FAX And The Crazy Data Center Man

[FAX]

I know it's unusual for me to start a wacky thread. But two wacky threads in one week? Unthinkable.

But, you know, it's been a strange week chock full of strange occurrences including the one I am about to relate. Plus, this sad tale concludes with a serious question, so there really is an actual point to this. Okay ... let's see ... okay ... here we go ...

I own a business that requires a simple, small web server which I have had hosted at a locally-owned data center for the last couple of years. The monthly fee is $350 for pipe, services, etc. which I pay via credit card. I have provided the owner with an authorization form and he merely charges the card each month like clockwork.

Well, Monday the server went down. I became aware of this immediately because we subscribe to a service that monitors our site. So, I call the hosting company and speak with the cute, blond receptionist person. She informs me that the credit card had expired so I give her the new expiration date and thank her in advance for her assistance in getting the site back up.

(I don't know about you guys, but I don't monitor the expiration dates on my cards. Actually, I only know about it when I receive a replacement card from the bank. Perhaps I should be more attentive. Anyhow ...)

Now, had it been me facing a situation like this, I (them) would merely have called the customer (me), informed the customer (me) about the card, and requested either an updated expiration date or new card number. Simple. Instead, they (them) shut us (us) down without so much as a howdy do or a kiss my ass. But that's not all ... oh, no ...

Approximately 30 minutes later, I receive a call from the owner of the data center. He is literally shouting, ranting, raving, and (no doubt) drooling over the phone. He says stuff like; "I have to pay my bills on time." and "It's up to you to take care of these payments." and "I'm not responsible for your credit card." and "You need to send over a new authorization form." and things of that nature. I calmly and quietly suggest that he's exhibiting a 5 pound response to a 2 ounce problem since all he needs is the new expiration date. He says, "No. I need a new authorization form and I'm not turning you back on until I have it." So, he emails a new form, I fill it out, and fax it back to him. Strange deal, but maybe he's having a bad day. I move on.

But, later that evening, the cute, blond receptionist person calls me from her apartment. She apologizes for her boss's behavior and says she's leaving the company because he's so abusive and unpredictable. I express concern for her well-being and offer to give her a reference or two. At that point she tells me that her boss has gone bankrupt three (count 'em, 3) times and is currently being sued by numerous creditors. She also explains that a previous down time was caused because the leasing company that "owns" their router had barged unannounced into their office to pick it up one day and he had hidden the router from them causing the interruption in service. Apparently, in his last bankruptcy petition, he had failed to list all his assets (I didn't know you could do that).

"Oh my God in Heaven", says I. I then thank her most sincerely for the information, compliment her on her clothes, and phone the owner the following morning. I tell him that I wish to pay him a pro-rated amount for services to date and pick up my server. He tells me that they "don't pro-rate" and that I have to give him 30 days notice on top of that. I then suggest that he can screw himself with his wife's lover's brand new ratchet set over the 30 days notice and that I would present myself at his office at 2:00 pm to pick up the server.

So, at 2:00, I arrive at his office with an associate who happens to be able to bench press 400 pounds. I ring the bell and he comes out to the hallway to inform us that we can't go inside because he's hosting "Homeland Security" and that I need to come back at 4:00 because they're real damn busy right now.

I call the cops and show back up at 4:00 with my burly associate and a uniformed Nashville Police Officer. The officer rings the bell and requests to see the owner via the intercom. Over the intercom, the owner asks, "Do you have a warrant?" The officer says, "No" and the owner replies, "Then you can't come in. Homeland Security won't allow it." I then take my turn speaking with the owner via his fabulous intercom thing and inform him that I have come with cash and need to leave with my server. He says, "Put the money through the mail slot and I'll get your server." I stuff $350 bucks cash through the mail slot and, a few minutes later, a young tech opens the door to present me with my server and a receipt.

As we're leaving, the officer says, "Where did you find that guy? I'm sure we'll be back here at some point but, by the way, if you're working with Homeland Security, you can't tell people you're working with Homeland Security."

So, my question to you guys is this ... is that true? I can't imagine this dumbass whack job working for Homeland Security in the first place as I'm sure he couldn't pass the vetting process. But is it true that, if you're working with Homeland Security, you aren't allowed to tell people that you are?

FAX

Disclaimers: Sorry if repost.

[gblowfish]

This guy who runs the service, is his name "Tommy Flanagan" and is he married to Morgan Fairchild by any chance?

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by FAX

I just remembered something else. He also told me that he recorded all the phone conversations at his office, Mr. BigRedChief. When I suggested that it might be a good idea to inform people of that practice, he stated that notification wasn't legally necessary and that Homeland Security required that he record all conversations.

Does that sound reasonable? I mean, does it sound right that Homeland Security would require that all phone conversations be taped?

FAX

bullshit

[The Franchise]

Pics of cute, blond receptionist girl please.....

[Mr. Laz]

Sounds like this guy pulls this Homeland Security bullshit out to intimidate people into doing what he wants or as an excuse to be a douche.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

First point that he is FOS:
I use to work for Homeland Security. I was told that I could tell people I worked for Homeland Security.

Second point that he is FOS:
Not a chance in hell that he is hosting anything even remotely close to anything Homeland Security related. That "stuff" is entirely controlled and managed by Homeland Security itself. And without risking going to jail I can't divulge more but trust me, thats some serious physical and personal security associated with that access. They don't contract out that "stuff".

Third point he is FOS:
If you get anything less than good credit you will lose your clearance. 67% of people nominated for clearances get rejected and about 80-90% is for credit issues. A conceled bankruptcy? That not only would get your clearance yanked you could get thrown in jail for violating the agreement you signed.

Reasons I think your ex-data guy was full of mango:

*If the claim was that there was sensitive, secured federal government work being done within a non-secured building such that a police officer could not enter that work would have been taking place in a SCIF.
*Communication from within a SCIF is accomplished only through cleared channels and only with other cleared, authorized individuals.
*This would never, under any circumstances, include an intercom.
*SCIF designation is extremely hard to obtain and is awarded only after a long and arduous process.
*A TS/SCI full poly clearance or any other form of clearance is next to impossible to obtain with 3 bankruptcies on your record.
*Real gangsta ass don't run they mouth cuz real gangsta ass know they got it.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Bull frikin chit.

Amazing. Actually, it's an extremely creative and innovative way to evade people you don't want to see. He can hunker in his bunker and anytime an undesirable visitor stops by, it's Homeland Security up your ass. Brilliant, really.

Well, I can now predict with certainty a full implosion in this guy's near future because he's actually telling people all this junk. As I mentioned, Nashville is a small town. People talk. He's sunk.

FAX

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Laz

Sounds like this guy pulls this Homeland Security bullshit out to intimidate people into doing what he wants or as an excuse to be a douche.

Exactly what I'm realizing, Mr. Laz. When you are first exposed to all this stuff, you really don't know what to think or how to respond. It's only later that you begin to reflect on the absurdity of it all ... if you aren't readily familiar with the actual workings of Homeland Security, I mean.

FAX

[Gonzo]

Highly doubtful that homeland security would route any of their comms via an individual with such a shady reputation FAX.
They may be monitoring him, however.
Posted via Mobile Device

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Gonzo

Highly doubtful that homeland security would route any of their comms via an individual with such a shady reputation FAX.
They may be monitoring him, however.
Posted via Mobile Device

Yeah. Another "tell" is the fact that he volunteered the Homeland Security stuff three separate times to three separate individuals over the course of those two days ... as though he were attempting to impress us ... or, as Mr. Laz said, use his relationship with the DHS as some sort of leverage.

I don't think a company that is actually transacting business with Homeland Security would casually announce that fact to mere customers or complete strangers for no clear reason.

As James Lovell once remarked; "Houston, we have a tool."

FAX

[Gonzo]

Indeed.
I'm a month removed from working with the DHS on a weekly basis. I have several certifications and clearances which allowed me to do so. I'm fairly certain that they did an extensive background check on me beforehand.
Posted via Mobile Device

[FAX]

So, yesterday I'm sitting in my beautifully appointed home office drinking a fresh, hot cup of joe and thinking about my next strategic business move, when I receive a call from a data center guy from Murphreesboro, Tennessee. I don't know this person, but I'm nice and stuff and inquire into the purpose for his call.

It turns out he wants my business because he's purchased all the accounts from the crazy data center guy who said he was working with Homeland Security. Apparently, NES shut the original data center guy down because he owed over 30 grand in past due electric bills. Then, the IRS yellow-taped his door on account of past due payroll taxes. Then, the Predators (or the partnership that owns them) sued the guy for about 200k for defaulting on a sponsorship arrangement. The crazy data center guy promised to hook them up with local phone service and fiber optic cable at the Sommet Center (the Preds' home ice). It seems the guy didn't pay the people who installed the cable, so the Preds had to pay them. Then, the phone service went out for lack of payment one week before the CMA Awards show, so the Preds had to pay the phone company, too. On top of that, the crazy data center guy defaulted on 120k due to the Preds for the sponsorship.

Anyhow, all this went down about a month after I got my stuff out of his facility. There is a God. And, there is a crazy data center guy.

FAX THE FORTUNATE

[Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan]

So, what you're saying is the cute blonde probably needs a job?

Originally Posted by FAX

So, yesterday I'm sitting in my beautifully appointed home office drinking a fresh, hot cup of joe and thinking about my next strategic business move, when I receive a call from a data center guy from Murphreesboro, Tennessee. I don't know this person, but I'm nice and stuff and inquire into the purpose for his call.

It turns out he wants my business because he's purchased all the accounts from the crazy data center guy who said he was working with Homeland Security. Apparently, NES shut the original data center guy down because he owed over 30 grand in past due electric bills. Then, the IRS yellow-taped his door on account of past due payroll taxes. Then, the Predators (or the partnership that owns them) sued the guy for about 200k for defaulting on a sponsorship arrangement. The crazy data center guy promised to hook them up with local phone service and fiber optic cable at the Sommet Center (the Preds' home ice). It seems the guy didn't pay the people who installed the cable, so the Preds had to pay them. Then, the phone service went out for lack of payment one week before the CMA Awards show, so the Preds had to pay the phone company, too. On top of that, the crazy data center guy defaulted on 120k due to the Preds for the sponsorship.

Anyhow, all this went down about a month after I got my stuff out of his facility. There is a God. And, there is a crazy data center guy.

FAX THE FORTUNATE

[Rain Man]

You should never try to screw over a group known as The Predators.

I'm glad you were able to escape the crazy data center guy. But I have to ask: what ever became of the cute blonde receptionist? Hopefully she was able to leave and find another good receptionist job and wasn't out of work long enough that she was forced to become a stripper, demeaning herself by dancing naked and sitting on the laps of visiting Japanese business men after icing down parts of her body that respond to being iced down.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan

So, what you're saying is the cute blonde probably needs a job?

You beat me to it. Now that we know FAX is okay, this really is the most pressing issue.

[FAX]

She moved on. Used me as a reference and I was happy to oblige.

She called to thank me, too. She did not, however, offer to privately model her new bikini for me. I felt a little sad, to be honest. It seems like the least a hot blond could do for a guy like me who has been so helpful in her career is to drop by and model her new bikini.

FAX