to whom it may concern: i demand satisfaction!

I'm fortunate to have quality healthcare.  Unfortunately for me, it's through a managed healthcare organization and I have some fundamental issues with their operation.  I just returned home from a mandatory educational clinic on a condition with with I was diagnosed several years ago, when I was under different insurance coverage.  Since my diagnosis, I researched the condition extensively and I've been seen by a number of practitioners -- in short, an educational clinic will not educate me.  I went anyway, because it didn't seem worth resisting, even though the clinic is only scheduled in conflict with one of my classes.  Did I mention that this is the last week of classes?  Next week is finals.  Also?  The clinic was cancelled.  I guess they didn't think it was worthwhile to notify me of the cancellation, so that I could, you know, attend the last meeting of my real class -- the one in which I actually learn things.  The woman at the reception desk was sympathetic, but told me there was no manager on site who could receive comment.

Those who know me in real life likely know I have a tendency to provide feedback.  I received this letter from the Director of the DMV in response to my feedback to services (not) received.  I'm not, however, a person who makes a scene at the reception desk.  Customer service folks are usually not to blame for the failed operations of their employers; treating them as though they are is...ghetto.  It happens a lot at my HMO (which is conveniently located squarely in the ghetto, where I live).  I have some anger management problems, but I feel it's appropriate to channel the rage where it's deserved.  I mean, isn't that how things get accomplished?

Last week Dog and I walked to the local post office to post a letter that had been siting in our mailbox (that is, Husband's and my mailbox, not Dog's -- he doesn't have a mailbox on his house) for days without being picked up.  The employee to whom I spoke said she couldn't document our lack of postal service and gave me a phone number to call to file the complaint.  I called, recounted the particular dates we'd not had service, and the dismissive agent assured me he'd get back to me as soon as he talked to the carrier.  I've not heard back.  Who on earth, you ask, documents the calendar dates their mail carrier fails to perform?  Someone whose postal delivery was discontinued for a year because the carrier determined the house was vacant.  When the housing bubble burst, the houses on either side of our address went into foreclosure and stood vacant for some time.  Apparently, our postal carrier grouped our residence with them, despite the fact that our lawn was still (mostly) maintained and cars were parked in front of the house.  Nothing Husband did produced any response from USPS.  He asked people to send test envelopes, which were never delivered...but neither were they returned to sender.  They simply disappeared into the void.  USPS suggested he wait outside for the mail carrier to go by and speak to him personally.  Fortunately for the mail carrier, I wasn't yet living here at the time.  Before the service recommenced, Husband accrued a hefty fine for a parking ticket that remained unpaid.  As it turns out, neither city parking enforcement nor his creditors believed that his mail wasn't being delivered.  That doesn't happen, does it?

So to return to the present time, I'm unconvinced my friendly alert to USPS will produce any action.  I've determined I must send them (via USPS, of course) a letter to follow up.  I'll try to cc myself, but I'm not confident I'll receive the copy.

After this failed clinic today, I provided some feedback to my HMO through their website.  I also came home to find that my mail had been delivered!  Among the pieces were several to a previous occupant who has lived elsewhere for at least the past ten years.  I might as well tell you that they come from Chevron, his employer.  We routinely receive Chevron mail addressed to him, routinely return it to sender, addressee unknown (perhaps that's why our mail carrier avoids us).  Most often, it's his retirement investment statements, which contain confidential information.  Husband also notified the intended recipient years ago that his new address hadn't been updated, but he doesn't appear to mind that he doesn't receive statements.  It makes us want to close the account and roll the funds into our own.  Clearly, we could put them to better use than he can.