Relentless Woman Fights For 14 Cents Owed

LIVERMORE, CA

You've heard it said before "it isn't about the money, it's about the principle. Here's a story that proves that.

Janet Maitland is nothing if not a good telephone services consumer. Back about a decade ago, she got her long distance phone service through Costco. It was called TTI and it offered a smoking deal.

"They offered a deal where it was 5.4 cents a minute and they broke it down into 6-second increments, so we are talking little tiny bills here. I've got one here that is for 2 cents," she said.

She had put $5 on account and nearly a decade later, she still has 14 cents left. But then out of nowhere, that 14 cents disappeared. She called several times and was told the money would be sent or charged back to her credit card, or that the money would not be returned.

"It is 14 cents, but it is my 14 cents, and they were after me for 2 cents. They sent me a bill for 2 cents, they expected their money," Maitland said.

The customer service reps seemed to be getting fed up over these 14 cents. But eventually, one representative agreed to help.

"He gave me his direct number, it was a chat line and no surprise, he wasn't there," she said.

It turns out TTI is an obscure company in an obscure town. TTI was formerly known as MCI and is now a subsidiary of Verizon Business Global LLC, an obscure division of Verizon.

"It appears Verizon took on a pre-existing condition," she said.

Verizon corporate tracked down the obscure subsidiary and agreed she was owed 14 cents and Verizon was willing to pay up.

Soon after, Maitland got a check for 14 cents.

"I am very pleased. I knew it was coming.

Mechanic Traveling 163 MPH in Porsche Crashes in Florida

Routine maintenance on a 2008 Porsche Boxster took an unusual turn Thursday, when a Sanibel mechanic took the car on a wild test drive, reaching an estimated 163 mph, and crashed it.

Kenneth Kasten, 50, owner of the Sanibel Shell service station, was driving the Porsche on McGregor Boulevard near Punta Rassa Road at 6 a.m. when he lost control and flipped the car into some mangroves, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The Porsche - owned by Nanelle Wehmann of Sanibel - was the only vehicle involved in the crash, which occurred in a 55-mph limit zone.
The FHP estimated the damage to the Porsche at $50,000.

Kasten wasn't seriously injured and left the scene before emergency crews arrived, Cpl. George Kantor of the FHP said. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the crash.

Authorities arrived on scene to find the car smashed, abandoned and upside down.

Initial reports were that the car was stolen, but Kantor said it quickly became clear that Kasten had permission to drive the car.
Wehmann said she has been bringing her vehicles to the Sanibel Shell for years and was surprised to learn about the crash.

"I'm just thankful he wasn't hurt," she said.
Kantor said because Wehmann knew Kasten would drive the car, Kasten wasn't charged with theft.

Kasten was found a few hours after the crash hiding in a nearby parking lot and was given a notice to appear in court on charges of willful and wanton reckless driving and leaving the scene of a crash.

Fort Myers attorney Sean O'Halloran said first offenders on such charges could face a combined maximum penalty of $1,000 and 150 days in jail.

"Any sentence will consider a prior criminal history," said O'Halloran, who is not involved in this case.

Kasten has had seven moving violations since 2000, according to the Lee County Clerk of Court.
Kantor said Kasten admitted to speeding.

"I told him how fast we determined he was going, and he said that was about right," Kantor said.

Kantor said Kasten told him he was speeding because he was upset, but Kantor didn't specify why Kasten was upset.

A call to the service station to reach Kasten was met with a "no comment" and a hang-up.

Wehmann said she doesn't hold any ill will toward Kasten or his business.

"He's a good guy," she said. "It was just an unfortunate accident."

And Wehmann is still willing to bring her vehicles back to the station.

"I have no reason to think I wouldn't," she said. "It's a well-respected place."

Kansas Cop Finds $1 Million During Traffic Stop

MINNEOLA, Kan. - A Clark County undersheriff said he was just following his instincts when he found more than $1 million during a traffic stop.

Undersheriff Daniel Knowles stopped a vehicle last week on U.S. 54 just outside of Minneola and became suspicious of the driver.

Knowles searched the car and found a hidden compartment with the money packed inside. He said the money smelled like marijuana. The total amount was $1,017,183.

Paperwork has been filed with the Clark County Attorney's office to begin the asset forfeiture process.

The Drug Enforcement Agency is helping to investigate the incident. The names of the people in the car have not been released.

VIDEO: Truck destroys bridge in Turkey

CCTV footage of a truck smashing into a pedestrian footbridge in Istanbul earlier this week has been released by police.

The video shows the truck, travelling with its dumper raised, destroying the bridge as it careens into it.

One pedestrian crossing the bridge was injured during the incident, but amazingly no-one was killed. Police are investigating why the truck was travelling with its dumper raised.

JOKE: Old Lady Sobbing

When I went to lunch today, I noticed an old lady sitting on a park bench sobbing her eyes out.. I stopped and asked her what was wrong. She said, 'I have a 22 year old husband at home He makes love to me every morning and then gets up and makes me pancakes, sausage, fresh fruit and freshly ground coffee.'
I said, 'Well, then why are you crying?'
She said, 'He makes me homemade soup for lunch and my favorite brownies and then makes love to me for half the afternoon.'

I said, 'Well, why are you crying?'

She said, 'For dinner he makes me a gourmet meal with wine and my favorite dessert and then makes love to me until 2:00 a.m. '

I said, 'Well, why in the world would you be crying?'

She said, 'I can't remember where I live!'