BI*CH FEST

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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:25 pm

Ok, I'm sitting at work, fuming about a situation that's been going on for about 3 weeks now.

Back story: I ride the bus every day to work, and home again. I usually am one of the first to get on the bus in the afternoon. One day (like I say,a bout 3 weeks ago, before Thanksgiving) I get on the bus and instead of the usual smell of stale cigarettes (yeah, there is "no smoking' on the bus, but our bus driver takes his break right before he picks us up, and he smokes like a chimney. Like we can't tell?? sheesh) Anyway, I digress. This particular day instead of cigarettes, it's a kind of a chemical smell. The driver didn't say anything about it so for all I knew it was some sort of cleaner, or maybe some spray he used to get rid of the cigarette smell. So, I sit, I take out my book and I read.

40 minutes later, I'm off the bus and waiting at the Post Office for my wife. Odd, another chemical smell in the Post Office, but I don't worry about it too much and we head home. As we get in the house, my wife says 'Geez, what's that smell?' - come to find out that someone must have spilled turpentine (or something similar) on my seat, didn't say a word and I sat in it for 40 minutes!! Even the Driver didn't say a word! (this is what really got to me, our old driver would have noticed, done something or at least warned everyone to stay away from that seat - not this old geezer!)

So I'm out a very nice down filled jacket worth about $350, (but I only paid $200), a $50 pair of dockers, a nice shirt and a very nice eel-skin wallet which my wife says cost her about $65. I can't afford to replace this stuff! (Oddly the eel-skin protected everything in my wallet and nothing came out with even a light smell of the turpentine! )

So, I call the bus station the next day. I speak to a customer rep person and he takes my statement. He agrees with me, commiserates and I hang up. A few days later I call to ask when I may hear from someone. He says the next week (right before Thanks giving) so I give them til after the holidays and then I call again.

So, now for the last 2 weeks I've been calling regularly, leaving messages and not getting anywhere. One person finally calls to tell me that the Head of Safety will be calling me the next day (he doesn't call for 2 days) And when he DOES call he says that the people in "settlements" will be calling me back the same day. THAT was 3 days ago.

Every time I call, no one is in, I have to leave a message. When I DO catch someone they tell me that they have to "do some research and get back to me" which they never do.

Normally, I'm all for calm voice and manner, but I've about had it, and I'm ready to start screaming. Since I have a 4 yr vocal degree (BA) I'm pretty much sure that they will hear me without benefit of telephone.....

Ok, just had to bi*ch a bit......

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:24 pm

Dig around and try to get the phone and mobile numbers of the customer servcies manager, operations manager and general manager. Starting with customer services call regularly between 8-10pm and 5-7am (if you're a light sleeper!) weekdays and everyfew hours during the weekend. Let them know if it's not resolved within 48 hours you'll be working your way up to the GM until you get a result.

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:26 pm

Amazing. Not 10 min after I finished this post, I call the last guy again. He says he was just getting ready to track down the 'settlement' people and find out why nothing has been done. I say ok, and am about to discuss it futher, when my cell rings, so I let him go. On the cell phone is the settlement people.

Ah, but even after all the questions, all I get is that she will send out a "letter" tomorrow. I may not get reimbursed for anything.

Baiting Guru Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 2922

Marvinator wrote:

I may not get reimbursed for anything.

cough*local newspapers*cough*local tv station*cough. Wink

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:32 pm

Marv, i hope you recover compensation for your loss. I feel your pain.

well not the exact pain but similar, well not even similar, but in general, oh hell

I find that for many companies, it is easier to ignore people in the hopes they (we) go away.

when my wife and i sold our first house, the mortgage holder kept additional monies from our sale profits, stating there was a penalty if we paid the mortgage off early, $3,500.00.

what they failed to agree with is that the penalty didn't apply if the property was sold. it took me 3 1/2 months to get my money. it got to the point that once they asked my name i would be mysteriously cut off or placed on hold for en eternity.

hope my story made you feel better.. Laughing

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:45 pm

^^^ What Donato said.

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:52 pm

you wouldnt happen to have any chemical burns would you? A nice red area that went away a few days later that you may be contacting a lawyer about? this sounds like the metro bus people around DC they are notorious for smoking while on break and are oblivious of people on the bus

I feel your pain, I have had similar things happen to a 280 dollar pair of Oakleys that my brother ruined and still refuses to pay back.

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:00 pm

You could use it in a bait though. To explain to a lad why his WU payment has been delayed.

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:16 pm

@Marv - I'm a frequent reader of The Consumerist and in this situation since you've tried your hardest to go through the proper channels they would suggest you launch what they call an "Executive Email Carpet Bomb."

It's amazing how quickly things can get going when the higher-ups in a company read a well-written letter from a consumer that is being jerked around. Very Happy

For reference I checked the website for our local bus system and they list the names of the full board of directors so hopefully yours has similar information.

I'm sorry to hear of your trouble and perhaps this information might help you receive satisfaction.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

Sounds horrible Marv, lucky you weren't asthmatic or sensitive to turps

Can i have a beatch too

Ok
I bought a tin of paint from a well known, big diy chain here in the UK
The finish was not what I expected, highly reflective and shiney instead of the soft sheen I wanted.
Took it back
Told thats how it dries.
Well the other tin I had used didnt dry like that so the door didnt match the woodwork
So I said i wasnt happy
They said it would have to be tested
Since then Ive heard nothing.
Been back to store, they took my contact details again
emailed customer services
4 weeks later got a sob story of how they've moved offices from Southampton to Glasgow
Still no refund, still no replacemant
and I'm out one tin of paint
grrrrrrr

and my dad has been in hospital, thought it was the beginning of the end.
He's got liver cancer but was wheezy, fluid on lungs etc
so they did a whole barrage of tests
lost his notes
Wanted to do more tests, scanned his abdomen
He eventually asked if they'd been in contact with his consultant ( at another hospital )
ah!
but theres a few more tests/procedures
"If it doesnt cure my wheeze I'm going home "
So he's out now

and it looks like my eldest has been dumped by her boyfriend
the man must be mad!
NUMPTY

thank you
I fell better now

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:13 am

My rant:

some background, I work third shift and it's killing me, esp. coming from a 3 day work-week. Our dumb-ass upper management idiot decided that he didn't like that we worked 3 days so changed us to 5 days citing 'business reasons.' We fought like hell to get it changed back or at least a better explanation which we didn't get until 5 months later when he FINALLY came clean and said it was his decision and tough it's not going back.

I've been watching the job postings and early November, I posted to a new position in the bank and finally got called for an interview last Friday. Really excited, and hope has been seen again! Then the interview goes REALLY REALLY REALLY WELL! Now I am super excited at the prospect of getting out of where I am now, back to days, actually having a life...etc. During the interview it seems like there is only 3 people going for this job too so my chances seem really good. Tuesday, I get an email that the position has been canceled. crying

The bank is in a hiring freeze and most open positions are gone. WHY?????????? Why couldn't they wait 2 more weeks or have the interviews 2 weeks earlier???? WHY??? crying