Can't change phone with Ford Sync

Got a new phone. Was able to get the bluetooth working with my Ford Fusion but in order to use Ford Sync services, it's required to register your phone number on syncmyride.com. Unfortunately there is a bug on the website which disallows me from adding a new phone number and switching to it.

On July 18, I sent a message through the contact form on the website and got a reply back on July 20:
"Jim,

Thank you for your email in regards to updating phone.

We do apologize, please try again to update your cell phone number, our website has undergone some update which may have affected adding the number at that time please try again.

Sincerely,

Ulysses
Ford Motor Company
SYNC Support Center"

So today I tried again and got the same message.

Really irritating because (a) I can't imagine I'm the only one with this problem and (b) I can't use the sync service until I change to the new phone number. As I stated in the previous article, the Sync is cool but it is poorly maintained and only the brand new cars get all the features. As they add new features, they do not allow the really good ones (like App Sync) to work with previous Fords.

Ford Sync cool but overrated and bad update process

I have a 2010 Ford Fusion. The sync is pretty nice but I keep hearing about all these cool features in the app sync but you basically have to buy a new car to get it. They allow an update process with previous cars but not for the really fun updates. I called the dealership and the salesman says "most of the updates are available for previous cars."

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Can I get SYNC AppLink on my vehicle?

SYNC AppLink is available on 2012 SYNC-equipped Ford Expedition, F-150, Fiesta, Fusion, Mustang and Super Duty; and the 2012 Lincoln MKZ and Navigator.

SYNC AppLink is also available as a software update for the North American 2011 Ford Fiesta. For more information, view How Can I Get SYNC AppLink?

To learn more about using SYNC AppLink, view How to command streaming media with your voice—and SYNC AppLink.

We'll announce vehicles as soon as they are available, so stay tuned.

SYNC AppLink is currently available in the United States only.

*Not all SYNC-equipped vehicles offer the SYNC AppLink feature.

The downside of internet bill pay with E*TRADE

In October I paid a bill via automatic bill pay from Etrade. I had the address/acct # of the vendor from a previous bill I had paid so I simply made the payment to that vendor. A month or so goes by and I get a letter from the vendor stating that the bill was still outstanding.

When I called the vendor to tell them the date I had paid it they claimed no knowledge. So I sent a note to Etrade on December 12, 2011 asking for a copy of the check. On December 13, Maria Romela Victoria M. Francia from Etrade responded that it would cost me $5 to get a copy of the check. On December 16, I wrote to go ahead and get me the copy and charge me the $5. Later that day, I got an email from Gregory Castronova stating the following:

"I have ordered a copy of the check to be mailed to your house. It should take between 5 and 7 business days for your to receive the check.

As you are aware, your account will be debited $5 for this amount."

On January 15, 2012, I sent a note back stating that I didn't get the copy in the mail and asking why I couldn't just have a pdf copy emailed to me. I called and spoke to Damien in customer service and he said the pdf email copy would take 2-3 business days. So around January 18, I received the pdf and sent it to the vendor. The vendor then stated that I sent it to their old account and they have a new address. So I asked, "Where's the money? It's not in my account." The vendor said something like, "Ask your bank".

So then I sent a note back to the bank asking what to do to resolve it and got an email from David Gearring at etrade asking me to call to work it out over the phone.

So a few days or a week later I called and spent 30 minutes on the phone with the resolution that they should just cancel the original check and send out a new one. The rep on the phone told me he would only call me back if there was a problem doing that. I went to check the account today (February 2, 2012) and nothing has been done in the account and nothing in the email box about what he didn't do. Unfortunately I can't remember his name because I was in the car at the time of the call.

So now I'm stuck repaying the bill and just hoping that someday the check bounces back as never having been cashed. Maybe I'll go back to sending checks in the mail ;)

Internet Explorer only please

American Express International Payments allows IE only. But it doesn't tell you that in the interface. Instead it just locks up on the change password screen. I tried in Firefox but it locked my account. Only when I called in was I told that I must use IE for the website.

Wells Fargo HELOC refi

3 months before my current HELOC expired, I called Wells Fargo and asked about refinancing my HELOC. I had paid down 1/3 of it the last 10 years but wanted to refi what's left. No problem. They told me call back closer to expiration date.
So I called 3 weeks out. In their defense they told me I should have called 1 month out. So during the process I kept asking (as recently as last weekend) if I should worry about collections if the previous deadline arrived and they said not to worry, the collections people keep track of the refi's and won't bother you.
You can guess the rest. Today I got a call from collections. In 4 days I could be hit with a 5% penalty. They said they would waive it but when I asked to get that in writing they declined. They would only verbally tell me I wouldn't be hit with it. So today I called my original 2 contacts to discuss but haven't been able to get in touch with either one of them.
The frustrating thing is the collections people said that what the underwriter told me was wrong. Collections has no connection/knowledge to the refi information so as far as they are concerned they just start collections on time without regard to refi (even through the same company).
Last weekend Brandon called me and told me everything was approved except for title and appraisal and again I did ask about the collections and he assured me all is well.
So now I'm scrambling to get money ready to pay it off from a company account and repay from the HELOC when it comes through. Although when I suggested this to Wells Fargo, they said they may not approve the refi if it's paid off.
So what do I do now? Risk the penalty or risk owing my company the amount I'm borrowing to cover it?

1and1.com

My credit card expired at 1and1.com and they sent an email about it but I haven't updated it so I got a threatening letter in the mail about sending me to collections so I go in there today to update the account and get 500 Internal Server Error. So then I call them and the message says it's off hours. They only do 9 am to 5 pm.

Dyson complaints continued

So our vacuum is still not working right. Now it's not even spinning the roller. Called Dyson support (Adolpho) on Saturday and they told us not to take it to Waters but to Americana Vacuum & Sowing Center in Falls Church VA. Called there today. Heard a man pickup and then a fax machine sound. Called again, fax machine sound. Called from another phone and waited a few mins of ringing. Finally got someone. He said to call back later today or tomorrow and speak to his dad Rasheed Amid about it.