US Agency Sues 'Miss Cleo' Hot Line WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal fraud fighters say Miss Cleo's psychic hot line should have seen it coming: a lawsuit accusing the service of rampant deception.
Describing the hot line as "permeated with fraud," the Federal Trade Commission said Thursday it wants to shut down Access Resource Services Inc. and Psychic Readers Network. The two companies in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., are behind the telephone psychic reading service that on television and the Internet promises insights into love and money.
Florida authorities announced a separate lawsuit, challenging the service's spokeswoman, Youree Dell Harris, known as "Miss Cleo," to prove that she really is a renowned shaman from Jamaica.
...The FTC complaint, filed Wednesday in the District Court for the Southern District of Florida, accuses the service of misdeeds including false promises of free psychic readings, tricky billing tactics to squeeze money out of consumers and unrelenting and abusive telemarketing calls.
... Beales said the service promises a free psychic reading, but when consumers call a toll-free number they are directed to a 1-900 number charging $4.99 per minute.
An average call costs more than $60, Beales said, noting that nearly 6 million people have called the service. A telephone bill running into the hundreds of dollars is the first sign for many callers that they are being charged.
Leonard Vickers, 49, of Woodbridge, Va., said that two years ago his 12-year-old daughter, Malaika, saw a commercial for the hot line and, thinking it was free, ran up a $289 bill for a single call. He said that when he called to complain "they said they didn't care that she was a minor."
The agency said the psychic operators make the calls last as long as possible by inaccurately telling callers they will not be charged while on hold.
...The psychic service also allegedly violated telemarketing rules by harassing people and making calls to those who asked to be on a "do not call" list, the FTC said.
Beales said many consumers received up to 10 calls a day, usually automated messages telling them that "Miss Cleo had a dream about them and they should call back." There's more. You can read the whole thing on the link above. Sheesh...you mean those psychic lines aren't real? That "Miss Cleo" is really just a spokeswoman named "Youree Dell Harris"? No...say it ain't so! *lol* My whole trust of shady infomercials is shattered forever.
Ok, I officially want to go home and sleep another 12 hours or so...I had a couple glasses of wine last night and not only did I drop off asleep at like 10:30pm, but I feel the distinct need for more. See, I don't drink. No, really, I don't. But last night, I went ahead and had a couple glasses with our dinner (a candelight affair with fondue and a 1lb box of Godiva with a valentine's day bear) and now I'm groggy. We watched the dvd I bought for my Love (Moulin Rouge, only his favorite movie ever) and I dozed off towards the end.
Anyway, it's early and it feels like it. I had a nice night and I'm glad that I have a three-day weekend to look forward to ahead of me. (my Love's birthday is Monday and we both requsted the day off to celebrate and spend some time together. I'm looking forward to it)
I know a lot of people get down on this day - and I can understand that a day meant specifically for people who are in a relationship can make those not in a relationship feel left out. But, I tend to think that a day centered around reminding people in your life that you care about them just can't be all bad. Thing is that people get caught up in thinking that it's about the token boyfriend or the trophy wife. It's not. Valentines Day, to me, is just a day to be thankful for friends, family, and those who make our lives worth living. To paraphrase "It's a Wonderful Life" no man is a failure who has friends
I know the hearts and the jewlery and the pressures to have a perfect day at least once a year are rough. And I'm not going to claim that the idea of some shiney bauble isn't attractive to me as a woman. But, that's just one part of it. The commerical part. The real part is just to step back, see those around us who make our days a little nicer, brigher, fuller and thank them.
And for anyone out there who doesn't have this - or thinks they don't - let me be the one to at least wish you a happy valentine's day. They may be just words on a computer screen from someone you don't know, but that's not the point. The point is someone wishes you well today. So smile, eat some chocolate, and I'll see you all here tomorrow. :) -m
Ugh. Ok, this is not an entry. There is no time today for an entry. I spend my lunch running around like a chicken with out a head at the the mall trying to get a last minute Valentines Day gift (yeah, yeah, bad me). I gotta ask though - why are there THAT MANY people at the mall on a Wednesday afternoon? I mean, don't they have to work? It's not like I went at noon either. It was 2:45pm before I even left work, so come on! I want to do what they're doing since obviously they have thier afternoons free!
Then I bought far too much candy from the candy store and proceeded to eat almost all of it just now. Ugh...so, now I'm hyper, my head hurts, and my stomach's not happy with the greasy slice of pizza I also ate at the mall.
Anyway, I can only hope for some Tums when I get home. *lol* Me and my sugar-induced headache have to finish up some work so signing out.
LOL. That movie is too funny. It's big corporate America at it's finest. *lol* Just had to share - not that I hate my job, but I am prone to fits of being bitter. :D
I just don't get it. The web is a DAMN big place full of millions of people, sites, and opinions. People talk about all sorts of things - from the mundane and boring to the hostile and offensive and every where in between. Let me quote something from a thread on my forum where some people were posting bitches just to hear themselves bitch.
"...the web is large enough that we can leave one place, start a new, and never again meet. It really DOES work. There are millions of sites out there, not all of them get along, but guess what? THEY DON'T HAVE TO. Ignoring those sites you don't like is a simple and easy thing to do. Do you know how many sites are out there that I violently oppose? I'm not talking roleplaying bullshit, or this political bullshit that just won't die, I mean sites activly recruiting children to be KKK for example! This shit is utter and complete trash - the propigation of hatred, racism, and bigotry. But you know what? I don't wage a war, make a scene, inflitrate their discussions and undermine their site owners. It's just stupid. It doesn't prove anything, it accomplishes nothing, and just makes me as the attacker look the fool.
Some people just like to play the fool - and those who have nothing better to do then mock me, this site, the way it's run, or anything having to do with DDD, can go find somewhere else to hang out It's a REALLY simple concept people - the open door works both ways: come or go, but don't hang out just to spread your own little bitterness..."
There's an X in the corner. Don't like me? Leave. Please. I just don't get what makes people think that a website is worth throwing a temper-tantrum over and looking the fool for doing it? You think I'm stupid for having an open contribution on the site? Well then don't do it on yours. Personally, I think people who don't understand the idea that a lot of people doing a little can accomplish so very much must be a very lonely person indeed. Dawna contributed $10 because she wanted to, just like when I bought her a ceremonal dagger on Ebay, I wanted to. It's what having friends is about.
Anyway, this post is late because I didn't really get a chance to have a real lunch today - this is just some stolen time to post. I'm looking forward to having my friend Joolo over tonight - I was really worried about him leaving for this trip - but overall, it's just one of those days I can't wait to just go home.
