Oh, poo: The cool gadget isn't so great after all
I admit it. I’m a tech junkie. I’m what’s known in tech circles as an “early adopter.” What that means is I’m the guy who often buys things before the bugs are worked out.
When the Roomba “robot” vacuum cleaner came out I really wanted one. My wife said a big “NO” so I didn’t get one, but I really wanted one. Just think, the little round puck-like machine, about 18 inches across, when you’re not home, or you’re asleep, unplugs itself from the wall and comes out and automatically vacuums every square inch of the floors in your home. How cool is that? Unfortunately, there are some potential downsides.
A number of incidents have come to light, all very similar in nature. It has to do with our favorite doggies who sometimes have little “accidents” in the house when we’re not right there to clean up after the pooch.
Picture this: Doggie leaves a little package for us. Instead of coming home and doing clean-up duty, the Roomba comes out and starts systematically covering every inch of the floor in a very efficient pattern. Unfortunately, when it hits what it senses as dirt, it just keeps plowing along, making its precise pattern, covering the entire floor. Result: You guessed it — dog poop smeared to a nice uniform thickness over your entire floor!
Here’s the REALLY bad news — that’s not the worst possible outcome. It turns out that in order to clean your house with unattended robot efficiency, the Roomba must read, map and store for future reference your entire floor-plan, including where your furniture is located. Also, a precise map of all doorways as well as other details about the layout of your home. It turns out the stored information can be accessed, and in a worst-case scenario, hacked.
Roomba swears it won’t release this data. I’m sorry, but with all the cyber break-ins being reported and the unauthorized release of the information, I’m glad I didn’t buy one. Thanks to my wife for putting her foot down!
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KIM COOPER WARNS US: “Thanks for the plug in your column this morning. A recent scam that your readers should know about nearly cost one of my clients a small fortune.
“We were nearing the closing date on the couple’s first home. Of course they were excited and eager to do everything right to make sure they got through closing. A couple of days prior to that momentous event I received a call from Mrs. Buyer stating that, “I just want you to know I’m on my way to the bank to arrange for the wire transfer.” Confused, I asked, “What wire?” She indicated she had received an email from me requesting she wire the funds needed for the down payment, loan fees and closing costs. I explained to her there would be no need to wire funds for a transaction where all parties involved are local.
We are not sure who was hacked but the amount requested was within range. The emails sent to my client were not grammatically correct so obvious to me they were faked but in her enthusiasm she was nearly taken for a lot of money. The lesson for your readers is NEVER wire money without verifying whom you are sending it to.
“I appreciate your column. Keep up the good work.” — Kim Cooper, Realtor
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MY ADVICE: Read Kim’s column every Sunday in the Real Estate section and take heed.
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NW PONY EXPRESS UPDATE: Your CDA Press Consumer Guy has immersed himself in the rules and regulations concerning the purchase and sale of guns. NW Pony Express closed due to the serious illness of the owner, who has since died. A fair number of consumers put guns “on consignment” with Pony Express. When the shop closed, the guns seemed to have disappeared. The attorney that I understand is representing the company and the estate of the owner hasn’t returned my calls. The Coeur d’Alene Police Department refuses to take a formal report on the missing guns and nobody seems to know where the guns (some very valuable) have gone.
It turns out federal law requires each and every time possession of a firearm is changed, a very extensive form must be filled out — an Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) form 4473 must be filled out and appropriately filed with authorities and copies retained. Voila — problem solved. Next step is to have the owners of the firearms demand a copy of the ATF form 4473 from the estate of the owner or perhaps directly from ATF.
A few of the gun owners have tried to file insurance claims with their insurance companies. Guess what the insurance adjusters’ first question is: “Have you filed a police report?” I’ll get to the bottom of this but it may take a while.
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DIRECTV UPDATE: Here are the instructions for contacting DirecTV (AT&T) about your service problems including a screwed up bill or equipment you got, thanks to a third-party contractor:
Call Customer Service at (800) 531-5000 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. PST. Expect a wait time around 8 minutes. Press 0# each time it asks for your number, then say “customer service” then press 6, then 2, then 0. Existing customers enter your phone number including area code, and then 1, and say “representative.”
You’ll either get help this way or be ready to tear your hair out. Again, if you can’t get things resolved with DirecTV — call me at (208) 699-0506. I’ll answer in person or if I’m not immediately available, please leave me a message and I WILL quickly call you back — promise!
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REMEMBER: I’m in your corner!
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I have many more interesting cases that I’m working on as The CDA Press Consumer Guy. Call me at (208) 699-0506, email me at CDAPressConsumerGuy @gmail.com or fax me at (866) 362-9266. Also include your full name and a phone number. I am available to speak about consumerism to schools, and local and civic groups.
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Bill Brooks is the CDA Press Consumer Guy and an active Associate Real Estate Associate Broker for Tomlinson-Sotheby’s International Realty in Coeur d’Alene.