I can’t name any names as I’m still hoping I’ll receive the promised refund, but I couldn’t let this go without sounding some kind of a warning. 😦
So here it is. If you want or need an Australian Business Number [ABN], do NOT be fooled by any internet companies that charge for this service.
The only place to get an ABN is the official government website:
Unfortunately this website is not the first one that comes up on an internet search. Chances are, you’ll see something that looks official, but in the fine print you’ll find that the company is actually a tax agent and the fee is for their services, not for the ABN.
I know this because I paid my money despite feeling uneasy. Only afterwards did I look up the real government agency. I rang and asked if there is a fee for reactivating an ABN. They said no…
I haven’t been ‘scammed’ exactly. I’ve been mislead. Don’t let the same thing happen to you. 😦
Meeks
Authors' favourite books
NANO 2012
April 21st, 2018 at 4:52 pm
Isn’t it amazing that some people are actually spending most of their waking hours trying to figure out new ways to rob people of their hard-earned money, rather than just going out and earning their own? I had a new one the other night. You’ll love this. I got a phone call from somewhere in Florida, and since I don’t answer calls from anyone not on my contact list, I let it go to voice mail. They left a message saying it was the police department in some city in Florida and that there were 6 warrants out for my arrest, and that if I didn’t call back immediately, I would be arrested! I just laughed, but how many people fall for that? Obviously enough to make it profitable for them to do it!
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April 21st, 2018 at 7:24 pm
Just in – the refund came through! I am so relieved.
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April 22nd, 2018 at 1:54 am
YIPPPEEEEEE!!! I am so glad!!!
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April 22nd, 2018 at 6:38 am
Believe me, I spent a couple of bad days waiting to see what would happen. I’ll fight when I have to, but it’s not something I look forward to. So ..phew. Plus I really couldn’t afford to lose that money.
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April 20th, 2018 at 9:49 pm
Reblogged this on Viv Drewa – The Owl Lady.
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April 21st, 2018 at 9:02 am
Thank you for spreading the word!
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April 20th, 2018 at 11:25 am
Thanks for the timely advice, Meeks. Very timely, as I am going to apply for an ABN today! (I am taking up some casual work that requires me to have one.)
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April 20th, 2018 at 8:10 pm
Oh my god…I am sooooo glad! At least my experience has had a silver lining. -hugs-
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April 20th, 2018 at 7:55 am
I do not need actually, but thank you very much for the information. Seems its always the same procedure with same folks. 😉 Michael
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April 20th, 2018 at 8:49 am
Yes. 😦 I sometimes joke that www means Wild Wild West, but it’s true.
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April 20th, 2018 at 9:27 am
You are right, and this after 20 years of many www disasters. ;-(
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April 20th, 2018 at 8:13 pm
Yeah, we don’t learn do we? Or perhaps the bad guys are just getting smarter. 😦
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April 20th, 2018 at 8:15 pm
Think both of it is reality. today. ;_)
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April 21st, 2018 at 9:03 am
You’re right. So frustrating. 😦
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April 20th, 2018 at 7:53 am
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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April 20th, 2018 at 8:52 am
Danke!
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April 20th, 2018 at 9:35 am
Sehr gerne! Ich habe für die immer besten Informationen zu danken! Wish you a great and sunny weekend. 😉 Michael
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April 20th, 2018 at 8:10 pm
Thanks, Michael. You too. 🙂
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April 20th, 2018 at 8:14 pm
😉
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April 20th, 2018 at 6:35 am
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
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April 20th, 2018 at 8:52 am
Thanks, Chris!
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April 20th, 2018 at 5:11 pm
Welcome, Meeks – Thank YOU for posting about this issue 😀
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April 20th, 2018 at 8:05 pm
-blush- Nada. 🙂
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April 19th, 2018 at 12:06 pm
It is a shame that we have to be so cautious these days, but for every one honest, legitimate business, there are at least 10 who are deceitful and eager to take your money. It is the same everywhere, I fear. Hugs!!!
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April 21st, 2018 at 9:08 am
You’re so right. We’ve all learned [most of] the warning signs for the true scammers, but the shonky businesses that skate /just/ this side of illegal continue to get away with their shonky and misleading practices. 😦
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April 21st, 2018 at 4:54 pm
Isn’t it amazing that some people are actually spending most of their waking hours trying to figure out new ways to rob people of their hard-earned money, rather than just going out and earning their own? I had a new one the other night. You’ll love this. I got a phone call from somewhere in Florida, and since I don’t answer calls from anyone not on my contact list, I let it go to voice mail. They left a message saying it was the police department in some city in Florida and that there were 6 warrants out for my arrest, and that if I didn’t call back immediately, I would be arrested! I just laughed, but how many people fall for that? Obviously enough to make it profitable for them to do it!
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April 21st, 2018 at 7:23 pm
Arrest warrants??? Six??? LMAO
Sorry, you are a dangerous lady but only with words! I know these scams are becoming more and more common but I keep thinking “How can they afford to make so many ‘cold calls’?”
I can understand emails coz they’re essentially ‘free’ but phone calls?
Well, at least you had some free entertainment. 😀
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April 22nd, 2018 at 1:52 am
I’m sure they have some sort of ‘deals’ that they aren’t paying much for the phone calls, either. Telecommunications of all sorts these days are low cost. Mailing a package, however, is another story altogether! I mailed one recently to the UK … the contents were worth maybe $20, if that, and the cost of mailing it was $68!!! I would never have paid that, but my daughter was the one who took it to the post office and she knew it was important to me, so she paid it. She first took it to UPS who were going to charge over $200!!!!
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April 22nd, 2018 at 6:41 am
Ugh. Postage costs I do know about. Anything to or from Australia is hideously expensive too. I guess globalisation only makes some things cheaper. 😦
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April 22nd, 2018 at 3:26 pm
I don’t get it … I just don’t get it. My workaround is going to be to order from Amazon, where I get free shipping, and have it shipped directly, but that takes some of the personal touch out of it. But who can afford nearly $70 to send a small package???
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April 22nd, 2018 at 9:25 pm
Exactly. With a tight budget it’s simply not doable.
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