An open email to Sprint:

I just sent to this to Sprint. I had been attempting to upgrade, and it didn’t end well:

<Quote>

My account number is: xxxxxxxxx. This is in regards to my phone number: (253) xxx-xxxx. I recently paid off the phone, and decided it's time to upgrade to the HTC 10.

Lately, Ive been unable to login throught the Sprint Zone app. I always get an invalid password error. And God help me if I try to login online. If I try to logon through Firefox, it just keeps bouncing back to the logon page. If I logon through Google Chrome, I can get the validation text sent to me, but when I enter it, the page just displays a bunch javascript, and I don't logon.
But Friday I was able to finally log on, and I attempted three times to order the phone upgrade. Two times, when I went to pay for it, it was displayed that my newer debit card would be charged, but it came back with a 'declined', and then I get a text that the charge was made to my other card (an entirely different card number)! You were telling me you were charging one card but actually attempting to charge the other!

But I finally got that straightened out and I placed my online order (#ow-srso-xxxxxxxxx) to be picked up in Puyallup at 4227 S Meridian Ste B Meridian Plaza Shopping Center, Puyallup WA 98373. I got there early, and I was not impressed. One employee at the counter who was more interested in having a personal conversation with the two women (family members?) than he was about helping the three other people in the store, one of whom had an appointment, and the other two I overheard talking about buying three phones. At this time any sales droid capable of rubbing two neurons together would realize that that's the time to start doing your job. Not this person. I finally get up to the person, told him that I had an appointment to pick up my upgrade (I was early, but he wasn't helping anybody else either...). He then told me that he was shorthanded, and it was take at least 20 minutes. One of the ladies he was talking with when I came up then chimed in saying it would take more than 20 and snickered. That's when I walked out. Without my phone. He called after me, but if he isn't going to do his job to begin with, then he's not going to do it at all.

So I then called customer service. I jumped through all the hoops. Only to get an agent whose accent was sufficiently thick enough that I knew that I had reached an offshore call center. I hung up.

So, what needs to happen is:
1. Order #ow-srso-xxxxxxxxx needs to be cancelled forthright. And I need the $61.00 I paid Friday to start it refunded.
2. Your website needs to fixed so that I can login without repeated attempts.
3. Whoever was working at the Puyallup store at 11:15 this morning (4-2-2017) needs to be fired, and you need to publicly acknowledge this. Ignoring customers is never acceptable.

Then, I need an explanation as why this was all allowed to happen. Why am I being treated like garbage at every turn? Why is it so impossible to logon? Why is it so difficult to order an upgrade? And more importantly WHY DID I HAVE TO LEAVE THE SPRINT STORE WITHOUT MY ORDERED UPGRADE? But failing that, just tell me what obligations (ie contract, leases) I have left on my account and what I need to do to fulfill them and move to another carrier. Unlike you, I follow through on my promises.

<\Quote>

I’ve already gotten an acknowledgement back from the VP of customer service, but if it take that kind of escalation to get a human operator who know his/her shit then the battle has already been lost…

How not to handle a pizza order….

So, I wanted pizza today. Normally I’d go to Little Ceasar’s, and grab a hot and ready pizza and some wings. Never had a problem with them. Well there was that one time when they were out, but I digress. Long story short they’re my usually go-to when I want pizza and wings. Today, I wanted pizza, but I didn’t want Little Ceasar’s. I wanted Dominos. I could’ve gone to the website and placed a delivery order, but I didn’t have a menu handy, so walked to the nearest Domino’s. It was a little over a mile from my apartment, but the distance is nothing considering the walk I had to take to the 512 park & ride yesterday to go to work….

So, I’m there, and I place my order. Over $50. Ok, so I want leftovers. Pizza is best when it’s cold. Paid with my credit card. And then waited. And waited. While I was waiting, I saw a pizza box on its side. I didn’t think anything of it, so I took my pizzas and walked home.

As you can see, my pizza was in the box. And it now had a straight edge from it. And my boneless chicken was supposed to have a hot sauce (which the cashier explained to me was included), and an extra ranch sauce which I was charged for. Guess who recieved neither.

So, Dominos mishandled my pizza, and never gave me the sauces that I ordered. Of cource, I get tee’d off, so I lodge a complaint at the website. And their reply was basically this store is a franchise, so it’s not their circus, not their monkey, and not their problem. Company owned or franchisee, it’s one brand. And it’s a brand I will never go to again.

I could’ve gotten the same order at Little Ceasar’s for half of what I paid at Dominos. And it would’ve been ready right there on the spot. This was a mistake on my part. A mistake I will not make again.

So, if you’re a Dominos and you get a carry out order, don’t set the pizza on its side. Especially where the customer can see it. And make sure the customer get the entire order. Because it is far easier for me to never shop at your business again than it is to come back. Especially when you’re as for out of the way as the Dominos is…

It’s not all about the prices…

There was a much ado a while back about Starbucks raising their prices. They also publicly announced that their emplyees were also getting significant raises. Generally, I really don’t care for the former, but since it was for the latter, I’m ok with that. I’ve been on the front line before, and I know how difficult it is to make ends meet. But, that is not why I will never shop at Starbucks again. Here’s what happened:

A week and a half ago, I was at Starbucks and I ordered a venti sugar free cinnamon dulce iced latte. A mouthful to say, but easy to make (just a large iced latte with the requesite puumps of flavor in it). I paid for it (at the new, higher price). And I went to the pick up area for it and waited. And waited. And waited. Between the walk-in and the drive through, there was only one barista making drinks. She was new, and the only help she had was another co-worker who only told her what she was doing wrong, and making her throw away most of the drinks she was making and start over. Needless to say I ended up leaving to go catch my bus. Without my drink! Of course, I was teed off, and when I got home, I looked up the Starbucks web page, and I lodged a complaint.

And I got a canned response with an offer of a gift card which should arrive in 10-14 business days. Loosely translated, instead of doing their fucking jobs in the first place, I’m being told to settle for a low-ball offer that could take upto three weeks to arrive. So I declined it. It is my experience that when companies make this kind of offer, it never arrives. So, as far as I’m concerned Starbucks took my money, and never intended to render the goods and services for which I paid for. No big deal. I’ll just never shop at Starbucks again.

It’s not the high prices that will drive your customers away. It’s your poor customer service. BTW, Starbucks this isn’t the first time I’ve had to leave without my order. Don’t bother with your pretend, hollow non-apologies. Don’t bother with your insulting low-ball offers that will never arrive. Don’t bother with your empy promises. Just fuck off and go back to ingoring your customers.

More on the recent events in Paris….

After my last post, I’m still compelled to write more about it. We must not condemn Islam for this. I’ve seen too many ‘kill the Muslims’ posts on social media. To judge Islam by the actions of these terrorists is like the world judging Christianity by the actions of Westboro Baptist Church. We shouldn’t go blaming Muslims in general. I have friends who are Muslim. And this isn’t them.

When I was growing up (in the Cold War), I was a War Hawk. I wanted the Russians to be blown to smithereens. I never thought about the consequences, only the here and now. It wasn’t until Operation Desert Storm that I realized that with war, there is the aftermath. Even for a victor. Through the years, I’ve come across the spectrum, and now I’m a dove. War is evil. Violence is evil. Especially in the name of religion.

Before you go saying ‘go kill the Muslims’ just remember what the Good Book has said: Judge not lest ye be judged. Take a look in the mirror. If you’re so set on killing someone because they’re not a Christian, then you’re no better than ISIS. Historically more atrocities have been committed in the name of Christianity than Islam.

But having said that, it doesn’t make the terrorists’ actions in Paris right. Nor does it make any terrorists’ actions right. Nor any violence in the name of religion. Can’t people just get along.?

Neither should we be blaming the Syrian refugees, as I have seen again on social media. This is the same violence that they’re fleeing from. And people are blaming them for it?

More on this later. I have so many thoughts on this, but I have to clear my head…

Liberté, égalité, fraternité!

I’m not going to post any links to the recent tragedy in France. If you can read this, you probably have an internet connection, and you can probably find more current information than I can provide. Needless to say, violence is evil.

There is something fundamentally evil in the use of violence, especially in the name of religion. Just because everybody else uses it doesn’t make it any less wrong….

My thoughts are with the French people at this time. And with all the victims worldwide. There are times when I wonder in the words of Rodney King “Can’t we all just get along?”…

EDIT: yes I did rewrite this. The first post really just didn’t match my thoughts. And there are times when it’s really difficult to make out what you really want to say, yet you have to say something….

And people wonder…

People wonder why I never trust the police…

Last Wednesday, I was walking to my bus stop (actually the 512 Park & Ride). I was very early in the morning (normally the Route 1 runs by my apartment, but I had to be at work so early that it wasn’t running). I’m walking on the sidewalk, minding my own business. This was a public highway. Ten minutes into my walk, a sheriff’s deputy pull up behind me and puts his lights on. Two deputies get out, one with his hand on his gun, and they ask me where I was going. When I told them where I was going, they said there was no service at that time. Bullshit. Route 574 runs from 2:30 in the morning northbound to 12:30 at night southbound. As I handed him my I.D., I asked why I was being stopped, and he said basically I was free to go. So I left. And I wasn’t even jaywalking.

Why was I stopped? Am I violating some unwritten curfew? Am I on double-secret probation because I live in Parkland? Or am I just beneath the protection of the law in general? It doesn’t really matter. According to the eyes of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, I’m a suspect. Even if they don’t have any evidence of a crime, I’m a suspect and I can be stopped at will. Even if I’m just a pedestrian trying to go to work. There has been a lot said in the media about cops killing unarmed suspects, and cops getting killed. I still say that violence is inherently evil, and I will not stoop to that level.

But the trust is gone. And it will never come back. I will no longer think twice about calling 911 if I’m a witness or a victim to a crime. I just won’t call. Period. Why should I? When I’m more afraid of the cops than I am of the crooks, it is pointless.

To protect and serve, my ass!

Read my words, and take heed if you're with Comcast.

I've had Comcast in some form or another for over the past 19 years. Always with TV at some level or another, and for most of the recent decade, high speed internet. This is my story on my switch back to Xfinity high-speed internet and my xfinity x1 upgrade.


(This started out as an email that was sent to Comcast in an effort to straighten this out privily. It bounced).

3 weeks ago, I decided to switch back to xfinity high speed internet from CenturyLink. I bought the modem from Best Buy. And then I called to set it up. But first, I had to order it. It was next to impossible at first to get a hold of someone (due to the fallout from the Mayweather/Pacqueou fight and the ensuing service outage). I'm willing to forgo going without most of my TV programming for one night, but let's talk about your customer service for now. When I called to order internet, I reached one of your infamous outsourced call centers. You know what I'm talking about. The places where neither product knowledge, fundamental customer service, nor even a basic understanding of the English language are required. I get a hold of one of your outsourced droids, and she asked about how much i was paying for cable, and then proceeded to tell me how she was going to try to save me money. And then she went into a high-pressure sales pitch to add xfinity voice. I told her no. Several times. When she started berating me for not listening to nor accepting her sales pitch, I hung up.

I was calling to add a service (and pay you more money, at full market rate at that, too), and I was driven away. Think about that. Their greed to upsell me almost drove me away from buying (and paying for) new service.

Eventually I was able to get to someone who was a native english speaker, and I was able to order high speed internet, then I was transferred to an outsourced market droid, but I was finally able to activate my high-speed internet.

Fast forward two weeks, and went to the Federal Way Xfinity store. My experience with trying to order high-speed internet led me to check my account to shenanigans. And I talked to Richard Sjouwke. He looked up my account and told me that I was paying full market price for all my services. He then told me I could save by bundling with voice. And this time I bit. In hindsight, I fell for the Sales Pitch disguised as customer service. But that meant I had to replace all my boxes (I also got xfinity x1) *and* my cable modem. I went the self-install route again, and once again got the outsourced rep who couldn't even speak English. With the voice modem, I realized that my internet speeds had fallen to about half of what they were before I got high speed internet. So Monday morning, I went back to the Federal Way Xfinity to return my old cable boxes. I also returned my cable modem (I went back to the Netgear modem that I bought 3 weeks ago). I told the rep at the counter that I wanted to cancel my voice service (I don't need it, I have unlimited minutes on my Sprint cell phone). I was told that I would have to call the loyalty line (here's what happens when you call it), or I would have to return my x1 boxes and have my other dvr boxes reissued to me. I don't think so. I'm not going to call another outsourced marketing droid just to put up with another high pressure sales pitch.

I don't know it their is a double play bundle that can be brought into play. I get the impression that when I went to the Xfinity store Monday, that the rep didn't want to cancel, and was slightly perturbed that I was returning equipment. I get it. I'm a nuisance. I'm an inconvenience. And may I also add that I did reach out to @comcastcares on twitter each time I tried  to self-install, and never got a timely response.

You'd think that if Comcast's customer service was better, if their call centers spoke English period, if they didn't treat every interaction as a chance to foist a high-pressure sales on a customer, if their website wasn't as confusing about what products they offer, the merger with Time-Warner might have gone through....

I know I'm not stuck with Comcast. CenturyLink has adequate service. I can get my video needs through Netflix, Hulu Plus and Spamazon Prime (I have all three). But I own my own modem. I want to make it work. But I'll eat the $109 and change loss if I have to....

Before you upgrade or add Comcast service. Think twice. Read my words and take heed. Have a backbone, and be prepared to hang up the phone if you need to.

Comcast, did I mention your customer service sucks?

So I wanted to do stuff today….

Today was my day off. I thought I’d be able to get away with upgrading the software on my phone today. Since last February, I’ve been running the Venom One ROM. The version I’ve been using is 5.8, and the current version is 7.0.1. So needless to say, it was time to download it. There was a problem, however. It’s called CenturyLink. I thought I was doing the right thing in switching to CenturyLink. But I now realize I was better off staying with Comcast. I have an issue with CenturyLink. And it’s a big one.

It doesn’t matter what browser or Operating System I use, about every 3 to five websites I browse, I get a ‘cannot connect’ error. I can be using Firefox or Google Chrome, in either windows or Linux, and I’ll have problems. It appears to be a DNS error. Unfortunately, I can’t change the DNS settings on my modem/router. So I’m stuck with the unresponsive boxes of crap that CenturyLink has foisted upon me. And then there are the times the wi-fi goes down completely, and I have to hard reset my modem to get it to work again.

I’ve tried calling CenturyLink support. Let’s see: on hold for an extended period of time. Then I got someone who was more interesting in reading hos script than he was in listening to my problem. He didn’t even speak English, let alone have a fundamental grasp of computers and the internet. But I jumped through the hoops in good faith. All he did was change the channel the wi-fi radio was on. And two days later, I still had the same problem. Back to CenturyLink, and they want to schedule a visit. Problem: they want a 4-hour window. I don’t have a 4 hour window on my day off. I have shit to do (I have a 3-4 hour commute each way to work) on my day off. Waiting around for an incompetent tech for a company more known for fucking up customers is not something I want to do on my day off.

I guess it boils down to CenturyLink wanting to maximize revenue while minimizing actually delivery of services. I’m under contract, and even though I’m not receiving the services I’m paying for, they insist that I continue paying for the non-delivery of internet access.

I wanted to upgrade my phone’s software today. I downloaded it 4 different times. And it was corrupted every time.

Thanks a lot, CenturyLink. You may now resume ignoring your customers.

So, United Health Care doesn't want me to see a doctor. Period.

With the passage of Obamacare, I lost my company provided health insurance. Not that I grieve for it. The one claim I filed for a routine diabetic checkup was denied due to a pre-existing condition, and I ended up paying over $400.00 out of pocket for a 15 minute office visit (GFY Aetna). So, I filled out my online application, and I qualified for the state's basic health plan (aka Apple Care),  in this case provided by United Health Care. I assigned a doctor (who was not the previous doctor I'd been seeing). They call themselves managed care. It should be more correctly called micro-managed care. I looked on their website and saw that my previous doctor was on the network,  but the website wouldn't completely load so I couldn't do anything about it. I asked online how to switch providers, and I was ignored. They just sent me a new ID card with the sand provider. I tried calling them, but all I got a as a voice recognition program that couldn't understand what I was saying (kind of like a menu where they deliberately how the choices).

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago,  when I updated my income (getting more hours at work), and I'm no longer eligible for United Health Care. I'm still covered by it till the end of the month,  and i was finally able to switch to my old provider. So i call and set up an appointment with him. The next day, I get a call from the doctors office saying that I'm not listed in the system, and that I'd be paying for this out of my own pocket. I don't have over $400.00 so I canceled the appointment. After calling United Health Care, I was told that the changes won't take place until I receive my new ID card, which probably won't conveniently arrive until after I'm off of United Health Care.

I'm a type I diabetic. And United Health Care doesn't want me to see a doctor.

A political post:

First, the first political ad officially posted on my blog:

I really try to stay out of political issues. Yes, I have my opinions, and you have yours. Just because they’re not the same doesn’t mean that either of us are equal. I grew up conservative, but gradually turned towards the liberal side of the spectrum. But not all the answers are going to come from either the left or the right. They’re going to come from both sides. But neither the democrats or republicans can seem to work together. And we’re going to lose because of it. The government almost went into default last summer because they couldn’t work together, and that would’ve royally fucked the country. Maybe the politicos should put aside the Party Dogma, and start talking to the person across the aisle. A house divided against itself  cannot stand. And partison politics in DC is in essence dividing the house against itself…

Stood up….

Saturday, I was at work, and when I got off, I noticed one of the employees at the business right next us had an HD2 like me. He told me he wanted to Netflix on his phone, and the only way to do that is either put windows phone 7 or Android on it. He still needs WinMO, so i told there was a way to run Android off the sd card (which I did for a while), and he said he’d be back so I could (I have all the necessary files on my laptop).

So I show up. At my work on my day off. And the id10t stands me up….

Ok people, if I’m willing to fix your techie items, then you need to show up when I say meet me. I didn’t buy a bus pass this month, and I have to eat the loss for the round trip bus fare. Fortunately, A co-worker called out, and I can make some use of my time here. But still, this is something to consider when you decide to no-show….

To Simon Malls…

Under no circumstances will I ever purchase anything offered to me as the result of an unsolicited e-mail message.

A while back, I complained to you specifically about the Coke machines eating my money, and how I would only get a partial refund frim guest services. The reply I recieved was that you authorized the refund of the remainder of my money, but by then it was no longer worth it, and I decided to just eat my loss. I also decided that the Tacoma Mall (and the stores therein) would no longer see my business as a result of the 'go pound sand' attitude that I was shown. And I told you so at the time. I thought that would be the end of the matter. But no. You added me to your spam list. My home internet access, and my phone's internet access are both limited and metered. *I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE UNWANTED ADVERTISEMENTS YOU SEND ME!!* I do not need your ads, you don't need my business (if you did, you would've made sure your vending machines were working, and you would've made sure guest services actually gave a damn about customers).

Once again, under no circumstances will I ever purchase anything offered to me as the result of an unsolicited e-mail message. Spamming is considered theft of services and trespass to chattel (see CompuServe Inc. v Cyber Promotions). Your messages are unwelcome.

Help wanted….

Hasselbeck has received a Matt Hasselbeck Well-Deserved Shit-Canning. Well, it wasn’t exactly a Well-Deserved Shit-Canning, but it’s the same end result: he’s not here. IIRC, he’s gone off to Tenessee, and there’ll hell lead the Titans to there Tom Brady Well-Deserved Beating. I wish him the best, in his future losing season. Which probably means that Seattle is looking for a new quarterback (though, I will root for Charlie Whitehurst. I just the offensive line holds up…). It has also been heard that the ‘Hawks were seriously considering Brett Favre. God Forbid. I saw his last play last season. He should not take the field again. Ever! Before, I thought it was just funny to joke around with him being old (like his suspension due to testing positive for Geritol). But now, my position is that he needs to stay retired. For his health. Seriously. Besides, the conditions of the turf at CenturyLink Field are not conducive to the use of walkers on the field. Perhaps if he’d actually ran instead of just telling the oncoming rush to get off his lawn….

While we’re on it, the NFL needs to seriously address concussions and head injuries. Sure we love to see all the hits, and ball carriers getting crunched, but there are people getting hurt. I know a lot of you think the NFL is devolving to touch football, but many of these players are beating themselves senile. And most NFL careers and ended by the time the players are in there thirties (many of them earlier). And I just don’t think it’s right to sacrifice your entire life just for 16-18 hours every fall in your 20s…. Perhaps the NFL could also borrow a page from the NHL’s book. Make ‘attempting to injure’ a call-able foul. Once called the offending player is immediately ejected from the game, and the league has to review it before he can return. Or maybe, the league could borrow the concept of the yellow and red cards from MLS. Yellow = your first and last warning from the officials. Red = you’re ejected from the game, and your team is playing short-handed for the duration….

Technorati Tags: Football,Matt Hasselbeck Well-Deserved Shit-Canning,Tom Brady Well-Deserved Beating

In less than 4 hours…

The last space shuttle will come in for its final landing. Ever. I remember the first launch, when I was in the first grade at school in Goergia (this was sufficiently important stuff that we watched it in class, even in the first grade…). A few days later, we saw the landing. Live. After the first few missions, they became sufficiently commonplace that the news no longer preempted the regular programming to show the launches. The exception was one day in 1986 when they broadcast the live launch in school (for some reason or another, my teacher at the time didn’t turn the tv on, but it was on in the adjoining classroom). But it was turned on right away when it was realized what had just happened. May Christa McAuliffe frolic in the Beer Volcano and Stripper Factory.

A lot more of the technological innovations we enjoy have come from the space program than you really know. Not being able to put people into space on a regular basis will eventually have an adverse effect on the economy, and I’m afraid people don’t realize that. Yes, it takes our tax dollars, but the innovations that we can derive from them will in the long run bring an even greater return on the investment.

Pierce Transit are liars!

First they say that they have to drastically reduce service, cutting over a third of there service (mostly the routes that I have to take to work). But they're still buying new buses. The drivers routinely flout the laws of the road (I can't tell you the times I couldn't cross at the marked crosswalk because the bus was standing in it). I've also seen drivers threaten passengers with an extended denial of service for having the gall to wish the driver a nice day. I've given up on complaining to Pierce Transit about this. Their customer service is dev/null. They just need to fold and stop glutting themselves off of our tax dollars.

Soundtransit is funded differently, and they still rock.

This says it best…

I am abstaining from voting this year. I like to vote on issues, and a candidate’s position on them, not on what said candidate says about his/her opponents. This year especially, there has been nothing but attack ads, special interest money, and smoke & mirrors from all the candidates. I can see your bull-shitting me. And so is your opponent. Hey, guess what. I’m not voting for either of you.

So, this year, my absentee ballot will go unmarked and unvoted. I will vote my conscience when I feel compelled to do so, but in this election, my conscience tells me that neither Patty Murray nor Dino Rossi deserve my vote.

If you can’t say anything nice about your opponent, then please shut your fucking pie-hole.

Some things have never changed….

Screw you Chase

I’ve had an account with Chase since February. There was an issue with my then current financial institution, and I decided to have a back-up checking account. Bank Of America was out, for the obvious reasons. So I researched, and thought Cahse was the best option. My first clue that there was something rotten in Denmark was my first deposit. They sat on it for almost a week.  Then there was the $25 fee for my debit card. They said it was for a ‘rewards’ program, but never really let me look at the terms and conditions. As for ‘rewards’: Not Really Worth It. I don’t need to spend $500+ just to get a $5 Starbucks card. And the points would’ve expired before I could accumulate enough to get anything worthwhile.

Yesterday was the last straw. I needed to pay the rent, and I had to deposit my paycheck (no Chase branch near my store). My roommate gave me his rent money in cash. I deposit the items then asked for a money order. And the teller said the check wouldn’t be available until tomorrow morning. That was it. I decided to closed the account (they reversed the deposit), and then gave me some bullshit about it being the normal policy for all banks to sit on your deposit. I told her that I never had that issue with BofA (basically she lied to me). Then I was told there will be a $25 fee to close my account. Fine. I’ll eat my loss. Don’t ever expect me to recommend you to my friends.

I won’t mention the spam I’ve recieved from them either. By now, invoking the Boulder Pledge on them is kind of redundent.

Chase: I don’t need your fees, I don’t need your lies, and I don’t need your attitude. And you don’t need my business….

Rob McKenna

Does not represent my wishes, my interest, or my will. As an elected official, he needs to comprehend that he needs to out his constituents before his party's ideology. Unfortunately, this is not to be. He's joined the lawsuit against health care reform...

Why can't republicans just understand that there is a reason that they're the minority party now?

ORCA card = FRAUD!

A little set up. The ORCA card is an electronic, rfid card that Pierce Transit, SoundTransit, King County Metro, and a few other local agencies now use for their passes. On SoundTransit, if you want a transfer now (or if you want to transfer between different bus systems, i.e. Metro or Pierce Transit), you have to use the ORCA card. You can put various products on the ORCA card:

• a regional pass (i.e. the PugetPass)
• an E-purse, which makes it a stored value card (like the bastard child of a debit card).
• Or, you can put both on, which is what I do. I have a monthly Puget Pass at a $1.75 ride value (which is what Pierce Transit’s fare is), and I usually have an E-Purse to cover the occasions when I need to take a bus that charges a higher fare (like the ST Express and/or King County Metro).

Now how it’s supposed to work is when you board your buss, you tap the card on the reader (I don’t even have to take it all of my wallet), and if your pass value is equal or exceeds the fare value, you’re good to go. If the value of the fare exceeds you pass value, then the difference is taken from your E-Purse, or if you don’t have one, you have to make up the difference.

That’s where I have problems. I have an E-Purse with my pass on my card. Whenever I take the ST Express and tap my card, it shows up on the reader as “PASS + .75” (if I take the 574), or if I take the Seattle Express (route 590, 591, 594, etc) it shows up as “PASS + 1.25”, and I see the corresponding reduction on the E-Purse. And yet, I’m still challenged by the drivers on almost a daily basis to pay the difference in cash, even though I’ve already paid this electronically. Sometimes I win the argument, sometimes I pay, and then there’s the time I got kicked off the bus):

It happened February 17th. I attempted to board the 594 (coach 9706) @ the 512 park & ride. I knew I had enough on my ORCA card's e-purse to cover the fare, and I saw it deducted from my balance. The driver still insisted that I owed money, and he refused to let me board. See the proof, a screenshot from my card’s transaction history: Clearly, you can see that the remaining balance on my E-Purse was sufficient to cover the difference, and in fact it was deducted from the card.

 

Clearly, you can see that the remaining balance on my E-Purse was sufficient to cover the difference, and in fact it was deducted from the card. I immediately called Pierce Transit’s customer service line, and to say I was blown off would be an understatement. Pierce Transit really should put something on their website and/or in their literature about how rude and condescending their telephone representatives are. Anyway rather than referring me to management, I was told to call ORCA (the only person I didn’t need to call since the equipment works). I called ORCA, and explained it to their representative, and he tried to contact Pierce Transit himself, and I guess they blew him off. He did say that I was right, and that he would be sending me a free ride voucher, though. That may had settled the matter, had I actually got it (in hindsight, he probably lied to me to get me off my case). I also direct-dialed one of the senior supervisors/assistant managers at Peirce Transit and left a voicemail. I then emailed SoundTransit (the agency that subcontracts Pierce Transit to do this route), and I got essentially the same answer back:

<quote>

Thank you for contacting Sound Transit about your trip on the ST 594 on February 17, 2010 using your ORCA card.

 

The ST 594 is operated by Pierce Transit on behalf of Sound Transit.  Your ORCA account has been verified and had sufficient funds to ride this trip without paying any additional cash fares.  I apologize for the inconvenience.  This will be reported to Pierce Transit for further investigation.  I will be mailing you a complimentary free ride bus ticket for your next trip on a Sound Transit express bus.  We appreciate you riding Sound Transit and

</quote>

Three hours later, a secretary called me, and we conversed on this matter. She looked at my ride history and again said I shouldn’t have been charged extra and referred this to management. The next day I got a call from ‘Jerry’, who said he talked to the driver, and the driver lied to him and said I still owed money. NOTWITHSTANDING THE EVIDENCE ALREADY SHOWN TO ORCA, SOUNDTRANSIT, AND POSTED HERE! I offered to give my card number so he could look it up himself, but he said he doesn’t do that kind of stuff and basically said he believed the driver more than me. Essentially he has no fucking clue what’s going on, and no idea how the ORCA card reader is supposed to work. And this stupidity is the senior management at Pierce Transit!

Through all of this, two of the parties said they would be sending free ride tickets. It’s been two weeks since this happened, and I’ve never received them. Even though they have my address…

Fast forward to this past Saturday. I had to take the 574 to Federal Way. That very morning I had reloaded my ORCA card with the March PugetPass and E-Purse. I boarded the bus, tapped my card, and the driver grabbed my elbow as if to assault me or throw me off the bus. I told him I had an E-purse and he let me go. That was the last time I rode ST Express. I still need to go up to Seattle to look at a computer system that my boss has directed me to set up, but I don’t want to have to fight another losing battle with illiterate bus driver, and I’m now concerned for my safety. I don’t want to be physically accosted, compelled to pay extra or get off the bus. I just want to go to my destination…

The ORCA Card is a crock and a fraud. I’ve had more trouble with it than it’s worth, but I’m forced to use it. I’m sure it’s a valid concept, but when liars and incompetent clods are the ones implementing it, all bets are off.

Technorati Tags: Pierce Transit,ORCA Card,SoundTransit,King County Metro

A letter to Sbarro…

Hi. I work in the <redacted so the Internet doesn’t know where I work>, Washington. I'm not going to disclose where I work at, lest you retaliate, but I won't be doing business with you. Ever. Here's why:

First off: Right when your store opened (I believe that very night), I was approached by one of the employees (possibly the manager), and he asked me if I wanted to trade product after closing. It took repeated 'no's' for him to get the point. Every company that I've ever worked for has one word to describe this: STEALING. I've seen this individual at other locations, so I can only assume that he's in some form of management (ie store or district manager). And he propositioned me to steal from my employer. Who knows how many other merchants he's tried this with.

That wouldn't be bad enough. A few weeks later, I was asked by my boss to go get a slice of pizza for him. Right there, in front of everyone at the register, again I was propositioned again to steal from my employer in exchange for pizza. The only reason why I didn't walk out right then and there was because it was my boss's money, and he wanted his pizza. I've since let him know that if he wants your pizza, he can get it himself. My integrity will be above reproach.

I wouldn't have complained about those two episodes if it wasn't for tonight. The straw that broke the camel's back happened tonight. I was taking a customer's order when one of your employees approached. You must be running some kind of special tomorrow for mall employees, because he immediately went into his pitch. In the middle of my customer placing her order. Of course, I took his coupons and threw them right in the trash right in front of him, and reminded him that he interrupted a customer. I couldn't understand what he replied to me, but I don't think it was something repeatable. So what if I did that to you? You'd hit the roof. I don't go disrupting your sales, but obviously you just don't care.

You've disrespected me. You've disrespected my employer. And you've disrespected my customers. Not acceptable at all. Don't bother with any apologies. You are thieves, and I do not hear the words of thieves. My integrity will remain above reproach, and I will accept nothing from you. Just know I will never do business with you, and I will let everyone know what scum you really are...

Technorati Tags: Sbarro