Red perched on an aloe statue in the backyard.
I’m going to share some bird and flower photos I took this week — after my story about a name — our last name to be precise.
We had trouble with a guy living in Southern California with the same last name. He also has an of initial of E — which is my first initial. To top that off, he shares an initial with my husband.
It was years ago when a collection agency called. I also got letters. Somehow they got us mixed up with this other guy with the same name and common initials who wasn’t paying his credit card bills. In the mail, I got a list of overdue bills from a collection agency — in the thousands of dollars — that they tried to collect from us!
This guy is 30 years younger than us. How could they mix us up? Well, I don’t think they cared. Our phone rang every day. The emails and letters kept coming with threatening messages. I kept calling back, sending letters, explaining it wasn’t us. It took about a year of headaches and stress to unwind this unfortunate mixed-up identity.
I googled the collection agency. Other people had experienced the same mix up and relentless calls and letters.
Forward seven or eight years to Monday this week, and I got an email from an attorney threatening to sue us for a $48,000 plus debt from a builder supply store. It was sent to me and one other email address — which belongs to the other guy!
Rather than go through a year of hassle, my husband forwarded the email to our attorney, who is telling them they are barking up the wrong tree.
Now for my favorite photos of the week:
A bird knocked this blossom off the top of a saguaro. I put it in a glass of water on my desk. I’m enjoying the beauty and taking photos of it.
Blooms at the tippy top of the saguaro. I found the blossom on the ground beneath it.
A House Finch captured eating Barrel Cactus blossoms in the morning light.
A Great Tailed Grackle makes his first appearance in our backyard.
Gila Woodpecker on a Beavertail Cactus yard ornament.
Red in the morning light climbing down a watering line from a planter. Wouldn’t it be easier to fly?
Mrs. in the BirdBuddy AI feeder with a real live bird buddy.
Have you ever had identity theft or mistaken identity? If so, what happened?
What’s your favorite photo from today’s post?
What a legal nightmare. Good thing you hired an attorney. I understand there’s a statute of limitations of four years for most uncollected debts, so if these debts are older than that, you might be in the clear, anyway.
I never heard that about debt, so it’s good to know. Yes, it was a relief to hand this off to an attorney rather than fight mistaken identity again.
You are right about the statute of limitations. I had a nightmare with a magazine company trying to collect money from me that I never owed them. They try to intimidate people, and sadly, a lot of people give in just to get them off their backs! But I knew they couldn’t legally do anything, so each letter went in the trash, and each phone call went unanswered or hung up on.
Good strategy. When my bill collectors call me, I just put them on hold for four years.
Haha!
Good for you. I had no idea of the statute of limitations. On this latest bill, the email said the demand statement was from 2022. I bet the guy with the same last name is trying to wait them out.
So far no ID theft. My favorite picture? The Cardinal. Get enough of them you have a Conclave and they can elect a Blue Jay as Pope.
Knock on wood about no ID theft. At least ours is only mistaken identity. You gave me a laugh! I’m hoping for baby cardinals soon.
When we first moved here we received dozens of calls from a collection agency looking for Debby Johnson… I just kept telling them they had the wrong number and it never went any further. Your experience sounds horrible.
But your backyard birds are lovely!
Thanks for the kind words about my birds! I hope Johnson wasn’t your last name! I went so far to call the bank who issued the credit card because we had taken a loan with them. One person told me, yes, they could see the credit card in question under my husband’s name. It turns out that was an employee who was giving us wrong information!
That’s so frustrating. And no, Johnson isn’t our last name.
You’re lucky you didn’t share the same last name!
Your photos have definitely acquired a professional touch after your course. All pics are excellent but the red trying to climb down is just too good.
That is so sweet to say. I give credit to my professor who suggested I invest in a better lens than the two that came with the camera. Plus he told me what settings to use to get sharper photos.
He gave advice that you implemented so you can take the credit too 👍🏼🙏🏼🫶🏼
Thank you! I did not ignore his advice. That’s one reason he selected me for his advanced group.
Awesome! You’re most welcome
😊
What a nightmare EA! I’m sorry the whole mess still is impacting you. As far as I know I’ve never been a victim of this particular issue. I have been a part of quite a few data breach situations however but (knock on wood) nothing has ever impacted me financially or otherwise. Red is looking lovely (or should I say handsome) in that header photo 🙂
It was a nightmare. Imagine how eight years later the same guy with a similar name is defaulting on his financial matters — again! Thanks for the comments about Red. He is a looker!
Love the picture of Red climbing down on the watering line!
What a hassle about the collections. I’m glad you are having your attorney take care of it. Hopefully that nips it in the bud!
Thanks! I like that photo of Red, too. I think the attorney will get the job done. It’s better than me worrying about it and dealing with it for a year!
I like the BirdBuddy feeder pix. Sorry about the debit collectors. Had a similar issue 3 times. Now I block all calls unless they are in my contacts.
That’s a fun photo of the Mrs. Yes, I don’t answer any calls that aren’t in my contacts. Eight years ago we had an old fashioned home phone. This recent event arrived by email, so it was easy to forward it to the attorney.
Have you ever had identity theft or mistaken identity? Yes and yes. The identity theft issue was handled by lawyers, the mistaken identity was taken care of by the company who made the mistake.
Wow. How awful was your identity theft? Did they get much money from you or credit cards? I had the police call me once. Someone in the south at a NASCAR race stole my credit card number and taped it onto the back of a credit card! The person he was buying stuff from caught the suspicious card.
Long story, but the bottom line was that someone stole my blog and tried to pawn themself off as me in an attempt to get people to buy things from them. It was a mess, defeating, and ultimately I walked away from the blog because there was nothing I could do to stop the person who was in South Korea.
Wow. That is so unbelievable that somebody would steal a blog! I’m so sorry you went through that. All your creative work taken from you for financial gain from a fraudster!
I like the beavertail on the cactus. I mean the wood pecker on the cactus.
Thanks! I thought that was so perfect to have the woodpecker land there. It’s also only a few feet outside my window!
Wonderful photos, terrible story of USA life. The grackle photo didn’t show for me in the post but did in reader 🤔 Thanks for the Saguaro flower photos
Thanks for your kind words about my photos. I’m excited to take the workshop in the fall with my photography professor and five other students to see where it leads me. I wonder what happened to that grackle? The photos are all in the same format.
The next stage will be exciting
I think it will be!
Ugh, the hassle. That is my nightmare. Hopefully you can stop this guy once and for all. And yes, love the beautiful shots!
I don’t think this guy is ever going to start paying his bills! Unfortunately we share the same last name and first initials. I’m glad you enjoyed my photos.
That stinks. ID theft is no joke. And as far as the photography goes, your pix are awesome. You’ve got a great eye! When you open your nature preserve, now you have something to sell in the gift shop!!!! I write, but I need to find another hobby like that.
It is a pain to have someone with the same last name who doesn’t pay his bills! I wish I could tell him to get his act together. Thanks for the support on my photography. I’m really enjoying it, but it has taken me away from editing my manuscript. Maybe it will help with creativity in the long run.
I hope your attorney can settle things once and for all!
Good photos! You certainly are learning things with your photography class!
Thanks! I have the summer off now to learn Photoshop. I start in September with a group of five other students for the professor advanced class.
I’ve never experienced identity theft, but I hope your attorney clears things up for you. How stressful! And all of your photos are stunning, but the first two and the house finch are favorites. Your narrative for red climbing down is hilarious too.
I’m sure the attorney will handle this better than me! Thanks for the kind comments on my photos.
I hope so, and you’re so welcome!
👍🏼
Great close ups of the birds and flowers.
Thank you! 😊
Ugh. That happened to me once when I was in college. My bank emptied my account to pay someone else’s loan who had the same FIRST name as me. Unbelievable! They corrected as soon as I pointed out the error.
I really liked the gila woodpecker photo with the cactus sculpture.
That’s terrible! I just read the attorneys emails. They went back and forth a few times, but now it’s all settled. I’m glad you like that photo. It was interesting to see the woodpecker hanging out on the statue. I got a few shots.
Your photos are really getting good! I love the one of Mr. on the rusted aloe.
I think companies try to collect for a while, then sell their uncollected debts to collection agencies. Those collection agencies are nasty and don’t care at all about anything except making money. Smart to turn it over to an attorney.
Thanks! I got a tip from my professor to set my camera to Aperture Priority for sharper focus. It worked! Can’t wait for more info in the fall. I love taking photos of Red because when he appears his brilliant color is so eye catching. The attorney sent us a back and forth with the collection agency. The attorney used to be a prosecutor and he handled it well!
All the photos are great, but the finch is pretty awesome. Sitting there, not getting poked!
Dang with the collection agency. What a pain in your side.
We got calls and letters for years (starting in early 2000’s)for some woman who had zero relation to us. Not sure how we ever got connected, but I was doing some searching for something recently and she’s still connected to the house we just sold.
I also used to get calls from collection people looking for my ex sister-in-law. Crazy!
Thanks for the nice words about my finch photo. Isn’t it bizarre when people get connected to your finances and keep showing up years later? Our attorney forwarded his back and forth with the collection agency. At first the agency said “Isn’t it a coincidence that your client signed the contract?” The attorney wrote back, “The only coincidence is my client shares the same last name with the person you are pursuing. We will be suing you if you continue with this….” That was the end of it.