OT - Story: Not my kind of charge

Although we do not use credit and live on cash, I charge almost all
my purchases (and pay them off at the end of each month). This makes
the credit card companies crazy, but I do it for the frequent flyer
miles (enough for nearly three upper class tickets to London on
Virgin Atlantic) or the cash refund (5% at Costco on a promo deal).
When the paper statement comes in, I also download the online
statement, and keep track of our budget that way. I also catch
fraudulent charges instantly, and watch those guys like hawks. It's
a rare month where I don't find something that needs explanation,
especially since I buy almost everything online. (Many online
vendors must share credit card processing accounts, because often the
charge listed has not one thing to do with the place I bought from)

But this month, there was no mistake. I had a $50 charge from a
vendor whom I was absolutely sure had nothing to do with me. So, I
called American Express, and waited for the nice customer resistance
person to come on line. (I knew I was getting India from the
long-ish wait and all the clicking) Well trained employee that he
was, he started to read to me from his script, explaining that many
people make charges that they forget later on, and that I could save
us all some headaches by paying the darned thing and getting it over
with. I could barely contain my bad self until he was finished.
Finally, he asked which charge I was talking about.

"The third one from the bottom, for $50. See it?" I said. He
confirmed the name of the company, and started the spiel that I
probably had charged from these people as part of a New Year's
resolution.

Then I started to laugh in earnest, but quietly - no need to be rude.
No way was this my purchase. The fellow was so terribly polite and
sincere, I couldn't let him dangle on my hook any longer, even though
I really, really wanted to. (This was the most excitement I've had
all day)

"Look at the name of the company," I asked. "It's a membership to an
extreme sports rock climbing site, and there's no way I bought that."

God (or more likely Vishnu from the accent) knows he tried - "What
about a New Year's resolution? You might have signed up to lose
weight. Many people do, you know."

Finally, I couldn't hold back the laughter any longer. "Sorry, that
cannot possibly be mine. I broke my neck about three years ago, and
am partially paralyzed. I cannot even think about rock climbing or
extreme sports. Books or beads - you bet, they're mine. But rock
climbing? No way."

The guy stammered and practically fell all over himself, trying to
apologize. He finally realized that I was not at all offended,
simply laughing at the absurdity of it all. He then removed the
charge with no further action necessary on my part. It's obvious
that one isn't mine. :-)

But if there's one next month for rappelling gear, I'm screwed.

Kathy N-V (breathing is an aerobic sport)

ROTFLPMP

KATHY

After I stopped laughing - it suddenly occurred to me....

I know who did it !!!!!

It's the evil, nefarious insurance company!
they wanted to slip that one through on your charge
then come in next month and cancel your disability benefits,
with that charge as proof that you have NO INJURY!!!

- "LOOK, see! WE GOT HER!!!! - she's out ROCK CLIMBING!"

LOL
Hey - stop doing that - will ya?

Cheryl


"The third one from the bottom, for $50. See it?" I said. He
confirmed the name of the company, and started the spiel that I
probably had charged from these people as part of a New Year's
resolution.
"Look at the name of the company," I asked. "It's a membership to an

extreme sports rock climbing site, and there's no way I bought
that......"
Kathy N-V (breathing is an aerobic sport)

Kathy N-V wrote:


But if there's one next month for rappelling gear, I'm screwed.

Kathy N-V (breathing is an aerobic sport)

hehehe lol Kathy... thanks for the laugh tonight. HA! Poor guy, good
thing it was you. Someone else might not have had such a good sense of
humor... and of the absurd!!!



--
Polly
---
don't spook my groove...
icq 13968113
http://saxoncreek.com/

In article .com,
says...

ROTFLPMP

KATHY

After I stopped laughing - it suddenly occurred to me....

I know who did it !!!!!

It's the evil, nefarious insurance company!
they wanted to slip that one through on your charge
then come in next month and cancel your disability benefits,
with that charge as proof that you have NO INJURY!!!

- "LOOK, see! WE GOT HER!!!! - she's out ROCK CLIMBING!"

The sad thing is, that's *not* an implausible explanation.

Celine

--
Handmade jewelry at http://www.rubylane.com/shops/starcat
"Only the powers of evil claim that doing good is boring."
-- Diane Duane, _Nightfall at Algemron_

On Sat, 5 Mar 2005 20:07:29 -0500, Lee S. Billings wrote
(in message et):

In article .com,
says...

It's the evil, nefarious insurance company!
they wanted to slip that one through on your charge
then come in next month and cancel your disability benefits,
with that charge as proof that you have NO INJURY!!!

- "LOOK, see! WE GOT HER!!!! - she's out ROCK CLIMBING!"

The sad thing is, that's *not* an implausible explanation.

Especially since some of my "claim representatives" have commented on
how seldom I leave the house. (how would they know that?) Several
of the meetings I've had with them make me feel sure that they've had
people watching what I do over the years.

I see television programs where people on disability supposedly are
climbing mountains, working as lumberjacks and water-skiing; all
while on the dole. Having been through this ordeal, I simply can't
see how this could be the case. There is so much that has to be
proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, and so many hurdles before getting
a dime

The effort and documentation required for a legitimate claim is so
great that I can't fathom anyone would want to put through a bogus
claim, even if they knew they could get away with it. It's much
easier to work than it is to collect disability benefits, and I'd be
back at work in a moment if I were able to do so. I strongly suspect
that most people feel the way that I do, and only scam the system in
the rarest of cases.

Kathy N-V (had to document that I need help getting dressed)

Kathy N-V wrote:

The effort and documentation required for a legitimate claim is so
great that I can't fathom anyone would want to put through a bogus
claim, even if they knew they could get away with it. It's much
easier to work than it is to collect disability benefits, and I'd be
back at work in a moment if I were able to do so. I strongly suspect
that most people feel the way that I do, and only scam the system in
the rarest of cases.

Kathy N-V (had to document that I need help getting dressed)

and tying shoes, and cooking ad naseum.

What was amazing to me is that with all the reams of doctor's (and
specialist's) reports and mountains of 'evidence' I had to see several
of their 'doctors'. And these so called doctors were a joke. They went
over basic information (real basic - height, weight etc), asked a (very)
few questions about the COPD and ortho injury and that was it. I am sure
they were paid an outrageous amount of money and verified/validated
nothing.


--
Polly
---
don't spook my groove...
icq 13968113
http://saxoncreek.com/

Kathy N-V wrote:
On Sat, 5 Mar 2005 20:07:29 -0500, Lee S. Billings wrote
(in message et):


In article .com,
says...

It's the evil, nefarious insurance company!
they wanted to slip that one through on your charge
then come in next month and cancel your disability benefits,
with that charge as proof that you have NO INJURY!!!

- "LOOK, see! WE GOT HER!!!! - she's out ROCK CLIMBING!"

The sad thing is, that's *not* an implausible explanation.

I thought that too. So sad that the world is such that we think like that.

Especially since some of my "claim representatives" have commented on
how seldom I leave the house. (how would they know that?) Several
of the meetings I've had with them make me feel sure that they've had
people watching what I do over the years.

I see television programs where people on disability supposedly are
climbing mountains, working as lumberjacks and water-skiing; all
while on the dole. Having been through this ordeal, I simply can't
see how this could be the case. There is so much that has to be
proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, and so many hurdles before getting
a dime

The effort and documentation required for a legitimate claim is so
great that I can't fathom anyone would want to put through a bogus
claim, even if they knew they could get away with it. It's much
easier to work than it is to collect disability benefits, and I'd be
back at work in a moment if I were able to do so. I strongly suspect
that most people feel the way that I do, and only scam the system in
the rarest of cases.

Coming out of Lurkdom to say I agree with every word. I simply cannot
understand how benefits cheats manage it - I put every ounce of energy I
have (and a lot I don't) into trying to convince them of my needs and
they basically respond denying it all without even sending a doctor to
examine me (after the initial claim several years ago). Then the housing
people say why are my food bills so low? Well, maybe it's something to
do with the fact that I told the disability people I can't cook but they
claim I can and refuse to give me enough money for me to have a carer!
Grrr...

Rant over, it's safe to come out now

I had to see several
of their 'doctors'. And these so called doctors were a joke. They went
over basic information (real basic - height, weight etc), asked a
(very)
few questions about the COPD and ortho injury and that was it. I am
sure
they were paid an outrageous amount of money and verified/validated
nothing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I got sent to "their" doctors too. They confirmed my private docs
diagnosis and agreed that I could not work. Then they told me that the
way things ran in the system, I probably wouldn't get SSD yet. They
also told me to keep appealing and that I would get it eventually. I
finally did when I got to see a Judge, and had a lawyer at my side.

I don't know how people fake crap and the benefits? I thought it was a
hellish process, and a lengthy one. Maybe if your are not really sick
then you can take it all in stride and get money. I don't get it...

Stephanie wrote:


I don't know how people fake crap and the benefits? I thought it was a
hellish process, and a lengthy one. Maybe if your are not really sick
then you can take it all in stride and get money. I don't get it...

The case I know of, the patient's doctor wrote a letter, she had to talk
to the SS office twice, and the payments started coming in. She never
saw "their" doctor! Bizarre...

--
The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized
LC in Sunny So Cal
Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

The case I know of, the patient's doctor wrote a letter, she had to
talk
to the SS office twice, and the payments started coming in. She never
saw "their" doctor! Bizarre...

That's how my process worked. (But it *was* 17+ years ago.) I really,
truly, cannot work -- I am not a faker -- but still! The process these
days is enough to make you so ill you die! SHEESH.