Company "Warrantee Division" (NJ) is a scam. whocalled.us ?

Summary: the site whocalled.us is cool. Here's why.

I keep getting calls every month or two, and mailings, from something called "warranty division" at 723 (New Jersey area code) 242-6506, and 723 242-6512. The mailing says I am about to expire my factory warranty on a vehicle I bought a few years ago. The mailings have the VIN number and some model info printed on the top. So it looks legit, right?

Except that I got an offer from the manufacturer, soon after I bought the vehicle, to purchase an extended factory warranty. And I bought it. So when I see these mailings, it reminds me of the time that I thought I bought the warranty via phone and credit card only to have it screw up and not go through; it took two tries to get it right after that. Because of that snafu, I always have lingering doubts about whether my warranty is good, even though the warranty service card sits in the vehicle and the contract is in my files (somewhere).

Since the caller ID from Warranty Division pops up occasionally, I decided to call them back a few days ago. I got a phone answering machine saying I can be removed from the Warranty Division caller list if I leave my number. No operator, no electronic voice mail system, just a hoaky answering machine and a "beep." So I left the nastygram.

And today a man called back. I said "Is this the factory warranty center? Because I already bought a factory warranty." He didn't answer yes or no, but instead said, "It's possible the VIN number on your warranty contract doesn't agree with what's on record, and the dealer doesn't have a record of your warranty." So at that point, rather than explode, I said, "I have the contract here, let's give it a look right now." He said "OK." I just happened to have the file handy, because I went and checked all this stuff yesterday. And I got it. And the warranty with the factory had the VIN that matched my title. And when I got back on the phone, he was gone. He hung up.

Next I called my local car dealer, and asked them to not release my personal info for sales of other produts. They said that was already their policy. So how did these guys get the info? He figured it was probably the State Motor Vehicle records that led them to me (but how did they get my number? I'm unlisted, and as of a month ago I'm on the National do-not-call list). He also had the opinion that they are trying to scam me to buy something, that they have been operating this way for years, and that I would probably not be happy with the warranty they sell, and if I have a factory extended warranty to ignore them, and there has been no success in stopping their scam marketing efforts. Oh.

So I called back the Warranty Division, and again got the same message machine I got a few days ago. I left a message that they could stop their calls again please, and that their rep had hung up when I pressed him. And that I would certainly send this info to my State Atty. General and perhaps the Atty. General in New Jersey. Argh!

Now, here is a great way to dig up info: whocalled.us is a great site. You put in the area code and number from your caller ID, and there it is: a form tells you how many other callers logged the same call, a form to report your incident. There is a place to put in a comment about what happened, and read other folk's comments and what they found out about the caller. Great resource!!

The Creation Museum

I was just listening to Chris Hodges on the radio, delivering an address in Colorado January 2007. (This is a very smart fellow. I am getting worried about a creeping tide of fascism in the US, especially religious tyrany, whether directed at, well, anyone.) He mentioned this nugget, "The Creation Museum," and sure-as-shit, here it is, opening in Ohio in 2007, thanks to some "godly men" (their words, not mine, see the FAQ below). From their web site:

"About the Creation Museum: The 50,000 sq. ft. Creation Museum located within the greater Cincinnati area will proclaim the Bible as supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice in every area it touches on. Set to open in June 2007, this “walk through history” museum will counter evolutionary natural history museums that turn countless minds against Christ and Scripture."

OhhhKayyyy????? The hosting website is Answers in Genesis: "Upholding the Authority of the Bible from the Very First Verse." Sorry, not for me, thanks. I wonder if the public school kids will go on field trips in their big yellow (taxpayer-funded) school buses to the wonderful creation museum, hmmm?

So, Why? Let's read their words in the FAQs in Answers in Genesis. right at question #1.

"Why is this museum needed? Our increasingly anti-Christian country must return to a belief in the authority of the Bible and be presented with the life-changing gospel message. Evolutionary indoctrination has undermined the Christian foundations in America."

First off, I don't consider the foundation of the country to be Christian. I consider the foundation of this country to be freedom of, and also freedom from, religion. You can have yours, or none at all, and I for my choice can have mine, or none at all. Why is our country turning so anti-agnostic and anti-atheist?

Second, why are these religionists trying to destroy science? Didn't the enlightenment teach mankind anything... remember Galileo's little dust-up with the church over whether the Earth is fixed at the center of the universe versus the theory of heliocentrism? More from the FAQ:

"What is so different about this museum? Almost all natural history museums proclaim an evolutionary, humanistic worldview. For example, they will typically place dinosaurs on an evolutionary timeline millions of years before man. AiG’s museum will proclaim the authority and accuracy of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and will show that there is a Creator, and that this Creator is Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:15-20), who is our Savior.

So who do we thank for doing this? I mean besides... Glad you asked, the FAQ has the answer.

"Who are the leaders of Answers in Genesis? AiG’s board of directors consists of Christian leaders who are thoroughly committed to proclaiming biblical truths and reaching the world for the cause of Christ. The individual members bring to the board a wide background of professional and pastoral experiences. Each is a godly man who walks with the Lord in wisdom and maturity. AiG’s president is Ken Ham, well-known speaker, author and radio host. AiG is a non-denominational ministry, having no affiliation with any particular denomination."

Got to like the "just a Christian, no denomination" part; floating above the rest of the christians, are you? Well, enough of this bollocks. Good grief, the guy moved from Australia to the U.S.; Aussies, it's your lucky good fortune he left you. Thanks a lot.

By the way (if you've read this far, dear reader), check out the documentary film Jesus Camp. Really. Came out on DVD in 2007 already, I just watched it last month. Go right now to your Blockbuster, rent it and watch it. Blockbuster carries this, right? Still think I'm paranoid? Can you now agree that we are seeing a rise of a fascist movement here in the U.S.?

WTF.