Would anyone like to hear a ridiculously long "Lighthouse" story?

[towards2112]

Be nice, we know where you live...

[lighthouse]

Chapter 5: The Worst of Times Gets... well... Worst

 

Returning to the state where he lost his virginity, our comic shop owner makes contact with his old employer, a local union he used to run. Per the terms of the union contract, he should be able to return as a journeyman, with loss of seniority after five years absence, but no loss of classification. The job should pay about $15 an hour, with about 50 hours a week available. Not the kind of money he was making with the shop, but enough to pay bills and assist the family. But the worst of times was just beginning...

 

The local had merged with the Houston local during his absence (what exactly is "local" about being 200 miles from the office anyway?). The leadership in Houston informed our shop owner that his classification was removed. He would begin again at the bottom, making $10 an hour, with around 10 hours a week available to him until he worked 750 hours. "Shouldn't the 14,500 hours I have already worked count?" "No, they don't. And you can take it up with the NLRB if you don't like it". Our shop owner engaged the services of an attorney and his case should be heard some time in 2009, but that's a story for another time.

 

Meanwhile, our shop owner is living in a 1-bedroom apartment with no furniture, no tv, no internet, no lamps, and worst of all, no comics. He finds a loophole in the current contract that allows him to get work at the warehouse, and starts averaging 22 hours a week. With a $500 rent payment, there isn't much left for food and gas, much less student loans, credit cards, Steve Geppi, his outstanding customers, or the friends who had loaned him money.

 

Five months pass...

 

During this time, our shop owner is assisting the family with sheep duties while they wait for the sale of their property. He eats lots of double cheeseburgers at McDonald's (700 calories for $1 is a great deal). He gets a used twin mattress and lays it on the floor to sleep. And he borrows an old 17-inch tv to watch the morning news and weather. His computer sits idle. And with it, any chance of reaching those last two customers.

 

Then in February 2005, the local union takes a vote on whether to accept the new contract or go out on strike...

[kc120us]

[lighthouse]

Chapter 6: The Not-So-Worst of Times

 

During the next six weeks, our shop owner makes $7600. With the union on strike and no contract in place, his employer is free to take advantage of his former training, and advantage they take. In later years, our shop owner will wonder whether he would have ended his life in the coming months had the strike vote gone differently. But it went the way it went.

 

A month later, with bankruptcy staved off, our shop owner signed up for internet service once again, and began the slow process of rebuilding his life. The hours slowed down once the union broke ranks and workers flooded back in, but our shop owner's place was secure. He could count on enough income to pay bills and start paying debts as well. The process was slow and steady, but it was underway.

 

A couple weeks after reentering the internet age, our shop owner found one of the two outstanding customers. A friend was owed a favor by a private investigator, and he passed his favor along to our shop owner. A ten-minute phone call and a $20 check later and one of the two black marks was gone.

 

Three months later, our shop owner's wife made the return trip to Texas herself and the clouds gathered above our shop owner's head began to part.

[lighthouse]

Chapter 7: The Really Not That Bad of Times

 

A new domicile and a refreshed marriage brought a certain peace and tranquility to our shop owner. Now separated from eBay for over a year, he had become resigned to the possibility that he would never again sell on Meg's worldwide flea market.

 

He pounded away at his debt throughout the coming year, resolving issue after issue and complaint after complaint, repairing as much of the damage as he could. Work brought new challenges, and fresh raises. Income was up. Spirits were up. He rejoined the message board he had long since abandoned. There were certainly mixed emotions there. Many had justifiably decided he was a reprobate who could never be trusted. Others simply hoped he would have a very public melt down permitting them to eat virtual popcorn in large groups from behind the safety of their monitors. But our shop owner toiled away...

 

Near the end of 2006, a break at last... The same week as he received an unexpected windfall that allowed him to resolve the last of his financial debts from the 2004 debacle, he got a tip on the location of that last remaining customer...

[lighthouse]

Chapter 8: The Good Times Return

 

After 28 months, the final outstanding customer was contacted and the issue resolved. Our shop owner was now eligible for reinstatement. Or was he?

 

Meanwhile life was good. Our shop owner had joined a gym, reduced his body fat by 12%. He can do three reps of his body weight in the bench (after doing just three reps at half his body weight the previous year). He returned to his strip club of yore one evening and received a hero's welcome. Though he had no money to spend on dances, he didn't need any. Those ladies have long memories...

 

He resumed full activity on the message boards, receiving some skepticism at first, but eventually even Greggy accepted him back. During his absence he had dropped from 14th on the user list in post count to 57th, but he is climbing again...

 

So what of that whole eBay reinstatement thing???

[lighthouse]

Chapter 9: You Really Won't Believe This Level of Customer Service

 

Email 1:

 

> > > >>From: Lighthouse Comics < lighthousecomics@satx.rr.com>

> > > >>To: eBay Customer Support <suspension@ebay.com>

> > > >>Subject: Re: TN91012 Your recent email to eBay's Trust

> > > >>andSafetyDepartment(KMM128022707xxxxxxxxxxx)

> > > >>

> > > >>Greetings. After what seems like an eternity, I

> > > >>have finally been able to contact the last

> > > >>remaining customer and make a full refund.

> > > >>This item:

> > > >>2222031461 - xxxxxxxxx (xxxxxxxx@msn.com)

> > > >>has been refunded via PayPal.

> > > >>The payment id for the transaction is:

> > > >>Payment Sent (ID #xxxxxxxxxxxxx)

> > > >>Please reinstate the lighthouse_comics and

> > > >>tpbking accounts as soon as possible.

> > > >>Please note that the original email addresses

> > > >>connected to those two accounts are no longer

> > > >>active. will need to update the email addresses in

> > > >>the system once we can log in again.

> > > >>Thank you

> > > >>lighthouse_comics

> > > >>tpbking

[lighthouse]

Email 2:

 

> > > >>Hello xxxxxxxxx,

> > > >>

> > > >>Thank you for writing in to eBay's Trust and Safety department

> with

> > > >your

> > > >>concerns. My name is Mauro, and I will be happy to assist you.

> > > >>

> > > >>We appreciate your efforts in resolving the complaints on your

> > > account.

> > > >>Once we have received your POI (Proof of Identity) as well as a

> signed

> > >

> > > >>copy of the Request for Reinstatement form, we will consider

your

> > > >>account for reinstatement. *Please note, you will need to

perform

> the

> > > >>steps below for EACH account you wish to be considered for

> > > >>reinstatement.*

> > > >>

> > > >>*IMPORTANT: You must visit the below web page for a detailed

> > > >discussion

> > > >>of the three (3) reinstatement conditions that must be met

before

> your

> > > >>account can be considered for reinstatement:

> > > >>

> > > >> http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/poitnpreinst.html

> > > >>

> > > >>Please be aware that you must complete the Request for

> Reinstatement

> > > >>Form found at the URL below:

> > > >>

> > > >> http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/poitnpreinstform.html

> > > >>

> > > >>Once we have received 1) the signed Request for Reinstatement

> Form,

> > > and

> > > >>2) proof of your identity, we will review your case. If you have

> > > >>satisfied the conditions for reinstatement outlined above, your

> > > account

> > > >>will be eligible for reinstatement within seven (7) days of the

> > > receipt

> > > >>of the requested documentation.

> > > >>

> > > >>Please remember, your proof of identity should be a copy of an

> > > >official,

> > > >>government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, etc.) If

> this

> > > >ID

> > > >>does not contain your registered address, you will need to

provide

> > > > >additional documentation such as a copy of a current utility

or

> > > phone

> > > >>bill. If your eBay contact information is your work address,

> please

> > > >send

> > > >>official documentation in order to validate it. You must be sure

> to

> > > >>include your telephone number and your eBay User ID on the

> documents

> > > >you

> > > >>send us. Please note that these documents will be destroyed

after

> your

> > >

> > > >>registration information has been verified.

> > > >>

> > > >>Once you have printed and filled out the Request for

Reinstatement

> > > >Form,

> > > >>you can fax this form along with your proof of identity to eBay,

> Attn:

> > >

> > > >>SNP Appeals at (877) 471-2004.

> > > >> **Please remember to include your user ID on your fax.

> > > > >

> > > >>If you are not able to fax this information, you may mail it to

us

> at

> > > >>the following address:

> > > >>

> > > >> eBay Inc.

> > > >> Attn: SNP Appeals

> > > >> PO Box 1469

> > > >> Draper, UT 84020

> > > >>

> > > >>Again, xxxxxxxx, thank you for taking the time to write to eBay's

> Trust

> > >

> > > >>and Safety department. I appreciate your continued help in

keeping

> > > eBay

> > > >>a safe and fair place to trade.

> > > >>

> > > >>Regards,

> > > >>

> > > >>Mauro

> > > >>Fraud Prevention Group

> > > >>eBay Trust and Safety

> > > >>______________________________

> > > >>eBay

> > > >>Your Personal Trading Community

> > > >>

> > > >>*******************************************

> > > >>

> > > >>Important: eBay will not ask you for sensitive personal

> information

> > > >>(such as your password, credit card and bank account numbers,

> Social

> > > >>Security numbers, etc.) in an email. Learn more account

protection

> > > tips

> > > >>at:

> > > >>

> > > >>http://www.pages.ebay.com/help/account_protection.html

> > > >>_____________________________________________

> > > >>

> > > >>For our latest announcements, please check:

> > > >>

> > > >> http://www2.ebay.com/aw/announce.shtml

> > > >>_____________________________________________

> > > >>

> > > >>In order to better serve you, we'd like to occasionally

> > > >>request feedback on our service. If you would rather

> > > >>not participate, please click on the link below and send

> > > >>us an email with the word "REMOVE" in the subject line.

> > > >>If that does not work, please send an email to the

> > > >>email address below. Your request will be processed

> > > >>within 5 days.

> > > >>

> > > >>mailto:cssremove@ebay.com

[BlowUpTheMoon]

[lighthouse]

We're off to a good start.... everything should be fine right???

 

Email 3:

 

From us to them:

> > > >It has been 32 months since these two accounts

> > > >were suspended. Much of the contact information

> > > >has changed during that time. Obviously there was

> > > >no way to keep the information you have on file

> > > >current because we could not log in to change it.

> > > >We'll be happy to fill out the forms as

> > > >requested, but the form says the state-issue ID

> > > >and such must match the registered address. We

> > > >have moved during the last year and my husband

> > > >moved twice. There was no way to change the

> > > >registered address info during the last 32

> > > >months. So what should we do? We could just put

> > > >the correct current information and then have

> > > >that match what is sent with the form. Or does

> > > >the info we send need to match what you had on

> > > >file 32 months ago?

> > > >Please let us know ASAP and we will get the forms filled out.

> > > >Thanks

> > > >xxxxxxxx

> > > >xxxxxxxx

[lighthouse]

Email 4:

 

> > > >Hello,

> > > >

> > > >Thank you for writing in to Safe Harbor with your concerns. My

name

> is

> > > >Chadwick and I will be happy to assist you regarding your Seller

> > > >Non-performance appeal.

> > > >

> > > >Since you have already moved, please put your registered address

on

> the

> > > >Request For Reinstatement form. Since this address will be

> different

> > > >from your current mailing address, you will need to also provide

a

> > > Proof

> > > >of Identity as well as a Seconary Proof of Identity as mentioned

in

> the

> > > >previous email. The Proof of Identity must be an official

> government

> > > >issued photo ID (ex: driver's license), while the Secondary Proof

> of

> > > >Identity can be a current utility bill.

> > > >

> > > >It is my pleasure to assist you and I appreciate your cooperation

> in

> > > >this matter. Thank you for choosing eBay.

> > > >

> > > >Regards,

> > > >

> > > >Chadwick

> > > >Investigations Team

 

Now so far, this is still going fine... everything seems like we just need to jump through a couple hoops...

[chromium]

We're off to a good start.... everything should be fine right???

 

Email 3:

 

From us to them:

> > > >It has been 32 months since these two accounts

> > > >were suspended. Much of the contact information

> > > >has changed during that time. Obviously there was

> > > >no way to keep the information you have on file

> > > >current because we could not log in to change it.

> > > >We'll be happy to fill out the forms as

> > > >requested, but the form says the state-issue ID

> > > >and such must match the registered address. We

> > > >have moved during the last year and my husband

> > > >moved twice. There was no way to change the

> > > >registered address info during the last 32

> > > >months. So what should we do? We could just put

> > > >the correct current information and then have

> > > >that match what is sent with the form. Or does

> > > >the info we send need to match what you had on

> > > >file 32 months ago?

> > > >Please let us know ASAP and we will get the forms filled out.

> > > >Thanks

> > > >xxxxxxxx

> > > >xxxxxxxx

 

Your wife writes better than you...no meandering, more to the point

[Sal]

lighthouse - and i don't say this lightly - you are a damn fine writer. good read so far

[lighthouse]

Now, recognize... every one of these emails... ALL of them... includes the quoted text from the whole conversation. In EVERY case the entire conversation is requoted. I have been just pasting the newest message, but every time it's the whole thing... Ok?

 

Email 5:

 

> > > From: Lighthouse Comics <lighthousecomics@satx.rr.com >

> > > To: eBay Customer Support < suspension@ebay.com>

> > > Subject: Re: TN91012 Your recent email to eBay's Trust

> > > andSafetyDepartment. (KMM20165786xxxxxxxxxx)

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Following up on this situation.

> > > We just faxed copies of all the appropriate

> > > documentation to the fax number provided.

> > > Included were separate reinstatement forms, a

> > > copy of this last email for reference, a copy of

> > > both drivers licenses, and a utility bill from

> > > last month showing the address.

> > > As stated in the last email, we weren't entirely

> > > certain which contact info was on file at the

> > > time of the suspension because it was almost

> > > three years ago. So on each form we listed the

> > > two or three logical email, snail mail, and phone

> > > numbers it could have been from that time frame.

> > > The current contact info was all provided, and

> > > then we listed the likely contact info from

> > > before.

> > > If there is anything else we need to do, please let us know.

Thanks

> > > again

> > > XXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

Now, by rights, we should be about 2 days from reinstatement right?...

 

Right?

[lighthouse]

Your wife writes better than you...no meandering, more to the point

 

When I first discovered the internet I spent about seven hours a day on Bianca.com... It was a very popular sexchat site... I spent the bulk of my time there pretending to be a woman and hanging out in the lesbian rooms, then having cyber with whomever was willing. At the time it was research (in addition to the obvious non-research purpose) because my female-character dialogue was the weak point in my prose. I figured if I could successfully "sound" like a woman... to lesbians... who were constantly being hounded by men pretending to be lesbians... then my dialogue was fine...

 

The only reason I bring that up is that my wife has never once sent an email to eBay...

[lighthouse]

Email 6 (this one should be the "WOO-HOO I am back on eBay!!!!"

 

or not...

 

> > On 3/22/07, eBay Customer Support < suspension@ebay.com> wrote:

> > >

> > > Dear xxxxxxxx,

> > >

> > > Thank you for writing in to eBay in regard to your Seller

> > > Non-Performance appeal.

> > >

> > > After reviewing the information you faxed I have approved the

> Request

> > > for Reinstatement forms for both accounts (lighthouse_comics and

> > > tpbking), however, denied you Proof of Identities because they

were

> > > illegible.

> > >

> > > This is often due to the reflective quality of the identification,

> and

> > > so I suggest that you attempt to send this fax again from a

> different

> > > machine, or by selecting different settings. Alternatively, this

may

> be

> > > corrected by taking a picture of the ID, printing the picture and

> faxing

> > > a copy of the printed document.

> > >

> > > You can fax your proof of identities to eBay, Attn: SNP Appeals at

> (877)

> > >

> > > 471-2004.

> > > **Please remember to include your user ID on your fax.

> > >

> > > If you are not able to fax this information, you may mail it to us

> at

> > > the following address:

> > >

> > > eBay Inc.

> > > Attn: SNP Appeals

> > > PO Box 1469

> > > Draper, UT 84020

> > >

> > > **IMPORTANT: On closing, I noticed that you had written in to eBay

> with

> > > an email address that is not registered. For future

correspondence,

> > > please use the email address associated with your eBay user

> ID/account.

> > > This allows for us to keep your emails organized and prevent any

> > > duplication of information.

> > >

> > > Thank you for your time.

> > >

> > > Sincerely,

> > > Hakeem

> > >

> > > eBay Customer Support

> > > ______________________________

> > > eBay

> > > Your Personal Trading Community

> > >

> > > *******************************************

> > >

> > > Important: eBay will not ask you for sensitive personal

information

> > > (such as your password, credit card and bank account numbers,

Social

> > > Security numbers, etc.) in an email. Learn more account protection

> tips

> > > at:

> > >

> > > http://www.pages.ebay.com/help/account_protection.html

> > > _____________________________________________

> > >

> > > For our latest announcements, please check:

> > >

> > > http://www2.ebay.com/aw/announce.shtml

> > > _____________________________________________

> > >

> > > In order to better serve you, we'd like to occasionally

> > > request feedback on our service. If you would rather

> > > not participate, please click on the link below and send

> > > us an email with the word "REMOVE" in the subject line.

> > > If that does not work, please send an email to the

> > > email address below. Your request will be processed

> > > within 5 days.

> > >

> > > mailto:cssremove@ebay.com

 

Aw *spoon*... okay so we were approved but the fax was blurry... no problem.. I will resend... then Woo-Hoo!

 

Right?

[Dad&Son-migration]

will I get the comics I just bought from you or not... no really ...

[lighthouse]

Email 7

 

> On 3/23/07, xxxxxxxx <tpbking@satx.rr.com> wrote:

> >

> > The id's have been faxed again, including an enlarged version of

them.

> >

> > I am also attaching a jpeg scan of the two licenses to this email,

in

> case

> > that helps.

> >

> > xxxxxxxx

 

Alright... now it's just a short wait...

 

Right???

[lighthouse]

Email 8... This is it! Right???

 

Hello,

>

> Thank you for writing to eBay regarding the email you received.

>

> Because this was not sent by an eBay or PayPal member, Web site, or

> email address, we are unable to determine if this email is legitimate.

> While it may be considered spam, or possibly even fraudulent, it is

not

> something we can determine on behalf of other companies.

>

> This email should be reported to the company that appeared to send the

> email. They need to review the email and conduct an investigation. To

> determine where to report this email, you can substitute the word

> "abuse" in place of the name in front of the @ symbol of the email you

> received. For example, if the email was sent from "user@goodmail.com,"

> you should send your report to "abuse@goodmail.com ."

>

> You may also want to contact online customer support if it is

available

> for this company.

>

> To report fraudulent eBay emails, please forward them to

spoof@ebay.com

> for our review and investigation. I also invite you to take this time

to

> familiarize yourself with eBay's Security & Resolution Center for

> helpful information on this topic. To access this page, please click

on

> the Security Center link at the bottom of most eBay pages.

>

> To help you better protect yourself from fake eBay and PayPal Web

sites,

> we have developed a feature for the eBay Toolbar called "Account

Guard."

> Account Guard includes an indicator of when you are on an eBay or

PayPal

> Web site or a known spoof (or "phishing") site, buttons to report fake

> eBay Web sites, and a password notification feature that warns you

when

> you may be entering your eBay password on an unverified site.

>

> To learn more about the eBay Toolbar with Account Guard go to

> www.ebay.com, click on "Downloads" at the bottom of the page, and then

> click on the "eBay Toolbar" link.

>

> Once again, thank you for alerting us to the email you received. Your

> efforts help keep eBay a safe and fair place to trade.

>

>

> Regards,

>

> eBay SafeHarbor

> Investigations Team

 

 

WTF?

 

That had NOTHING to do with the email I just sent... And I copied the whole freaking conversation again. What do they mean, this email was not from eBay?

[lighthouse]

Email 9:

Us to them

 

I'm sorry but that reply doesn't even make sense. Why would I get an

automated reply telling me that the email didn't come from eBay when I

have

clearly quoted almost two years of conversation between me and the Trust

and

Safety Dept???

If you scroll down you will see copies of emails from the last two

years,

all of which represent a legitimate discussion between

"suspension@ebay.com"

and my wife and I.

Our previous conversation is coded: Re: TN91012 Your recent email to

eBay's

TrustandSafetyDepartment. (KMM201657xxxxxxxx)

To repeat my last email, Hakeem in eBay Customer Support had approved

our

request for reinstatement on 3/22/07 but denied the Proof of Identity

based

on blurriness in the fax that was received. He instructed me to resend

them.

I resent the id's via fax, including an enlarged version to ensure it

would

be easier to read. I also replied via email with attached jpegs, in case

that would help.

Hakeem's last email indicated that as soon as you had received proper

Proof

of Identity, both accounts would be fully reinstated. Did my fax of

3/23/07

arrive correctly? Or did you receive the jpeg scans of the id's that I

emailed that same day (3/23/07)?

Please let me know if there is something else I need to do.

xxxxxxxx