When's the last time you were screwed by someone, or some company, and how did you handle it?

A few months ago I went to get my birth certificate so I could get a valid ID. Vital records here has these kiosks you use to request a birth certificate. These machines also take your credit card after you fill out the info and it is accepted. The machine said it couldn’t read my card and to go to the cashiers window. Luckily I had the 23.50 in cash on me so I paid at the window.

But it turns out the machine did actually take the money out of my bank account. So I paid $23.50 X 2 for a birth certificate.

I was tempted to call my bank and try to get a chargeback against the state of Oregon. Then I thought that might be problematic so I got drunk.

The local flea market mall I sell at gave us 22 days to be completely moved out. Mind you I had 30’ x 8’ of fixtures and small items. At considerable expense to me, I was moved out in 2 weeks. 2 weeks from that, there was still no accounting of items sold, or a check. I called the owner and she said I’d get it when she chose to give it, hung up on me and refused all calls. I called her husband later in the day and told him that as we have no local BBB, the Chamber of Commerce recommended I file with the AG, and that the AG wanted a copy of the market’s initial lease agreement. All true.
I got a check for $722 and a statement the next day.

I take no prisoners when I believe there is a distinct line between right and wrong and I’m on the side of right.

Last year. I had verbal agreements with 2 customers for my service. When they quit paying me, I threatened them with my collection agent.

I’ll do whatever affirmative things I can do to protect myself,
and then learn to accept it.
Who knows, life sometimes can be hard 0.0.

I’m contemplating quitting my part time job after once again this morning, the same person who tried to create drama Christmas Eve, pulled the same crap today.

Last November AT&T cut off my mom’s phone, Internet and TV. She’s had the same AT&T account for over 45 years and never paid late.

Somebody applied for service and used Mom’s address in error. They were turned down for credit reasons and AT&T cut the cord.

They cut Mom’s service the day before Thanksgiving, so we couldn’t talk to customer service for 5 days.

Then they said we’d have to open a new account. New phone number, new email address and they could maybe send someone out in 10 to 14 days.

Holy crap, I was pissed. After 5 days calling for an hour or more each day, I finally reached someone who grasped the situation.

Service was turned on in a few hours. She got a couple of months’ free service, and the best package available to new subscribers.

I actually had to call AT&T today for her. I played the “do you know what you did to my elderly mom!” card. In a nice way, I know how to play nice and evoke sympathy.

I’m gonna miss having that story to hang over their heads.

Nobody fucks with me. Can’t relate.

Not so much screwed as annoyed. I order from Sephora in the US because they carry cosmetics and products I can’t get here at very good prices. Sephora won’t allow us (Australians) to buy online and get goods delivered directly from the US. We have to use a shipping agent. Still, it’s cheaper to buy some things that way than to shop here. Sephora have opened a store here in Sydney but the prices are again over-inflated. So a blusher that’s US$26 online in the US, is AU$48 here. The over-inflated price thing is standard here. For instance, I wanted a particular serum that costs £16 in the UK and AU$99 here. So even with postage costs, it can be cheaper to buy from overseas stores. I wanted to buy a keyboard that will cost me $80 more here than in the US and that’s after I take into account shipping costs.

So I placed an order with Sephora’s online US site the other day, and they cancelled it and said because I’m using an address connected to other people, they won’t ship to that address. I’ve used that address before. It’s a US address provided by Australia Post (an Australian government organisation). That’s how shipping agents work! Apparently I could be acting illegally or fraudulently? Wtf? So if I can’t use a shipping agent (which costs me money), I can’t buy from Sephora. The Sydney store doesn’t do online shopping even at their inflated prices.

I’m a bit pissed off to say the least.

OMG, @jaytkay, I shouldn’t say this, but I would have secretly been in hog heaven. There’s nothing I do better than bending corporate ineptitude to my will. I start as a searchlight, and end as a laser. Friends have literally told me that I should be a professional go-between. Good for you!

And you never have to stop holding it over their heads…all you have to say is, “Have you reviewed my mother’s account history?” Worth a shot.

Tips:
* If you’re mad, never curse.
* Never speak above what you can describe as, ‘A loud voice.’
* Stay on your message. Write your goal on a pad in front of you if necessary. Listen to the response, narrowly apply your goal, and either move forward or say, “Yes, but, how does this…?”