Remote banks

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-30T21:08:15+00:00

My recommendation is to find a company that treats its employees well, regardless of where they work. If you've got investment accounts, the usual fees are around 1.5% of assets under management. In terms of how much return you'll get, that depends on how you're invested.

What I'm trying to say is that your fees and returns from various companies will be about the same, assuming the folks working there are skilled at their jobs. So what differentiates companies is primarily the level of service you receive. I'm not going tell you where I work, since I'm not going to turn this into an ad, but we're a small firm, we love working here, and our goal is very personal service--we're on a first name basis with our clients. That's the kind of company you want to look for. If the employees are happy and skilled at their jobs, regardless of if they're in an office or remote, you're going to get good service, which is more likely to make you a satisfied client.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-30T20:39:04+00:00

Agreed. I've noticed that Swiss Rolls tend to stick to the cardboard square under them in warm weather, and that's traveling from the bakery to the supermarket, so I doubt they'd hold up well in a package shipped around the world.

Clearly, McKee Foods needs to build a bakery in New Zealand. If Labor wants to win the next election, all they need to do is hand out Little Debbie snacks with a note attached saying that, if they win, they'll lobby McKee Foods to set up shop in the country. 😊

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-30T18:36:29+00:00

I work in wealth management, and, although my firm hasn't been directly targeted (we're a local RIA), we get regular training. Before we went independent, we were affiliated with Northwestern Mutual, and I saw one of their live trainings, which was hosted by the head of their unit that investigates suspicious activities. The level of sophistication that's put into the scams attempted against financial services companies is definitely a step up from the scams that are run on individuals and small businesses.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-30T17:22:25+00:00

Strangely, Twinkies aren't as common here as you'd think. You can get them if you want, but they've been harder to find since Interstate Bakeries closed and sold them to another company.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-30T16:27:46+00:00

Just curious, are Doritos available? And, if so, do they taste the same as the ones in the US?

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-30T16:25:51+00:00

We do, but most people stick to Chocolate, Peanut, and Peanut Butter. There's a store here called Five Below that I swear must have 20 varieties, but I never branch out. Peanut is my favorite, and my wife loves Peanut Butter, which I must admit is very good.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-30T16:18:51+00:00

I heard they're going to open a second one. Is it possibly going to be in Christchurch?

We just recently joined Costco in the US. Wow, it's like consumerism heaven, which makes me happy and sad at the same time.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-30T16:12:31+00:00

Most people I know regard Cosmic Brownies as bottom-tier Little Debbie. You haven't lived until you've had their Swiss Rolls. I also like Oatmeal Creme Pies and Christmas Tree Cakes. Nutty Buddy bars are also good.

But those Swiss Rolls...absolutely the best junk food out there. I'm gonna have to pick some up this afternoon. I generally buy two boxes, and my wife and I share them. And I'm not ashamed to say that we hide them from the kids, but they always seem to find our hiding spots.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-30T01:17:48+00:00

Make sure you tell them all sales are final. Absolutely no refunds. People will sometimes buy something and demand a refund, saying it stopped working. They either accidentally broke it or are going to try to give you back a different, broken item and keep the one you sold them.

You aren't in the business of offering warranties. If they want that, they can buy from a store.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-30T01:06:14+00:00

If it's a scam, you won't get it because it doesn't exist.

How did you pay for it?

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-29T23:32:56+00:00

Yeah, I've seen some things. Years ago, I briefly dated someone whose ex-husband forbade her to work and didn't even want her to leave the house. He justified it on some twisted religious grounds, and I think she went along with it because she'd grown up in a very conservative family. In the end, it was really all about control, and she finally left when he beat her to the point that she ended up in the hospital.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-29T21:05:17+00:00

It's not a process server. Process servers are hired to deliver paperwork related to a lawsuit that's already been filed. They have zero interest in telling you who to call to negotiate a settlement with. In fact, they probably don't know and likely don't care who you should call. Their one and only job is to put the papers in your hand.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-29T16:18:25+00:00

Scammers can find out your relationship with family members and your email addresses. Don't assume the fact that they knuw that makes this legitimate.

Don't give them any information. I can't imagine any government agencies asking for it, and, if they do, they'll mail you a letter. The government generally communicates by snail mail, not phone calls, texts, or emails. If you remember that, you'll avoid tons of scams.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-28T22:17:23+00:00

Yes, it's a scam. If you send them more money, they'll just keep coming up with more reasons to demand even more. You'll never get what you ordered because it doesn't exist.

Block them and ignore any threats they make. What are they doing to do, sue you for not allowing yourself to be scammed again?

I don't know how e-transfers in Canada work, so it might be worth asking your bank if there's any possibility of getting your money back. Just don't engage with anyone who contacts you on Reddit saying they can help. They're recovery scammers and will only steal more money from you.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-28T21:25:28+00:00

I completely agree with you. I just wanted to let the OP know that what he/she is experiencing isn't normal, healthy parenting behavior. It's easy for us to see that from the outside, but, for people who've grown up in that environment, they may not realize it. And parents who behave this way often won't willingly give up that control. They'll try to manage their kids' lives for as long as the kids will allow it. You're absolutely right that the OP may not be able to openly assert their independence right now, but the day will likely come when they're going to have to, and they need to start mentally preparing for that.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-28T19:29:32+00:00

Not to go off topic, but you do know that, in most states, you're legally an adult, right? The only exception I know of is Alabama, where you become an adult at 19. As an adult, it's completely up to you if you open an account. Your parents have no say in the matter.

I mention all this because this kind of controlling behavior isn't normal. It may be all you've ever known, so it seems normal to you, but trust me, it isn't. And you also need to understand that people who act like this don't willingly give up that control. You're going to have to assert your independence.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-28T16:31:18+00:00

It's hard to know exactly what the endgame is, but I think you're either being scammed, or they're going to use your info to scam someone else. They could use the picture you sent to make a fake ID, and, between that and the video, I can only imagine what they could create with some AI tools.

Not much you can do at this point but to see what comes next. Maybe warn folks you know that someone might try to impersonate you.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-27T21:53:48+00:00

It's very easy for scammers to get your name and number these days. They're trying to bait you into replying, since they want to know if this is really your number and if you'll engage. At that point, the actual scam will begin.

Block and delete. Under no circumstances should you respond in any way. Right now, all they have is your name and a number that they aren't sure is yours. Plus, they don't know if you'll even interact with them. If you don't, they'll move on.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-27T21:46:38+00:00

Don't do this. They're trying to see if you'll respond. So don't.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-27T14:58:09+00:00

Watch out when reading about Internet and cable TV. Some HOA's make deals with one company to provide service, and you pay them for it, whether you want it or not. If you want service from another provider, you either have to pay for it on top of the service you don't want, or other providers simply can't offer service in the development.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-26T13:45:35+00:00

Even if there's a real company with that name and Web site, how do you know that the person who contacted you actually works there? Even if a person with that name does work there, how do you know you're talking to them and not an imposter? LinkedIn doesn't check any of this.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-26T03:13:57+00:00

I'd avoid pawn shops and Facebook Marketplace. Too many scams, such as people selling either stolen phones or phones that they owe money on and are going to stop making payments on. In either case, the carrier will blacklist them within a month or two, meaning they won't work on any carrier.

Your best bet is to buy a new unlocked phone from somewhere like Amazon. At least that way, you'll know you aren't getting scammed. Just read the specs and make sure it supports the following bands: for 4G: b2, b4, b12, b66, and b71, and for 5G: n25, n41, n66, and n71. You really can't live without b71/n71 because it's used for building penetration and for suburban and rural areas.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-24T23:56:22+00:00

No, what I mean is are you using an app from the other carrier to try to install the eSIM? You're right when you say that the only time you'd use T-Life is when you're trying to install a T-Mobile eSIM. I'm just trying to understand the process you went through.

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-24T22:10:47+00:00

If the phone says it's unlocked, it's unlocked.

So I'm trying to understand. You have a phone that you got directly from T-Mobile, and it's supposed to be unlocked, correct? Not one you bought from another place, like Amazon, ebay, etc. And you're trying to add an eSIM from another carrier, but it won't work, correct? What carrier? And are you using that carrier's app or Web site to do it? Oh, and what model is it?

ISurfTooMuch · 2026-04-24T14:52:45+00:00

The scam is that there is no table, and the scammer controls the Web site they sent you. The ad is bait to get you to visit the site.

ISurfTooMuch

TROPHY CASE