The JUNE Canaries! Gotta love 'em!

GOTTA LOVE those Canary awards. Last month, I issued none because I just didn't have enough nominees to make it worth while. (Remember, I issue for the previous month. June would be May's canary awards)

Today is July 2nd, and I had more than enough nominees to fill the bill and make a canary tweet.

So, who is gonna get THE BIRD?

For 3rd place, The PRESIDENT gets a canary. Spending too much time on the golf course, not enough on the oil spill in the Gulf, and his nomination of Kagan for the SCOTUS. Buddy, why don't you DO SOMETHING, instead of sitting on your duff, or working on your Golf Swing. Maybe Tiger Woods can offer some tips on your game, but I'm afraid you need a BRAIN to work with the rest of the stuff. But I don't think Tiger is going to be able to offer any celibacy tips. If he does, he's barking up the wrong tree.

The SILVER Canary goes to "Enhanced Recovery Systems," one of our famous, hated enemies.

They tried to collect a "Debt," upon which requested validation. They received our letter, but within 15 days (And without validating) they sold it to someone else. I've not been able to establish any connection between ERS and the winner of June's Canary (The Gold Canary)

The Winner of the GOLD CANARY is the company to which ERS sold the "Debt," to which we STILL have received no validation. I grant you, they still have a little time (to the 15th) to gather and send the information. But we requested validation from THEM, as well. The Group "West Asset Management" still has a few days to get this stuff to us (IF they can gather it). And if we don't receive the requested info, they will have to withdraw the claim. (And I WILL report both ERS and WEST to the Dept. of Commerce for the state. I did that LAST time (For NCO and Transworld), and they were forced to withdraw the claim IN WRITING. I don't know what my success average will be at the end of this month, but I know it will be no less than 50%. And batting 500 is still pretty darned good.

So, you got the "Winners"-- who are actually LOSERS -- In our CANARY AWARDS -- Losers, all: AS I SEE IT!

Canary awards--the worst of the worst.

It's May 1st, and that means it's time for our monthly canary awards. This is one canary the cat can't swallow. (Please, no bird jokes -- I don't like the idea of bird jokes being parroted -- because they either take wing or lay an egg!)

For those of you who are familiar with the Canary, you know it to be a takeoff on TEM'S "Hoover Award." I've not seen much of it recently, so I just use the canary to give people or organizations -- the unpalatable types, unsavory types -- the bird.

So, who's getting the Bird for the Month of April?

There were a half-dozen deserving of it. Usually, they're bill collectors, fools, and sometimes Government agencies (See last month for the only 3 Govt. Entities award ceremony in the history of the Canary Award.

This month is more "Normal" in the giving of the bird.

It was kind of difficult to pin down the order, however.

The Bronze Canary goes to FAIRVIEW HEALTH SERVICES (Billing Dept). Not responding to letters, inquiries, ignoring payments that were made, sending threats, and attempted extortion.

I've got a lawyer on this, and I'm following his advice. Thing is, Fairview failed to credit more than 200 in payments since the start of the year, and they've been threatening me with "Collections." REALITY CHECK -- I've proved they aren't owed 1/2 of what they claim. They have a LOT of explaining to do with the legal system, methinks.

The Silver Canary... It's our old friend the Bill collectors -- I recently discovered that a company that send a demand is actually the parent company of another company. THAT company had ALSO send a demand. I requested Validation. They did not. They're trying again. I requested validation AGAIN. Time's up. If I don't get it by the 5th (post mark no later than the 1st of May) they will have to withdraw the claim or face the wrath of the FTC and an attorney. They were supposed to prove validity in 30 days. They didn't last time. It looks like they'll fail THIS time, too. Who's the company, who's the parent? The first one is called "TRANSWORLD," and the parent is "NCO". It looks as if they've lost out, and I've already taken the liberty of reporting them to the FTC, a lawyer, and I have the Email address for the Minnesota licensing agency ready for a complaint. The ain't gonna weasel out of this one!

Although Juniper came in 4th, and very close... I have to award the GOLD CANARY to the biggest fools in History -- HOUSEHOLD BANK. When my wife was in the hospital, I tried to contact them to tell them... they refused to note the account, claiming that they had to talk to her. I tried 5 times, I think it was. I finally resorted to a letter, which was ignored, and a threat sent. I tried again, via letter -- INCLUDING CERTIFIED MAIL... oh, they answered -- but they refuse to acknowledge the situation, they do not answer the questions, they merely tell us to "CALL US." They then threaten again. Why are they so afraid to put anything in writing? We could record the whole thing, but what good would that do? Nothing. Calling the lawyer! He's got the info, and we're waiting to find out WTF gives with these morons at HSBC.

I don't know who's going to get the BIRD for MAY...but I'm almost willing to bet that HSBC, JUNIPER, and NCO will be right in there, again. And next time, I won't be so kind...because I've already reached the end of my rope.

Yep, the BIRD has been awarded, once again... to everybody's Favorites...or is it "NOT SO FAVORITES?" And I can bet they'll be back...They just LOVE getting the BIRD.... AS I SEE It!

JUNE CANARY AWARDS!

HEY FOLKS! It's time for everybody's favorite: THE CANARY AWARDS! While June was a slow month for nominations, but June and July are generally slow. But everyone had a nominee... I had several, and the question was WHO WAS GOING TO GET THE BIRD? I gave it plenty of thought, and then at the end of the month a new candidate emerged, grabbing the Gold Canary. The Dishonorable mention goes to Household bank,which finally signed its own death warrant by giving me their fax number. I hope the like the FTC on their tails! The Bronze Canary goes to JC CHRISTENSEN and ASSOCIATES...debt collectors DORK SUPREME! They've had THEIR business shut up, too...thanks to the Federal Trade Commission. The Silver Canary goes to Town And Country Finance here in this city. Now, maybe I can work in peace, since they've been told to SHOVE OFF. Oh, but the GOLD CANARY... The organization that REALLY DESERVES THE BIRD... Is the Minnesota Supreme Court. It took 'em a month to tell us that they were clowns by supporting a clown for the US SENATE. So while Minnesota has two senators (in membership), they are the most under-represented state in the union because they have two fools in the US Senate. There were other nominations: The US House for the "CRAP AND TAX" bill 2454. AL FRANKEN, the idiot who's been elected by the idiots of MN to the Senate....despite the obvious stupidity of the man. And several people who decided that Stupidity rules when it comes to reporting deaths of people...whether or not the deaths were REAL. I may start another award next month... I used to have a "Kudos" award. Maybe I'll have a Lutefisk award... Watch for the CANARY AWARD for July -- in Early August!