The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

By Rita R. Robison

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep? 

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Getting my fence painted before the heavy rains started

I wanted the contractor who helps me with home repairs to stain my fence and paint the eves and the back of the house.

He said he’d get back to me with an estimate, but as the nice, hot days of August rolled by, he didn’t follow through.

Instead, I selected another firm. I wasn’t sure what kind of stain to use, so I had three painters come to the house to give me a bid. I had difficulty choosing among them. The company with one of the lowest bid couldn’t do the fence spring.

I remembered the name of a painting company I’d hired about six years ago to paint three sides of my house. The firm did a satisfactory job, so I hired them.

Luckily, the weather forecast indicated we’d have five days of sun. The fence dried out, and the workers were able to stain it. They did the eves and the back of the house, too.

I’m glad my fence was stained this fall. It was beginning to grow moss in places and had areas of mildew growth.

My worst: Dealing with young, inexperienced workers

Since paint fumes make me sick, I didn’t watch the workers as they cleaned my fence and stained it.

Since I had a meeting at 2 p.m., I couldn’t check the fence with them when they’d finished. When I looked at it, I found dirt on the bottom board of the backside of the fence in the backyard. And, there were two bricks sitting against the fence, indicating that the workers hadn’t stained the fence there. In addition, in two dozen places, stain streaks were running down the fence.

I left a message for the owner. He came the next day and cleaned the back of the fence and stained it. He also tried to fix some of the streaked areas, but said too much bleach caused a few of them.

The owner helped the young worker who painted the eves and the back of the house. The job was satisfactory.

I also had problems with young, inexperienced workers when my roof was installed. One of them broke a window when a ladder slipped. He also was rude to me when I told him to clean the grass and slugs off the metal panels before they were installed on my home. He told me to do it myself.

I’d like to be able to hire workers for jobs that I need to have done on my home that are experienced enough to do a good job.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Getting a new roof

A number of times I’ve written about my two failed metal shingle roofs. I was fortunate to win an arbitration and get enough money for another roof.

This time I choose standing seam, panels of metal like you see on commercial buildings. I learned that the metal shingles don’t perform well in the rainy Seattle area. And, I choose a local contractor who had done a good job for a friend of mine.

The roof looks nice. It’s rained once since the roof was completed, a short but heavy downpour. The roof performed well.

My worst: Having to paint soffits

Since paint fumes make me sick, two of my friends said they’d help me paint the soffits after the roof was installed. That’s the underside of the eves where new plywood was installed to replace rotten areas. However, my friends were too busy to help me when I called about it.

So there I was, painting. I put primer on the raw wood so it wouldn’t be damaged in stormy weather. Hopefully, my friends can help me later. If not, I’ll hire a painting company.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Getting the money from the settlement of my roof lawsuit

I’ve written many times about my failed metal shingle roof; how difficult it was to take the manufacturer and contractor to court, how it cost so much money, the stress involved in doing the arbitration myself, and the joy of winning, only to have the contractor’s attorney file for a new trial.

Now it’s over. I’ve settled with the contractor and manufacturer. I’ve received my payments. Although I like the look of my metal shingle roof, it’s not suitable for rainy, Pacific Northwest weather. I’m going to get a standing seam metal roof, the flat metal panels you see on some commercial buildings.

What a consumer experience. I’ll be talking and writing about it for years.

My worst: Getting the wrong license tab

I received a notice in the mail from the county auditor that my yearly auto license tabs were due. Being really busy, I promptly mailed in my check so the payment wouldn’t slip through the cracks.

My current tab has an “A” on it for April. The one I received in the mail has an “M” on it for March.

I wonder how that error was made? Now, still busy, I have to go to the auditor’s office and try to get the error straightened out.

I’ve been buying tabs for years and never had this problem.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Good customer service from Alaska Airlines and TSA

 

This week, I took a trip to Sacramento. When I arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the counter agent said the computer showed that I hadn’t checked in. I told her I had tried to change my seat because, due to a respiratory problem, it works better for me to sit by the window ahead of the wing. She was nice about it and said we probably needed to start over since I’d asked for a seat change.

The counter agent assigned me the seat I needed and prepared my boarding pass. She was friendly and polite, a really nice airport experience.

Next, I went through airport security. The TSA employee held up my backpack after it went through the scanner. "Do you have a water bottle in here?" he asked. I said no, forgetting that I’d left a water bottle in my backpack three weeks ago when I came back from Madrid.

He said he’d need to throw the bottle of water away and check my backpack again. I apologized for my mistake. He didn’t yell or get angry. He was polite and courteous.

It was an amazing way to begin a trip. I was smiling at people. They were smiling back. I don’t think I’ve ever started a trip in such a great mood.

My worst: Having to think about a new trial for my failed roof

Although I won the arbitration related to my leaking roof, the contractor and his lawyers filed for a new trial.

Hopefully, we can reach a settlement before I have to pay an attorney more money a trial. At $195 an hour, I just paid another big bill for help looking at the arbitrator’s award statement and other details.  

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Winning the arbitration for my roof

The arbitrator gave his decision. He found in my favor regarding my lawsuit on a failed metal shingle roof. In addition to the labor costs to replace the roof, I received attorney’s fees, costs, and interest.

I’m glad this is over. It’s been stressful, and I’ve paid a lot in attorney’s fees.

It’s been quite a consumer experience. I could write a book, which I may do.

My worst: Getting the wrong order at McDonald’s

After the arbitrator’s decision, I had three days to present an affidavit about my attorney’s fees and costs.

Since I was busy pulling information together and working with my attorney the timing for her to get an affidavit done related to her costs, I missed lunch.

After physical therapy, I stopped at McDonald’s to get a fish sandwich. I went to my attorney’s office to wait for her to complete her work. My plan was to eat the fish sandwich in my car. When I opened my order, instead of a fish sandwich, it was a Mac double cheese.

I ate it due to the time crunch. It wasn’t that tasty.

I bet the person who got my order was surprised.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Using a free Christmas tree from my yard

Here in the Pacific Northwest, Christmas trees grow everywhere. Small volunteer trees appear frequently in my yard. I let a few of them grow and use them for Christmas trees.

One of my choices got to be 9 feet tall and was growing right up against the fence. It was time to take action.

I invited my friends to help me decorate my tree at a Christmas party. I got busy Saturday getting ready, so two friends cut down the tree Sunday. They did a great job of trimming it and setting it up.

About 15 people came to the celebration. It was really great to be surrounded by the love of my friends.

My worst: The arbitration for my failed metal shingle roof

Thursday I had the arbitration for my failed VAIL Titan metal shingle roof made by Custom-Bilt Metals.

I’ve settled with the manufacturer, so the arbitration was about damages from the roofing contractor Edwards Exteriors.

I’ve spent a considerable amount on attorney’s fees already, so I did the arbitration arguments my self, pro se.

It was quite a consumer learning experience. Jim Edwards had an attorney paid for by his insurance company. This attorney also represented the bond company, RLI Insurance Co. Then Edwards had an attorney representing him.

Their argument was that it was entirely the manufacturer’s fault. This is typical in roofing disputes. The manufacturer and the contractor point fingers at each other.

My argument was my roof wasn’t installed in a workmanlike manner. The contractor put expensive metal shingles over rotten wood twice; the fascia boards – hung on the ends of the rafter tails – weren’t straight causing standing water in my gutters all the time; the eves are leaking and rotting; and leaks appear on the inside of the fascia boards at the ends when it rains. He breached his warranty and contract.

I also argued that Edwards should have responded to my letter to fix the problems, the Notice of Claim, and my offer to mediate the problem. His attorney said it was O.K. that Edwards never responded because it’s a manufacturer’s problem that he couldn’t have done anything about it anyway.

We’ll see what the arbitrator has to say. He has two weeks to give his decision.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Good customer service at Starbucks

When I went to Starbucks for coffee with a friend, he ordered my tea for me. The barista put it in a real cup.

I asked if she remembered that it was what I usually asked for. She said no, one of her co-workers told her that’s what I liked.

I really appreciated the good customer service.

My worst: Having a failed roof that requires arbitration

My attorney is helping me get ready for the arbitration early next month for my failed metal shingle roof. It’s stressful.

The good news is I received a settlement from the manufacturer. Now, I need to prevail in the arbitration against the contractor and his bond company. Then I’ll have a new roof.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Top 10 baby boomer complaints about products and services

Everyone is aware that baby boomers like to buy things.

With tough economic times, it’s important to boomers that the goods and services that they buy are first rate.

What are the top 10 things that irritate boomers the most?

1. Cell phones not working properly, especially when calls are dropped or the phone company makes other mistakes, and trying to get the problem fixed.

2. Companies with "senior" products that try to sell them to boomers.

3. Bogus health products such as teeth whiteners, miracle diets, anti-aging potions, arthritis cures, and baldness treatments.

4. Investment scams, including high-pressure sales for products such as annuities.

5. The rising costs of health care, the quality of health care, and dealing with insurance companies about billing errors or denying coverage.

6. Low-quality and poor customer service, including in stores, from Internet sales, and over the phone where the menu choices are lengthy and the customer service representative is hard to understand.

7. Costly technical support for new electronic equipment including computers and cell phones.

8. Problems with cars, including difficulties getting a car repaired, false statements about cars being sold, and leasing and towing disputes.

9. High fees and interest rates from credit card companies, mortgage problems, and ineffective debt-relief companies.

10. Difficulties with contractors or repair men or women who don’t do the job right.

Any other top baby boomer complaints? Let me know in the Comment section below.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Kale from my garden

It’s been raining here heavily, but the kale in my garden is still looking good.

I cut the first batch today, and I’m making Turkey Soup with it and other vegetables.

I also picked my last bunch of green beans. I love them. They remind me of my mother’s gardens and cooking.

The carrots also look great. I’ll keep eating them until the first frost. I dug up one potato plant. It produced three potatoes: large, medium, and small. They’ll go in the stew, too.

Then there are the green tomatoes. I’ll be looking for recipes again this fall to use them.

My worst: Paying another attorney’s bill for my defective roof case

I’ve written before – not once, but two, three, four times – about the problems I’m having with my Custom-Bilt vail metal shingle roof.

When the first roof was installed, it leaked due to a manufacturing defect. The replacement roof leaked in the same way. However, Custom-Bilt isn’t willing to stand behind its product.

The contractor, Edwards Exteriors, also didn’t a good installing either roof.

We’re headed to arbitration soon. I’ll be glad when it’s over, and I can have my new roof installed. The lawsuit is stressful and hard on my bank account.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Top 10 tips to protect yourself as a consumer

It’s National Consumer Protection Week.

This year’s theme, Dollars & Sense: Rated “A” for All Ages, highlights the importance of using good consumer sense at every stage of life, from grade school to retirement.

For baby boomers consumers, age 45 to 64, here are the top 10 ways you can protect yourself as a consumer:

1. Watch out for scams. Hot topics now are scams involving bogus business opportunities, employment, money transfer, fake checks, phone offers, charities, mortgage foreclosures, and free computer security.

2. Use caution about investment decisions so you don’t become a victim of investment fraud.

3. Compare credit card issuers and consider signing up with a credit union for a credit card.

4. Do research on any prescription drugs you’re taking, and ask your health care provider detailed questions about any new drugs recommended.

5. Take steps to protect yourself from identity theft.

6. Review how you handle your money to make sure you’re progressing well toward your goals. Figure out what you need to do to get out of debt. Most importantly, determine if you’re saving enough money to have the retirement you want.

7. Use extreme caution when selecting a contractor or roofer to work on your home.

8. Know how to find information about consumer agencies that can help you and file complaints when you have problems.

9. Be informed and ask questions to help you get through a hospital stay safety.

10. Be an alert, informed consumer any time you have your car repaired or you buy a new or used car.

Happy National Consumer Protection Week. By using these tips, you’ll be able to avoid many common problems that plague consumers today.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist