A Horrible Experience with Chase Bank

Remember how I said my wallet was stolen? Remember how I said Chase was giving me the $600.00 back...well they did, and then they took it all away. Apparently, the transaction for my hamburger at the restaurant where my wallet was stolen posted to my account the day after the transaction for the ridiculous Macy's purchase, which I'll remind you some thief made! Thus, Chase thinks I went on a shopping spree and I am trying to hang them out to dry. 

As a result, Chase withdrew $636.18 from my bank account today plus the insufficient funds fees that had posted to my account from the July 28th transaction. So, right now I feel like it's me against the world.

Needless to say, I was less than happy today when I spoke with the Chase Bank Claims Department and was told that I needed to provide proof that my wallet was actually stolen. The lawyer in my suddenly rose from my fury and I said very catty, "Do you want signed affidavits? Because I work for a lawyer and I can get you those." 

The Chase representative explained, "No, no. I just need documentation." I said, "Oh, like my application for a new license? My receipts for new wallets? My claims I filed with the Chicago Transport Authority regarding my stolen wallet? The temporary Texas State Driver's License I was issued three days after my wallet was stolen? A representative from Wells Fargo who will also attest that one the same day (July 28, 2010) approximately five minutes after reporting my debit card stolen to Chase Bank, I also reported it stolen to Wells Fargo?" 

The Chase representative could sense my frustration and he sighed and said, "Yes, ma'am." 

I wanted to scream. I called Wells Fargo Bank, who I might add is looking like Mother Theresa compared to Chase Bank right now, who stated that they could provide me with a three-way dialogue whereby a Chase Bank representative would stay on the line while I telephoned a Wells Fargo representative who could attest that my debit cards was canceled on July 28, 2010, reported as stolen and a new cards were issued on the same date. 

I might add, when I found out my wallet was stolen I was devastated and I called Chase Bank crying. I spoke on the phone with them and I felt comforted because the person on the other line assured me I would get my $636.18 back. Talking on the phone to the Chase Bank representative who explained to me that the bank was denying my claim because the account activity on my card looked suspicious, made me want to cry all over again. Instead of feeling reassured I felt like they had branded the scarlet letter on my forehead and I felt like Chase was accusing me of stealing. 

As a law student and a future lawyer, my job is to provide my client's with justice. Sometimes justice means the client never goes to Court. In a lot of instances, the client just wants to be heard and acknowledged. 

I just want Chase Bank to acknowledge they are wrong. I will fax them an entire book with proof that my wallet is stolen to prove my innocence. Because at the end of the day, we're innocent until proven guilty in this country, UNLESS you bank with Chase Bank. 

Not to sound too much like a quote from the Salem Witch Trials, but... 

I will go down in flames before I let anyone tarnish my reputation and scorn my good name. 

Air and Water Show!

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Posted via email from Very Truly Yours, Jessica

Ok, I've ranted and raved about how much I love Chicago, but it's starting to wear on me. There is something not so awesome about getting your wallet stolen. I know, I know, this can happen in any city and frankly, I am quite stunned it hasn't happened to me already. But at the same time, c'mon Chicago - first a break up, then I bust myself on your sidewalks, and now you steal from me. You're just solidifying your place in my heart as a place I want to forget.

In all fairness to Chicago, I was at a well-lit upscale organic burger place...around 6:45 PM...with a male friend who isn't exactly muscle-y, but he could win in a fight...and I was talking and chatting...but completely sober...paying pretty close attention and not really drawing attention to myself. Yeah, doesn't that go against everything that "they" say about crimes? Shouldn't these sort of incidents occur in dark alleys, in sketchy neighborhoods, when you're alone, drunk and listening to your iPod while wandering aimlessly?

Humph. So much for my warped perception of reality.

At the end of the day, I can replace all my stuff. I had about $10 in my wallet, a few dollars in coins, an un-cashed birthday check from my grandparents, two debit cards, a bunch of membership cards, my student ID, and my driver's license. The perpetrators only got away with $600 charged to my debit card and my USB drive...I'm lucky my bank caught them. I would think most thieves would hope for more. Lucky for me, I'm a poor law student with very little money to my name and more debt than assets.

I bank with Chase and Wells Fargo. The thieves didn't get anything out of my Wells Fargo account...they must have better monitoring than Chase. Chase let them take $600 which Chase is replacing...so there is as silver lining...I guess. I am going to miss my USB drive and it's a pain in the ass to get a new student ID and driver's license. Ehhhh.

But for some reason, it still hurts. It still bothers me that someone could legitimately steal from someone else. I never have understood why or how someone could think that something they legitimately know is not theirs, should be theirs, especially hard earned money. I just feel a little hurt - not by my perpetrator, but by humanity. When did people get so greedy?

Well, on a lighter note, at least the dumb asses stole my wallet the day before pay day. Some thieves just never win. I like that. :)

Nearing the End of the Second Year of Law School and a bit JADED

I am nearing the end of my second year of law school and life has become a little bit more stressful. As much as I love the law, the prospect of becoming an attorney in the technology field at this moment is a little bit uncertain. The job market in Chicago is quite slim for lawyers and there are no signs that it's going to get any better.

What does it mean to be a law student in today's economy? It means the bottom of the totem pole. It means you get the job left over after all the unemployed lawyers who are licensed and willing to work for near minimum wage (in some states) don't take. The result is law firms unwilling to hire and pay law clerks for work they would normally be paid for if times were better. What does that mean?

It means all those loans that are given out every year to law students in the name of "education" and "a professional career" are never going to get paid back. (I heard a rumor that President Obama didn't finish paying off his debt to University of Chicago Law School until last year.) Eeek! Will I be 40-something years old and still in debt?

Tuition prices are rising, starting salaries at law firms are lower (between $50,000 to $80,000 for a small to mid-size firm) and nobody has made the connection that it might be impossible for law school graduates to pay off the $150,000 debt (for private law schools) incurred from law school in the allotted time limit (20-25 years for most loans). This figure doesn't even include debt acquired in college!

Even if law students try to "mitigate" (fancy legal term) their losses and attempt to find a nice firm to pay them for their hard work in an attempt to lower the amount they must borrow during the semester and summer, they are met with empty offers. "Work for us 40 hours a week with no pay and we will write you a nice recommendation." This wouldn't be so troubling if a nice recommendation would get you anywhere in this atrocity of a job market. If nobody is hiring and everybody is laying off their new associates, what makes anyone think a nice recommendation from an employer-firm will make much of a difference when the recent law graduate is sitting in a room filled with applicants with at least 1-3 years of experience? Law students are thus left with the option to incur more debt and gain "experience" or take a job working at retail job, which they are clearly over qualified for (remember, law students ALREADY graduated from college and received at least a BACHELOR'S DEGREE).

What happens if the law student decides to "mitigate" his/her losses and take the retail job paying minimum wage? Well, they then get reamed during the interview process for "lacking experience" or worse they don't even get an interview. 

The moral of this story is don't think twice before going to law school - think five times and then ask yourself - do I like the prospect of incurring huge amounts of debt with little payoff and rewards? Do I really love the law or just the idea of a high profile position as an attorney?

When I entered law school I was a bright and optimistic 21-year-old. Knowing me, I would have said, "Screw the odds. I can do it." And I am, I am doing it. But I am not going to lie, I often wonder what it would have been like to set my mind to another dream. Maybe I would have had a more likely chance of getting a making my parents proud if I would have pursued a career in business or become an engineer. Humph. Too late now.

Now I have seen everything: Barbie gets a webcam in her chest. Ironic.

via geeksugar.com

Read the full story here: http://www.geeksugar.com/New-Barbie-Comes-Built--Video-Camera-7415767

Posted via web from LibertyLuver's _ Thing I've Seen Today

Life is too good

School started two weeks ago, I am knee deep in depositions and trial prep for a case going to court this Thrusday, I started dating a new guy and I have had little to no desire to write anything that didn't involve the words, "Please send money."

But I still have lots of news to share. I recently wrote a post for the 3six5 Project! You can read it here. It's about my old college friend who recently moved to Chicago for graduate school. The 3six5 Project is a project created by my friend, Len Kendall, meant to capture 365 points of view for 365 days. Basically, 365 different writers choose a date this year and write about their experiences for that day. It's a really cool idea and so far the posts have been really amazing. I hope mine lives up to the rest.

My courses for this semester include Corporation, High Tech Litigation, Legal Writing IV for IT and Privacy Law, Trial Advocacy, and Constitutional Law II. It's pretty exciting stuff. I love my Legal Writing Professor, my Trial Advocacy professor and my High Tech Litigation professor the best thus far.

My Legal Writing professor actually lived in Austin for 20 years while doing all sorts of IT litigation, so I feel like we are kind of kindred spirits even though he is clearly old enough to be my father. My legal writing professor is also the former Director of the IT and Privacy Law program, so he's extremely knowledgeable about my field of study and extremely personable. My Trial Advocacy professor is actually a judge. His name is Judge Norgle and he's a Northern District Court Judge in Illinois. (My school is right across from the Federal Court house.) Judge Norgle is extremely entertaining and despite the late class (6-9pm), he keeps us all awake, alert and happy. Finally, my High Tech Litigation professor is equally as interesting. He's been practicing for ten years and is very involved in Patent Litigation. I think he knows a great deal about technology litigation and is going to be a great resource for practical advice for what to expect after law school.

Needless to say, I think I am going to really enjoy this semester. I hope to keep you updated, sorry it's been such a long time since I last wrote. Life doesn't stop for the blogsphere and I'm learning that the hard way.

Last but never least, here is a copy of my thesis paper on Online Contractual Agreements and a Lack of Meeting of the Minds. I wanted to share it all with my legal readers since I haven't posted anything particularly relevant to the law lately. 

Happy Reading!

Thesis Paper Cyberspace Law

Playing with my New HD Flip and iMovie!

My best friend lives in Texas and ironically her two best friends both moved to Chicago for school. Thus, Meghan and I made this video for our mutual best friend, Jenn. As you can see, we had a lot of fun running around on Michigan Avenue and being typical girls.

Only a few more days until school starts back up full fledged. It's good to know a few of these days are still left...