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SRT Technician Receives Eagle Award

SRT Technician Receives Eagle Award

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SRT Communications Combination Technician Aaron Stenvold recently received an Eagle Award for the Month of May from the Minot Area Chamber EDC. The Eagle Award recognizes excellence in customer service and the recipients must be nominated to receive this award.
 

The customer who nominated Aaron had been experiencing internet issues, and was impressed by how professional and friendly he was. The nominator stated, “Aaron replaced my non-working IT equipment, allowing reconnection to the internet. He was very knowledgeable and polite. He knew what was wrong and how to repair it, and was personable while working. Nice man!”

Congratulations, Aaron, for this well-deserved recognition, and thank you for taking great care of our customers!

TUTORIAL/FAQ

TUTORIAL/FAQ

Short Tutorial/FAQ – Is It Safe to Use Mobile Payment Apps Like Venmo


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Question: Many people I know use mobile payment apps. Do I need to worry about security?

Answer: Mobile technology and peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle make it easy to split a dinner bill with friends or send money to a family member. But being able to transfer funds quickly also comes with risks, including potentially getting scammed or having your financial information stolen. That’s why it’s important to be careful when using these or other P2P apps.

The Federal Trade Commission warns of scams where someone impersonates a customer service rep from your payment service. The scammer says there’s something wrong with your account and asks you to transfer money or give them your account information to fix the problem.

Recognizing this type of scam can help you avoid becoming a victim. In addition, take these precautions:
  • Only use these apps with friends or family you trust.
  • Set up extra security. Be sure to opt-in and enable PIN or fingerprint confirmation.
  • Make sure to get all recipient details correct. App servicers don’t issue refunds for money sent to incorrect recipients.
  • Do NOT use peer-to-peer payments for business purposes.
  • Learn the app’s customer service contact information and procedures before using the app.
  • Keep your app updated. Older versions are more susceptible to hackers.
For even more security tips, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s consumer information page.

SRT Annual Meeting is Thursday, June 20

SRT Annual Meeting is Thursday, June 20

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MINOT, N.D. – SRT Communications will hold its annual meeting and director election on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at the North Dakota State Fair Center in Minot.

Registration and voting begin at 5:30 p.m. and officially close at 7:00 p.m. A catered dinner will be served 5:30-7:00 p.m. and live entertainment featuring Little Chicago Funk will begin at 6:00 p.m.

The business meeting, which starts at 7:00 p.m., will include a report to the members, financial updates, and election results.

Candidates for election are the following:

District 1:   Cheryl Overby from Mohall
District 2:   Dennis Erber from Glenburn, Incumbent
District 3:   Bruce Degenstein from Voltaire
                       Faith Fahnestock from Towner/Willow City
                       Shawn Vedaa from Voltaire
District 4:   Stacey Diehl from Minot, Incumbent
                       Deven Mantz from Minot

Election results will also be posted on srt.com/annualmeeting.

Members are encouraged to bring the postcard they received in the mail to be entered to win prizes.

CUSTOMER ALERT

CUSTOMER ALERT

Stay Alert – Rental Scams Can Ruin Your Party

Watch Out For Charity Scams If you need to rent party supplies such as chairs, decorations, or a bouncy house, be cautious when searching for vendors. BBB Scam Tracker continues to receive reports of party hosts being tricked by rentals that never materialize.

Here’s how the scam typically works: The “vendor” promises to reserve your rental for the date you need it — if you pay a deposit first. They may also require you to fill out a contact form with personal details. However, the party supplies don’t arrive on the specified date. The “vendor” may claim they’ve had an emergency and can’t deliver on their promise. When you ask for your money back, they’ll disappear completely and prevent you from contacting them by blocking you on social media or deleting their account.

To avoid rental scams, the BBB recommends the following:
  • Do your research before you rent. Take a good look at the rental company’s website and ensure it has accurate contact information. Then, read consumer reviews about the company on third-party websites, such as BBB.org. Also, search the business name plus the word “scam” to ensure you don’t find any reports of fraudulent business dealings.

  • Think twice when renting from listings only advertised on social media. Be suspicious if you find party rentals on social media but can’t find the company’s website or confirm their contact information anywhere else. If the rental business only contacts you and facilitates the rental transaction through social media and refuses to talk on the phone or in person, that’s another red flag.

  • Be careful with your personal details. You may need to fill out a contract with personal information, but make sure you’re dealing with a legitimate, professional company before handing over sensitive information.

  • Carefully review your contract. It’s common to have a contract in place when you order rentals from a company. Ensure that your delivery date and time are accurate, as well as the final cost and payment details. Save a copy of the contract that is signed and dated by both you and the company.

  • Consider how the company is asking you to provide payment. Oftentimes, scammers will ask you to provide payment through a digital wallet app or a wire transfer. Don’t ever hand over money or your payment information to a stranger or someone you haven’t met. If you do pay, remember that it’s much easier to dispute fraudulent charges using your credit card. If you pay with a debit card, digital wallet, or cash, you may not get your money back if you find out you were scammed.
If you spot a party rental scam, report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker to help build consumer awareness.

TUTORIAL/FAQ

TUTORIAL/FAQ

Short Tutorial/FAQ – Are More Seniors Using Tech?


Download Graphics to View Question: Is the gap closing in tech usage between young people and senior citizens?

Answer: Yes, the use of the internet and consumer tech among older Americans is rising, closing the gap between them and younger adults.

Fully 95% of adults in the U.S. reported using the internet as of last year, up from 90% in 2019, according to a study from the Pew Research Center. Internet use is unsurprisingly almost universal among younger age groups, but that’s also the case for the 50-64 age group and increasingly so for adults ages 65 and older.

Internet usage remained constant among the 50-64 bracket in 2023 relative to 2021 (96% each), though up from 88% in 2019. However, it’s the oldest age group that has made the biggest strides in internet usage: Fully 88% in the latest Pew Research Center survey said they use the internet, up markedly from 75% in 2021 and 73% in 2019.

AARP’s 2023 Tech Trends and Adults 50+ shows that over the past four years, older adults have made technology an integral part of their lives, with 78% using it frequently to connect with loved ones — 94% text, 88% email, 74% are on social media, and 67% video chat. The survey also finds 86% own a smartphone, 70% have a smart TV, 59% use a tablet, 31% have a home assistant, 28% own a wearable device, and 24% have a smart home-tech device.