"Another Wednesday...Customer Disservice 24-7..."

Wednesday, mid week, "over the hump day", commenced with my regular morning "thanks" and "family tree meditation"...another beautiful south Florida day...


The night before a review of my personal credit card statement revealed a charge of $19.95 for a Credit Bureau inquiry.  As I didn't recall making such an inquiry, I checked online to find a telephone number for the company.  There was none...just a web page e-mail. I called my credit card company.  They said their transaction information was that it was an authorization to bill my card $19.95 daily!  They said it sounded fraudulent, and I was given a contact number for the merchant with offices in California.  When I called, I was asked if I had authorized a Mr. Panesh in India to make these charges?  I had not even heard of the company!  I asked the representative why their company hadn't been suspicious of such an unusual series?   After ten minutes on hold, a manager told me that my credit card was being credited for the charges, and that I should cancel the card (which I did next, while asking why they hadn't notified me, a long-term customer, of the suspicious charges?)!


I was then transferred from the personal card to the business card "customer service" division.    When I had purchased three years in advance at my health club three months prior, my monthly automatic card debit was supposed to be canceled.  The monthly statements revealed that this hadn't been done despite frequent reminders to the local management...the corporate computerized billing department didn't seem capable of processing  this cancellation...so I canceled the debit with my credit card provider!  They offered to credit the debits for the recent months and address the issue with the club themselves...

As I approached my home for lunch, I noticed two local water and sewer utility trucks in my driveway and one in my front yard.   I approached and asked the trucks to be moved so that I could drive to my garage, and I was signaled to drive on the grass to pass them..."But my irrigation sprinkler heads will be crushed!  And what are you doing anyway?"  "We are here to replace the storm sewer black cast iron grate at no additional cost to you."  As I passed I noticed three men on their knees cutting the 24 by 36 inch perfectly good grate into hand-size pieces.  When I went upstairs to look out I saw what looked like a rusted grate in one of the truck beds. "They must have taken that rusted grate from another yard, I assumed."  After an hour they all left and I went outside to see a 24 x 18 inch (one half the storm grate size) rusted grate replacing one half of the black non-rusted grate!  Imagine how good I felt to have the damaged replacement of nothing originally broken,  provided at no extra cost to me?


I opened my mail to notice that I had been billed for two co-payments to a doctor's office because on the first visit I couldn't be given a complete report of the testing because the computer system was down!  I also had a bill from my structural engineer for their mailings,that are not reimbursable by my clients!


My agent called to relate that no private company would provide interior contents insurance for my mother for her condominium, because a shower pipe had burst in her "party wall" two years before. If you receive a settlement payment on a claim, you are now put on a computerized do not insure master list, that is referenced by all providers!  Insurance companies have been so historically profitable because they collect unreasonable premiums and limit their pay out liability by either refusing to issue a policy, or putting so many "riders" on it, that nothing is really covered!


And these were only a few of the absurdities experienced in one day....

"Contents Homeowners Insurance"

Another rip-off...

My mother's cost for her limited contents Homeowners Insurance renewal rate went up from $1,100 to $1,485 this year.  Since she lives in a condominium, her building "shell" is insured under a master policy that is covered by her quarterly maintenance payment to the Homeowners Association.  The interior policy is supposed to cover damage from fire, plumbing leaks, and wind for her 1,400 square foot two bedroom/two bath unit.  The maximum damage payment is $65,000.  The rate is "discounted" due to the hurricane shutter system that she installed on her window openings.

She mailed a check on Tuesday for the full payment.  The following Tuesday she received a letter in the mail that informed her that her policy was canceled for non-payment!  Numerous calls to the company revealed that on Sunday at midnight the company's computer system sent  out the notification letter (with no previous warning or call even though she has been a long-term customer!)

A few more calls determined that her policy would not be reinstated because she had made two claims for plumbing leaks damage during the last five years!  This company that holds the condominium master policy, has the monopoly on interior policies.   Since no other company would offer a policy she was directed to the State of Florida's established insurance provider for those who cannot find private insurance.  They offered the same coverage for a rate of $2,300 with  $500 wind and fire deductibles and a plumbing coverage exclusion!  What a "rip-off"! 

This is another example that our current world is out of control!

"Modern Accounting..."

A few nights ago, I went to my credit union's automatic teller machine (ATM) to withdrawal $40 in cash.  I noticed that the machine had been replaced with a new one with different graphics..."Insert your card...Press one for English, two for Spanish...Insert your pin number..."

At the completion of the transaction the $40 cash came out along with a receipt.  I usually would toss the receipt, but instead I looked at it..."You have subtracted $43...Your balance is $7,765."  I didn't remember hearing that the credit union was imposing fees for automatic withdrawals and I didn't remember having that much money in that account.  When I got home, I checked my register, and after deducting the $43 I showed a balance of $765!

The following morning I stopped by the Credit union.  "You again...what did we do wrong now?"  "When I used the ATM last night, I noticed that that it was a new machine, it charged me a $3 transaction fee, and that's OK if it is adding $7,000 to my balance!"  "We replaced the machine so there should be no problems with it, and with one that meets the new Federal Guidelines of having to ask first if you understand English, and meets the American Disabilities Act requirements.  We charge non-premium members a $1.50 transaction fee, not $3, and you have a Premium account so there should be no charge.  I'll have to inquire with the Miami home office about your balance addition."

Minutes later, there was a consultation online with the assistant manager to determine that with my card, my transaction had been processed with another member's account!  My online records showed the correct withdrawal of $40 and the correct balance.  The things that make you say huummmm...

"Summer Palm Beach County Dining Specials..."

Summer (Off-Season) in Palm Beach County, Florida is a time for its full-time residents to enjoy special restaurant offerings...

Testa's in Palm Beach continues its seven entree choices three-course and beverage  $15.95 4-6pm "Sunset Specials".  The eggplant appetizer and the salmon entree are delicious.  They've added business six breakfasts Monday thru Friday for $8.95 with coffee or tea.  The hungry man offering includes two eggs, two slices of bacon, two sausages, pancakes, potatoes and toast!

The Waterway Cafe on the Intracoastal in Palm Beach Gardens continues its all-day $6 menu; two for one cocktails from 4-7 (with sliced prime rib and bq sandwiches free on Fridays); and added the "Roll-Back To 1996 Menu Pricing" with seven selections fro $10 to the lobster dinner for $13!

Morton's Steakhouse and Palm Beach steakhouse have their great happy hour $5 bar menus.  So does Brio Tuscan Grill from 4-6pm and 9pm to closing with its $3.95 menu (including the best cheeseburger in the region!).

Newly opened La Scaletta in Palm Beach Gardens has all you can eat pasta and pizza for $5!

Not discounted, but highly recommended is Palm Beach's Matteo's Garden Cafe, with the best eggplant I've ever had!

I'll add to the list as time allows...

Check the "Palm Beach Post" Wednesdays and Fridays for published discounts and ENJOY...