Do you want to know what this blog post has to do with relationships? Read on!
It’s about cutting down on stress by cancelling automatic renewing fees — in writing — and admitting that you probably are not sleeping because of the mattress scams. The only way to get really SLEEPY is to become exhausted with the run around.
First automatic renewal fees e-cards and credit reports:
I am not naming names here but a certain e-card that started out free at one point began charging. So I paid. Then the fees got higher. I paid again. But then I stopped using the service. I called to cancel. But it was too late they said because it had already charged to my account. That was last year.
Okay, then I will use it this year, but cancel for next year. Was I clear? Apparently not. Because I didn’t cancel in writing and it just showed up again on my credit card statement.
So I called. But the number doesn’t give you a human voice. So I went through the list of options. I wanted to cancel. Ok, yes, I received my official cancellation date of November 2009 — one year away. “No, no, no,” I am screaming to the electronic voice. “I want a refund.”
“Thank you, and good-by, we appreciate your service.”
Okay, instead of going to bed, it was very late, I sent the company an email. And guess what? You can’t cancel online. You can only cancel on the voice mail. How is my mood right now?
So I called the credit card company and disputed the charge. They said they would try to resolve it.
If not, I will happily post my email and password for everyone to send out free greeting cards on my account.
WAIT, I’m not finished — onto the credit report charge. Then there was a second charge that helped with my credit reports. I have a good report, thank you very much. “May I cancel and have a credit please?”
>> “We can’t cancel until we can find you in our system.”
“How can I help?”
>>”Give us your Registration code number.”
“But I never remember registering.”
>>”Well, you must have a number because I see we billed you.”
Okay, two really good friends were here visiting today before leaving for Florida for the rest of the winter. So I was happy. But I think of all the women out there dealing with these situations. Just how happy are you going to be tonight, when your husband or lover comes home and says, “So tell me dear, how was your day?”
Automatic billing was the culprit. I am informed that the charge for my good credit goes back to 2002. Why didn’t I notice? I have had an accounting service manage my bills. But nonetheless, even if they didn’t question — where was my credit report going all these years that I haven’t seen one?
So I sent the company an email asking for a copy of my credit report, and a refund, and a cancellation. You have to be really clear, I’ve learned. This time, I received a customer number and an email telling me that someone would be contacting me regarding my case.
Now for a good night’s sleep — forget it. Within six months of buying a mattress and box spring for about $1,000 — it began to sag. I could roll a tennis ball to the center. No SLEEPY time for me.
I called and they gave me the run around. Finally I sent in pictures. They sent a man to measure. He said IT DIDN’T SAG ENOUGH. But he was perplexed by the sound of springs in the center and the way the mattress bounced. Nonetheless, after taking out his piece of string — my mattress didn’t sag enough.
My case was rejected.
A year has passed maybe more. I stuffed pillows, I put a board, I tried buying those foam tops. Nothing worked. But I felt defeated. And I gave up. But then a saw that truck pull up with a mattress for another person scammed and I decided to take action.
They said I should try rotating my mattress and flipping it over. But what a minute, what about the extra money I paid for the tufted topping that is only on ONE side?
Okay, I flipped it to the hard as a board side. Bought myself new foam. And my back is still sore as can be.
Will it matter if I call again? Maybe if I get SLEEPY enough — are you getting the picture here? If not, do yourself a favor and read this before you buy. http://www.mattressscam.com/ And take note of the mattress ads. If you can trust just one of them, please get back to me.
Although just writing this post has spurred me on. I am now angry enough to call again, and try again, or maybe take my own advice and send a letter. YES, a letter to the company president. Yes, why not?
A funny aside, if I can bring myself to laugh. I know that I heard this from a friend who may have read this in Reader’s Digest. Two neighbors meet. “Hi, I’m Fred, I live in the red house across the way. I’m in advertising.”
The other man says, “Hi, John. Live in the brown house on the corner. I’m a mattress salesman.”
The ad man, slapped John’s back and said, “My good man, you don’t sell mattresses. You sell sweet dreams and good sex.”
Tell that to the mattress scammers! ! !
But that joke must be years old — who gets a good mattress anymore? OK, my kids have one — a fancy foam mattress and I am just thinking that maybe I should write to the company and ask, “Why is it that you cannot put sheets on the bed that stay in place?
They have a platform bed and the mattress sits inside. But you need two men and a derek to lift that mattress to make the bed…. so is this another scam? Do they need specially tailored sheets??
I have a lot of letters to write, don’t I? And I haven’t even thought yet about holiday cards. But I can promise this — no one will be getting an electronic card from me this year.
And believe me, Pollyana here is the first to admit she likes a cheerful blog post. So if you need a lift, go to Amy Sue Nathan and read her Accidental Luxuries post http://amysuenathan.com/?p=885
Copyright 2008 Rita Watson