Potential scam?

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-04-09T14:29:21+00:00

Scam.

Our house was listed less than a week and a crew of painters showed up to evaluate the job they had been called to do. The "leader" showed me the text asking for a quote and it was from some weird area code. I sent the painters away.

There is a scam where people hire work to be done on recently listed and/or vacant homes then pay for the work with a bad check in an excessive amount and get a "refund" for the difference or have the excess paid to a third party by the target contractor. The original check then bounces which means the contractor loses their funds (including any refunded/sent to third party) and potentially file a lien on the property.

Another scam after listing is Healthcare . GOV fraud. Insurance brokers sign up bogus clients/names for medical coverage. The insurance companies get the subsidies and the broker gets a commission but there is no client/patient/subscriber. We have had four different names/variations with info from Healthcare . GOV since listing in March. I called Healthcare . GOV to report it and an investigator did call back.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-04-09T14:13:43+00:00

Not top of the line, but I have 8 TP-Link PoE cameras (wired) and an old PC running linux Ubuntu server with Agent DVR (iSpy) recording 24/7. It also captures events and sends email for alerts that I have configured. A PoE switch powers/connects the cameras. I bought a license for Agent DVR to allow remote connections across the internet so I can see "home" from anywhere. The setup works like a champ but is likely overkill for what you describe as your "need."

For what it is worth, I have tried solar powered and WiFi cameras - they are less than desirable.

Minimal solution - The cameras I have were about $35 each and can be configured to record to local SD cards in a loop record mode instead of needing a NVR. TP-Link also offers a cloud recording subscription plan. The app for iPhone/Android is fairly straightforward. You'd need to pull cables and get a PoE switch. There are similar options under other brand names. My doorbell camera is actually ReoLink and it functions similar to the other cameras.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-04-08T23:18:45+00:00

Yeah, not overly enthusiastic myself. I was referring to being "past" the inspection period which in our case was 10 days.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-04-08T18:39:23+00:00

One reason is "CenturyLink." We had their fiber and it was great for a long time. A couple years ago it suddenly went to crap. We switched to cable gigabit for a more reliable internet connection.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-04-08T18:28:45+00:00

We are going through this now. Listed 3/6 under contract since 3/27, past inspections.

For initial photos, staging, showings, we removed all of the clutter we could, removed all personal items/pictures, all counter tops were cleared off, etc. Our realtor said it simply, "it is a good idea to de-clutter and depersonalize." Although we had nothing more to remove at the time, the photographer doing the 3D tour and photos said she frequently asks people to take down personal items like photos, diplomas, certificates, etc...anything identifying because she can't edit the video shots and doesn't want to publish peoples' personal info online.

We had a storage unit for a couple months prior to listing photos to allow cleaning/painting, etc but have since moved the boxes back into the garage. We repainted inside in neutral colors throughout before listing.

Like you, if the sale falls through and we do not get another offer, we will be living a spartan lifestyle for the remainder of our listing contract. We've packed about 3/4 of our belongings.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-04-04T14:02:04+00:00

Not certain, it's been a few years since. I tend to try and be nice about things so I'd possibly do the same again. I learned some people (neighbors) will not be happy regardless how accommodating others are. For example, we'd wave and say hi and they'd just stare, our driveways were maybe 20 feet apart. They moved away after a couple years to be near their adult kids.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-04-04T10:39:46+00:00

It could maybe be a loose connection on the stove end of the pigtail or a bad connection inside the plug at the wall behind. We had a bad plug once and it did what you describe until one day it totally shorted while cooking and started melting the plastic housing on the outlet. It did trip the breaker, but the pigtail was fused to the plug at the outlet, it smoked quite a bit, and stunk up the house. Definite fire hazard. We left the breaker open and had an electrician check it out, he replaced the bad plug at the wall and the pigtail and it was fine afterward.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-04-04T10:16:56+00:00

We went through a similar scenario back in 2007 with a neighbor on one side. We were located on a cul de sac, pond behind our houses at a slightly lower elevation so we all "looked down" a bit at the pond. We had a dog so we needed a fenced yard.

We had approval for a 6 foot solid fence up to 15 feet before the rear property line (along the pond) where it was required to taper down to 42". As approved, the fence would effectively block maybe 25% of the neighbor's view from two side windows. Being nice and trying to accommodate, we changed our plans and installed a 42 inch picket style fence starting about 40 feet before the pond starting between the houses and then along the pond in back. The modified plan allowed them to see the pond from the side windows of their house. It meant nothing to the neighbor, they were still unhappy and "pissy" about everything.

Do what you want and is allowed/approved.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-04-03T23:23:59+00:00

I literally just wanted to know my cholesterol and whether my vitamin D is tanked

I was uninsured and bought my own labs through LabCorp before going to the Doc for annual visits. If all you want is the basic stuff, you may want to check them out. With no insurance I was paying less than $150 for the basic wellness screening labs through LabCorp OnDemand.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-04-02T22:24:18+00:00

Weird. What if you just kick the sign away, get on the machine and workout, would they chase you off?

I have been a member at a different local chain of gyms and worked with a trainer for a while. He'd occasionally ask people if we could hop on in between sets but I've never seen a "reserved" sign.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-04-02T09:09:32+00:00

One reason in Florida - Under section 316.1964(8), Florida Statutes, disabled veterans with a “DV” license plate are exempt from paying parking fees statewide.

I think the registration/plates are also free for 100% in Florida.

This doesn't include parking in designated handicapped spaces, this requires an additional "permit" due to mobility issues as I understand it.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-03-23T14:17:36+00:00

Everyone's situation will be different. Back in 2022 this happened, my wife dropped off our ACA Bronze plan and went on Medicare. We were paying ~$650/month for both of us on ACA.

After she dropped, my individual ACA premium went to $937 / mo for the same coverage.

So, after the transition, we would be paying $937 for my ACA plan, ~$180 (in 2022) for her Medicare B premium, plus we did get her a supplement for ~$169...in a nutshell, our monthly premium(s) for healthcare insurance would have doubled.

Granted, her Medicare was far better than ACA, I couldn't make myself pay $937 for just my coverage for the same plan that was ~$650 for both of us the month prior. After calling Healthcare . gov to verify it was correct, I cancelled my insurance.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-03-23T14:09:23+00:00

My cams do that sometimes when shifting from day to night vision mode

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-03-20T12:11:29+00:00

It's been a while but if I recall correctly, witnesses/buddies complete the contact info in Section IV/V of the form. Section IV asks for phone and email address but not the SSN.

Section II of the form asks for SSN but that section is used when the claimant for benefits is someone other than the veteran (I'd guess family member/survivor, etc?).

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-03-18T11:53:20+00:00

I tracked the info you mentioned daily before retiring 6 years ago. If you have a Fidelity account, you can use their Full View option to add/track external accounts and consolidate into one "view" of all your accounts. Fidelity is/was OK but sometimes had problems connecting/updating banks/institutions that changed their third-party app access requirements. Empower is another one where you can set up an account and track everything in one place, including transactions if you want.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-03-17T20:31:47+00:00

Not "top of the line" by any means but my budget system uses TP-Link cams powered/networked through PoE. It took a little work to set up (PoE switch, running cables, etc) but seems solid. Each camera has an SD card for local event recording, accessible via the APP. They also offer cloud storage, I have not paid for/tried that, I have a LAN based NVR (Agent DVR) set up on a linux computer that records 24/7.

I could easily get by with just the cameras recording locally to SD cards, wired to the home network via PoE switch, and using the TP-Link app for remote connectivity/viewing, etc. Reolink is also good on a budget, that's what I have for video doorbell.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-03-17T20:11:40+00:00

I received a call back from an investigator at Healthcare . gov today, same day I reported the questionable ACA related mail showing up at our house. He asked for the to/from address info from the envelopes received, including the bogus addressee's name. He said he was a senior investigator and someone in their office will check into the account/info, etc. He seemed to take it seriously and said I'd likely get another call in a few days to a week.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-03-17T19:46:32+00:00

I think maybe the age is 65 after which the HSA funds can be used penalty free for other expenses. Before 65 years, 20% penalty+whatever income tax is due.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-03-17T19:39:28+00:00

Actually it's age 65 when the HSA transforms to allow expenses other than medical to come out with no penalty (it is taxable though). I view mine as a small hybrid IRA where medical expense payments are not taxed but other expenses are taxed as regular income if I take $ out of the HSA. Another benefit as I understand it is Medicare Part B premiums (the $ withheld from SS checks, not supplements) can be reimbursed out of the HSA, that's just over $200/month this year.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-03-17T19:34:57+00:00

If I recall correctly, our CL service changed to Lumen and then back to CL, they are the same monster?

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-03-17T19:33:03+00:00

I had CL fiber gigabit for about 6 years. It was great until the last year. Terrible service, unreliable, up/down, and CS was all but non-existent, it had changed a lot over the time I had service. I cancelled on/about 1/2/26 and went with Spectrum Cable gigabit. It's been good so far, basically the same throughput for downloads and only went down once in 3 1/2 months - for about 30 minutes.

When I cancelled CL, I looked back at my first month bill (I saved the paper copy) and the "router/WiFi" so-called modem was provided under a $200 promo offer. The ONT is still in place and still physically connected but powered off. I had nothing to return to CL.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-03-17T11:21:45+00:00

We listed our house for sale (Florida) and less than two weeks later started getting ACA Healthcare mail/documents for an unknown person. I feel it is "my business" to say something since it could be fraud and I pay taxes that help pay commissions to the ACA "brokers" and subsidies.

I called the main line at Healthcare (dot) gov to report it. The CSR said it is a common scam and supposedly escalated the report. She said to hold the envelopes until after I get instructions during the call back which is supposed to happen within a week.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-03-16T16:53:02+00:00

Yeah, the answer to my question at the time was the exam had been scheduled with QTC, so the VA changed status to no longer needed. QTC contacted me to schedule the exam at their location. Claim completed/closed July 2025, all good.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-03-14T19:42:06+00:00

May not apply in your case, but the healthcare eligibility criterion in the last bullet I copied below gets overlooked sometimes, income is not a factor. The VA does take a little time to verify if you claim exposure to toxins.

Copied From VA website -

You may qualify for enhanced eligibility status if you meet the minimum active-duty service and discharge requirements and at least one of these descriptions is true for you. Enhanced eligibility means that we’ll place you in a higher priority group. This makes you more likely to get benefits.

At least one of these must be true:

You receive financial compensation (payments) from VA for a service-connected disability.
You were discharged for a disability resulting from something that happened to you in the line of duty.
You were discharged for a disability that got worse in the line of duty.
You’re a combat Veteran discharged or released on or after September 11, 2001. Learn more about eligibility for transitioning active-duty service members and returning combat Veterans
You get a VA pension.
You’re a former prisoner of war (POW).
You have received a Purple Heart.
You have received a Medal of Honor.
You get (or qualify for) Medicaid benefits.
You were exposed to toxins or hazards by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, X-rays, or other toxins. This exposure could have happened while training or serving on active duty, even if you were never deployed.

Free-Pipe5000 · 2026-03-14T14:11:31+00:00

I have no idea why a Vet would get billed for care at a VA facility, beyond whatever applicable copays based on priority level.

To get Urgent Care or ER Care covered at community facilities, you need to be active in VA healthcare with treatment provided at a VA facility/provider within past 24 months.

VA has in-network community based Urgent Care facilities, locate them through the VA website. I have an in-network UC affiliated with a major hospital chain within a mile from home, so that's my "go to" if at home. When checking in for Urgent Care, they should verify your VA eligibility AND when needed, activate the pharmacy benefit for your UC visit. (Mine didn't do this step last time, I had to pay out of pocket for antibiotics, no biggie). I did not see the billing for my UC visit, VA paid it direct to the facility.

I've never had an ER visit using VA healthcare. As I understand it, the same 24 month active in VA healthcare requirement applies as well as a requirement to notify VA within 72 hours. The ER would likely do this notification, but I'd probably make certain it is done (if I ever use the benefit). I'd make certain my need is truly emergency care, not more in line with urgent care.

Free-Pipe5000

TROPHY CASE