ireland

TSB Phishing emails

- paul 1 Comment

There seems to be an increase in the number of phishing emails that are being sent at the moment, these are now targeting Irish banks, and could have serious implications if you get tricked by these phishing emails. Common sense would tell you that your bank would never email you, but I’m sure that if enough emails are sent that someone will get caught. If you’ve shared any private info about your bank account or yourself, you should contact the bank & the Gardaí straight away.

They seem to be targetting Irish email addresses, i.e. ones with a .ie  at the end.

Here is one we got today ‘from’ Permanent TSB, the from email address was : “Permanent TSB”<info@permanenttsb.ie> :

Dear Customer:

Permanent TSB is constantly striving to provide you with more convenience, control, and security to assist in managing your finances.

As part of our ongoing efforts to make it easier for you to use our online services, we have revised the Permanent TSB E-Sign Consent
and Online Access Agreement that you reviewed and accepted when you began to use Permanent TSB Online? or Permanent TSB Business Online? Banking service(s).

To review the changes, click on the links below:

  • E- Sign Consent (link removed)
  • Online Access Agreement (link removed)

Our Support Unit is carrying out a scheduled software update By following
the link Above you will start the procedure of the client login Reinstate.

These instructions are to be mailed and followed by all clients of the Permanent TSB.
Permanent TSB Service does apologize for the inconveniences caused to you, and is very appreciative for your cooperation.

If you are not customer of Permanent TSB Plc Service please ignore this notification!

***** This is an automated message, please do not respond *****? 2012 Permanent TSB. All Rights Reserve

EDIT: 1 further phishing email format, this time from Poland…

You have 1 important mail alert!

We strongly advise you should update your account and resolve the problem.

Click here to proceed

Failure to do this will lead to your account been suspended or de-activated.

Thanks for your co-operation.

Yours Sincerely

Permanent TSB Online Banking

Flannerys Hotel Galway a review

- paul

seeing as I posted this on Roomex about Flannerys Hotel Galway, Best Western, I might as well add it here. One other note, Best Western does price matching apparently on their official website, but it really wasn’t worth the hassle of going through them, when RoomEx was cheaper. You would have to pay the full price, and then request a refund explaining where you could have gotten a better price.

Review of Flannerys Hotel Galway

Keeping in mind it’s a 3 star hotel, I would say it was still below satisfactory. I was staying in one of the non renovated rooms, which really could have done with a sprucing up. The bathroom is from the 80’s or 70’s. The bed was comfortable, but the linen looks like it was past its best. In a hotel when the linen starts piling it should be thrown out.

Interestingly enough these guys give you a RTÉ Guide for your incredibly small TV. One positive is that there is free WiFi everywhere, not just in the lobby as advertised.

Breakfast is less than average. The buffet style is not really a buffet style, as someone puts together your Irish breakfast for you. I’m guessing this is a cost saving idea (rather than a safety issue). The fruit salad was no great shakes either, as it was mostly apple chopped up, no bananas, berries or anything else. Don’t attempt to drink the coffee, as it tasted either like it was instant coffee, or it had been standing in a metal pot for a 1/2 hour. A Nespresso machine, that costs about €0.30 per cup would go a LONG way. Thankfully on my 2nd morning I wasn’t even offered coffee, but sadly I missed out on the toast too. The selection of juices was nice (apple, orange, cranberry and pineapple), but they failed to offer water as a drink. The breads and few pastries weren’t tested.

Food at the restaurant wasn’t anything spectacular to report, and the attitude of one barman would lead you to think that you were putting him out when ordering drinks or meals. Prices for food were around the €12-€18 range, and simply not worth it for the level of service offered. I offered to pay my bill when ordering at the bar, but instead, I get interrupted while eating, and a bill is put on the table instead. I’m guessing the bar staff could do with a bit of re-training.

The verdict

Would I go back ? No, probably not. The price to service is certainly not something I was entirely happy with.

The world outside my window

- paul

Just back from 2½ weeks in Ireland, and while the weather was quite bad at times, i.e. lots of ice / cold / snow, it was still great to be back. I’m not going to comment on how the County Councils could run of of salt and grit, or fail to have adequate material dispersed on the roads, because, well it doesn’t happen every year.

Generally I am a fan of the “bad weather“, snow really makes the city streets quieter (it absorbs the sound), like the brightness in the mornings, and the feeling of a few flakes landing on your tongue as you walk down the street. I’m a big fan of the mountains and skiing and I’m really looking forward the season ahead. I’ve missed a bit of the season already, so I’m eager to hit the slopes.

I didn’t mean to ramble on, what I wanted to do was share the view from the office today :


now it’s time to get that snowboard waxed …