II

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD DOCUMENT.pdf

How could it be that for five years, the public living around Lantana Airport didn't know about this document which makes it abundantly clear that helicopters that fly over their communities repeatedly... are not even supposed to be there (Sheriff excepted) according to this Palm Beach County Commission document unearthed earlier this year by LWM.

According to the PBCo Department of Airports, 'there was no need to distribute or publish it on their NOISE ABATEMENT WEBSITE for public viewing since it was only important for pilots to see it.' And of course these are the same pilots that have thumbed their noses at these Procedures for five years and counting.

Recently, a request to post these Procedures on the County's NOISE ABATEMENT SITE was made so the public could see for the first time where the helicopters were supposed to be flying. A DOA (Department of Airports) noise abatement rep declined the request saying "...submit that request in writing and we'll consider it."