Last night was a really bad night for me. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and when I looked into the toilet I discovered the most horrific sight. It was a rat swimming around in the toilet! I ran and pulled my husband out of bed to show him whom was extremely shocked and angry when he saw it. He then flushed it down the toilet, which I was surprised it went down being that there was a huge chance it could’ve clogged the drain. I was so horrified and disgusted I couldn’t even go back to sleep, let alone go to the bathroom. I ended up holding it for as long as I could stand and I tossed and turned all night. When I finally fell asleep I dreamed of walking into the front room just to discover hundreds of rats running all over and my kitten was no where in sight. I really hate this apartment, if it’s not one thing it’s another!

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen rodents in here. I’ve seen field mice coming in through the heaters in the front room on several occasions and found rodent droppings in the drawer in the kitchen. I’ve also been kept up a few nights to the sound of scratching in my bedroom closet. I cannot wait until we move out of here! We applied for another apartment a few weeks ago and I pray that we get approved, this is just complete nonsense! I can’t have my children sleeping and eating in these conditions! It’s unsanitary! I’ve never moved into an apartment and had rodent issues! First this landlord moves us into an apartment infested with bedbugs and now this!

This post is going to be a bit of a rant so please brace yourself. I don’t like talking about this subject very much because just the idea of having to rely on this crap annoys me so much! What subject you ask? The subject of having to get any type of public assistance! The only assistance that I ask for is food-stamps and medical insurance so I can make sure my children don’t go hungry and that they are insured. If I could be free of having to be dependent on this I would be so happy. I do not like having to rely on the insurance or food-stamps from them because of the hassle. I don’t see how people can live off this crap all their lives and when people apply for cash benefits it’s even worse because they don’t give you enough to live off of and they expect you to work a full-time volunteer job. I’d rather work a real job, but even then, with the scarce positions out there you would be lucky to get one that pays enough to care for you family, pay all your bills, and offers health insurance without being so expensive that paying for it will break you resulting in you scraping for change to keep your lights on!

My complaints about public assistance:

You have no privacy what so ever. They want so much information, it’s ridiculous! They ask for more info, than what the government asks for to get a U.S. Passport! When you go for an appointment they ask for not only your driver’s license, employment info, and social security number, but they want to know your bank account information including account numbers and balances, marital status info. If you own a car they want to know the make, model, license plate number, how much the car is worth, insurance info, and if you are making payments how much. They want to know how much you are getting paid in child support if you are even getting it. They need to know who lives with you as well, even if they aren’t your children or spouse. If you get a new job they know it and then they begin calling and requesting all sorts of information about your job as well, but when you need their help, they won’t even return your phone calls.

They cut you off at anytime without any notification. What I mean by this is no matter if it’s their fault or yours they will terminate your benefits without notice. Perfect example: I moved and changed my address with the post office, I also told my previous caseworker in person that I was moving in the next week the last time I had an appointment. I continued to get mail at the old address so I called my caseworker and left a message telling her that I moved, (more…)

I am completing a review with this company on my blog because I strongly feel it is necessary to warn other potential victims of this companies scam. Please always do an investigation with a company before you every do business with them. Search for information and reviews online about the company and also check out the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see what report they’ve given them. Never put your trust entirely into the companies claims. With that said let’s move on…

In April of this year(2009) I applied for services with Supportkids Inc. because my eldest sons father hasn’t paid any childsupport in over a year and I was desperate to get some assistance. He owed over $5000 in unpaid childsupport and I really thought SupportKids could assist me in collecting it. After first applying for information, I was immediately sent all sorts of letters and received phone calls from Supportkids trying to encourage me to sign up for their services. As soon as I decided to sign up I received a contract stating that a $475 fee would be taken out of the initial payment received from my sons father, and it would be a 34%  fee every check there after.

I was very desperate as I stated earlier and I felt this was the only way I could collect because the agency in my county worked slow and sometimes they just seemed to be really dumb when it came to located my sons father and finding out where he worked. Out of my desperation for help I signed up with them without researching further. As soon as I signed up with them and submitted all the necessary information, all that communication I was getting beforehand ceased to exist!

I first called Supportkids to ask questions on the status of my case because it was the beginning of April when my case was accepted and I hadn’t heard anything. To my surprise I wasn’t talking to real people anymore. There wasn’t even a customer service option. I had to listen to a recorded message about cases being transferred and then I was disconnected. I then emailed Supportkids on May 28th, 2009 about my case and received an automated response. I didn’t get an actual response until June 5th, 2009 that stated the exact recorded message I heard on the phone:

Hello,

We apologize for the delay in our response.

Your case is ready to be sent to an Enforcement Specialist, but in order for case to be sent we need to have confirmation from your state agency that the change of address is in place. We have yet to receive this confirmation from your state agency. Once we know our information is in place with their office the case will be released to Enforcement.

Recently, a limited number of Supportkids cases were transferred to another collection agency. Your case was NOT transferred, but this change has caused a slight disruption to our operations. During this time we ask that you continue to utilize our email address, website, or automated system for updates on your case. We are working towards resolving these issues as soon as possible.

If your case is paying, you may experience a temporary delay in your child support payments.

Thank you for your patience as we work through these issues.

Supportkids, Inc.
Email: clientline@supportkids.com
Website: www.supportkids.com
Automated client line: 512-437-6025

Now I was just completely frustrated so I called the SupportKids sign up line to get some answers. Of course a “real” person answered, but then they told me I had to email Supportkids or call the automated client line again.

I waited a few weeks and I decided to see if I could find independent reviews on the Supportkids. What I found was nothing, but negative feedback about them:

http://www.xomreviews.com/supportkids.com

http://www.killerstartups.com/Site-Reviews/supportkids-com-get-help-collecting-child-support

http://singleparentsunite.blogspot.com/2008/09/supportkidsread-before-you-sign.html

I then emailed SupportKids on July 23rd asking for information on my case once again:

Hello,

I’m trying to figure out why it is taking so long for an update to my case or to receive some payments. I can’t even call and talk to a real person and after reading some reviews about your company I’m beginning to get worried. I was told you had some good info on my case so what’s the hold up?

Please email me ASAP. I need to know what’s going on with my case.

Case# [case # removed]

Samara Bowling
[email removed]

I waited a week and I received no response. I then emailed Support Kids again on July 30th:

To whom it may concern:

I will like to start the process of closing my case with your company and ending my contract. I do not like the lack of communication with your organization. I can’t call and speak with anyone and when I email you I get no response. I emailed you 6 days ago and still no response. You didn’t have an issue calling and mailing me to hassle me into signing up with you and as soon as I do all the communication ends. I will not be changing my mind at this point. At least when I deal with my county I can actually call and speak with a real person. I will seek the advice of a private attorney to end my contract with you and I am having my forwarding address changed with the county from yours to mine immediately.

Samara Bowling
Case#[case # removed]
[email removed]

It is now August 15th and I still haven’t heard from Supportkids. I also did my own investigation with the BBB and look at the information that I discovered on this company:

http://www.bbb.org/central-texas/business-reviews/child-support-enforcement/supportkids-in-austin-tx-42874

This didn’t even make my situation any better, especially after finding out the terrible score that the BBB gave them. I immediately filed my own complaint against them for failure to respond to emails and/or calls. I have also notified my county child support enforcement agency about the situation because from what I gather, SupportKids is just a scam! They prey on single parents that are financially desperate and they do nothing to enforce or collect. More than likely they wait until the county actually collects the money, but because they have set up direct deposit with the county the money will go directly to them first. After they take their fees for doing entirely nothing they forward the remaining balance to the custodial parent.

Do not fall for this scam like I did! Either seek out the help of an attorney or stick it out with your counties child support enforcement agency. I’d rather not collect and wait for the county, than to not collect, wait for the county, and have fees taken out of my check by a scam company for doing totally nothing!

My life has been an ongoing nightmare since the end of this last Spring. I’ve moved 3 times already, and I’m about to move again because the apartment we moved in is infested with bedbugs! Thank God we didn’t have any furniture when we moved in! I just don’t understand how out landlord could move new people in(especially people with children), into an apartment knowing that it’s infested. We just moved on July 9th, and I’ve been at my parents home for the last 2 weeks. All our money down the drain! We can’t win for losing! I can’t sleep there, eat there, and it’s a total waste of time trying to furnish that place. I refuse to buy furniture or sleep in an apartment where I know that bugs are going to come out while I sleep and feed on me!

When I discovered the bug infestation I told the landlord and he wouldn’t even call an exterminator. Instead he pretended to call one and I was under the impression that he was going to send a company known as Thermapure to destroy the bugs because he gave us a list of items to remove from our apartment that had the companies  name on it.

We went to Cedar Point on the day of the extermination and I paid someone to watch our cat, Sapphire. Something just didn’t sit well with me about the extermination the weekend before because I didn’t notice any of the other tenants removing items from their apartment. While we were in Cedar Point we called the landlord and he told us that the exterminator wants to go over our apartment 2 more times. I didn’t understand that because I thoroughly researched Thermapure and I never read anything saying that there was a need to treat the area more than once.

I ended up calling off of work because of that reason as well as some other reasons and waited to see what was really going on. I also spoke to one of the tenants whom told me that the bed bug problem has been going on for about 5 months before we moved in and that they knew nothing about an extermination. I was so angry hearing that the landlord not only lied, but mislead us in when moved us in. I was then told by another tenant that she observed him heating my apartment with a propane tank and a fan!!

Around 9am, our landlord came to the apartment carrying 2 propane tanks and when I confronted him about only treating our apartment and not getting an exterminator, he changed his whole story claiming since we’re the only ones having the problem right now, he’s going to only treat our apartment. I also told him how we had to sleep in our rental car that night because of the bugs, how the every apartment needed to be treated to kill them, and how the bugs fed and suvive(up to 2 years without food),  he just brushed me off like it was nothing so I called Brian whom promptly called and cursed him out.

I then decided to call the health department, building department, fire marshall, tenant/landlord association, an attorney, our cities municipal court, and Thermapure. After telling Thermapure what was going on they asked for his information because they were going to more than likely sue him for mimicking their technique and trying to make us think that they were coming out. The Fire Marshall called him because of the propane tanks that he was using to heat our apartment and possibly blow everyone up, and the attorney and the tenant landlord association told me to threaten to put our money into escrow. The health department didn’t help me none because it’s bedbugs and not roaches.

This situation is so unfair. I couldn’t think of any solutions at all. I don’t want to continue to live with my parents, or sleep in that infested apartment, but we have no money to move so I told Brian to tell the Landlord that we are moving out and will like our money back. He agreed to give us our money back, but then offered to a new building with his guarantee that the apartment is 100% bedbug free.

What the fuck are we going to do?!

My family never stops…

Yesterday I noticed a comment posted to my blog on the 17th and the commenter had a serious issue with the post titled My First Laptop. To my surprise when I traced the IP of the commenter I received information on the carrier and the city in which the comment was made which was a near by city. This specific city is in the area in which my sister’s boyfriend lives and where she works. Further more the carrier was Alltel. The only thing I know Alltel provides when it comes to internet is internet on the phone. The person used a cell phone to look at my site and make comments. I know my sister’s boyfriend has his phone through Alltel. On top of that I believe the person was someone from my family and I’ve narrowed it down to being my own damn sister!

I mean really…. she gets all these privileges: free car, cell phone in my moms name, etc. All I get is a couch to sleep on. I get bitched at for every little thing and the only outlet I have is my blog to keep myself sane and it’s like I can’t even enjoy this one small pleasure if you wanna call it that. My family tries to control everything I do and my sister is always trying to start shit. I don’t know why she can’t mind her own business and focus on her own life instead of adding more hell to my life. I could give so many example’s of how my own sister lies and says things without my knowledge to get shit started in our home. Then I have to deal with the drama while she sits back and watches. Lately I was getting bitched at about me writing things in my blog, but my mom and dad don’t know how to use the internet and my little brother just doesn’t do things to create drama like that. Hmm… I wonder how they know what I wrote?

You have a car that you don’t have to pay for, a free place to stay, you don’t get bitched at constantly about everything, and you have a cell phone in our mother’s name. I have nothing, but my children, my cell phone and laptop (all things that I had to get myself), and it still isn’t enough because you still pursue to create drama and make life hard for me.

I can’t wait to move out. This is what I have to deal with on a daily basis. And now I can’t even be at peace in the cyber world.

I was thinking of retiring SweetVanillaSugar and buying a new domain that really fit me and this has given me a even greater reason to do so. As soon as I finish my new layout I will be switching to a new domain. I will added a post and a link to my new domain and it will be up for 30 days. After that SweetVanillaSugar will be officially retired.

I really like going to school because it gives me time to get out of the irritation and hell that my family puts me through on a daily basis, but waiting on late ass buses in extreme temperatures and waiting on financial aid really truly sucks. I am so tired of waiting for things. I am tired of waiting on a job, waiting on a change, waiting for people to pay whats due to them, waiting on everything! It seems like I’ve been waiting my whole life and no matter how much I try to make things change for the better I find myself still in the same predicament… waiting! I’m also tired of going to school for different things with the promise that something will happen for me just to gain more disappointment…*sigh*

I have to catch the bus in the cold to school, to look for work, and when I get a job to work. After today’s fiasco I wonder how that’s really going to work when public transportation proves non-reliable. It’s a shame that my family have 3 vehicles and my little sister can drive the car my mother pays for with her disability money to and from work, to have fun, to stay out all night with her boyfriend, but I can’t even use the car just to do something useful like finding a job, going to work and school. Instead I am told to catch the bus and when my boyfriend sends me money so I can catch the bus my Mom has the nerve to make a big ass fit over it. Am I suppose to be miserable and unhappy? It seems like they are only satisfied when I am. My sister puts everything and person before me and I am treated like the outcast or the stepchild. I hate it here! If it wasn’t for my kid’s I would leave and move to California with Brian just so I can get the fuck out of here.

I dreaded coming back here when I left Florida because I knew it was going to be nothing, but hell for me. Now I am waiting for my break so I can finally have the means to get my own spot and be away from my family whom can’t even help me do shit!

I am so deeply in love with the love of my life! I can’t wait until January so I can see him again. I wish I would’ve never wasted so much of my life on the other jerks in my life that caused me so much pain and misery…

It’s funny how when the thing you want so bad is there for the taking and as soon as you realize it things begin to pop up to prevent you from total happiness…

I will not allow anything to come between me and total happiness again. It’s about time for a change in my life and the way things have been going and I’m going to do everything I can to take charge of my life!

I’ve set a goal of 30 days to move out. I’ve had enough!

If I can get 2 more days at the bar or make at least $200 in tips on the 2 nights I do work I will be okay to move out because that will be $400 a week and $1600 a month. I can’t take anymore of the nonsense here!

I’m tired of feeling like the “outcast” and being picked on. I do not like living in a situation where I feel like everyone is against me and has formed their own cliche. Sometimes they even act like I don’t even exist. Or I receive comments from my Mom with negative energy input into them like she’s trying to draw me into and argument with her and when I refuse to respond then here she goes. It’s like a no win situation. I haven’t done anything to anyone and no matter how much I try I’m still the one that get’s picked on about every little thing. These people act so nasty towards me without any given reason. I come to the library to get peace even if it’s for a few hours because I’m tired of the hostile enviroment.

Home is supposed to be a place to retire from all the chaos that you run into while your out. Your suppose to find peace at home. Home is supposed to be the place that you can relax, wind down, and be at peace. It’s not suppose to be like this. Anytime I lived on my own [without Jeremy], I had peace at home. My son’s can be a handful, but they don’t ever cause me to feel uneasy.

I’m making it my business to be out of this hell hole by December!

I know I said I wasn’t going to complain about this anymore but I have to share this one…

Last night I decided to try some new recipes and cook for my family. I decided on an African menu adopted from Morocco. It took me tons of time to prepare the meal. I went to the store and bought all the ingredients, I had to grill the Cornish Hens, and then I cooked this delicious rice consisting of beef, tomato’s, mushrooms, green peppers, etc. I slaved over the meal and everyone ate except Jea’neene and Malcolm because they went to Applebee’s for a “to go” plate. When it was time to clean up no one helped me. I wanted to see if my Dad would even ask them to help because if it was me I would’ve been getting yelled at even if I didn’t eat. There has been times when Jea’neene and Malcolm were cleaning up and I could be upstairs attending to Jeremiah and my Dad comes up complaining and yelling at me to go help in the kitchen, but did anyone yell at them to help me? Nope. I had to do everything myself and I didn’t get to bed until after 1am. I didn’t complain, I just humbly cleaned the kitchen on my own despite the fact that my back was killing me. I am so tired of this situation…

I just wanted to see if I was overreacting about the whole ordeal, but last night was solid proof of what I’ve been complaining about all along. It just isn’t fair. Everybody I’ve ever told about my situation always asks me the same question. “Why do they do you like that?” and I honestly don’t have an answer to that question. I guess that’s why I’ve always been so determinded to have my own things and do everything myself. I just don’t feel like I have anyones support. It’s getting to the point where I’ve been having dreams about this situation! I guess my frustrations have started to spill into my dreams.

My life has been going through the changes lately. Somethings good and others not so great. At this point I’ve been trying to keep my focus on the positive things in my life because that’s what keeps me going. Sometimes I just look at my son’s and smile. My son’s are what I draw my joy from… they are everything to me because they are so innocent and special and I have unconditional love for them. Even after the storm my sons will always be there and that’s what it’s all about: THEM.

This morning I woke up irritated to the fact that my Mom was complaining about my case worker calling and saying Jea’neene and I have to go downtown. She kept saying if it wasn’t for me asking for cash assistance then we wouldn’t have to go. As I overheard this I thought to myself. What the FUCK does that have to do with Jea’neene? That is my fucking business! I have bills that need to be paid and I do need money so I can buy things that I need! I need a winter coat and so does my sons! We need clothes and boots, etc. I don’t have no one paying my car note or cell phone bill in fact I can’t even use anyones car to go to work so I have to find my own way! Then my Mom wants to argue with me because she doesn’t agree with me bartending. I don’t care how anyone feels about what I’m doing. This is my decision and I’m doing it for my sons so we can have something. Do you see why I moved over a thousand miles away???!!!

About 15 minutes later my sister storms downstairs complaining about her cell phone being off and how they owe Verizon $316. My mom gives her the money and tells her that she’s just going to have to pay the car note (to the car Jea’neene drives) late. She then complains about how she’s not going to put her name on anyone elses stuff and complains about how Jea’neene doesn’t help pay the car note. I just looked at the whole situation in total disgust. About 4 years ago my mom wouldn’t even help me out when I needed a car and I had a son to look after, plus I had the means to pay the car note, but she told me no and told Jea’neene yes about a year later. Ask yourself this question:

“Is there something wrong with this picture I’ve just painted you?”

I don’t even give a damn no more! It is what it is. It’s not going to ever change and like always I will have to do everything for myself. I’ve accepted the fact that they will always be unfair assholes so I won’t even stress about it anymore. I will have to get my own car on my own, my own cell phone on my own, and my own place on my own. I’ve done it before and I can do it again!