Changing goals and speed

[AClark]

Creepy, it does. Here's some pictures of the Cav barracks that are build in a square just like that. There's the barracks, and across the lawn is the officer housing (still lived in, I didn't get pictures) and the SNCO/senior officers across from that. The old commissary and quartermaster are just behind the officer housing.

 

[CntryBoy777]

The bldgs at Ft Gibson, Ok look the same, too. It is between Muskogee and Tahlequah, it is where the Cherokee were marched to on the Trail of Tears.

 

[AClark]

All the really crazy weather missed us completely, we got some wind and cold, and a little rain, but nothing like OKC got. Which is good, I have to haul the kids horse to the vet tomorrow to get her teeth floated, and since the brakes aren't working for whatever reason, it's nice that it should be dry out.

***RANT WARNING***

We're off this morning to pick up DH's truck, they said they were done with it on Friday, but I was waiting on someone to come and do my kids horses teeth who never showed up. Now, the equine dentist seems irked with me after she cancelled on me 3x in a row because I'm not going to use her. Well, when you cancel because your assistant didn't show up, and then complain because the horse you did the day before was a rank a-hole and you need your helper, I'm sorry but I"m having a hard time comprehending this.
She was supposed to come out on Friday before last, but the weather was bad, ok, rescheduled for last Wednesday. Wednesday morning she said she had to take her husband to the Dr (my appt was at 5 PM), rescheduled for Friday 5 PM - Friday at 3 PM tells me she can't because her assistant isn't coming, then complains about the horse she had to do on Thursday being bad about it...all the while I"m like "uhm, so basically you went and did someone elses on Thursday but bumped me back for the 3rd time and you're complaining because I'm taking my horse somewhere else?" - no sense whatsoever. Then the excuse of I live quite a ways from her - which is true, except I fully offered to load up and take my horse to her. I feel like that meme with Fry from Futurama "Shut up and take my money!". She also costs about twice what the vet does so it's not like I'm cheaping out here. Meanwhile, this poor horse loses more than gets in her because her back teeth suck and all her food dribbles out.

Not picking the truck up was a blessing in disguise though. We went this morning to get it. Left outside with the door unlocked, I know because we got right into it as soon as we got there. It isn't actually fixed, they admitted they didn't know what was wrong and we'd have to take it to a dealership - drive it there. With the 4x4, EBS, ABS, and skid control lights lit on the dash. They are saying those were already lit...I busted them on that lie, because they took pictures of the dash when they got it in the shop and uploaded them to Geico.

This is the photo the adjuster took of the dash and I pulled off my claim file.
The EBS and all lights go right under the screen - yeah they look "on" to me...so I say "would you drive this the way it is?" and the guy goes "no, not with my wife and kids in it" but they shooed us off and left us to take it home like that. They said the "key fob" is the reason it won't lock and all the lights are on...yes I'm sure the key fob is the reason it says the ABS is messed up. Get real, I might be young but I'm sure not dumb. They gave me the diagnostics they had done and even I can read on there when the stuff saved on the computer shows it acting up and the mileage - 96,467 miles for the left door (the side that was hit) and 96, 672 miles for the ABS and all....they can try to argue the door lock at the 467, except the police report happened 5 miles from our house and the tow truck picked it up in our driveway.
It won't lock the driver door, which they replaced completely - sounds more like they did it wrong to me...but what do I know, I'm just a girl.

BS. We drove it straight to the dealership and dropped it off. I called Geico and complained to high heavens about returning a vehicle not completed and unsafe. I kept their rental pick up to take home to get my truck before dropping it off. I pulled in our driveway and they were calling me back saying they're extending it and to keep the rental. Even Geico didn't understand why they hadn't towed it to the dealership themselves and had it looked at.

So, I basically paid the $500 deductible to drive it literally 1 mile over to the Dodge dealership to sit in their shop for diagnostics and repairs. The body on it looks like new, you can't even tell it was smashed into, but that's not very useful when you can't drive it. It's just a shiny looking driveway decoration.

I don't get it, we weren't even at fault, the other driver is insured, why jerk us around like this? Might be time to go back to USAA for insurance.

Also, the police report STILL isn't finished after 3 weeks and I called and tore into the MP's for that too. It was supposed to be done by the 17th, told them their E4 was a lazy (add in choice words here) because we had to have it corrected twice already and it was supposed to be done on Friday, and they told me it wasn't finished this morning. I did get my way with that, the desk sergeant said he would do it himself because he's "tired of this kids BS" - because no doubt the hold on the police report is the reason the other insurance isn't doing anything.

It's definitely a Monday. I have a feeling I have not yet begun to be the complete a-hole I know I can be today.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Well I tell ya AC let's just get "Fired Up"....nothing better sometimes than "Kicking A**, and Taking Names". I had to face the A** that has promised me to help with my fencing this morning at the CoOp....and suffice it to say he won't be showing up Ever around here. Then, I go to the Extension office to drop off my soil samples and ask a few questions about grasses for pasture in this area. This is about the 10th time I've been in there with questions and have yet to have one answered. There was 1 lady in the office and she said that she worked with school nutition. She took my phone # and said she would have someone call to answer my questions....I'm still waiting, for mnths now, for the call with answers to my previous questions. About all I can get from them is printouts from the website....I believe "Customer Service" is a thing of the past....here in Ms and there in Ok, too. It is totally insane dealing with idiots these days, and they get upset that their irresponsibility offends ya and ya let them know in no uncertain terms what ya think. I've even tossed a dollar to a few....they all will ask what it is for...I always tell them it is for a Clue when ya can find one.

 

[Baymule]

Sometimes, after endless tries at being nice to people, you just gotta wad up and rain down all over them.

 

[Latestarter]

I don't get it, we weren't even at fault, the other driver is insured, why jerk us around like this? Might be time to go back to USAA for insurance.

OMG! Didn't you read about my recent experience with USAA? I wouldn't recommend them to an enemy right now! I've been with Geico as well and when my daughter got totaled making a left in an intersection by a driver running a red light (head on), she didn't get paid out for her car for almost a YEAR!! She was on MY policy at the time, so it wasn't a "kid thing" either. The ONLY reason I'm still with USAA right now is because my insurance is paid in full through July. I will almost assuredly be changing at that time.

OK, now here's MY *RANT* warning...

I don't think there's an honest, reputable, truthful, legit insurance company in existence... ANY insurance! But for now let's stick with vehicle... They're like politicians... they spew BS and tell you what you want to hear because they know nobody will read the contract and especially the fine print. So when the time comes that you actually need to use what you THOUGHT you had paid for, they inform you that you never really had that coverage to begin with. Or they'll tell you that the BS they're screwing you with is "the accepted industry standard"... Accepted by whom? Might be accepted by them but it's force fed to us! Tell me one place in any insurance paperwork that states that if/when they write your vehicle off as totaled, that they will only pay you the scrap metal value of the vehicle rather than the value of what it's going to cost to replace it? So what you "thought" you were paying for isn't in fact what you were paying for. And as a result, they pay you 1/2-3/4 of the true value of your now lost vehicle.

So you have the lib*rty mutu@l's of the world advertising/selling you on their BS "full value" coverage with disclaimers (not available in all states, NOT "standard" but an add-on, at substantial additional cost, and only on new vehicles, for a short period of time, subject to underwriting guidelines {you must qualify, meaning statistically less likely to NEED that coverage in the first place}) "You'll get your WHOLE vehicle back" yeah... I'll trust you on that one... about as far as I can throw you, IF I even qualify for it.

Insurance; the only enforced by law requirement to gamble. Yup... gamble. You see, you're paying the insurance company based on your belief that you "MAY" get in an accident and need coverage (a gamble). The insurance company is gambling based on statistics, that you WON'T get in an accident and they won't HAVE to pay you back anything. Don't you know that's why your sex, age, location, driving history, tickets, credit score, income, employment, education level, height, weight, butt size, etc all becomes important to whether they'll even insure you in the first place? BUT... if by some bad chance they DO need to pay you, they're going to make it as difficult as possible for them to lose money on any aspect of the transaction. Enter the newest high paying job market; ambulance chasers - lawyers

Oh and accident forgiveness? Oh yeah... you pay for that in advance (higher rate than elsewhere) so you pay in advance for the accident they are gambling you won't have.

Or how about alst@te, that now sends you a "reward check" every 6 months for NOT having an accident (see the above disclaimer from that OTHER insurer)? So I guess that's their admission that they're over charging you from the get go... Why aren't you charging me LESS to begin with, and only charge more to those who HAVE an accident history? That cracks me up as much as those who are elated at a huge income tax refund... You've given the govt the use of YOUR money, for FREE, for over a YEAR, with no interest return to you! See if the govt will be so "user friendly" when you owe THEM money for over a year... you'll be charged interest as well as penalties!

You SHOULD have your withholding (W4) set up that you are giving EXACTLY what you (will) owe monthly or slightly less. Ideally, you'll need to send the govt a check for $1 along with your tax return. This is YOUR MONEY that you are giving them to do with as they wish, free of charge, for however long it takes for them to refund it back to you! You want a big refund check in May or June? Then take that extra money you'll no longer be giving to Uncle Sam (or more truthfully, the illegal, NON governmental organization that works outside/above the law referred to as the IRS) to baby sit and put it in an interest bearing account. Then, come next April or May or whenever you'd normally get your tax money back, close the account and go blow it. Or better yet, put it in a 401K or IRA that will benefit you down the line!

Wow... must have had some pent up anger in there somewhere... Sorry you're dealing with this BS! I feel for you, truthfully! And I can identify. Hope this next step gets you back to normal and quickly. But seriously... USAA? maybe reconsider and check around some...

 

[AClark]

Generally I am easy to deal with. Obviously, since everything is an "adventure" of some sorts in my life, I'm pretty understanding when things don't go right. It's life, it happens, and Murphy is my first cousin it seems!
However, when I've finally had enough. I will literally pick a time of day and call every day at the same time until I get the information I'm looking for - persistence is key. Most of the time they'll get what you need just so you leave them alone.

Or, like the horse dentist, if you screw me off, I'll spend my money somewhere else. She's definitely not happy with me, and is someone I want to stay on good terms with, so I just said I'd schedule the dental work with my vet and no hard feelings. I like her as a person, but not interested in doing business with her again.
It's just basically knowing when to toe the line, rather than cross it. Like with the MP's, I know DH can't flip out on them, but I sure can. Amazing, after my heated phone call, DH drove down and picked up the report within half an hour. He's been down there twice already. I already had a contingency plan if they ignored it anyway.

Same went for the insurance company, when they blew me off it's just "ok, who is your supervisor" and I'm shocked at the quickness that everything started falling into place - "Oh no Mrs Clark you can keep the rental until the dealership is done with it, and we're so sorry..." when 30 minutes earlier they wanted me to leave my rental at the body shop to be returned...told them that wasn't happening because the rental is in my name and I'm not leaving them responsible for it.

I had USAA for 10 years before I switched to Geico. Never had any issues with them, my ex wrecked my car and it was fixed and back in no time and done right. The only reason I switched is because they are more expensive than Geico is, and it was like $70 a month difference.

Geico sucks. I read that little disclaimer on Liberty Mutual when I saw the commercial on TV, paused the TV to read that tiny crap. What a joke. Accident forgiveness is a joke too, do you think they forgave me for my very first accident when I backed into that car with DH's truck? Hell no, they jumped my rates up for the last year and a half since ith appened. My very first accident ever, at 31 with a whopping pay out of $2300. Big f'ing deal.

 

[CntryBoy777]

I've had my share of "Issues" with insurance with many companies, and they all are great as long as You are paying, but when it is Them that is paying, they raise the rates, or cancel ya altogether. I will never own another vehicle that I don't pay cash for and get only liability coverage. I have several hundred thousands of safe driving miles, but my credit score affects my rates...crazy. I can't grab the "Bait" with the IRS LS, the last contact I had with them, I had Homeland Sec called on me to escort me from the bldg for asking 3 questions they refused to answer.

 

[AClark]

LOL yeah don't get me started on Big Brother, though I'm more pleased with politics as of late, the IRS is a total racket.
However, we have so many kids that we get a refund no matter what. I never blow the refund though, I use it to pay bills, get new tires or things we need, etc. I paid my truck off this year with it so I didn't have to pay the interest anymore and now I save what I was making for a payment in a savings certificate.

What I want to know is how is it if I want a loan from the bank, they charge me 10% interest, but they only pay me less than 3% interest on a certificate so they can use my money...banks are a racket too.

 

[Latestarter]

Well, they are "for profit" after all...