Dealing with any bureaucracy the lesson is to always have paper proof!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
My problem with...
I highly recommend you do not rent property from Crye-Leike in Clarksville. My roommate and I were screwed out of half of our rent deposit. We made a verbal agreement with our property manager ANGIE SEXTON in order to vacate the residence early and have our last months rent prorated. That was back on Dec 12th, it is now Feb 11th and we are just now finding out that we will not receive the other half. She admitted in a 3way call to her supervisors that she learned a life lesson using OUR mula!
Walmart and Verizon Screwed My Family
I work at Walmart. My job is to sell cell phones to people. Walmart is a bureaucracy because there is a chain of command. They actually assign numbers to workers as well. Your number level determineshow much you make. I am a level 5 in the cell phone department. Department managers are level 6's, and it goes up from there within the store. The next level past department managaers are zone managers, assistant managers, co-managers, store manager, district managers, and at the top are the children of Sam Walton.
For the most part, the connection center(cell phone department) is an easy job. I get paid more than other people who work constanly in the store. All I do is stand in a kiosk and wait. At most, I had five customers in a day. However, there was a situation that caused me to just get angry with the bureacracy sytem of Walmart and Verizon.
Verizon has another system. I receive help from a guy who is the verizon represenative. Back in August 2008 my family came in as a customer. They set up a new line with verizon. At the time, verizon had a promotion going on. It was set up a new line, receive a $50wlamart gift certificate. They had some fine print stuff. Such as must have line for a month before receiving the certificate. The reason for this is b/c verzon has a 30 day return policy. So they did not want someoene to get the gift certificate for free. Then they said it may take 4-8 weeks to receive the promotional item.
Three months pass and my family did not receive a certificate at all. I txt message my verizon rep and he never answered back. My deprtment manager tried to get intouch with him and he never responded. One day he came into the store and I broght up the situation to him. He acted as if he was annoyed. He was bothered that I txt him for something lilke that. He told me he reponded to my txt already. I told him he did not. I showed him my received messages from him. I received none. So then he goes through his phone to prove to me that he sent me a txt. He never found it.
Then he tells me he will get on to the problem and fix it. A month pass, nothing. I see him again and he tells me that it is silly I bring this up. I am angry we did not get the $50. This amount may not be much to corporate world such as walmart or verizon who are dealing with millions and possibly billions, but for average people like my family, $50 is alot. This amount could feed my family for two days.
So my verizon rep, name drew gives me a number to call. i call the number. It was the rebate department for verizon. They said they did not handle this situation because the phone was purchased at walmart. They recomend me to speak with walmart. I spoke with my managers and they said that was verizon's reponsibility. I spoke with Drew and he told me to talk to customer service. Customer service told me they have no record of any such promotion. They then told me to speak with Drew. Drew told me there was nothing he could and and said to tell the customer to call customer service at verizon.
THE CUSTOMERS WAS MY FAMILY!
If i could not resolve the situation for them, how the hell are they suppose to do it? I am the one who is suppose to "specialize" in this area.
So basically Walmart and Verizon have collected money from my family. They Have alot b/c of the monthly phone bills. Walmart keeps any comission I make. I get none. I feel that my family have been screwed out of $50 which is alot of money for us, and not much to them.
The case is still pending. I will not give up.
-Nhatdanh
For the most part, the connection center(cell phone department) is an easy job. I get paid more than other people who work constanly in the store. All I do is stand in a kiosk and wait. At most, I had five customers in a day. However, there was a situation that caused me to just get angry with the bureacracy sytem of Walmart and Verizon.
Verizon has another system. I receive help from a guy who is the verizon represenative. Back in August 2008 my family came in as a customer. They set up a new line with verizon. At the time, verizon had a promotion going on. It was set up a new line, receive a $50wlamart gift certificate. They had some fine print stuff. Such as must have line for a month before receiving the certificate. The reason for this is b/c verzon has a 30 day return policy. So they did not want someoene to get the gift certificate for free. Then they said it may take 4-8 weeks to receive the promotional item.
Three months pass and my family did not receive a certificate at all. I txt message my verizon rep and he never answered back. My deprtment manager tried to get intouch with him and he never responded. One day he came into the store and I broght up the situation to him. He acted as if he was annoyed. He was bothered that I txt him for something lilke that. He told me he reponded to my txt already. I told him he did not. I showed him my received messages from him. I received none. So then he goes through his phone to prove to me that he sent me a txt. He never found it.
Then he tells me he will get on to the problem and fix it. A month pass, nothing. I see him again and he tells me that it is silly I bring this up. I am angry we did not get the $50. This amount may not be much to corporate world such as walmart or verizon who are dealing with millions and possibly billions, but for average people like my family, $50 is alot. This amount could feed my family for two days.
So my verizon rep, name drew gives me a number to call. i call the number. It was the rebate department for verizon. They said they did not handle this situation because the phone was purchased at walmart. They recomend me to speak with walmart. I spoke with my managers and they said that was verizon's reponsibility. I spoke with Drew and he told me to talk to customer service. Customer service told me they have no record of any such promotion. They then told me to speak with Drew. Drew told me there was nothing he could and and said to tell the customer to call customer service at verizon.
THE CUSTOMERS WAS MY FAMILY!
If i could not resolve the situation for them, how the hell are they suppose to do it? I am the one who is suppose to "specialize" in this area.
So basically Walmart and Verizon have collected money from my family. They Have alot b/c of the monthly phone bills. Walmart keeps any comission I make. I get none. I feel that my family have been screwed out of $50 which is alot of money for us, and not much to them.
The case is still pending. I will not give up.
-Nhatdanh
Federal Student Aid
When I started going to college I was 17 my mother had just passed away and my father did not talk to me. As if that was not bad enough, I was not able to receive federal student aid. Until you are 24 years old you are considered a dependent of your parents. You can bypass this by proving you are estranged or by getting married.
Proving you are estranged is a difficult task. It usually involves using some kind of legal document. This can range from you having been a ward of the state or some legal document saying that your parent(s) gave up on you.
In my case I could prove my father was the only living parent, but I could not prove that I was ‘estranged.’ If I had had enough money I could have gotten a lawyer and had an investigation done, but obviously I could not afford the cost.
After I finally found the person I needed to talk to at the financial aid office at UCLA, I was there constantly. Every time I came in the counselor needed some other document of information. Then when I would get a packet up to send to the board they would turn it down. I did convince a lawyer who I had known for many years to write a notarized memo on my behalf. That was the final piece of documentation I could come up with.
In the end without a court document there was nothing anyone was willing to do for me except show me how to take out private loans. I did learn an important lesson when dealing with bureaucracy, and that is to always have your paperwork in order, and try to learn as much about the system as possible before you enter. If at all possible known names of the people who have any connection to what you are trying to accomplish.
This is actually made much easier in the Army. Knowing how to write an Army Memorandum makes life so much easier when you are trying to get something done, because if you know how to write the memo you can just give it to your superior to sign, and they are always more willing to sign something if you have already done the paperwork.
Proving you are estranged is a difficult task. It usually involves using some kind of legal document. This can range from you having been a ward of the state or some legal document saying that your parent(s) gave up on you.
In my case I could prove my father was the only living parent, but I could not prove that I was ‘estranged.’ If I had had enough money I could have gotten a lawyer and had an investigation done, but obviously I could not afford the cost.
After I finally found the person I needed to talk to at the financial aid office at UCLA, I was there constantly. Every time I came in the counselor needed some other document of information. Then when I would get a packet up to send to the board they would turn it down. I did convince a lawyer who I had known for many years to write a notarized memo on my behalf. That was the final piece of documentation I could come up with.
In the end without a court document there was nothing anyone was willing to do for me except show me how to take out private loans. I did learn an important lesson when dealing with bureaucracy, and that is to always have your paperwork in order, and try to learn as much about the system as possible before you enter. If at all possible known names of the people who have any connection to what you are trying to accomplish.
This is actually made much easier in the Army. Knowing how to write an Army Memorandum makes life so much easier when you are trying to get something done, because if you know how to write the memo you can just give it to your superior to sign, and they are always more willing to sign something if you have already done the paperwork.
Beauracratic Hang Ups
Have you ever had a loved one in the hospital and since you are not their legal guardian you are not allowed in certain areas? Well, my younger brother had major surgery over the summer of 2008 to have a tumor removed from his right calf. I didn't arrive with my parents that day because i had a doctor's appointment of my own so when i arrived late i had to try and persuade the women at the desk to let me in to see my brother. This was probably the only time i really have had problems with the "system" that i really got angry because although we dont have the same last name and i didnt come at the same time, he is still my brother.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
CHARLES '' DON-JUAN '' HUNTER ( Who and What im about)
I'm a young man looking toward his future. Putting God first in my life.My Life is forever in his hands. No amount of money or anything will take him away. I found out through him all things are possible. With God I can allow him to order my steps. Ive come to find out that he is the real love, all love. With him I know being me and knowing me is all that matters. I know people talk and with him I don't care what they say. I'm a reborn child of God. No one or nothing can break me down. So in order to know me, you have to know what I stand for and what side of the battle field I stand on. So with Love this is my message and page. I may not be the strongest man, I may not be the softest man. I know I'm the most outgoing, I know I'm not the shyest. I may not ask for everything, I may only ask for a few things. I may not agree, I may not disagree. Not as tall as you, Not as short as you. I may not be the typical black man, The decisions and actions I choose to do is what makes me. they told me when I decided to walk with the Lord, and take him in completely, everything would change. YES I CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE CHANGE IS IN ME! Have you ever noticed when something wonderful happens in your life, you expect the world to be just as excited or care as much as you do? It’s like what happens to you has to matter to the rest of the population. When we love and it is not returned we get angry and frustrated because “thas not how it’s supposed to go!” Guess what! When something happens to me, good or bad, it is my experience, and it doesn’t matter how the world receives it. When I love, I am content in knowing that while it did not grow in others, IT GREW IN ME. And the people to come don’t have to worry being blamed for another person’s action or inaction. I know — because of wisdom — it’s not their burden to carry. Don’t get me wrong, we are still human and we are in this experience until our transition. I am certainly more conscious of what I am doing because while love was growing in me for someone who did not want to or was not able to love me back, so was forgiveness and compassion and the divine art of “letting go!” How sad one must feel not to love anyone — not even them self — because of an addiction or because they can’t let go of what happened to them before. Just keep your eyes open! Shift sure has mines OPEN!!! and IM LOVIN IT!!!! I know theres a time and season for everything and nothing last forever. So I choose to approach life with an opened mind. I don’t just live life but I make it my point to experience it. I believe every day is a chance to do it better than yesterday. Although there are many people in my life I know at what distance they belong, as well as what purpose they serve.. sOoO important! Theres something just not right about having too many people in your circle, which is why I have a dream team close net friends and family, none of which are concerned with popularity, that I can always draw on for strength to accomplish my dreams. If you would like to get to know me it is important that U understand the thin line between mere complacency and a self continentment that only God can give. be approachable and sincere with a pure heart! I believe that people at peace with themselves are often considered boring by those who are envious at heart, crave popularity, and the spotlight. It's helped me clearly evaluate where and who I want to be in the future and i will continue to follow MY dreams with or without you on my team. BELIEVE that what you truely believe you are at heart is exactly what you will be. I've learned that nothing worth having comes easily because it's the character built along the way that prepares me for what's meant to be mine. I know I'll fall a few times but I'm assured through MY OWN life that when I get up I'll be much stronger.
This is me. WHO ARE YOU??
THE CHANGE IS IN ME! Have you ever noticed when something wonderful happens in your life, you expect the world to be just as excited or care as much as you do? It’s like what happens to you has to matter to the rest of the population. When we love and it is not returned we get angry and frustrated because “thas not how it’s supposed to go!” Guess what! When something happens to me, good or bad, it is my experience, and it doesn’t matter how the world receives it. When I love, I am content in knowing that while it did not grow in others, IT GREW IN ME. And the people to come don’t have to worry being blamed for another person’s action or inaction. I know — because of wisdom — it’s not their burden to carry. Don’t get me wrong, we are still human and we are in this experience until our transition. I am certainly more conscious of what I am doing because while love was growing in me for someone who did not want to or was not able to love me back, so was forgiveness and compassion and the divine art of “letting go!” How sad one must feel not to love anyone — not even them self — because of an addiction or because they can’t let go of what happened to them before. Just keep your eyes open! Shift sure has mines OPEN!!! and IM LOVIN IT!!!! I know theres a time and season for everything and nothing last forever. So I choose to approach life with an opened mind. I don’t just live life but I make it my point to experience it. I believe every day is a chance to do it better than yesterday. Although there are many people in my life I know at what distance they belong, as well as what purpose they serve.. sOoO important! Theres something just not right about having too many people in your circle, which is why I have a dream team close net friends and family, none of which are concerned with popularity, that I can always draw on for strength to accomplish my dreams. If you would like to get to know me it is important that U understand the thin line between mere complacency and a self continentment that only God can give. be approachable and sincere with a pure heart! I believe that people at peace with themselves are often considered boring by those who are envious at heart, crave popularity, and the spotlight. It's helped me clearly evaluate where and who I want to be in the future and i will continue to follow MY dreams with or without you on my team. BELIEVE that what you truely believe you are at heart is exactly what you will be. I've learned that nothing worth having comes easily because it's the character built along the way that prepares me for what's meant to be mine. I know I'll fall a few times but I'm assured through MY OWN life that when I get up I'll be much stronger.
This is me. WHO ARE YOU??
A Thin Line For Management
To set some light on my background I am 21 years old, therefore I have only had six years of working eligibility. I have worked since I was 13 when I worked for a local golf store on an assembly line putting together golf clubs, I worked at such a young age so I could buy myself a cell phone. After I turned 15 I started working at Chris' Pizza Village, which was then Michael's Pizza and I have worked there ever since. I am the store manager capable of performing all operations in this store excepting the ability to own it. The owner though a real butthead has leaned on me to work hard so he doesn't have to since the day I became a manager. Regardless good job or bad job I've never heard a simple good job from him.
People go to college to work hard in the future and never be cogs in the machine of the corporation. As a manager all this time I have a distorted view on what a cog is or why they are even needed sometimes. But you have to realize when talking about a cog in the machine youre talking about a person who can't or just hasn't stepped up to the challenges needed to move. Whether it's because it's not their time to or they aren't qualified they don't earn the spot of manager.
My blog, however, is finished talking about the cogs because instead I want to take the back of the management that has to deal with them. When you are a manager it is expected of you to perfectly meet the needs of your superiors and your inferiors and that is just impossible. In the sad fact of life, according to the views of a "cog" every good manager would be fired from his/her job for sticking to the best interest of the workers on the ground floor, however the smartest and most successful manager would be hated for sticking to the best interest of his superiors.
A better way to start this would be: A person graduates college and finds a good steady job, this person works their butt off and eventually they get noticed. This person is particularly popular with his co-workers and he really enjoys their company. He gets promoted to management and now he does not just have to work on the task at hand, he now must decide which task is best for the company. As he makes the top class proud he moves up and eventually has achieved what his hard work should have earned him, but in order to build his wealth and become a more powerful employee he has to do what he is told. Now the floor workers begin to hold a grudge and next thing you know his friends basically say high up job or me, which option would a man with a family to feed, or a dream to fill choose? So now you have your cogs and this once personable manager becomes out of touch with his workers. Who's fault is it though? Management can be fired just as quickly as the rest of the workers but how do they stick around so much longer?
In this world you have to be ready to step on a few toes on the way up the ladder. If a man walks around the streets and gives a five every bum he sees he'll be broke within the month, same goes for a manager. Everyone has to be disposable so you won't be. A manager must deal with the faults of his employees while balancing with the demands of his bosses. Not everyone can have what they want and this life is too short to pass up your opportunity to make someone else content.
People go to college to work hard in the future and never be cogs in the machine of the corporation. As a manager all this time I have a distorted view on what a cog is or why they are even needed sometimes. But you have to realize when talking about a cog in the machine youre talking about a person who can't or just hasn't stepped up to the challenges needed to move. Whether it's because it's not their time to or they aren't qualified they don't earn the spot of manager.
My blog, however, is finished talking about the cogs because instead I want to take the back of the management that has to deal with them. When you are a manager it is expected of you to perfectly meet the needs of your superiors and your inferiors and that is just impossible. In the sad fact of life, according to the views of a "cog" every good manager would be fired from his/her job for sticking to the best interest of the workers on the ground floor, however the smartest and most successful manager would be hated for sticking to the best interest of his superiors.
A better way to start this would be: A person graduates college and finds a good steady job, this person works their butt off and eventually they get noticed. This person is particularly popular with his co-workers and he really enjoys their company. He gets promoted to management and now he does not just have to work on the task at hand, he now must decide which task is best for the company. As he makes the top class proud he moves up and eventually has achieved what his hard work should have earned him, but in order to build his wealth and become a more powerful employee he has to do what he is told. Now the floor workers begin to hold a grudge and next thing you know his friends basically say high up job or me, which option would a man with a family to feed, or a dream to fill choose? So now you have your cogs and this once personable manager becomes out of touch with his workers. Who's fault is it though? Management can be fired just as quickly as the rest of the workers but how do they stick around so much longer?
In this world you have to be ready to step on a few toes on the way up the ladder. If a man walks around the streets and gives a five every bum he sees he'll be broke within the month, same goes for a manager. Everyone has to be disposable so you won't be. A manager must deal with the faults of his employees while balancing with the demands of his bosses. Not everyone can have what they want and this life is too short to pass up your opportunity to make someone else content.
Bureaucratic hang ups
Allow me to set some background for this topic. I grew up in a family that operated a small family farm, which meant paying huge monthly amounts for health insurance for very little coverage. I can fully appreciate government paid health care and the comfort it can give every American. However, with all the benefits to government health care- there are so many challenges and so many places to fall through the cracks.
My most reoccurring frustration with a bureaucracy is dealing with military health care system. The challenge starts with simply trying to get an appointment. With military health care, you can not set up appointments in too far in advance. When you need to be seen by a doctor, you must call that morning as close to 7 am as possible in order to get an appointment for that day. If all appointments are full; your only option is to wait at the ER or to try and call again tomorrow morning around 7. I have several times tried the ER. I have waited till I got off work, and let me tell you there is no good time to try and be seen. Every time I have visited the ER it has been a 4 hour minimum wait and although none of my problems were life threatening there were times when I was in immense pain. A couple of times, I was even admitted for IV to rehydrate me after waiting so long in the ER.
When sitting there helpless, it is hard not to watch employees and wish they could move with just a little more urgency. I do realize that they deal with people hurting every day and that it is not possible to always move with speed, but every time I visit I see more people without that sense of urgency.
If you are able to get an appointment, you have to realize it is NEVER the same doctor you saw last time. In the 6 years I have been receiving health care with Ft. Campbell military system I have never had the same doctor. This is one reason I believe the wait is so long, even with an appointment. Each visit requires extensive background work because you are dealing with a new person.
Often times, it simply comes down to this. Do I want to spend the next several hours (minimum of 2-3 with an appointment, 4-6 without an appointment) waiting for health care? The other option is of course to be seen off post and pay for your treatment. I have to admit I have always chosen to save money and just spend my time. I simply feel this is just part of the problems you deal with when dealing with a bureaucratic system.
Ann
My most reoccurring frustration with a bureaucracy is dealing with military health care system. The challenge starts with simply trying to get an appointment. With military health care, you can not set up appointments in too far in advance. When you need to be seen by a doctor, you must call that morning as close to 7 am as possible in order to get an appointment for that day. If all appointments are full; your only option is to wait at the ER or to try and call again tomorrow morning around 7. I have several times tried the ER. I have waited till I got off work, and let me tell you there is no good time to try and be seen. Every time I have visited the ER it has been a 4 hour minimum wait and although none of my problems were life threatening there were times when I was in immense pain. A couple of times, I was even admitted for IV to rehydrate me after waiting so long in the ER.
When sitting there helpless, it is hard not to watch employees and wish they could move with just a little more urgency. I do realize that they deal with people hurting every day and that it is not possible to always move with speed, but every time I visit I see more people without that sense of urgency.
If you are able to get an appointment, you have to realize it is NEVER the same doctor you saw last time. In the 6 years I have been receiving health care with Ft. Campbell military system I have never had the same doctor. This is one reason I believe the wait is so long, even with an appointment. Each visit requires extensive background work because you are dealing with a new person.
Often times, it simply comes down to this. Do I want to spend the next several hours (minimum of 2-3 with an appointment, 4-6 without an appointment) waiting for health care? The other option is of course to be seen off post and pay for your treatment. I have to admit I have always chosen to save money and just spend my time. I simply feel this is just part of the problems you deal with when dealing with a bureaucratic system.
Ann
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