Medical Insurance Sucks
I have noticed an up tick recently in the number of my friends who are having medically necessary treatments or procedures declined for payment by insurance companies. It seams like the insurance companies are trying to save as much money now as they can before the new laws take affect.
Personally, I have begun asking my doctors office if they take my insurance, and how much or what percentage is covered for each service the doctors office provides. I am doing this, because the doctor might see me, or order tests with out thinking about my insurance coverage, and then I might end up in collections because I can’t pay the bill. Apparently, it’s up to me to be pro active if I want to stay out of medical bill debt.
Personally, I would have liked the health care bill to require the medical profession to make the costs the same for any test, procedure or treatment no matter where it takes place. If a CAT scan is ordered on my shoulder, the price should be the same all across the country. If a specific blood test is ordered by my doctor, the cost should be the same in a hospital or in a local private clinic. If I have 12 visits for my physical therapy for my broken leg, the cost should be the same no matter where I go for therapy.
I realize, that some people would call my idea the beginning of socialized medicine, and that others would argue that you should be able to go to the most expensive place you want if it means getting better care, but the system we have now is just not working. Many of the doctors we see also own a piece of the labs or therapy clinics we go to, so not only are they making money from our office visits, they are making money on the tests they order as well. If you’re a doctor, how cool is that.
If you have an opinion, tell us about it, let others know how you think, share your feelings. If you want to let your government officials know how you feel, then send them a letter through www.directcomplaint.com.
Who’s minding the store?
I was at Best Buy the other day, to get the serial number for an Apple computer that was stolen from my daughter’s car. She made the mistake of leaving the computer in her car over night, and in the big city, that’s a no no.
I gave the clerk at Best Buy the information he needed to look up my computer purchase, and in no time at all, he found it. I mean he found my purchase, but not the serial number. Apparently, the serial number of the computer is not kept by the store. According to the clerk, the serial number was only on the box the computer came in, or on the recovery disk that came with the computer.
I explained to the clerk, that the Boston PD wanted it to see if the computer is in any pawn shops, but he still insisted that Best Buy didn’t have the number. I explained to the clerk that I was sent into the store by the corporate customer service department, who told me that the serial number is only kept on file in the local stores, and not in the Best Buy corporate offices. According to the clerk, I was given wrong information by the corporate office. The bottom line is no serial number, no chance of getting back the computer.
I would have thought that in today’s world of tracking and accountability that the store would be more diligent in their record keeping, but apparently I was wrong. I would have thought that Apple Computer Company would have required Best Buy to keep the serial numbers of the computers sold, if for no other reason then for accounting and inventory control, but I was wrong again. I would have thought that the serial number would have been printed on the receipt, or the extended service plan for easy tracking, but I would still be wrong.
It seams to me that stores like Best Buy should be required to keep records of the serial numbers of big ticket items like computers if for no other reason, then to be able to prove that the computers sold did not come off of the back of some truck high jacked three months ago. The store was glad to sell me the computer, and take my money, but apparently, that is where their responsibility to me and to Apple Computer ends. The next time my daughter buys a new computer; I will have to insist that she keep the box.
If this is the new way of doing business, we will all end up with a store room full of empty boxes just to prove that every thing we own is really ours.
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Hotel Grand Openings can SAVE you MONEY!
There is nothing like going on a vacation or business trip, and being the first guests to stay in a new or re-furbished hotel. The smell of a new room, the look of a new lobby, a pool that is un-used, a tread-mill that needs to be broken in, and a staff that will do what ever it takes to make my stay as pleasant as possible. Yup, this is the life.
I think when ever I try to book a vacation or business travel in the future, I will always try and book it at a new hotel. Consider this, in a new hotel or motel if I have a complaint, it is most likely to be quickly resolved. The Management of the establishment is counting on my positive experience to help sell their product in the future. Even if the name of the hotel is well known nationally, it doesn’t matter if the new one in question has a bad reputation write from the beginning.
There is a good chance that booking at a new hotel will also get you showered with gifts and discount coupons you would otherwise not have a chance to receive. You might even be invited to participate in focus groups and receive additional rewards for rating and reviewing the hotel amenities and services. Who knows, you might just discover another way to travel.
Please tell us about any experiences you have had at new hotels, and if you have any problems, feel free to visit www.directcomplaint.com and post your thoughts on our consumer poster board.
Hotel Discounts Abound
According to many experts who track trends in the hotel, motel industry, room rates have dropped from nine to as much as twenty percent in the last year. Many hotels and motels are even offering amenities such as baby sitting services or spa treatments at substantially reduced rates to lure customers into their establishments.
A growing number of hotels are even offering packages that include off site activities such as skiing or water sports to entice us to stay with them even longer. Some hotels and motels are even teaming up with restaurants with in walking distance, and offering two for one breakfast, lunch, and dinner specials. Some of the larger hotels will offer you theater or theme park tickets as an enticement to get you to book with them.
Naturally, picking the place you want to visit is not always easy, but think about trying to go during the off season if possible, you will save even more money. Airlines are even offering better discounts on fly and stay packages, so be sure to check them out if your destination is too far to drive.
Pricing for specials can change from minute to minute, and the so called discount web sites don’t always have the best deals. I suggest that you use all available methods at your disposal to find the best prices. You might even call the hotel directly, and tell them what you found for the lowest price. You never know, they might just offer you a better deal.
Why use a travel agency, if you can do it yourself. Sure, the travel agency can do it all for you, but often, if you have the time to do it yourself, you will save money. If you are willing to share your space with others, you might try checking out youth hostels for something different. They are almost always cheaper, and they are a great way to spend time with other like minded people.
Tell us about the places you have gone, especially if you think it was a fantastic deal. If you have problems with a hotel or motel, visit www.directcomplaint.com, and use the Hotel /Motel complaint form in the Consumer Complaint Center.
Free Food In Your Room!
I just love it when I get into my hotel room, and the refrigerator is stocked with all kinds of goodies. There are so many things to choose from, I especially like the candy bars, and I like the idea of putting little nips in the refrigerator with in reach of small children. I wonder who thought of that great idea.
It’s too bad that the things I love to eat and occasionally drink cost so much money. Why don’t they clearly post the prices, I don’t like seeing an extra $1,000 appear on my credit card. In some hotels, they don’t even post the prices on the food and drink items, so we can really be surprised.
On the other hand, who wants to go out late at night for a box of cracker jacks, a bag of chips, a coke, or a bit of rum to go with the coke? That is what the hotel is counting on; most of the food consumbed is between 9:00 pm and 7:00 am. If I leave in the morning with out stopping at the check out desk, I can be assured that the extra charges will appear on my credit cards next statement.
This raises another question, what if the made decides to tie one on at my expense, how do I prove it. What if they have no money for lunch, and they eat all of the cheese and crackers. With room rates coming down because of the recession, hotels need to find other ways to make up the losses, but at whose expense.
I have an idea, why don’t they just eliminate the room refrigerators all together, or provide me with a key card to open the thing. At least that way, I will know when I am spending my money.
Hotel Complaints Can Be Resolved
Yuck! Hotel Cleanliness and what you can do!
Now that you have gotten your room key, you are ready to pick up your bags and relax in your comfortable, clean room before you begin your vacation, or go off to that important meeting that requires your attendance. Oops, there is a problem with the room, and it is making you a very un-happy camper.
The bathroom is not clean, the beds are not properly made, there is a big stain on the carpeting, or the room smells like their was an all night party in it. Any one of these reasons is enough to ask for another room, or a discount on the room you are presently in. Most people would do nothing because they are too embarrassed to speak up, or because they are in a hurry, and they don’t have the time to do anything about the condition of the room.
Here are a few things you can do that don’t require much time or effort on your part, but will usually get the problem resolved. If your room has a phone, use it. Call the front desk, and immediately tell them about the problem. Ask them how long it will take to get fixed, and let the desk know that you would like a dis-count on your room for the night. If it is late, and there is no maintenance available, request another room, and let the desk clerk know that you would like another room, and that you do not want to be charged anything for the night.
If the fix is a simple one, you should still ask for a discount of at least 25% off of your entire bill. If you need to, ask for the manager, and firmly but always politely state your case, and offer a resolution to your complaint. If your complaint involves something not in your room, like perhaps in the pool or exercise room, or in the children’s play area or dining room, you should speak up.
If the desk clerk or manager won’t help you, call your credit card company and put in a dispute for the charges on your card. You can also ask for the address of the corporate office, and let the manager know that you will be filing a complaint with customer relations.
If you really want to ramp up things, you can file a complaint via www.directcomplaint.com and use the Hotel Motel complaint form in the Consumer Complaint Center.
Making Hotel Reservations is Not Fun!
I can remember when booking a hotel for a vacation was as easy as calling a simple to remember 800 number, booking the accommodations, giving your credit card for a hold only, and that was it. These days, it’s not so easy to book a hotel, or even to figure out how to get the best price. As part of the new world of making reservations, we still have the 800 numbers, but now they have different rates for weekends, high volume dates, room sizes, children or no children, and an assortment of amenities. As if that’s not bad enough, travel agents have other rates, and on line “discount” web sites offer a hoist of so called discounts making it almost impossible to figure out where you can really find the best rates. I am beginning to think, that the industry wants us as consumers to feel confused so that we will just take any price that is offered to us, even if it is the highest rate the hotel offers. Telephone reservations still require a credit card, only now, they actually run the card first, and put a hold on the entire amount of your booking. Some hotels even charge your credit card a cancellation or change fee if you make changes with in five days of your stay.
Booking on line is even worse. Using your credit card on line to book hotel reservations is like giving your money away. The web sites that claim to have the lowest prices have very strict and limited cancellation policies that almost none of us ever read. They add on a bunch of additional charges for “processing, confirmation, taxes, user fees, and transaction fees”. By the time you add up all of the fees, your not really saving much money I have often found that one of the best ways to get a lower hotel price is to call the hotel directly. If it is a national or international chain, don’t use the 800 number, but go directly to the location where you want to stay. Use your smarts, look on line for the lowest price you can find, call the national reservations number to get a quote, and only after you do all of that should you call the local number. Tell them about the lowest price you found, and let them know about any memberships you have like AAA or AARP etc…
Unfortunately, booking a hotel reservation is like booking an airline ticket. I would bet that if you ask the other people standing on line with you at the check in desk, you would find that most if not all of you each paid a different price for the same accommodations on the same night. If you have problems with your hotel reservations or complaints about any hotel stay, check out www.directcomplaint.com and use the Hotel Motel Complaint Form in the consumer complaint center.
Tipping at a Restaurant
I have just finished my meal out at the restaurant, and I am ready for the check, or am I? I have to think for a moment, should I base the tip on the time of the meal, like breakfast, lunch or dinner, or simply on how good or bad the service was.
Here are a few simple suggestions for tipping I have always found useful.
It doesn’t matter the time of day, if the service was excellent, leave 20% for a tip. If the food was bad, and the service was still excellent, then leave 15%, and let the Waite staff know that the food was not to your likening. If the food and service were both just average, then leave 15%. If the food was just average, but the service was poor, only leave 10%, and lastly, if the service was really bad, even if the food was OK, leave a penny, and run out of the restaurant. In some restaurants, the Waite staff has been known to chase a person down the street demanding a better tip. Perhaps if they spent more time making sure that the customer was happy during the dining experience, they wouldn’t feel the need to go running after the patron(s) who for sure now will never go back to that restaurant again.
If I just order a drink at a bar, the minimum I will leave is 50 cents per drink, and the same goes for a cup of coffee. At a take out window or drive through, I do not leave a tip, but if I go into a fast food restaurant for a cup of coffee, or a slice of pizza, I will leave at least 50 cents, that is, if there is a tip cup on the counter.
The percentage of the tip is calculated by first subtracting the tax from the bill, and then leaving your tip based upon the percentage you feel is right. If you are with a group of people, and you are each paying for your own meal, or you are all just splitting the check, it is best to figure out the amount for the tip, and then divide the amount equally amongst each person paying the bill. Doing this, will not leave the person who is handling the money left with a higher amount to pay then anyone else. If it was all just a bad experience, then leave nothing, but it makes sense to also let the manager or owner know why you are not leaving any tip at all. At least that way, you are attempting to be informative, and not just rude.
Try to keep in mind, that the Wait staff works for very low wages, in most states, this means between two and three dollars per hour. The majority of their income is based upon the tips they take in during their shift. Many restaurants require the Wait staff to tip the bussing and or bar tending staff for helping them. If the manager or the owner of the establishment is the one serving you, it is not necessary or considered bad etiquette not to leave him or her tip.
Going out to eat should always be a pleasurable experience; it should not be about nickel or dimeing the people who do their best to satisfy our every need. All too often, I see elderly people stuffing food into their mouths, or even their bags, but when it comes to leaving a tip, they act like they are all suffering from memory loss. I wonder if once we turn 60 years old, we get tip dementia. Younger people are no better; they must be suffering from bad manners disease. I don’t expect a ten year old to leave a tip, but surely, a 21 year old should know the rules. I have a solution that will solve the problem of age related tipping disorder once and for all. I will suggest that restaurants only serve people between twenty five and fifty nine years old, and only if they carry the good tipping card issued by the National Tipping and Grooming Society.
Tell us, how do you feel about tipping? Have you ever stiffed your sever, are you cheep, or do you consider yourself to be one of the best tippers around?
Speak Up At The Restaurant!
Speak Up!
Whether you are going through the drive thru at Wendy’s or eating in a restaurant, there is a good chance the food will be served cold or you won’t get the food you ordered. However it was served to you, it was incorrect and should be corrected. As a waitress for more than 5 years I can admit this has happened to me naturally by accident, but I would do everything possible to correct it, and make sure the guest left satisfied. For the most part the mistake is made by the wait staff not remembering your order, but I feel that if a server does not write your order down they have mastered how to store it in their mind. If they do forgot when they are putting your order through the system or dropping it to the kitchen then they should politely go back to the table and apologize and ask the guest again. The waiting part for the food shouldn’t be too long, especially when you are really hungry, and if and when the food is delivered and does not look correct, SAY SOMETHING to the sever. Remember, you ordered it because you wanted it! If you don’t say anything how will the server know? Their servers not mind readers! If the restaurant is well run, the server should ask once the food is served is everything looks good. If the guest had ordered meat, the server should have the guest cut into it to make sure it was properly cooked to their liking. That goes without saying; the server should have a series of important questions when taking down the order. Such as, how would you like that cooked? , would you like butter for your baked potato? Or, would you like your salads before or with your meal? These questions can avoid the server running back and forth to the kitchen, and help you start enjoying your meal sooner rather than later.
We can’t always blame the server; the guest or the kitchen can mess up too. But, if the server expects you to leave a good tip and for you to want to return, then the server needs to go by the saying, “The customer is always right.” I know some guests I have had, did not speak soon enough, for instance when they say they are not happy with their meal after they have already eaten HALF OF IT! Come on now! In an incident like this, I would always notify the manager, whether the guest asked to speak with them or not!
I think every restaurants mission should be to make the guest feel 100% satisfied with their food and service. If you are not completely satisfied with the meal then the burden should be on the restaurant, as long as you bring it to their attention. If you continue to have the same problems at the same restaurant, don’t go back. You can warn other people not to go there as well, by posting your consumer review on DirectComplaint.com. On the Consumer poster board you can voice your opinion by rating the restaurant & and let others know what happened to you!
When you go out to dinner and your meal or even a drink is not perfect, be polite and explain to the server how they can fix the problem. Each restaurant trains their staff differently on how to properly correct the problem, so don’t expect them to be the same. If you feel the server is unaware of proper protocol, then ask to speak with a manager. Always remember everyone makes mistakes, and if you are patient good things will come your way. You never know, you might even get a free drink, or meal!
Peace n Love
Alicia
Treat Others they way you want to be treated.
Why is It, that once we are seated in many restaurants, it takes a long time for the Waite staff to introduce themselves, take our order, deliver our food or drinks, ask us if we need anything during our meal, clean the table, bring dessert, and give us the check. Could it be that the person is in another world, perhaps thinking about the boy friend or girl friend back home, or could it simply be that they don’t care about getting a good tip, or maybe the management of the restaurant doesn’t teach their staff how to treat the customers?
I don’t care if it is breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even just a light snack, a greasy spoon, pizza shop, or fine dining, once I am seated, I expect the Waite staff to show up at my table with in five minutes. If they are busy, they should have the courtesy to let me know, and apologize in advance for any inconvenience it might cause me. I expect the person to offer me a drink, bring water to the table, and tell me about the specials of the day, and to be able to answer any questions I or anyone in my company may have about the menu.
I expect the person to bring the food out hot, and to stop by the table several times to see if there is anything we need. If there is a problem with the food, I expect the entire staff to do what ever it takes to rectify the problem to my satisfaction, not to give me a hard time if I am un-happy with my food. I expect the manager to remove item(s) from the bill if I am not satisfied with the service or the food. Lastly, I always appreciate it when the server and or a manager thanks me for my patronage and wishes me a good day or night.
In today’s world of so many choices for places to eat out, I would hope that all restaurants would adopt these standards as part of their every day policy, but that would be asking for to much. I guess that the ones who don’t offer great food, or excellent service, will just have to be crossed of my list of places to eat in the future.
If you have any problems with a restaurant, tell us about it at www.directcomplaint.com and go to the Consumer Poster Board, or submit a complaint to the restaurant from our Consumer Complaint Center. If you have questions, please call 877-969-3463
