What's Happening at BRH! Sears and City Bank Won't Talk - What's Happening When Customers Must Correct Mistakes? And Other Stuff Too!

We're all dashing through the days now, as Dec ember leads on to Christmas, right? Well, ok, we may be dashing, but it may not have anything to do with the joy of holidays... So, what's happening here at Book Reader's Heaven? Well the business world has entered to take time away, at least from me...and my reading...

Last month, I spent time praising my doctor for my foot surgery. Everything went fine and I went back yesterday for another checkup, also with clearance... In the meantime, Humana, who carries my insurance, notified me that the bills were not being paid and if I disagreed, I should file an appeal...Cause of non-payment, "Wrong Code..." Now really, if a clerical error has been made, what does that have to do with the patient...Next I get the same thing for the anesthesiologist...again, wrong code... When I got my first letter, I went to my doctor's office the same day and was told they had received a copy and she was handling it... Yesterday, I learned that Humana had yet to return her calls...

Routine business issues, right? Wrong... You see, the CYA principle applies...Humana tells me I have so many days to appeal...Wait a minute! What am I appealing? Oh yes, Humana wasn't happy with the choice of medical codes chosen by the billing office, so I have now become involved because "they" are representing me???

And then there is Sears Versus City Bank...
Me? I bought a refrigerator from Sears. I told the salesman I would going to pay for the refrigerator. The man immediately said that if I had a Sears card I could get a percent decrease--even if I paid it off... Long story short, I accepted.

Sears sent me a bill; I paid it off... 
Sears Master Charge--City Bank sent me a bill... I didn't initially realize it was a different account... City Bank sends me a late fee letter. Sears sends me a credit for my payment...

Finally "I" realized that there were two different accounts established for the same purchase. I called to point out the error...to both companies...

What happened? Why, the customer is now charged with the responsibility for correcting an obvious clerical error. Has to be since City Bank won't work with Sears to get what they consider their money...Yikes! Can you believe this garbage... Yet, I'm the one being harassed because Sears somehow posted one purchase to two different accounts!

Soooo, I have to ask, does this kind of stuff happen to you? Seriously, let me know... I know I'm not the only one that finds bureaucracy in today's business world...just...crazy! At one point yesterday when I was in the store, I was told this was for my protection to prevent fraud, etc., etc.  I said, so we honest people who pay our bills have to go through this hassle to prevent criminals doing their work... Excuse me, doesn't that mean that the criminals are in control of the corporations???

Thanks for letting me explain where my time has been taken--trying to get up from a chair, where I'm reading, set it aside to get to a phone call, only to see that it is the same number but has hung up, sure does disrupt my concentration! Finally, I did get one call, explained I couldn't hear, so hold on while I turn the TV down...and she was gone...but at least I now knew that it had been City Bank harassing me! Honestly, I have the bill that was credited for paying for the refrigerator, the check would be available from my bank...Yet, Sears and City Bank won't talk so I'm placed in the middle...to "prove" I'm the person who foolishly bought at refrigerator from Sears and foolishly allowed a salesman to offer a discount for putting it on credit... through both Sears and City Bank!! Now one has the money and the other wants it! DUH!!

~~~

So how has your holidays begun.  We postponed Thanksgiving since my brother-in-law was schedule for surgery and my great-nephew had developed pneumonia...The surgery was scheduled for today, but was again postponed... How are emergency surgeries decided, don't you wonder???

Steve, my new friend and helper is building a new fence coming into my cabin, but weather forces sporadic work...This will be a return to the type of fence that was originally there but had deteriorated over the years...I'm so enjoying seeing the Cabin come back to "life" with his help! My great-nephew took pictures when he was here recently so I'll share them when I get copies...

When a middle-aged clinical psychologist
begins working with a client describing
bizarre mystical experiences, his own world
changes radically, taking him on a
breathtaking journey through divine
consciousness into the revolutionary
spirituality of aging.
~~~

Also, thanks to those helping me by providing poetry to use during the time I'm reading long books. My last one was over 500 pages...Great book, but that length bogs me down.  I'm now finishing Breakthrough, which will be accompanied by a discussion with the author, John C. Robinson. Quite a fascinating book so watch for it!

Several Christmas stories will be coming...for children and adults alike...Only read one of them so far, but I think you'll be happy with the books. A couple of other children's books looks promising as well...

And, of course, lots of books on my TBR list. I wish I could figure out how to say "NO" and really mean it... All I can do is say I can't read any faster and do a good job of reviewing--my style. I wanted to confirm that I can no longer, if ever again, do a first-come, first-serve priority system. Priority still goes to print books--easiest and fastest way to spend my time. Second priority has gone to length of books, while still keeping my weekly blogging going. Please remember that my blog is highest priority and I could keep it going forever just with my personal library of unread books. 

Book Readers Heaven has a fairly consistent readership, this month 19,196, with the average running 18-20,000. Germany came in with 170 and Japan with 105 hits this month. That audience normally changes based upon the settings of the various books. Picked up a few Twitter fans from South Africa this month with a delightful mystery... and I've just signed on to Visit Italy with the children's series I've been following. A suggestion to writers who set their books out of the U.S. or in a particular State--if you know somebody from those locations, send them a link reflecting the setting of your book as being spotlighted...I've noticed that hits from specific countries always reflect this type of "key word" activities... And remember, if you enjoyed my article, then others might too...so send out the link to your book often in a tweet, on Tumbler, Facebook...all those that are top social network sites...Your friends and potential readers will have a better chance to respond if they send out multiple postings of your review(s).

I do want to help new authors and all those who seek reviews, but it's just me here. I would say I'll return any book that I've not yet got to...but we all know that a copy, electronically, stays right here. So I can only promise that I will never pass on any ebook to others, ever... 

This one's my preference, especially since I can't get out in Snow!

And this one is for those who enjoy snow fun...or memories of the past!

 Hope your time leading through holidays goes better than mine has been...but no matter what, when you get frustrated... Go find a book, sit down and have a cup of tea...and sink deep into the worlds of escape provided to you from my favorite writer--the one I'm reading right now! Yours too? You'll soon be feeling able to get back to the worries of the world...

What Happened to Proper Telephone Etiquette??? A Rant...

Image by Pete Prodoehl via FlickrI don't know about you, but when I was in school, and later in business, I was taught how to properly handle a business call...


Now with so many forms of electronic messaging, it is getting worse...but, the business call is still the one that puts me on the edge...


First, I admit...the frustration level  for Mindless Bureaucracy within business is extremely low for me...Why? Because I worked for over 40 years, faced job burnout during that period...and...well, that's enough of that for now...


Here's what normally happens these days:

Caller: Hello, may I speak to Glenda  - This normally comes from a woman, very friendly, like, I'm just calling to talk... yeah...

...sometimes Glenda Bixler or Mrs. Bixler (of course, no caller checks your marital status, that takes time and interest in the one you are calling...and, oh my, using Ms. just doesn't work for most men...

Immediately, I am on alert...I go into my own professional mode...

My Response: Who is Calling please?

This is Graham Smyth... Sometimes, but not always a company name is given...all of this very fast or mumbled and you know that the individual has not been properly trained...and too often not able to be understood, seemingly irritated that I dare ask who was calling???

If I do not understand, I ask for repetition until I definitely know who it is...If I'm not able to understand the caller...you got it, I hang up! 

My Response: Yes? (If I'm willing to accept the call)


Is this Glenda Bixler?


Seriously, folks, you've already wasted my time...if I was not the individual talking, I would have already said "Just a moment." Right? Why must I confirm that you are talking to me, especially since you would have never told me your name/company if I hadn't asked??? Am I right?


And this is just the opening interactions...most times thereafter it gets worse!


One key point for me: If you have called my home, it is YOUR responsibility to create the business connection. Most people answer home phones with "hello" so it is important that the business caller identify him/herself immediately!

~~~

Yes, I'm on that list of "Do Not Call" for solicitation!


Nowadays, this is what companies are doing to get around that... (after the same opening as above, of course)


I'm from Brand X Company or XYZ Charitable Organization...


Of course, I have an immediate response prepared, "I'm not interested."


Oh, we're not selling anything (or asking for money), we'd like to ask you some research questions!


You know, I recently had a bank officer tell me that in order to NOT receive his calls, I had to sign up for Privacy! Gee, I thought I already had privacy...especially in my home... But you should realize that if you are doing any form of business with a company, then they have TOTAL access to you...

...............................

Why doesn't this happen anymore?


Hello, this is Jane Smith, from America's Best Credit Card Services. I'd like to speak to Glenda Bixler...


My Response: Speaking


Ms. Bixler, I need to discuss a question with your account, do you have time to talk now?




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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smartcard2.png

Ok, here's my rant: I just got a call from a credit card company. I had not activated the card that was sent to me. I told the individual calling that I had also not activated any previous cards (and in fact I had cancelled years ago - or maybe not, because - I might have expected action on the email I would have sent!

Sooooo, today, after explaining I had not activated any of the cards for years, I was told with irritation "Well, you still have an account!" My immediate reaction was, "Well cancel it!"

"I can't...you must call..." Later, as she was getting nasty... "I cannot transfer your call..."

I have given up stating when I've sent an email to their online customer service group... I use email to have a record of my own actions. I have, unfortunately, learned that customer service is, for the most part, nonexistent...It is so bad generally that you are pleasantly SURPRISED when somebody efficiently and courteously handles your contact...

What Mindless Bureaucracy! In large companies it is deplorably worse. What happened to customer service...or "the customer is always right"...?

Not These Days in the U.S.!

If the customer does not initiate every single action, then...hey, that is the customer's fault... Just because I was calling you regarding activating your card, that does not mean I should be able to ensure your account has really been cancelled...and we are such an important company that we don't want to take the time to transfer your call... it's better for you to call direct so if our lines are busy...then you have to keep calling back and I won't be bothered with dealing with somebody else's job...

~~~~~

http://www.flickr.com/photos/o5com/
5126345115/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Recently, I decided to purchase/start  a "diet program." optimistically thinking this would (1) save me shopping time since the food would be delivered... (2) save me money, since the huge cost (with promotional discount seemed to be about what I purchased monthly anyhow... and (3) it would save me daily time since food would be readily available and easily "nuked"...


Several things happened, I had signed up online, choosing email as my preferred contact mode (remember I like to have a record of my contact) and I optimistically signed up for auto-delivery...Reader Alert, be fearful of seemingly good deals...)


The product was to be delivered in two separate shipments because I had selected to have frozen entrees at a higher cost...so I decided to wait until I had the complete order before beginning. In the meantime I started reading the packet. One item was not in the box, so I immediately sent an email... (You guessed it, days later a return email told me to call...)


As I continued to read, I realized, contrary to what I thought it would be) that most of the entrees did not include vegetables...Nearly all vegetables and fruit had to be purchased in addition to what the program provided - so quick recalculation, I would be spending MORE per month for food...


Then I got the call that the frozen food was to be delivered. I decided to begin...and faithfully carried the little booklet  to complete as I sat down for breakfast of tea and a muffin...(you can do this online, which would be even more time-consuming!) That's when I realized that I was expected to eat 6 times a day! Had I not chose this program, thinking it would save prep time???


Now, I'm a single woman as you all know. Buying fruit and vegetables for one is very expensive--you rarely can consume what you purchase without it going bad first! So I had started to purchase Bistro salads...they are generally fresh, have a small size dressing measured out, a little chopped ham or egg, or other items...a very good choice, by the way...


Anyway, the book indicated your should eat this or that for one meal, versus the next, versus the next... So if I ate a salad as above, I really should have been eating the protein (meat) with breakfast, for instance...Beginning to get the picture? You got it...by the time that day was over I had spent that entire day trying to keep track and follow and divide food out into six slots of the day! Needless to say this program, which was preset and might work for many people...would NOT save me time and would drive me crazy (I do know myself!)...


At the end of the day when I opened the last (6th) selection, I chose popcorn...It was stale... Indeed 90% or more if you don't choose to pay for the frozen choices (which, by the way, you had no ability to choose) of the food is boxed or canned. Some is quite good; others not...


There was one other issue for me. Having a month's food was a lot more than I had planned for storage, or to say it better, I have very little storage space where I live and trying to find some place to stash a month's supply was difficult if I didn't want to just leave it in the box and shove it in a corner or sit on top of my dining table....


By the end of the first day...I knew this was not going to work for me...Not only did I not save money and time, I was forced into more time consumption than ever before...


Now...first...do you think I had, first, thought about going into a program such as this...and, do you think I had valid reasons for immediately deciding that the program would not work for me? I do, so if you don't, I'd like to hear and talk about it...


Because, you wouldn't believe what I had to go through to get OUT of the program! Want to know more?










Seriously folks...am I exaggerating? Do I expect too much in relation to how I am treated as a customer/consumer? Am I the one with the problem...or...






This is a "Wild Card" posting! Tell me what you think!