Car Rental Overbooking Blunder

So I used Hotwire to book a car last weekend so I could drive down to Orlando to see my Dad. I know it was last minute but it was a necessary trip. Anyway I was feeling great cause I scored a great deal so I added the insurance coverage just to be safe. Within minutes of making the reservation I received two email confirmations - one for the car and another from the company providing the insurance. Several hours later I called Hertz to see if I could pick up the car earlier cause I was racing against time.  Only to be told that they did not have any cars available. In fact the rep went on to say they were actually overbooked by 39 reservations so there is no way I would get a car today. 

"Wow", I thought. "How crazy is that?" So I immediately hung up and called Hotwire to cancel the reservation and ensure my card was credited for the insurance portion as they did not wait for me to pick up the car before assessing the charges. 

To my delight the sales rep wasted no time in apologizing for the inconvenience and processing the cancellation. Truth is I only had to tell him twice that Hertz had no cars available before he got it. He then transferred the call to Allianz to cancel the insurance coverage. Seemed easy enough right? I wish. 

After about 5-8 minutes the insurance rep comes on the line and asked how he could help me. I don't know why I thought the Hotwire rep had filled him in. God knows he had enough time while I was on hold. Maybe it's just me. Anyway I went ahead and told him I needed to have him process a refund for the insurance because I was unable to secure a car due to overbooking.  What happened next was insane.  The rep proceeded to recite what I feel was a script. It included him asking me if I am aware that by cancelling coverage the vehicle would not be covered.  I told him there was no vehicle to insure. He continued as if I had not spoken. I kept saying "excuse me" but he kept going. So I kept on saying excuse me - did you not hear me? There is no vehicle to insure. He then said he heard me but if I don't mind he would like to finish informing me of their policy.  "Are you kidding me?" I thought,  "Which part of I am cancelling because the rental agency does not have a car for me to rent do you not understand?" 

It boggled my mind that this person could not use his judgment to put aside his script and handle my situation based on the information provided. It became obvious to me that he was not going to deviate from the script so I just let him finish. I responded appropriately when he asked if I understood and thanked him for his help in processing my refund.

My issues with this whole incident is:

1) that Hotwire would send confirmation for a reservation when the rental agency had no available cars for rent.

2) that Hertz did not call to let me know they were overbooked and could not honor the reservation.

3) that Hotwire would process/submit insurance coverage before the car was picked up.

4) that the insurance company would process charges before the car was picked up.

5) and finally, that the insurance rep felt the need to read their cancellation policy even though it was clear that I was cancelling the insurance coverage because there was no car to insure and not because I changed my mind about having coverage.

I know we are living in an advanced "technology age" where companies are striving to be efficient and save time in the process.  However sometimes that efficiency can get in the way. It seems to me that online booking companies need to develop a system which allows them to adequately monitor the amount of reservations they book to ensure that the number of reservations match the number of cars available for rent. They should also wait until the car is actually picked up before processing optional insurance coverage if selected.  I'm just saying - I got issues, what about you?

Copyright 2017 © Todos Escribe. All Right Reserved

 The views and opinions shared here are by the Author and are the property of Todos Escribe. 

Talcum Powder Causes Ovarian Cancer – What About The Babies?

Lately it seems like you can't watch TV without seeing a commercial for some sort of class action lawsuit. From bladder mesh failure to drugs side effects, the list is growing.  The most recent one I saw claimed talcum powder was responsible for ovarian cancer in women. 

More specifically it named Johnson's baby powder as the culprit. What I find interesting is that I have yet to see or hear one word of concern for the millions of babies who are exposed to this product. Not only that, why is the product still available on the market if it poses a threat to women's health? I hardly think just slapping a warning on the label suffices. 

With the alarming increase of class action lawsuits, it makes me wonder if the bureaucracy agency charged with regulating products and drug safety are doing their job? Could it be that they knew about the dangers of these products and drugs but chose to ignore it for a price? I don't know if my mother used talcum powder on me when I was a baby but I do know I personally used Johnson's baby powder on both of my children. They both appear to be in excellent health, but should I be concern that they may develop cancer from the exposure?

I am not sure how this works, but it seems to me that if talcum powder is responsible for women developing ovarian cancer, then it stands to reason that it should also be a cause for concern for babies as well. Unless they want me to believe that talcum powder discriminates between adults and children I have to believe that babies are also in danger of developing some sort of cancer. Either that or talcum powder is not really the culprit for causing ovarian cancer in women. Something to think about. I’m Just Saying. I got issues – what about you?

Copyright 2017 © Todos Escribe. All Right Reserved

 The views and opinions shared here are by the Author and are the property of Todos Escribe. 

Furniture Warranty: To Buy or Not to Buy - That is the Question

So you bought that leather sectional or chair you’ve always wanted. You even sprang for the extra 5-year warranty. Trouble is you didn’t even bother to read the brochure the sales rep gave you because you trusted them when they told you it covered EVERYTHING including accidents.  Then 6 months before your warranty expires, maybe even sooner, you notice a small discoloration or even peeling. “No worries” you think to yourself. “I have coverage.” So you go get your brochure from its secure location where you put it the day you brought the furniture home. Truth is you never even thought about it let alone read the damn thing. Now for the first time, you skim it to find the warranty company’s contact number so you can file a claim.  To your dismay you learn that peeling/discoloration, among other things, are not covered. “What?? Are you kidding me?” you ask the rep.  That can’t be right because you distinctly remember the sales rep telling you that it was covered. In fact, that was the main reason why you paid the extra $400 or so to ensure you were covered.  Not only is your furniture not covered but as you pursue the claim you also learn that it’s not real leather because real leather don’t peel – bummer. 

The scenario above is all too familiar and is becoming an epidemic in Atlanta and quite possibly the across the country.  Recently a local tv station aired a segment that featured just such a scenario. The viewer had purchased a leather sectional five years prior from an upscale furniture store, bought the added extended warranty which he was told would cover any damages, and just months before the warranty was to expire he was told the damage to his sectional was not covered by the warranty because the coverage was for “accidents” not “normal wear and tear”, which is what they called the peeling.  So he contacted the furniture retailer and was told the brochure was self-explanetary and there was nothing they could do for him. After months of not getting anywhere with the retailer, he reached out to the tv station’s mediation department and asked for their help. The volunteer assigned to the complaint called the retail furniture store and after some doing, was able to speak with someone in upper management who was willing to help the viewer resolve the issue. The viewer received a store credit in an amount that allowed him to replace the sectional. Needless to say he was very happy.

As a result of that aired segment the mediation department was flooded with calls and online complaints which were similar in nature.  The mass majority of the complaints all cited “peeling” of the leather as the issue. Calls to the warranty companies (there were several different ones) proved to be futile as they were not willing to honor the claim requests citing that the warranty policy was for “accidents” not “wear and tear.” Even if the customer had pictures that showed the “leather” was cut or punctured, the warranty company still insisted that the damage was due to normal wear and tear and therefore not covered. Further pressing would lead to stall tactics and eventually refusal to speak about the claim further - leaving the customer without any resolution. Not only do they now have a distorted piece of furniture, they learned that the extra investment in warranty coverage was a waste of good money.

Another issue the volunteer ran into was attempts to contact the furniture retailer after the claims were denied to see if they would be willing to make the customer whole, was that the store was either out of business or the owner refused to take responsibility to make the customer whole.  One retailer referred the volunteer to the manufacturer only to learn that most furniture are only covered by a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty. Not surprising is that since most of the peeling did not start until after the first year, they were not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. Unfortunately, unlike the success story mentioned above where the retailer took responsibility to satisfy the customer, other retailers were not as forthcoming.

What I’ve discovered is that most leather sectional/chairs being sold as “real” leather is actually “bonded leather” which is prone to peeling. According to Wikipedia bonded leather, also called reconstituted leather or blended leather, is a term used for a manufactured upholstery material including animal hide. It is made as a layered structure of a fiber or paper backer, a pulp made from shredded leather and a polyurethane coating which is embossed with a leather-like texture. Wikipedia goes on to say that bonded leather is made by shredding leather scraps and leather fiber, then mixing it with bonding materials. The mixture is next extruded onto a fiber cloth, or paper backing, and the surface is usually embossed with a leather-like texture or grain. Color and patterning, if any, are a surface treatment that does not penetrate like a dyeing process would. The manufacturing process is somewhat similar to the production of paper [which is why it is prone to peeling].  The level of deterioration and durability depending on the quality of material used. Lower level quality materials can start peeling in a few years, while higher quality material can withstand even commercial uses.

So how do you know if a chair/sectional is real leather? Glad you asked. In researching I discovered that the tag is your best bet for figuring out if the leather is real or not. For instance the tag on real leather will have words such as genuine leather, pure aniline, semi-aniline or nubuck listed on it. Likewise the tag on fake leather will have words such as faux leather, pleather, naugahyde, bonded leather, or leatherette listed on it.  You can also google the differences for yourself which will yield information on how to distinguish both the touch/feel and appearances of the two. One site I looked at indicated that the price was a factor in determining its realness, but gave no price index as a guide. Only that if “it does not seem like much money, chances are the leather is not real.” Truth is some of those people I mentioned before spend an upward of $3,000 or more for their sectional/chair and it was still not real leather. While most upscale furniture stores operate reputable businesses and will openly admit if the piece is real or fake, there are still a few who are not.

So if you ask me, I say when you decide to invest in leather furniture it is important that you do your homework before you buy. Look at the tag, learn how to distinguish the feel between real and fake leather and remember that the price you pay is not always a reliable indicator that it is real leather.  Oh and most importantly, DO NOT invest in the extended warranty unless you have money to burn.  Chances are by the time you get around to filing a claim, you will be met with much resistance. Remember warranty companies are just like insurance companies. They are in the business of getting and keeping your money.  Hopefully these victims of warranty fraud will come together and file a class action suit. I’m Just Saying. I got issues – what about you?)i(

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 The views and opinions shared here are by the Author and are the property of Todos Escribe. 

America is not a Democracy

If you still think America is a democracy, think again.  In what was no doubt the most comical presidential election I ever saw, Hillary Clinton failed to gain the necessary amount of Electoral College vote to secure the presidency despite winning the nationwide popular votes.  In spite of all the controversy and public denouncement of Trump, on Monday, December 19, 2016 it was confirmed that Donald Trump prevailed in receiving more than the 270 electoral votes required to win.  While the elections itself was apparently unprecedented, the outcome was not. This is the fifth time in America’s history that a candidate gained the presidency without winning the popular votes.

In 1824, John Quincy Adams was elected president despite not winning either the popular vote or the electoral vote. Andrew Jackson was the winner in both categories. Jackson received 38,000 more popular votes than Adams, and beat him in the electoral vote 99 to 84. Despite his victories, Jackson didn’t reach the majority 131 votes needed in the Electoral College to be declared president. In fact, neither candidate did. The decision went to the House of Representatives, which voted Adams into the White House.

In 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes won the election (by a margin of one electoral vote), but he lost the popular vote by more than 250,000 ballots to Samuel J. Tilden.

In 1888, Benjamin Harrison received 233 electoral votes to Grover Cleveland’s 168, winning the presidency. But Harrison lost the popular vote by more than 90,000 votes.

In 2000, George W. Bush was declared the winner of the general election and became the 43rd president, but he didn’t win the popular vote either. Al Gore holds that distinction, garnering about 540,000 more votes than Bush. However, Bush won the electoral vote, 271 to 266.

Source: http://www.factcheck.org/2008/03/presidents-winning-without-popular-vote/http://www.factcheck.org/2008/03/presidents-winning-without-popular-vote/

Let’s think about this for a minute. If this was truly a democracy, the people’s choice – Hillary Clinton – would be the one being sworn in come this January 20^th.  For centuries America has perpetrated a false persona of being a democratic society, but the truth is it is a republic. Wikipedia defines Democracy as “… a system of government in which the citizens exercise power directly or elect representatives from among themselves to form a governing body, such as a parliament.[1] Democracy is sometimes referred to as "rule of the majority." It went on further to state that “According to political scientist Larry Diamond, democracy consists of four key elements: (a) A political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections; (b) The active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life; (c) Protection of the human rights of all citizens, and (d) A rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens.[3]. ” Further researching of this subject took me to This Nation’s website where I saw this statement: “The United States is, indeed, a republic, not a democracy. Accurately defined, a democracy is a form of government in which the people decide policy matters directly--through town hall meetings or by voting on ballot initiatives and referendums. A republic, on the other hand, is a system in which the people choose representatives who, in turn, make policy decisions on their behalf.”  

So there you have it. If we were truly a democratic society, the president would be determined by whom ever received the most votes by the people and not by a secret panel (Electoral College.) America perpetrates democracy but the truth is we are far from it. To be a truly democratic society our president would be elected by the people – period! However that is not the case. So why is that? I read someplace that the founding fathers were afraid to have a true form of democracy because they were afraid that they would be over turned or overpowered by the majority who did not agree with their agenda.  

What I found interesting is that This Nation website sheds light on the fact that America is a Republic and it is hidden in plain sight - in the Pledge of Allegiance. How many times have you recited the Pledge of Allegiance? Did you notice that America is referred to as a “republic” not a democracy. More specifically This Nation shared “In the strictest sense of the word, the system of government established by the Constitution was never intended to be a "democracy." This is evident not only in the wording of the Pledge of Allegiance but in the Constitution itself which declares that "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government" (Article IV, Section 4). Moreover, the scheme of representation and the various mechanisms for selecting representatives established by the Constitution were clearly intended to produce a republic, not a democracy.” So why then are we surprised when a handful of people get to decide who our next president should be instead of “we the people”? If we want change them we must become the change we want to see. We need to challenge the laws that support an electoral college, take back our power to influence our government, and truly elect our leaders. As it stands right now we have the power to effect change so that we can elect our president. I used to think it was important to not only go out and vote but to also encourage others to do the same. That was when I thought my vote mattered. Now, based on recent election, I know better. Who we voted for does not matter because the “the powers that be” has the last word. 

I was speaking with my mother today and she reminded me that this country was built by and run by masonic /freemason men who sought to hold and control the power of running this country. It is very likely that they still hold some influence over who is allowed to sit in the seat of the presidency.  If you still think it was the popular votes that got President Obama or any other president elected for that matter, think again. I remember an incident which happened on election night when President Obama ran for his second term. I downloaded an app which allowed me to track the progress of the election on my smart phone. However when the app opened for the first time it showed President Obama with 318 electoral votes. I found it odd as it was only 6pm and all the precinct had not yet reported. As quickly as I had that though the app corrected itself and showed him with 57 electoral votes which was what the news media were reporting at the time. Imagine my surprise when I awoke the next morning to discover he had won by more than 318 electoral votes - 332 to be exact. I was convinced then that the election was rigged.

Personally I believe that there is a secret society who is pulling the strings behind the political scene and they put who they need in place to promote their private agenda. What else can explain why Donald Trump got the job? There is something coming down the pipeline which involves Russia and the US and they need Donald Trump’s influence to ensure its success. Hillary could not get the job because besides being a woman – they still are not sold on having a woman in the white house, she does not have the relationship with Russia that they need to accomplish their agenda. Mark my words, one day soon you will wake up to here about some sort of US/Russia development/agenda.

Bottom-line is “we the people” have no say in who our elected president is.  Voting is all just a show to make us feel we have a voice but the truth is we have as much say in who is elected president as we do the next pope – none!! I don’t know about you but I am no longer going to participate in a system which is bent on deceiving us. I may be wrong but I won’t participate until the laws are changed to support a true democratic society.  I’m Just Saying. I got issues – what about you?

Copyright © 2012 - 2016 Todos Escribe. All Right Reserved

 The views and opinions shared here are by the Author and are the property of Todos Escribe. 

AutoNation Toyota Scion

Are you in the market for a preowned vehicle but you have bad credit or no credit? Well have I got the place for you. AutoNationToyota Scion off Thornton Road is becoming the one stop place for people who need a miracle when it comes to being able to finance a car. 

Winston Elliott, Pre-Owned Sales Manager is making a reputation for himself as the “miracle worker”.  On any given day you will find him in his office doing what he does best – getting people who have been turned down by other dealerships approved for a vehicle. No situations is too hard for him to handle.  Just ask “A’Linsia”, a single mother of 7 who needed a vehicle quick, fast, and in a hurry but her credit was less than perfect. Other dealerships were asking for a huge down payment with no wiggle room.  Winston was able to offer her an option which allowed her to get a vehicle the same day. So if you need a car but you need options, then give Winston a call at (678) 462-0368. You will be glad you did. I’m Just Saying. I got issues – what about you?

Contact Winston Elliott

Tel: (678) 462-0368

Email: ElliottW1@AutoNation.com

Address: 1000 Blairs Bridge Road, Lithia Springs, GA 30122

Copyright © 2012 - 2016 Todos Escribe. All Right Reserved

 The views and opinions shared here are by the Author and are the property of Todos Escribe. 

Fundraising Efforts: GoFundMe or YouCaring

Everyone experiences some sort of hardship from time to time. Be it a lost job, loss of a love one, a sick child, a broken down vehicle, or an illness. If you live long enough you will be plagued by one if not all of those things. However, if you are lucky, you will have a great support system to help you get through those difficult times, but what if you don’t? Then what? Personally, I’ve had some of those challenges myself, and for the most part I had to go it alone.

Recently I was made aware of a couple of resources on the Internet/on-line which allows people to create a fundraiser page to raise money to help offset some of the financial challenges associated with those hardships I mentioned earlier. One such resource is GoFundMe.  I first became aware of GoFundMe back in August when the transmission in my daughter’s vehicle gave out. Her brother, being the resourceful man he is, created a go fund me page for her to help raise the down payment she needed for a new vehicle.  

My daughter's motivation for getting a vehicle

I stumbled on it on her social media page. Once I clicked the link it took me to a secure website where I was able to use my credit card to make a donation. After making my donation I was able to share the link on my Facebook page. The only drawback I had was that it was limited to my friend list on Facebook. That and the email list I would later create to help spread the word. Wish there was a way to share it across the web with the general public to generate more funds. Hopefully my friends and family will share the link and help spread the word. So far it has been slow going but we are still hopeful it will generate the amount she needs to get a new vehicle. It is difficult for her to get around especially with the large family she has.

Janie Shoneye: Cancer Survivor

So in sharing the link to my daughter’s go fund me page, I inadvertently triggered an interest in the concept with a number of my friends. One friend in particular who is fighting cancer and at risk of losing her home asked if I would assist her in creating a go fund me page for her cause.  I agreed. In doing the research I discovered that GoFundMe takes a percentage of the funds raised. So I decided to see if I could find another fundraiser platform which forego that charge. I stumbled across YouCaring which claims there is no fees for their services. However, I also learned that donors are encouraged to make a donation to help offset the cost for processing.  

I decided to go with YouCaring for that very reason. After setting up the account I shared the link on my Facebook page as well as sent it to her Facebook friends via messenger. Again the drawback here is that it is limited to my social media audience. My hope is that my mentioning it here in my blog will generate more traffic to the links and increase the chances of increased donations which otherwise may not have been possible.

The truth is sometimes we need more than the assistance of our friends and family to get the help we so desperately need.  The help from strangers is just as necessary. It is my hope that as you read this you will explore the links and make a donation to either of these two worthy causes. If you do make a donation, please give from the heart and it will come back to you 100 folds. Give thanks and may God bless you richly for your kindness.  I’m Just Saying. I got issues – what about you?

https://www.gofundme.com/2aquxzms

https://www.youcaring.com/janie-shoneye-654117

Copyright © 2012 - 2016 Todos Escribe. All Right Reserved

 The views and opinions shared here are by the Author and are the property of Todos Escribe. 

I Ain’t Your Mamma – Really?

I was listening to the radio the other day when this song came on. For the life of me, At the time I had no clue who sang it or what the name of it was (I've since learned that it is a song by Jennifer Lopez called I Ain't Your Mama). While I loved the crazy dance beat, the lyrics left a lot to be desired. It went something like this; “Ain’t going to cook all day, I ain’t your mama. Ain’t going do your laundry, I ain’t your mama. Boy when you going to get your life together?...You lucky to have these curves…stop getting on my nerves.  I’m too good for that.” My first thought was “Really? That’s what’s wrong with relationships today.” Some women refuse to hold up their end in the relationship but still expect the man to hold up his. I am fully aware that in today’s society the traditional roles of a relationship has diminished if not been reversed.  Gone are the days when a man can expect to come home after a long hard day of work to find a hot plate of food waiting for him. However he can still expect his significant other to make demands that he take care of her financial needs. How is that fair? 

As a woman and a mother of a grown son I think it is still important for a woman to care for her man.  I did not raise my son to be a provider, protector, and defender of a woman who won’t even cook him a hot meal. Don’t get me wrong my son knows how to take care of himself. I taught him the basics he needs to know to clean, cook, and do his laundry, but I’ll be dammed if he will do all that for himself and still care for a woman who won’t do the basics for him. Why does he need to spend his hard earn money on someone who won’t do for him or who don’t care about being a help mate to him?

Yeah, yeah I know we are living in a different time but the last time I checked this mamma didn’t raise no fool. I offer to you that it’s not so much that times have changed as it is that some women have changed their views on what they think their role in a relationship is (and/or they simply don't know how to do those things. Meghan Trainor admitted in her song "Dear Future Husband" that she won't cook cause she never learned. I suspect that's true for a vast amount of women today. No surprise I discovered that Meghan Trainor wrote "I Ain't Your Mama". Go figure.) But back to my original thought. For whatever reason some women now believe it is beneath them to cater to their man but they still expect him to jump through hoops to give them what they want. How selfish! Just like how they have needs and expectations, so does he. What if he was to tell her in response to that song: “I’m not going to pay your rent, not going to pay to fix your hair or get your nails done...not going to spend all day chauffeuring you around. I am not your daddy…girl you better recognize”.

If you really think about it, we have grown into a nation where the current generation’s primary factor is the “me” factor. Some women want everything but are prepared to do nothing in a relationship except lay on their backs. How is that different from prostitution? In all fairness a man deserve a woman who will not only support and edify him, but who will also love and take care of him. Her love for him will make her want to cook, clean, and do his laundry. After all he is out there making the money she wants and needs to satisfy her financial needs. It’s a two way street and as soon as those women realize that the act of cleaning, cooking, and doing his laundry is not just a “mother’s” job, but an essential part of showing support of her man, the sooner she will experience harmony in their relationship. If she provides these basic duties for her man he is free to concentrate on the business of providing for her.  After all, a happy man is a generous man. I’m Just Saying. I got issues – what about you?)i(

Copyright © 2012 - 2016 Todos Escribe. All Right Reserved

 The views and opinions shared here are by the Author and are the property of Todos Escribe.