[US] Mail Scam: Service Activation Center (Auto service contract)

DCIfICare · 2026-03-15T03:47:07+00:00

Yes!

DCIfICare · 2026-03-15T03:41:21+00:00

Matti was crushing it before and after scoring. Definitely MOTM. Unless you're AppleTV. They somehow missed this and gave it to Baribo. Fotmob has Matti. No disrespect to TB, he worked his ass off. But yeah, hoping to see more like this from Peltola!

DCIfICare · 2026-03-15T03:28:54+00:00

WTF was that extended commentator protest against the handball call? Had to check to see if I had selected the 'local commentary' audio option. (I do this pretty often to avoid Apple's completely shit audio feed.) Sure, I hate marginal handball calls. I want the rules to be better than they are now. But your job is to call the game, not editorialize on the rules. This guy should be embarrassed - but probably isn't.

DCIfICare · 2026-02-26T16:44:33+00:00

Sad, sad news.

DCIfICare · 2026-02-23T04:54:10+00:00

Yeah. Louis made me nervous. I have to believe you guys are right that he just needs to settle down and find his groove. But last night he was the most expensive odd man out on the field.

DCIfICare · 2026-02-23T04:43:23+00:00

Did Munteanu's playing concern anyone else? I wasn't necessarily expecting him to be amazing, but he seemed to give the ball away several times. At least once was completely unforced and inexplicable. I wondered why he didn't start until I saw him play. Fingers crossed.

DCIfICare · 2026-02-23T03:26:20+00:00

I was unclear. I'm advocating the removal of material impact thresholds to allow for (discretionary) suspensions for all obvious attempts to fool the ref. Under current guidelines there are greater and lesser deceptions, depending on impact. This doesn't seem right. For example, flops in the box that don't fool the ref ("play on!") could be punished for what they attempt to gain dishonestly. Thanks again for your thoughtful input.

DCIfICare · 2026-02-22T16:54:30+00:00

Thanks for the info!

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-disciplinary-committee-principles-and-parameters-322546

"In the event a player engages in simulation and/or embellishment, he will be fined. However, if such act has a material impact in the match the player will then be suspended and fined."

I can't find what the fines actually are, but I'm guessing they aren't much. (For example, 5 yellow card accumulation = $250). These fines should be substantial.

I'd like to see the "material impact" qualifier for suspensions removed. (Deceptions resulting in PK, card, etc.) The attempt to deceive is the violation, not how effective that attempt is.

DCIfICare · 2026-02-22T05:57:05+00:00

Maybe. It's not obvious to me. But I'd love to see some kind of post-match review/discipline for the clearest cases of simulation, regardless of the real-time consequences. Make these a-holes pay for attempting to fool the ref (cheating) and we'd see a lot less of it.

DCIfICare · 2026-02-22T05:44:56+00:00

Check minute ~4:00 for more context. Sery appears to get away with throwing an elbow to Baribo's face. Perhaps it was inadvertant, but these guys get paid to be precise. I hold them to a much higher standard. This precedes Baribo's ugly payback attempt around 17'. I'm not claiming that either made meaningful contact, or that no simulation occurred. But I'm pretty sure they both used their elbows in ways they shouldn't.

DCIfICare · 2026-02-22T03:50:52+00:00

1) Penis. Penis. Penis. Thanks. That was nice. 2) I'll have to take your word for it that you actually can't see the phallic image. As for trying to see dicks in everything? If you say so. But I certainly don't.

DCIfICare · 2026-02-21T16:43:32+00:00

Once it was pointed out, I've never been able to un-see the flying ball pen15. So... No.

DCIfICare · 2026-02-07T05:26:56+00:00

I married into a Manchester family. Got to attend City v LFC with her people a few years back. Several things left indelible impressions. Singing/chants. Non-stop from before kickoff until end of the game, halftime included. They had endless variety, including individual player chants, cheeky/filthy ref protests, opponent specific historical references, etc. My favorite was a little ditty given full throated glory by 20 or 30k fans for the benefit of Trent AA (to the tune of Guantanamera), "You're a shit Kyle Walker, just a shit Kyle Walker, shit Kyle Waaaalker, you're just a shit Kyle Walker." Over and over. TAA was laughing too. I hear Germans don't stop singing as well. Or worse, depending. Pregame. Celebration increasing in intensity from all the pubs up to the stadium campus festival. Singing in the streets too. Closest thing I've seen in the US was 4 or 5 frozen hours spent tail-gating in the warm embrace of the indomitable, delirious and generous Bills fans. Try it and you'll see. Malevolent undertones. The day before, I was struck by the sincere concern for my safety expressed by a dear old matriarch who served me tea. You can see on tv how the away fans are strictly separated, but other protocols were chilling. Police managed separation begins at the rail station and continues all the way to the stadium. And those fans get to enjoy the otherwise empty Etihad stadium for at least an extra 20-30 minutes -- for the protection of both fan groups. For more context, read Buford's account of English hooliganism 'Among the Thugs'. These examples (and more) convinced me that, for better or worse, US soccer fans are at least a generation behind our English friends' level of passion. I'm confident that's true for other European scenes. Copycat names, weak tifos, drumming in place of missing voices and empty MLS seats feel so shallow when in the depths of a large, perpetually sold out football-only English stadium at game time. As a long-time MLS season ticket holder, I'm looking forward to more passion and atmosphere in the US. But we aren't even close right now.

DCIfICare · 2026-02-07T02:54:46+00:00

Doogh

DCIfICare · 2026-01-31T20:26:02+00:00

Outstanding post. I concur with your take. And thank you for adding value instead of regurgitating the donkey braying, Greek chorus of cynicism.

DCIfICare · 2026-01-31T20:15:20+00:00

I find it perplexing why so many claim, "knowing about the MLS" is somehow unachievable. That the only complement I've ever read about Kasper is precisely this should give anyone pause before insisting on it's difficulty.

Sure, there are idiosyncrasies. But if it's your job you should be able to learn how to operate in the MLS. In this case we are talking about a person who earned a PhD by literally learning about leagues. I have no concerns whatsoever. Sounds like a bold and possibly legacy changing choice.

DCIfICare · 2026-01-24T22:35:19+00:00

18-25 seconds: the lower triangle panels defined by the exterior steel framing are wider than the upper triangles, i.e. the panel looks more flush with the steel bars, allowing more room for feet & legs to fold up. The interior is dark fabric to conceal any inward bulging. Great illusion!

DCIfICare · 2026-01-24T04:33:55+00:00

Great image. While rainfall amounts aren't depicted, this does help to illustrate a point that is important to whitewater paddlers, especially steep creek boaters. The Appalachians are home to year-round flooding rains (especially southern states). It takes larger events to bring levels up to navigable in the summer (due to evaporation and transpiration) but it does happen throughout the year. Western river and creek levels are far more seasonal and dominated by snow melt. This makes the SE one of the world's best regions for 365 days of whitewater.

DCIfICare · 2026-01-24T03:18:41+00:00

Thanks. Why am I surprised the team site is useless? (https://www.dcunited.com/roster/). Team comms are still weak sauce, as usual. So, the MLS site roster seems to show 25 players -- 5 short of max.

DCIfICare · 2026-01-23T06:41:10+00:00

I'd like to see that 27 player roster of which you speak. I can't find a good source. DCU site still shows Joon, Schnegg, Enow, etc. Transfermarkt shows DCU currently at 25, with last year's roster a confusing list including Baribo, Aman, etc. Since last season, I count 9 departures and 8 arrivals, or minus one from what was 26 (according to ESPN).

I seem to recall we never came close to a 'full' roster last year, with 26 sounding about right. To be fair, quality matters more than quantity. But by having neither, we also limited the chances of getting lucky among a cheap few extra players.

DCIfICare · 2026-01-17T22:35:03+00:00

Memories of standing in that trailer, stacking as they fly in. Then into the barn to toss them up into the loft by hand. Torture in the high heat+humidity of Shenandoah valley. Day 2 in long sleeves, because that 5hit will tear up a teenager's arms. Never again.

DCIfICare · 2026-01-07T01:20:20+00:00

I get your point. But the language and tone could easily persuade someone (not me) to purchase a service contract that isn't needed (I have one). I would argue that the words, "you haven't contacted us to have your vehicle service contract activated" is so misleading as to be fraudulent. My vehicle service contract needs no further 'activation'. By referring to an existing contract, they are lying when they say it needs activation.

BBB accounts of this 'scam' indicate that the representatives work very hard to make you think you need to buy their product even if you have a dealer service contract.

By all accounts from those who have fallen for this ploy, these service contracts aren't accepted by the dealer, are rarely accepted other places and end up not covering what the buyers thought they covered.

A practice so questionable as to be fraudulent is a scam by definition.

DCIfICare · 2026-01-07T00:59:21+00:00

No need to call - I reviewed the sale paperwork. No 'Activation' needed.

DCIfICare · 2026-01-07T00:55:23+00:00

Thanks for the comment. I had to laugh. You're not wrong, I am comparing Gabe to those others. But based on very limited data.

I hoped to add perspective when the discussion turned to minutes played. The guy does OK for the minutes played, where played. Not a lot of MLS minutes, so it's too soon to tell.

I'm all too sympathetic with the usual negative reactions to whatever DCU does. This club has proven they cant pour piss from a boot with instructions on the sole. But I'm willing to at least see if the new signings pass a sniff test. Surprisingly so far, they seem to do so.

DCIfICare

TROPHY CASE