It’s Annoying ~ Short ~ UPS Frustration

Johannah3 Comments

Short Posts ~ a snipet of the longer ones!

Commercial vs. Residential

This has always been a “sticky” issue when shipping  with UPS.  How they “determine” these categories, I believe, is by the zip codes.

UPS charges more for residential and an additional amount now for rural.  Commercial establishments no matter where they are located get the best pricing.

Lately they have had to “physically” determine if a previously listed commercial establishment (and even if the address verifies commercial in their software) is an actual commercial establishment.  Say what?UPS-truck

Yes, you heard it right.  The National Association of  XYZ – right there on K St. NW – somehow since last month could have turned into a residential location.  I almost laughed myself silly when I heard this.  However, that  address and several others which are obvious to those who live here in the DC area, as definately commercial addresses, also  have had to be physically determined.  The representative I talked to said an actual UPS representative had to go out and verify that the location was indeed commercial before I could get a credit for this billing error.  I really couldn’t believe this excuse for not changing the rate to the correct one, it was the silliest one I heard to date — but “until verified” the charges could not be changed.

It’s bologna folks –  they want you to go away and just pay whatever they charged you in the first place even if it’s wrong!  I wonder if they provide the Customer Service reps with a list of 100 excuses to give customers who call in needing an adjustment to their charges?  I have heard some really doozies in my 25 years shipping with them. Can’t wait to hear the next one!

FYI ~ There is currently a class action lawsuit alleging wrongful charges by UPS for oversized/overweight packages.  I can verify they have made my packages larger or heavier than they were many times.  About time someone stepped up to try and fix that issue.

Remember this is only my opinion based on my personal experience with UPS.

It’s Annoying: Automated Attendants

Johannah1 Comment

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been frustrated by this.

How many times have you called only to be told by a machine the phones are staffed between certain hours  —  and those hours make it almost impossible for you to reach them?  I then love it when they hang on up you and don’t even give you an option to leave a message. “I’m sorry we’re closed, call back later.” Clunk.

Have you experienced the automated attendant who for some reason just doesn’t understand anything you say or any number you press as a response?  “I am sorry we did not get a response, please push 1 to continue.”  And you are yelling into the phone… “I am pushing one, you stupid machine.” Clunk.Automated Attendants

Gone through the entire menu system and never being able to pick any number or option that gets you where you need to go?   And no other way to contact them?

Have you finally found how to get to a real representative, only to find out they are busy and your expected wait time is more than you can spend waiting for them?

How about when you find out there isn’t any real person to take any calls?  Have you been directed to customer service on line 3 and then been told you “are important” but we are “busy” and you need to leave your message.  And you do, and they NEVER get un-busy enough to call you back. Read more “It’s Annoying: Automated Attendants”

It’s Annoying: Prescription Manipulation

Johannah8 Comments

Today I am writing about one issue I have with my insurance company.  You might know them, the one with the high rates, large deductibles and copayments.

Did you know insurance companies can totally deny your claim for any reason?  What I want to know is at what point did we (the consumer, the customer, the client) allow them to deny medicines. Shouldn’t they just have to suck it up and pay if it’s prescribed and we are on a plan with them (especially if we’ve been on it long term and it works?)  Shouldn’t the highest tier pay for any medications we need?  It used to — things have changed.

My allergy medication was “denied” by my insurance company.  I have taken this specific medication since about 1990.  This medication which is old (first generation antihistimine) and no longer produced by any of the top pharmaceutical companies, was the one that I relied on daily to keep me from gasping for breath.    I have gone from needing an inhaler every few minutes to actually not using one and I credit this antihistime with that magical power.

Prescription Pills

The current manufacturer of this antihistime (who I had to find on my own) and who currently produces it obviously doesn’t discount it enough for the insurance company, or they chose not to use them.  But does that really matter when the insurance company doesn’t accept the fact that I need that particular one in the first place?

Forget that it works excellently for me, forget that it keeps my allergies and asthma under total control —  it doesn’t matter at all.  The insurance company says the newer over the counter allergy meds would work and therefore, if I insist on having this particular one, I need to pay for it myself.  Even a letter by my doctor to the insurance company indicating that I had tried others without the same result did not convince them.

Recently a change in their drug formulations chart (the ones they approve and at what level of copayment) said they now were classifying it in the third tier.  My initial joy at seeing it on their list (since in the past they have flatly denied it all together) wasn’t justified.   My new copayment structure along with it being on the third tier, now makes the “copayment”  higher than the actual cost of the medicine.   Go figure!  Read more “It’s Annoying: Prescription Manipulation”

It’s Annoying ~ Speed and Red Light Camera’s

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The first thing I want to say about these to be crystal clear — these aren’t about anything but revenue.  The revenue is for the owners of the camera and for the towns/states/municipalities that use them.  This revenue is no small amount; we are talking multiple millions per year.

If that wasn’t the case, the municipalities that use these cameras would care if there was an actual violation and who actually committed it. But they don’t, pure and simple.  They just want the vehicle owner to pay the fine. They just want the money.

Most times you will not win, if you try, as they assume guilt. Hey, they have the picture, right? And even if the camera is broken, you are still guilty.  And even if you were in Iraq or on the moon, your car was the one we have on camera and you are guilty.

In my opinion, and everything I write is my opinion, I think that stinks.  Why? Because I often let others use my personal and company vehicles. I often leave my keys in case someone needs to use my vehicle, or move it, etc. Sure I expect them to drive it gently, and to obey the law.  I believe most times they do.

Annoying Example One: Traffic Light Street Line

There is a seemingly new interpretation regarding the red light cameras in many states.  I guess their revenues weren’t as high as they expected.  It seems now, that if your tire touches the white line – you are guilty of running a red light and they are sending tickets for same*. If your car stopped, but if your tire went over the white line you can and most likely will be found guilty of this violation at any traffic signal equipped with these cameras.  My advice then, based on that is run the damn light and get the ticket legitimately.  The hell with safety, and doing what’s right by trying to stop – if you are going to get the ticket anyway, and have to pay the fine, with little to no hope of contesting it and it’s “just that close” run the damn light.

 

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It’s Annoying: Contracts & eBay

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I am not a novice when it comes to eBay or contracts.  I have used both.  I had sold items on their site for years.  My business account has over 4100 positive feedbacks.

They have a great business model.  It provided for a triple WIN situation.  eBay gets fees for listing and selling (win), sellers were able to rotate inventory and make sales(win), and the buyer got a product at a great price (win).

eBay, however, has grown and changed.  In my opinion and everything I write is my own opinion, if you are still selling on eBay there might be a few things you didn’t read very carefully when they presented you with the “changes” to your agreement.  Contracts & eBayThat contract is the reason we don’t sell on eBay any longer, and I’ll get to them in a minute.

Am I the only one who believes you need to read and be able to agree to everything in every contract or agreement you sign.  If you don’t agree, you don’t move forward. You should never just think… well, that will never happen – and just sign (although a sales person may tell you so).  Or just sign because you don’t want to take the time to read the contact.  Please remember you are bound legally by what you sign/agree to, and when someone (anyone) presents you with a contract – the terms and conditions of the contract are in their best interest, not yours.

Read more “It’s Annoying: Contracts & eBay”