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.
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.
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?
The Collections Run Around
Have you ever paid off a bill to a creditor, or to a collections agency, only to have two or three or for or more collections agencies call you demanding payment for the same bill? Even worse, have you ever truthfully insisted that you already paid the bill, but you never saved the canceled checks, or proof of payment?
When you owe money to a creditor or business, and you send in the money just before the last deadline date, it’s often too late. It can take the business up to ten days to record your payment, and by then your account has been referred out to a collections agency. That’s where your problems begin. The original creditor quite often, fails to notify the collections agency of the payment, and when you contact the original creditor, they will tell you it is now out of their hands, and that you must talk to the collections agency. The collections agency will tell you that they will contact the original creditor for verification, but they don’t really bother.
If the first collections company can’t collect on a bill you have already paid, it will eventually get sent to a second agency, and the paid bill just keeps moving further down the line. Now, because of the failure of the original creditor to do their job responsibly and collections agencies that won’t lift the phone or fax to help you because there is no money involved, your credit is slipping further down the credit score hill to the mud puddle at the bottom.
I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for you to keep copies of all of your payments, for several years. This includes all of your money order receipts and bank checks. You should also demand a letter from the original creditor, or collections agency showing that the account has been paid off and is now closed.
Don’t trust the creditor or collections agency to notify the credit bureaus that you have paid off the account. Contact the credit agencies yourself, and send them each a copy of the letter. At www.directcomplaint.com you can do this for free by going to our free services link to each of the credit bureaus.
If a collections agency takes you to court over the payment that you have made, and you have proof, let them. This might give you grounds to sue them for damages later.
If you are not the assertive type, or if you just need help, visit www.directcomplaint.com or call 877-969-3463 for assistance.
How Bill Collectors Get Paid
In most collections companies, the collectors are paid in several different ways. The collector usually receives a base salary, between $9.00 and $20 dollars per hour. Then the collector usually receives a commission of one to three percent of all or part of the money they bring in on a monthly basis. Some companies will even offer their employees a bonus if the collector reaches a pre-set goal, or the entire office reaches their minimum monthly quota set by management.
Most collectors, are required to make at least 125 to as many as 200 calls out a day. Most collection agencies now use an automated dialer system that calls the debtor, and brings up the file on the computer screen. Usually, before the “debtor” is sent a letter or called, the collection agency has already pulled the credit report, employment history, and validated the most up to date address and phone numbers available via their national data bases, and industry designed search engines. The pre verification process, or “skip tracing” is designed to give the collector all the information available about you before they make that first call to your home or place of work.
Some collections agencies only service accounts in their own state, and have their own in-house legal department for the cases that end up going to court. Interstate collections agencies often retain attorneys licensed in each state where collections are taking place. Unfortunately, many of the attorneys who work for, or represent collections agencies show up in court with very little or in-accurate information provided to them from the collections agency. Often, the attorney doesn’t even have the authorization to offer you a settlement or workable payment plan. It’s really a big game, the attorneys get paid from $20 to $50 for each case called before the court, but they usually can’t even help resolve the collection complaint. This is more a tactic designed to scare the debtor because they are in a legal environment surrounded by people in suits. Most debtors stand a better chance of getting a settlement or low payment plan if they go before the judge or magistrate, so don’t be scared.
There are generally two types of collectors, and two types of collections agencies. There are agencies and collectors who believe in aggressively attacking and verbally abusing the debtors into a state of fear in order to get the money as quickly as possible. If you are ever faced with a collector like this, report them and their company to your states Attorney Generals office, or to the Federal Trade Commission. If you can, record the conversations. Most agencies are however beginning to use a more gentle kinder softer approach to get you to agree to pay off your “bad debt”. This is partly because states and the federal government are both clamping down on agencies who conduct bad practices and because collections agencies are finely realizing that being nice and more understanding actually does pay off.
No one wants to ever get a call or letter from a collections agency, but it will inevitably happen to most of us at least once. Collections agencies are slowly realizing that just like any other call center or internet based form of business, friendly responsible reliable customer service is what brings in the big bucks.
As a consumer, even faced with a collections company sending you nasty letters, or making friendly courtesy calls to your home or work, you do have options, and the power is still in your hands. Use it.
For more information, www.directcomplaint.com or call 877-969-3463, or e-mail us at support@directcomplaint.com
Don’t let collection agencies scare you!
I hate it when collection agencies call people and make threats, or offer payment plans that people can’t possibly keep. All too often, the collection call or letter will put fear and fright into a persons mind.
The fact is, collections agencies are suppose to adhere to specific federal and state standards, (FDCPA) Fair Dept Collections Practices Act established by the federal government, but many of them use tactics that go way beyond what the laws allow. Often, when an agency can not collect from you, the account is given to another more aggressive agency that will stop at almost nothing to get your money. In some cases, the agency calling you is a scam. They get your information from credit reports, or boxes of collection agency reports improperly discarded.
Here are a few suggestions I recommend when you are first contacted by a collection agency.
Keep an accurate record of the agency name, the callers name and ID number, and the time and date of the call or each letter you receive.
If you don’t believe the bill is yours, send them a letter or e-mail requesting all of their supporting documentation, including original credit applications if applicable. This is not only your write, but a legal requirement if requested. Remember to keep copies of any letters or e-mails you send to the agency.
If you don’t want to be called at home or at work, send them a letter, e-mail or fax to let them know. If you tell the agency in righting, they have to stop the calling.
Never, and I mean never give anyone your Social Security number, date of birth, or banking information. Ask the caller what they have for information, and only verify the accuracy. Do not correct the information if it is incorrect, just politely tell the collector it’s not accurate, but don’t ever correct it for them. Scam artists will often use the information YOU provide to gain access to your credit or banking information.
If the letter or especially the caller is threatening or rude, contact the original creditor, and file a complaint about their collection practices.
Don’t panic if they threaten or begin legal action. If you don’t owe the money, can’t make the payments they offer you, or even if the bill is not yours, and you can prove it, you stand a much better chance going in front of a judge or clerk magistrate.
If you are on a fixed income, such as Social Security, veteran’s benefits, or public assistance, offer to send the agency proof of your limited income. Federal law and the laws of some states prohibit collection agencies from using certain public or government assistance as a form of repayment.
Lastly, if you have already made payments to the original creditor, or another collection agency, offer to send proof of your payments, but only after you verify that the company is a legitimate collection agency. To do this, you can check with your states Attorney Generals office, or your states consumer protection agency.
If you need help, or an advocate to help you, you can call us at 877-969-3463, or log on to www.directcomplaint.com to fill out a Collections Complaint form in our Consumer Complaint Center, or send us an e-mail at www.support@directcomplaint.com
As a consumer, even when it comes to collections, the power is in your hands, use it.
Experiment at the gym, learn more about yourself.
We all have our own schedules, routines and ways of working out at the gym. I can't help but to notice the people who are there the same time I go, doing the SAME things everyday.
It's great that they are working out and doing what they do to stay healthy, but on the other hand-switch it up! I can see how some gyms elaborate equipment and extensive class list can be overwhelming, where do you start?
Experiment with everything, that's what I'm doing. I never thought I would LOVE Yoga so much, I never thought I would have to leave Kickboxing halfway through the class. But, even though the class might not feel comfortable, don't give up & try again. When you are experimenting, you are learning more about yourself, your limits and what you need to improve.
Your body will tell you what it likes and doesn't like.
Break away from the few machines you are familiar with and when reading the machines instructions isn't clear, ask a staff member to help you, that's why they get paid.
Your gym generally has dumbbells, resistance bands and exercise balls. Learn to start integrating weights into your workout. This will help you burn more calories, even after your workout.
Then, there is always the pool, racket ball or basket ball court. So many options!
Although the gym may only offer exercising indoors, other resources like fitness magazines have new tips every month on broadening your weight training and mat exercises, clip the articles out and bring them with you.
We all have different personalities& lifestyles,
what type of exercises are right for you?
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For more tips on how to make your membership pay off-take a look Here
