CLAIM DENIAL UPDATE
Collecting monies we’re due often seems unduly complicated. For example, I sometimes wonder if there’s a legitimate
rationale behind some claim rejections, or if a denial is merely the first step of an automatic
process deliberately designed to wear down a claimant’s will. Often
with a denial the claimant is told they may appeal as a next step. Sometimes even that appeal may be denied and
a further appeal may be necessary. This requires even more action which some
claimants may tire of expending their time and effort on, so they just don’t
bother following-up.
However, on general principle, I did appeal two denials when
I was awarded only a partial amount of a full claim I filed after a first
denial earlier this year as described in my June “Gift Card Saga” post.
UPDATED RECAP GIFT CARD SAGA RESOLUTION
1) I purchased $200
USPS insurance to cover several gift cards totaling $205; mailed to arrive
before Mother’s Day; never delivered, received, or redeemed by anyone.
2) I filed a claim in mid/late May for $55 – the
amount of two businesses that could not or would not void the balances on the
unredeemed cards and reissue replacements, unlike the other two businesses I had
contacted, so I didn’t file those amounts but did report what I had done.
3) June I received a
check for only $17.67 USPS claim settlement which I appealed.
4) July my appeal was
denied but was advised I could appeal further up chain of command which I did, asking for either the difference or an explanation of how only the partial amount I was
awarded had been determined.
5) Oct. I received a
check for the balance of my claim $37.33; no explanation.
Note my time and effort required because the full amount of my
claim wasn’t honored when first filed. I
might well have not pursued this due to the small amount when my life was so busy years
earlier before I retired because.....
-- I successfully had to make multiple phone calls, await call
backs over time, obtaining from two businesses transference of the full unused
card balances to new accounts; unsuccessfully doing so with other two cards due
to their systems.
-- Meanwhile, also unreimbursed was my time, energy, postage to
prepare the claim, copy required documentation.
-- Indirect
costs also were incurred for employee(s) processing the claim whose salaries
are paid for from my insurance and postage monies – perhaps this contributes to
postage rate increases.
I wonder what sort of experiences others may have had
claiming monies due them that they have been denied?
TRIBUTES -- TRAGEDY
Fall is trying to make an appearance here in Southern
California inland where I live. What
that means is our daytime highs are in the 80’s now. Some dry winds, referred to as Santa Ana’s, will be
blowing in from the desert east of us. I’d surely welcome some rain, but perhaps
later.
Lots of tributes in our Los Angeles area news to lives lost,
those injured, loved ones sorrow, stories
of ordinary people becoming heroes by exhibiting
extraordinary valor during the Las Vegas atrocity (see previous post.) So many folks attending the ill-fated Route
91 Harvest Festival were from Southern California.
I’m left to wonder
what measures, if any, will be taken by our Congress and this Administration to
address the stranglehold commercial gun interests have on our nation? Action is avoided under the guise of
protecting Second Amendment rights as the mindless killing continues in the U.S.
– which we experience in greater numbers than in most other nations whose
people also value life as well as freedom, but have addressed the gun issue, unlike the U.S.
Puerto Ricans continue to cope with life threatening
situations for so many without power, communications, water and food reportedly due to distribution problems inland on the island.
Our Prez’s visit there recently
and his behavior -- tossing token paper
towel rolls to residents which had a “let
them eat cake” quality – said and did little to cause me to think he had the slightest
bit of empathy, compassion,
understanding, or caring for these U.S. citizens dire situation. Island
residents are not eligible to vote there, so I couldn’t help wondering if this
had any bearing on what has seemed to be an attitude of not even a modicum of
concern for those in need ..... in addition to what some perceive as his disdain for those of some other cultures and people of little means?
ROUTE 66 CONVOY
Living near U.S. Route 66 which extends from Chicago, Illinois
to Los Angeles, California my attention was captured recently when I read a military
convoy (MVPA) would be travelling that “Mother Road” -- as author John
Steinbeck described this highway in his novel “The Grapes of Wrath” later made
into a movie.
That original Route 66 launched the nation’s first Federal
highway system in 1926 by the Bureau of Public Roads. Researching this Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) I learned:
"World War II caused a marked decline in civilian and
tourist traffic, but it stimulated new business along U.S. 66, when it acted as
a military transport corridor moving troops and supplies from one military
reservation to another. Motels saw an
increase in occupancy, as families of servicemen stationed at military bases
stayed for long stretches. But more
significantly, Route 66 facilitated perhaps the single greatest wartime
mobilization, as thousands of job seekers headed to California, Oregon and
Washington to work in defense plants.”
I recall my husband’s sometimes humorous stories about a
driving adventure he and a couple of his
buddies made from Ohio to Chicago to head west across the country on Route
66. Coincidentally, twenty plus years later he
and I would move to California to settle just north of that fabled highway (called
Foothill Blvd. here) and where I still live.
My husband said when they drove much
of the area into Los Angeles, citrus orchards abounded on both sides of the road
– primarily oranges, lemons – long since replaced with housing construction, strip
malls, businesses, burgeoning city populations, numerous nearby colleges and
universities.
This convoy description reports:
“Established in 1976,
the non-profit MVPA is dedicated to providing an international organization for
military vehicle enthusiasts, historians, preservationists and collectors
interested in the acquisition, restoration, preservation, safe operation and
public education of historic military transport.”
Among the key points of this 2,300 mile Convoy is this statement:
“No weapons (real or otherwise) will be allowed on Convoy
vehicles.”
The military convoy travelling Route 66 through our city
likely will pass through here Friday, October 13 following a “Rest Day” in Barstow, CA east
of here Thursday, October 12. Their next
stop Friday is expected to be In Irwindale, CA west of here before continuing
Saturday to their final destination in Santa Monica. Apparently there is no planned stop in my
city. I haven’t even read about or heard any
mention of their passing through here, so I’m curious to see what develops.
Talented jazz musician Nat King Cole accompanies himself on piano as he sings "Route 66"
c
