(UPDATED) Not a Post I Want to Make, but One I Got to Make. · 4:52am Aug 20th, 2021
08/20/21 UPDATE --- So I've raised enough to cover the bill and I can't thank this community enough. I'd feel guilty accepting more donations. The patreon and Commissions are still open. I'm still doing the commissions but ive raised enough. if you feel charitable please consider donating to Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Well hey folks!
Everfree was a pretty sweet time. It was strange being a community guest for just Me and not Barcast. I wish I were brainy enough to do a nice "This is all the things that happened at the con," but I'm going to be real and say it was a pretty tough con for me...
Background
To get the tough part out of the way, I need your guy's help. While I was at the con, I was trying to do a good deed for my friends by changing my hotel reservations last minute from the Hilton to the Hyatt. Turns out people don't want to walk alone at night in a strange city for 3 blocks.
So, I asked the folks at the Hyatt how much a room swap would cost, and it was pretty affordable. Not gonna lie. I cancelled my stay at the hilton. Used the website (I thought was) Hyatt's to book a new stay and boom! A bill for $1600.
Excuse me?
The average hotel stay for folks at the Hyatt was around 600-700 for the duration of the con. So I was somehow overcharged a GRAND to stay at the Hyatt. I went to go ask what was going on, and the folks at the front walked me through it. Long story short, their hotel is google bombed to have a different website that books 3rd party (like a Travelocity) but LOOKS like Hyatt, put in a book and put in an unreal "Handling Fee" that they charge the folks who unwittingly book through their site.
I fell for this, because at the same time during the con, I was signing papers for a new job.
Get to the Point
So, I have a week coming up in 2 weeks where I have no form of income, and I have this looming charge over my head. It's not unmanageable, but things would be a lot easier with a little bit of help.
So, for a few weeks --- Writing here on Fimfic is going to become my job.
Firstly -- I have a Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/Flutterpriest -- I'm going to be posting some Drafts and Work In progress things here as I write like crazy over the next few weeks to feel like I've earned the money you guys can contribute. I'm going to try to write a few chapters of long stories I've been putting off for a long time. And yes I mean Office Love.
Secondly -- I have a Kofi - https://ko-fi.com/flutterpriest -- For those that can contribute even just a little bit -- It'll help me make ends meet a little easier.
You guys have donated enough to cover the bill. thank you so much. id feel guilty accepting more charity when it can go to better causes. I'm still doing the commissions but ive raised enough. if you feel charitable please consider donating to Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Lastly -- I'm opening a Select number of Commissions. How many? I dunno. But there are rules for these commissions.
Each commission will cost $15 -- and tips are accepted but not required.
1. Each story will be at least 1000 words.
2. Each story will be posted to Fimfiction upon completion.
3. I reserve the right to decline any commission, or ask for a prompt to be made more or less specific.
4. I will totally write clop or sexual comedy, but keep in mind I have the right to decline any commission.
5. Once I've received payment, I will complete the story within 24 hours.
Those interested in a commission please send me a PM with the title "$15 commission" and a short prompt. Then You'll be put into the queue. The people who PM first will be at the front of the line, and then I'll work my way down. I will do as many as I can as time allows until I start my new job.
I don't really have a "goal" of how much money I need to raise or anything like that. And I feel really uncomfortable asking. I know so many folks on the site need dosh for a bunch of reasons, but I can't think of much else I can do to try and raise some funds between these two chapters of my life.
Thank you.
What the heck. Is that even allowed?
5571474
Alas, shit like this always befalls nowadays. Not with booking only...
5571474
It isn't, but sadly the police cannot be everywhere at once.
That's a yikes, you should definitely look into the legality of it, I doubt it's not criminal. Can you find the website?
Good luck, sorry this happened to you.
5571482
TBH, nothing to be done. It's just not something police will pursue, and calling the "website" gets no calls back etc. The money is already paid, just 100% gone. :/
Gave this blog a signal boost, Broski. Hopefully it helps where I can.
Have you talked to your bank about this it sounds like you were scammed
5571568
I have, them and paypal both claim its legitimate and there's precedent thanks to sites like travelocity
I'll chip in and also boost this, not that I need to because you are awesome and beloved.
Also, talk to your credit card and see if you can get the charges reversed, because if it was deceptive enough it is something you should stridently contest.(Ok I see you yesbutted that one down already in comments.)But you should still file a report directly with the BBB.
What horseapples.
Sorry this happened :( I hope you get back on your feet soon
Sorry wish I could help but don't have the spare money right now
Glad you're doing okay now, but sounds like a really nasty scam.
5571474
5571583
Yeah, unfortunately it's still something of a legal gray area; 'cause the law has not yet caught up with the technology.
Sorry to hear you got scammed by this trash. These sorts of scams are getting so sophisticated that it's hard for even the experts to recognize and avoid them. And they're still operating just inside the limits of applicable legislation, so there's not a whole lot that can be done short of class-action lawsuits.
You can file a complaint with the better business bureau. Hit them in their ability to work with banks and take out loans.
I’m glad you got that fixed my friend.
Ah, looks like I got to this a bit late for a signal boost -- in a way, sorry about that, but in another way, I'm glad the community rallied so quickly to help that even this much of a delay was too late.
Good luck with the new job, and with the writing!
And thanks, everyone!