IDENTITY THEFT, ARE YOU PROTECTED?//DELTA DESTROYED GIBSON GUITAR AND REFUSED TO PAY 4 IT
"Linford of Anchorage, Alaska, became the victims of identity theft when their debit card number was stolen a few weeks ago. They were contacted by their credit union, which informed them that their identity theft protection had kicked in and they would not be responsible for the fraudulent $5,000 online shopping spree the thief had gone on. In fact, their money was returned, and they were issued a new account number. Then they filed a police report and figured the nightmare was over. But while the Linford's story seemed to be a run-of-the-mill identity theft case, it does not end there. The next day, packages they had not ordered began arriving at their home.
The thief who had cloned the debit card had apparently used the Linford's billing address as the shipping address as well. So a series of unexpected deliveries continued to arrive -- sometimes multiple shipments a day were being dropped off at the Linford's home.
The first package contained a car stereo and radar detector. Then, there was a baseball bat signed by former Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones and an autographed, framed portrait of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Later, four expensive North Face jackets, and martial arts equipment were delivered. Last, the Linford's received a linen scrapbook and an expensive women's coat.
The couple assumed that the thief had been buying Christmas gifts because the items were so varied. They're still not sure why their own address was used for shipping, because it certainly did not benefit the would-be thief.
The thief also used the Linford's debit card to pay for a subscription to USA Today, and to pay off a phone bill. Additionally, the thief attempted to join a book-of-the-month club. All of this damage was done using the debit card number in under an hour.
Even though the Linfords will not be held responsible for the merchandise, Linford feels it's only right to find the seller of each item and return it. [so no one is ripped off from all of this]."
____________________________
"Schneider, guitarist and singer for Hanukkah-themed rock band The LeeVees and the hockey-themed Zambonis, had asked Delta staffers not to check in his 1965 Gibson ES-335—which he estimates is worth about $10,000—on a flight from Buffalo, N.Y., to Detroit, Mich. He asked if he could carry it on the plane instead, but he was denied.
After landing in Detroit, the case carrying Schneider's semihollow-body guitar became lodged between the mobile service elevator and a rail on the loading dock, shaking the elevator door. The case even bent a steel beam.
The guitar itself was pinned between two beams, sustaining an estimated $1,980 in damage to the bridge, neck and tail. Workers took nearly an hour to retrieve it. (WHY THE HELL DIDN'T THEY LET HIM CARRY IT ON?)
Schneider said he was then given the "runaround" by Delta. The airline reluctantly offered to cut him a check for $1,000 in Tampa, Fla., his eventual destination. Schneider refused the check, because he didn't know how much the repairs would cost. The online claim forms he filled out after the guitar carnage were blank when Schneider later checked on them, and two emails he sent to Delta chief executive Richard Anderson were not returned.
On Friday, after Yahoo News first ran the story on Schneider's ordeal, a Delta representative contacted him and this week agreed to pay for the guitar. Delta also gave him a pair of free vouchers for future flights.
Meanwhile, Gibson contacted Schneider, too, offering repairs on the damaged 1965 ES-335 as well as a brand-new 50th anniversary reissue of a 1963 Gibson ES-335, free of charge.
"We all know Gibson guitars rock," Schneider wrote in an email to Yahoo. "But at this moment, the Gibson company is rocking even harder than Pete Townshend's Les Paul." Schneider says he plans to purchase additional guitars from Gibson for an upcoming charity auction.
"To be honest, with Gibson reaching out to me," he wrote, "that's the cherry on top of the best musical nightmare ever."
Schneider hopes his story helps someone in a similar situation.
"When a company obviously does something wrong, they should quickly find a fair solution," Schneider wrote.
"It's not about a guitar, or a musician, it's about making your customers feel good and trust that they are in good hands. Sadly, in this case, I feel neither warm nor cozy.
The solution would not have happened without the mighty power of social media (thanks to Yahoo, CNN, Gawker, Facebook and every single person that hit share).
"I received quite a few apologies from different folks at Delta which seemed a bit forced..."
The thief who had cloned the debit card had apparently used the Linford's billing address as the shipping address as well. So a series of unexpected deliveries continued to arrive -- sometimes multiple shipments a day were being dropped off at the Linford's home.
The first package contained a car stereo and radar detector. Then, there was a baseball bat signed by former Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones and an autographed, framed portrait of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Later, four expensive North Face jackets, and martial arts equipment were delivered. Last, the Linford's received a linen scrapbook and an expensive women's coat.
The couple assumed that the thief had been buying Christmas gifts because the items were so varied. They're still not sure why their own address was used for shipping, because it certainly did not benefit the would-be thief.
The thief also used the Linford's debit card to pay for a subscription to USA Today, and to pay off a phone bill. Additionally, the thief attempted to join a book-of-the-month club. All of this damage was done using the debit card number in under an hour.
Even though the Linfords will not be held responsible for the merchandise, Linford feels it's only right to find the seller of each item and return it. [so no one is ripped off from all of this]."
____________________________
"Schneider, guitarist and singer for Hanukkah-themed rock band The LeeVees and the hockey-themed Zambonis, had asked Delta staffers not to check in his 1965 Gibson ES-335—which he estimates is worth about $10,000—on a flight from Buffalo, N.Y., to Detroit, Mich. He asked if he could carry it on the plane instead, but he was denied.
After landing in Detroit, the case carrying Schneider's semihollow-body guitar became lodged between the mobile service elevator and a rail on the loading dock, shaking the elevator door. The case even bent a steel beam.
The guitar itself was pinned between two beams, sustaining an estimated $1,980 in damage to the bridge, neck and tail. Workers took nearly an hour to retrieve it. (WHY THE HELL DIDN'T THEY LET HIM CARRY IT ON?)
Schneider said he was then given the "runaround" by Delta. The airline reluctantly offered to cut him a check for $1,000 in Tampa, Fla., his eventual destination. Schneider refused the check, because he didn't know how much the repairs would cost. The online claim forms he filled out after the guitar carnage were blank when Schneider later checked on them, and two emails he sent to Delta chief executive Richard Anderson were not returned.
On Friday, after Yahoo News first ran the story on Schneider's ordeal, a Delta representative contacted him and this week agreed to pay for the guitar. Delta also gave him a pair of free vouchers for future flights.
Meanwhile, Gibson contacted Schneider, too, offering repairs on the damaged 1965 ES-335 as well as a brand-new 50th anniversary reissue of a 1963 Gibson ES-335, free of charge.
"We all know Gibson guitars rock," Schneider wrote in an email to Yahoo. "But at this moment, the Gibson company is rocking even harder than Pete Townshend's Les Paul." Schneider says he plans to purchase additional guitars from Gibson for an upcoming charity auction.
"To be honest, with Gibson reaching out to me," he wrote, "that's the cherry on top of the best musical nightmare ever."
Schneider hopes his story helps someone in a similar situation.
"When a company obviously does something wrong, they should quickly find a fair solution," Schneider wrote.
"It's not about a guitar, or a musician, it's about making your customers feel good and trust that they are in good hands. Sadly, in this case, I feel neither warm nor cozy.
The solution would not have happened without the mighty power of social media (thanks to Yahoo, CNN, Gawker, Facebook and every single person that hit share).
"I received quite a few apologies from different folks at Delta which seemed a bit forced..."
Replies
the guitar thing is outrageous! since when can\'t a guitar be carried on? wtf?
they don\'t fit in the overhead or under the seat. However a flight attendant might have stored it in the coat closet.
they used to fit in the overhead as long as the plane wasn\'t super crowded because many of the compartments are super long, with multiple doors, but depends on the plane probably. i haven\'t flown in over ten years, since 9/11.
you are right about the closets up front. there are MANY places for it. sending it in with luggage is RIDICULOUS!!
What a story. thanks for sharing. This Policy is something else.