The Subtle Corporate Screwing of America (Stealing from Us One Drop of Blood at a Time)

[debbierlus]

Two things that happened to me in the past four hours:

1. Interest rate wrong on the home equity loan. Not adjusted to the interest drop, should be down 2 points due to the interest decreases. SIX transers. SIX transfers to get to the person who could address this issue. TWO automatic hang-ups before it could connect to an associate! A full half hour of being run in circles to get the rate that should have automatically adjusted!

2. Returned equipment for Verizon DSL hook-up. A month ago. A charge of 100.00 is on my current bill for this equipment. Called a week ago inquiring why the hell this was on my bill. They tried to say it was never returned. BS. Gave them a tracking number (thank God it was tracked). They eventually found out, it indeed had been returned, but it could take 30 days for a credit. Called back today, & they now state it can take up to TWO MONTHS for the credit to go through.

These are examples of what is happening to Americans' on a daily basis. Items aren't credited to your bill. Rates do not reflect accurately. Rebates never get refunded (don't even get me started on the Rebate scam..they make you jump through so many hoops, file so much paperwork, & then pretend they never received it...but I digress). And, this isn't even throwing in the credit card companies (better called Legalized Loan Sharks).

It takes a huge amount of patience, time, & technical ability to ensure these errors don't gobble up YOUR money. People have to scan bills & invoices like hawks. I can't imagine what is happening to the elderly. Or, people who are working so much, they don't have the time to correct the problems. Also, it helps, if you are technically plugged in. I often have to search for numbers or different contact information to get to the correct place to address my problems. It is systemic stealing on a mass basis. I bet they get in the billions for these types of 'oversights' & 'mistakes'.

And, before I put my rant off, I know this is a basic piece of advice, but CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT. I just checked mine & challenged all three bureaus. Over SIX mistakes on EACH report. I just got my first report challenge back & they changed them all. I am still waiting for the other two.

As if it isn't hard enough to just make ends meet, we have to deal with this whole secondary level of corporate invasion...

:rant:

[Quantess]

1. It's all about the money.

The ones in power just want money. Admittedly there are other motives, but mostly, they just want money.

[debbierlus]

2. What gets me, how much is enough???

I like money. I am trying to fix up an old home to be my dream home & I like driving a car that does not break down every other week. If I can meet my mortgage payments, provide my family with some decent food & time together, I am a happy girl. I buy everything second hand, & that is fine by me, since I get better quality buying old American then new Chinese.

How much do these greedy pigs NEED? What is wrong with them that they don't receive pleasure in giving as well as taking.

[begin_within]

8. It's never enough for them. It never stops.

[Robbien]

3. It is not subtle. Just talk to anyone who is poor

They are fully aware of the corporate leeches attached to their main blood vessels.

[debbierlus]

9. I was referring to the backdoor ways they get in your pocket...

But, you are right. They do it so often & so consistently that it isn't all that subtle anymore. Why be subtle when
they can do anything they want? Like adjust your credit card interest rate for NO REASON AT ALL.

[nightrider767]

4. The New American Business Model

Nothing subtle about it. Poor customer service and mistakes. It's like price fixing, whether it's an airline, cell phone company or cable. They all drop standards at the same time and you have nowhere to go.

Don't like Sprint, go to CIngular, same crap.

They lower salaries and benefits packages, employees are unhappy and don't give a crap and we are stuck in the morass.

The only small solution I've been able to find, and it only works on a limited basis, is to drop as many of those services as you con...

[dysfunctional press]

5. subtle?

i have noticed anything subtle about it at all.

[DCKit]

6. I've had three experiences in the past year where I was told...

I'm sorry sir, we can't close that account because (insert inane bullshit excuse here).

AOL started this BS back in the 90s when they realized they could rake it in as long as it was ten times more difficult to close an account than to open one. I'd have invested in their stock if I hadn't been horrified by their business practices.

[European Socialist]

7. I didn't use my checking account for six months__so the bank,,,,,

charged me a ten dollar inactivity fee--There is no reason a warning couldn't be given first!!