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| Dawn DeBraal |
- Dawn DeBraal
Overwhelmed, Zoey looked
at the hundreds of new emails in her inbox. She deserved this, entering
contests trying to make a quick buck. Now they sold her name over and over. She
was thinking about changing her email.
It didn't seem like
pushing the unsubscribe button helped. It did the exact opposite. The
"sharks" circled in the water around her email account.
While deleting the
emails, one caught her eye, and she stopped mid-push.
"help4you.com"
Well, what was that? Once
she read the email and was hooked.
Need help with
anything? Can't find anyone? help4u.com can help connect you to the right
people. Visit our site and see for yourself. Free! We are a secure referral
service. You may enter our $2,000 rewards shopping spree! Try it today!
Strictly Confidential!
After the ad, there were
several testimonials from different people.
Andrea from Chicago: I
was looking for a reliable plumber in the greater Chicago area, help4u.com not
only supplied me with several recommended plumbers, but I also received a gift
certificate for $50 off for the plumber of my choice! My leak was repaired, and
I got my repair at a reduced price!
Barbara from Elgin, here.
help4u.com connected me with a wonderful landscaper. My yard is transformed.
They did all the background checks for me, and I received a $50 gift card for
using their services! Highly recommend! Thank you, help4u.com!
She deleted them
all.
Coming home from work, a
hyper little dog greeted Zoey.
"Pepper, you poor
thing, couped up all day." She snapped his leash on taking him for a walk.
It just wasn't fair that she kept him cooped up so much. Zoey walked around the
block again because she felt guilty. Cereal was on the menu tonight. She hadn't
gone shopping. There was never enough time, she sighed.
Opening her laptop, she
moaned when she saw seventy-five emails. At least it was less than yesterday,
and there was a new help4you.com.
"What have I got to
lose?" Zoey pushed the soft link for "help4u.com." Instantly a
live chat box opened.
'Hi, my name is
Amanda. How can I help you?" Did she dare answer? She started to
type.
"I need someone to
check on my dog daily and perhaps do light housekeeping. Is that a
possibility?" Amanda didn't answer right away.
"What is your
address?" Amanda responded. "Hold on a moment. Let me look at our
list of certified providers." Zoey was intrigued. Amanda didn't say no.
She wondered what the cost of this little venture would be? Amanda came back.
"I will email you within twenty-four hours the names of certified helpers
in your location."
Zoey typed back,
"Thank you, Amanda! I appreciate it!"
In twenty-four hours,
Zoey checked her email to find three recommendations along with testimonials in
her inbox. One person, located a few blocks away from her apartment on Harbor
Drive. She opened their profile. "
"I highly recommend
Pat for the job. Trusting and friendly!" Sandra, from Chicago.
Zoey immediately pushed
the link provided by "help4u.com." She wrote a nice email letting Pat
know she was highly recommended by "help4u.com" and that she was in
search of a dog walker and light housekeeping, asking what her fee would be for
five days a week daily walking, and once a week light housekeeping.
After finishing the
email, she took Pepper to the dog park. The Yorkshire Terrier had a few ladies
he was sweet on. Her friend Teresa's white Maltese, Gretta, whom Pepper
preferred to another little dog, a King Cavalier named Vanna.
Zoey sat down on the park
bench next to Teresa, and they laughed, watching the dogs play with one
another. Theresa gave her a hot coffee.
"Thanks. I finally
broke down and went to this new site. I found someone to help me. It's called
help4u.com. They match you with people who hire out, and the service is free! I
asked them to find me a dog walker five days a week and a light housekeeper. I
even emailed a woman named Pat, who lives near my building. She hasn't
responded to my email yet."
"Is that safe? Don't
you think that's a little creepy? Having a stranger in your house?" Teresa
raised her eyebrows, questioning.
"Well, they are
background checked, and they come with personal references. I checked them out
on the Better Business Bureau. Some minor complaints like mud on the carpeting,
but generally everyone who used their services seemed satisfied."
Zoey stopped for a gyro
on the way home, tying Pepper to an outdoor table as she ran inside to pick up
her sandwich. Pepper sat patiently.
When she finished her
gyro, Zoey grabbed her laptop, opening her email. Forty-seven emails. Alright,
she was getting a handle on them. She started to delete when she got a response
she'd been waiting. Excitedly Zoey opened the email.
help4u.com/dog
walker/light housekeeping response:
"Hello Zoey, my name
is Pat. I am a graduate student who supplements my income with part-time work.
Your gig sounds perfect. I can be available Monday through Friday to walk your
dog early afternoon. I can be available on Wednesdays for cleaning. How big is
your apartment? I could give you a better estimate of the cost when I see the
size of it. Housekeeping aside, I ask $15.00 an hour for dog walking. I can't
guarantee that your dog will be alone on walks, as there are other dogs in the
area. I try to take them all at the same time, provided they get along. I take
it you are near the East loop? I walk a small dog, a King Cavalier named Vanna,
five times a week. Do you think your dog would get along with another little
dog?
Thank you for asking
about my services. I know that help4u.com sent my references and background check
to you.
Sincerely,
Pat Atkins
Zoey squealed. She
sounded perfect! And seriously, could there be two King Cavalier dogs named
Vanna in this neighborhood?
When can we meet?
Saturday at three p.m. works for me.
help4u.com/dog
walker/light housekeeping response:
"I am happy to
meet you Saturday at three p.m.in the lobby of your building. If you decide to
hire me, please arrange to have apartment security let me into your apartment
to walk your dog. I do not want to hold the keys for legal/security
reasons."
Sincerely, Pat
On Saturday, Zoey stood
in the lobby shortly before three o'clock with Pepper on a leash. Precisely at
3 p.m., an Adonis-looking gentleman came through the door. She would have
brushed him off, but he wore the "help4u.com" identification badge on
his shirt. Zoey took a deep breath. Pat wasn't a woman. Pat was a man. She held
up the paper that said, "help4u.com". He smiled and quickly knelt
near Pepper, not saying anything. Pepper glared at him for a little bit and
then went to him to accepting Pat's scratching behind his ears. Pat looked up
and said quietly.
"If you don't mind,
I'd like to take him out on the street just to see if he trusts me." Zoey
nodded. "What's his name?" Pat asked.
"Pepper."
She answered. Pat called Pepper by his name, and the dog responded. "Such
a good boy. Do you want to go outside for a walk?" Pepper's tail wagged,
and he followed Pat out the door. Returning a few minutes later, he handed her
the leash.
"He's a nice
mild-mannered dog. I think Vanna, the other dog I walk and Pepper's
personalities, will be great together." Zoey decided then and there she
would have Pat start walking Pepper. Pat gave her a cleaning bid.
"It shouldn't take
me more than an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes if you keep it this nice.
If you want it vacuumed, dusted, bathroom and wipe down of the kitchen, no
extras, I'd say $50 a week." Zoey thought that sounded reasonable. She
asked Pat what he was going to school for.
"Mental Health
Counseling. I only have three semesters to go. I've fallen in love with the
Chicago area and would like to stay here. My heart appreciates the amenities of
city life." Pat made perfect eye contact with her. He was courteous and on
point with his answers. Pepper jumped in his lap.
"When can you
start?"
"When would you like
me to start?"
"Monday." Zoey
took Pat down to the security office and introduced him to the management. They
asked him for his references, which he was able to produce.
Monday morning, Zoey
found herself picking up the apartment, knowing that Pat would be there that
afternoon. She said goodbye to Pepper after setting up the nanny-cam on the
fireplace mantle, aimed at the front door. She felt a little guilty, but she
wanted to make sure Pat was a good fit. Upon getting home, that evening, Pepper
was his happy-go-lucky self. Zoey took him for his walk and then brought him
home to watch the video.
At twelve-fifteen, there
was a knock on her door. Pepper barked. The front desk person opened the door.
"Pepper? Come on,
boy, let's go for a walk." Pat said excitedly, picking up the leash. That
was all it took. Pepper allowed Pat to put his leash on. About fifty-seven
minutes later, the door opened. Pat took Pepper off the leash and hung it on
its hook.
Zoey was thrilled. She
worried that this wouldn't work all day, but Pepper got to see his lady friend
Vanna, and he seemed to be alright with Pat taking him from the apartment. On
Wednesday, Pat spent about an hour cleaning and then took Pepper for a walk.
Zoey walked into a fresh-smelling apartment, watched the tape, and saw Pat
thoroughly cleaning. She was highly pleased. After a week of watching the nanny
cam, Pat had proven himself trustworthy. Zoey emailed him, asking him how she
should pay him?
Pat asked her for a
check. That way, he said it was more secure. Zoey agreed and left a check on
the counter made out to Pat Atkins.
Another week went by.
Zoey was so pleased with the service after the third week; she pulled up the
help4u.com website and typed up an excellent letter thanking help4u.com for the
recommendation they had given for Pat Atkins. Zoey was delighted with their
security measures and the caliber of the person they'd sent to represent their
company.
"Feel free to quote
me on your website!" She signed it "Zoey from Chicago."
The following week Zoey
stopped at the coffee shop to buy coffee to take to the dog park. She was
meeting Teresa.
"I'm sorry this card
has been declined," said the cashier.
"What? That's not
possible. Please, try it again." the cashier rang the two coffees through
again, the card came back declined.
Electronics!
Zoey pulled open her
wallet and handed the cashier a twenty. He gave her back her change. She was
fuming when she got to the dog park. Pepper was happy to see Gretta. Zoey
handed the coffee over to Teresa.
"Hey, thanks! How's
it going?" Zoey plopped next to her on the bench.
"The coffee shop
declined my credit card. That's how good it's going; otherwise, it's all
good."
"Maybe the card is
scratched; call the company." Zoey agreed that's probably the case. After
the park, Zoey stopped in for her gyro.
"Miss Zoey, how are
you? Look at your beautiful, good boy!" Mr. Aganos handed her the gyro as he
looked out the window at her patient dog. She gave him her debit card. He
swiped it, telling her to have a good evening. The machine beeped.
"Oh, your card
was declined," he said. Zoey thought she'd given him the wrong card in
error, but this one was a different card.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I
think it got scratched, and now it won't go through the reader. Here." She
handed him the remainder of the twenty. She would call the bank tomorrow.
Once home, Zoey
checked her emails. Raising her hand in victory, she was now down to
twenty-five emails. She was starting to reel in those swindlers!
Tomorrow, Pat would be
there to clean, so she put her dirty dishes in the dishwasher and picked up her
laundry. Having a housekeeper was a good thing. It kept her on her toes,
picking up after herself. She wondered if she should give Pat the key to the
apartment, then she wouldn't be bothering the front desk every day. Zoey did
leave an extra key the following day with the front desk, saying they could
give the key to Pat, and he would return it after the walk. She'd already told
him she'd left a key at the front desk.
When Zoey arrived home
from work that evening, she fully expected a clean apartment. What she got was
a cleaned-out apartment. Empty, not a stick of furniture, not anything.
Pepper! Where was
Pepper!
She punched the ground
floor button over and over, standing in front of the elevator door in the
hallway, running to security when the door opened.
"I've been
robbed!" she exclaimed. The man behind the desk shook his head,
saying.
"Your boyfriend has
already moved you to the new place."
"What new place,
what boyfriend?" Zoey shouted.
"Please, miss, calm
down. You are upsetting our current tenants," said security.
"I'm a current
tenant!" Zoey hissed. The security man believing her story, ran the video.
Pat came into the building a little afternoon. The doorman gave him the key. A
couple of hours later, he walked through the lobby with Pepper on a leash. Pat
returned the key to the front desk. The time was three forty p.m.
Zoey grabbed her phone.
She logged into her email. Three emails.
help4u.com/response.
Dear Miss Zoey
France,
Thank you for the glowing
letter for the services you received, but we are confused. We only have a
record of your initial contact. Unfortunately, we had no one to recommend at
that time. I informed you of this in our email.
We are glad that
you could find someone you are satisfied with, but we cannot take the
credit.
Sincerely,
help4u.com
Dear Ms. France,
We are sorry you were
dissatisfied with our banking services and have withdrawn all of your funds.
Please allow us to rectify the situation. You may call my cell xxx-555-1243.
Sincerely,
Robert Wade
Dear Miss. France,
You have reached your
credit limit on your Express Pass Credit Card……
How could she be so
stupid? Where was Pepper? She'd filed a report with the police department. The
apartment complex felt so bad; they gave her a worn couch from the lobby to
have something on which to sleep.
Zoey sat in shock in the
middle of her empty apartment. The cell phone made a sound. She'd gotten an
email. She opened her phone. There was only one email. Yes, she had her life
under control now.
She shuddered when she
saw the email.
help4u.com/lost
dog/Pepper
"I understand you are
looking for a Yorkshire Terrier. I know where you can find one for a great
price." Sincerely, "Sandra, from Chicago"
It was all a scam. From
the moment Zoey answered the "help4u.com" email, she had blindly
given everything away.
The phone pinged again.
"You will find the
little dog tied up at Aganos Gyros." Zoey raced out of the
building, running as fast as she could. When she rounded the corner, there sat
Pepper tied up to the table outside. Pepper wagged his tail when he saw her.
She picked him up, smothering him with kisses. Mr. Aganos came outside.
"I was wondering
where you were when I saw him tied up out here," Zoey asked Mr. Aganos if
he had seen anyone with Pepper. Mr. Aganos shook his head no. He was putting a
sign in the front window. "Apartment for Rent, Inquire Within"
"Is it true, you
have an apartment for rent?" Mr. Aganos nodded.
"Fully furnished. And we allow small dogs," he smiled brightly
at Pepper. Zoey didn't even need to look at it, but she did. Close to the dog
park, fenced in the back yard, and her favorite gyro restaurant
downstairs.
"Take the sign out
of the window, Mr. Aganos. I would love to be your tenant," she said after
the tour.
"I have to contact
the other person coming to look at the apartment. Someone sent by
"help4you.com," Zoey asked when the person was coming. Mr. Aganos
told her they would be there in a short time. She requested that Mr. Aganos
take the appointment to walk through the apartment, then she called the
detective on her case.
When Pat Atkin came to
look at the apartment, the police were waiting for him. Zoey stood beside the
squad car holding Pepper in her arms. Taking Pepper's paw in her hand, she had
the little dog wave goodbye.
Her phone pinged.
One email. Yes. One
email! "How about meeting me in the dog park? Gretta is waiting. I have
your coffee. Teresa."
What an entertaining story! Well done, Dawn :)
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