I just want to scream!

My mum always said things were sent to try us... and they do! I am going to rant a bit about my experience over the last few days since my things were stolen as I need to get a few things off my chest. Kenju, suggested that I write about how I felt as if I was addressing the thieves but I do not want to poison my blog with that and inflict it on you. It would not be nice. I have been vociferous about things to those close to me though!

Trust me when I say that the actual theft has probably been the least stressful part of this whole sorry business. The clean up operation afterwards has been a nightmare.

Phoning everyone and their dog in order to tell them my cards had been stolen was bad enough. The conversation went something like this:

"Good day. Can I help you?"
"Yes hello. I would like to report my card as stolen and request a replacement please".
"Certainly. Can you tell me the number on the card please?"
"Um, no. It's been stolen".
"Oh!"

Honestly, I kid you not. Every. single. Time. At first I thought it was funny but I get fed up after the umpteenth time. If this wasn't bad enough, some company's thought it an ideal time to sell me extra services or products. On about preying on the vulnerable!

The insurance companies, as you can gather have been a hoot. My home insurance will not cover my things as they were not in my house. My friend's insurance will not cover them because they were not his. Of course they could not tell us this until after we had been given the third degree. I am pretty upset about this. (Yes, I know about personal possession insurance - it's a long story but my insurance got messed up during renewal it seems, as my ex-husband cancelled my insurance even though I was continuing it. No good crying over spilt milk). So, the upshot is that I have to wear the cost of replacing my things which adds up to several hundred pounds that I don't have [sigh].

Anyway, my car has literally just been picked up and taken to a garage. This was also a trial as the insurance company lost my claim details and nothing was being done until I rang today to see what was going on. Now, I have to wait apparently and see what will be done. I am not getting a warm and fuzzy feeling about this people. Not at all. I am told photo's need to be taken and sent away, then the insurance company have to assess the claim, then things can be ordered and work can be done. I am to get a courtesy car but not for a day or so and then for a limited amount of time.

Luckily though, my replacement course books have arrived today which is great. Though I find the task of doing all that work again quite daunting. Also because the stinking thieves took my lap top I have had to change passwords on computer accounts and I keep forgetting the new ones. My pin numbers have changed on cards and I can't remember them either! I feel like a jelly head!

So...some sticky fingered waste of space thinks he can help himself to my belongings and somehow I end up with the cost in terms of money, time and inconvenience. They took my things but left me with a nightmare to deal with and plenty of stress. Honestly, I could scream...!

The police do not think they will catch who did it. I have been informed by a social worker I know that even if they were caught the chances are that they would be fined a fraction of the amount that they make from theft and would be free to re-offend. If it was an adolescent then they would get counselling or something similar. As the victim of crime, myself and my friend have been treated like we have done something wrong and it has cost us dearly in a number of ways. Is it me or do things seem wrong here?

Thank You!

I just wanted to say thank you to all of the lovely people who left supportive and kind comments for me in the last couple of days. I cannot tell you how much they were appreciated. I have been feeling pretty awful this last couple of days - I even turned down chocolate at one point - but your messages of support helped.

Soooo... since yesterday I have been doing battle with insurance companies. It's a long tale but the upshot is many long phone calls and many awful questions (making me feel like the criminal!) and they still feel the need to call back tomorrow to go through the details again so that they can consider my claim. So nothing certain on this front yet.

Anyhoo... they also said that someone would call me about my car locks (seeing as stinking thieves have my keys). This was approximately 10am. By 4.30pm I had heard nothing so I rang them back. Apparently they hadn't even processed my paperwork but they would prioritise it and get someone to call. Do these people actually understand the severity of this situation and the impact it has? Yeah, I know they aren't paid to care...but still... Twenty minutes later I had a confused chap on the phone talking to me about house locks. " But they are being taken care of" I explained, " But the insurance company just told me to ring you" he countered. Huge sigh, it appears that the vacant girl on the phone had mistaken "car" for "house"! Of course the phone lines were closed again when I tried to ring back which is totally in line with their policy of only having a crisis during normal working hours. Sheesh...

I did get more help from the Open University though. I should have more books by the end of the week to replace the ones stolen and they have extended my deadline, thank goodness. I still had many phone calls to make today about my drivers licence, various membership cards and my roadside assistance membership but that is all done now. So just the insurance, my house and car locks to sort out. Then I can start to replace the things stolen and get a new alarm fited to my car (which I will have to foot the bill for unfortunately).

By the way...it doesn't look like I will get anything back :-( and there is going to be about £400 of expenses that I will have to foot. At least. I would really love to confront the thieves and let them know how I feel. Anyway, thank you once again for the all your lovely comments. They really were a soothing antidote to this horrid experience which has left me quite worn out... I am getting there though people!

(picture found on the interweb!)

Aftermath

It's the day after now and I still feel awful. Someone less than reputable out there knows who I am, where I live and what I look like (from my driving licence) and I don't like it. I don't think it helped that I didn't sleep well and this morning I realised that those stinking thieves also have the keys to my beloved MX5 (Miata). Of course I can't lock it safely in the garage as they have the key to my garage also so I went out and bought one of those Disklok thingy's that go over the steering wheel. I hope that will be enough of a deterent if they fancy their chances.

The emergency locksmith came by last night at 10:45pm! Anyway, he changed one of the locks on the front door and one on the back but couldn't do the garage, or other two locks so they are hopefully being ordered for me. He also broke the handle on my back door and then tried to pretend that it was like that before. Er..excuse me I don't think so!

I just hope insurance will pick up the bill for all this! When I phoned them they were less than helpful. Apparently it is all my fault for having a crisis outside of normal office hours! What was I thinking people? Next time I should plan these things better! Apparently the emergency helpline does not have access to any information so ergo is not actually much help so needs renaming. I need to phone a grown up on Monday and then I will see...

My tutor, also, has been about as much help as a chocolate teapot. I finally got hold of him today only to be told that I should contact student services on Monday. He seemed oblivious to the fact that I had no books and needed them NOW! I have to start reading and making notes all over again and that deadline is not getting further away.

My cards are all cancelled, although the lady at the Card Protection place took the opportunity to try and sell me additional cover! I could scarce believe my ears! I have also bought new padlocks for my gates and fitted them so I can do no more util tomorrow. I have worked out that they got away with £800 of MY belongings. I will never be able to replace some of the things that had sentmental value or my MBA essay notes. Of course I would have a busy week at work ahead too wouldn't I? Do you ever get the impression that it never rains but it pours? I figure I am now due a huge karmic payout so I am off to buy a lottery ticket...

Stolen

I am pretty upset.

I couple of hours ago I had my hand bag and lap top stolen. It's not so much the value of things but the irreplaceable things that are priceless to me.The laptop can be replaced as can the credit cards etc. But there are some things I can't replace and the worst thing is that they have no value to the thieves that took it.

Photos. Luckily I had backed up most of my photos on the laptop but not all so I can never replace those. There were also personal files that I have lost including those for my MBA.

I had my MBA files backed up on a memory stick. Unfortunately today, my memory stick was in my hand bag so they are gone.

My mother bought me my handbag for Christmas. It had sentimental value and now it is probably discarded somewhere. There was also a key ring that had huge sentimental value. Yes, I know it's only a key ring but it was mine.

My housekeys were in my bag with my purse. My drivers licence was in my purse. I am now waiting for an emergency locksmith to come and change my locks otherwise I will be too worried to sleep. The insurance company have been bugger all help and not very re-assuring. I am extremely worried about identity theft.

Cash stolen is a pain. Cancelling credit cards is inconvenient but I'll get over it.

In my laptop bag were my MBA books. I have an essay to submit in two weeks and now all my notes, text books (with annotations) and work have gone. There are no extensions on this deadline but I have contacted my tutor anyway. Fingers crossed.

The police asked me if I would attend court if they caught the thieves. I said if they gave me the book I would chuck it at them personally.

I am trying to be positive. For example, I didn't have my camera with me so that is safe. I had my mobile phone on me and my current account card so that is a big plus. I wasn't hurt, thank goodness, and other than my identity, they are only things after all.

Update: The lock smith has been so my home is secure once more and that is a big worry off my mind!

The items were stolen from my partners place. They broke a window and took my things. The police think they were disturbed by us coming back because my things are all they took. I am very glad we didn't walk in on them and that we were all safe.

Three word meme

I was visiting some of my blog friends recently. As I went from blog to blog it struck me what a diverse bunch you are - kind of like a montage of experiences. I found cartoons and laughed with Kenju, I watched adverts with CrazieQueen, went on a bike trip with Sarch, read poetry with PS, went to the Oscars with OldOldLady of the Hills (Here in the Hills), enjoyed some lovely pics courtesy of SRP, laughed again with Katherine (In a Big Way), and packed boxes with Melody and all from my sofa. How wonderful. You can find all of these interesting and entertaining folk in my links to the left.

When I went to Mar of Maremagnum, I found this great little meme: The rules are simple. Answer each question in three words. No more, no less.

01. Where is your cell phone? In my bag
02. Boyfriend/girlfriend? One new partner
03. Hair? Long and blonde
04. Your mother? Bought me up
05. Your father? Alwasy worked hard
06. Your favorite item(s)? Camera, laptop, sword
07. Your dream last night? Left me disturbed
08. Your favorite drink? Very expensive champagne
09. Your dream guy/girl? Anticipates my needs!!! ;)
10. The room you are in? Is very messy
11. Your fear? Everything will end
12. What do you want to be in 10 years? Happy, healthy , wealthy
13. Who did you hang out with last night? Friend and partner
14. What are you not? Stupid, boring, rude
15. Are you in love? I must be! ;)
16. One of your wish list items? A million pounds
17. What time is it? Approximately lunch time
18. The last thing you did? Eat my lunch
19. What are you wearing? Clothes, jewellery, shoes
20. Your favourite book? Lots of favourites
21. The last thing you ate? A tasty panini
22. Your life? Is a rollercoaster
23. Your mood? Can be changeable
24. Your friends? Are always appreciated
25. What are you thinking about right now? Writing 4000 words...
26. Your car? Red road rocket!
27. What are you doing at this moment? Supplying short answers
28. Your summer? Yet to arrive
29. Your relationship status? Starting over again
30. What is on your TV screen? TV is off.
31. When is the last time you laughed? I laugh alot
32. Last time you cried? Not telling you
33. School? Still being educated!

If you fancy doing this one then let me know and I will come and take a squizz :0)

PS. I am having serious issues with Blogger atm. I have visitied many wonderful blogs recently and taken time and care to construct meaningful and witty comments only for word verification to not work so I haven't been able to post my comment. For some reason it is insisting that I use my crystal ball to guess the letters. I have tried putting random ones in but it just isn't in a sharing mood. Sorry, I'll drop by again when Blogger is feeling more co-operative.