Daily Consumer Tips

Ok UPS, Point Well Taken. I will Stick with FedEx

I learned something new today. When it comes to receiving packages for my business, I must stay home to sign up and recieve them. That is, if they are delivered by UPS.

I am still tracking a package that was sent to me via UPS and whose first delivery attempt was January 6th. I was not home but the driver left a note at my door.

Around six PM on January 7th, I went to pick it up at the UPS Customer No Pick up center on Pleasantdale Road in Doraville, Georgia. I was informed that the package was with the driver driver and they did not know when he will be back.

Besides, I was told that I neded to have called before I went to pick it up so they could set it aside. That was my mistake because I did not read those instructions on the back of the door tag.

On Saturday January 8th, I called UPS at their 800.833.9943 number and requested that the package be put on hold and not to be delivered again till I pick it up myself from UPS.

The ensuing two days found the Atlanta area in a historic snow and ice storm. On January 10th and 11th, the UPS customer service center was closed due to dangerous driving conditions.

Luckily, UPS opened the service center on January 12 and there I was hoping that I will pick up my package that had been put on hold the prior weekend.

I was wrong. The customer no service lady told me that the package was being delivered and was not at the UPS Center.

I could not believe it. I knew that they had assured me that there will be no more delivery attempts when I called that Saturday. I called the 800 number while still at the site.

I was informed that the package was still there and that it was not being delivered. I asked to speak to a manager. When I spoke with Doris, the manager in charge of the front desk, she said that my package was there but due to the bad weather in Atlanta, there were no pickers to get my package.

She asked for my contacts and told me that she will make sure that my package will be available the next day. Good enough and understood.

The next day was yesterday. I went to pick up the package at six thirthy PM. Same story again. I was told that the package was with a a driver. Called the 800 number again. I was told that indeed that package was with a driver.

"What happened to the hold I put on the package?" I asked. I was read the same script again, "The package is with a driver but you can pick it up tomorrow".

After being tossed around for so long by UPS wasting my time, it finally dawned on me that no one at UPS wanted to help me.

They wanted me to go away. They did not want to serve me. They wanted me to take my business elsewhere but could not tell me directly.  They wanted me to stick with FedEx. Point well taken.

Dangers at the VA Hospitals

They obeyed the call of duty. They served our country and protected us from harm. They went to a VA Hospital for a colonoscopy procedure. Now a report out yesterday indicates that many of our Veterans were exposed to HIV and hepatitis at VA hospitals in Georgia, Tennessee and Florida. According to a report at CNN, Veterans Administration facilities had inadequate safety procedures in place to ensure that colonoscopy equipment is sterilized between patients. During a surprise visit in May, investigators from the inspector general's office found that less than half of the VA facilities visited had posted proper cleaning procedures for endoscopes including documents indicating that their staff is trained to use them. Endoscopes are instruments used to check the colon, throat or nose. It was found that these instruments were not cleaned between patients. As a result, bodily fluids were exchanged between patients. What does a Veteran who has been treated in one of these hospitals do? Have a doctor run tests and if they are positive for HIV or hepatitis, prescribe a proper course of remedial action.

FDA, "Do not use Zicam Cold Remedies"

CNN is reporting that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers not to use three products. These products are marketed over-the-counter as cold remedies. According to the FDA, these products have been associated with loss of smell (anosmia). The FDA says that anosmia is long-lasting and sometimes permanent. “Loss of sense of smell is a serious risk for people who use these products for relief from cold symptoms,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). “We are concerned that consumers may unknowingly use a product that could cause serious harm, and therefore we are advising them not to use these products for any reason.” The products are listed below:
1. Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel
2. Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs
3. Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size (a discontinued product)
According to the FDA website,” People who have experienced a loss of sense of smell or other problems after use of the affected Zicam products should contact their health care professional. The loss of sense of smell can adversely affect a person’s quality of life, and can limit the ability to detect the smell of gas or smoke or other signs of danger in the environment."

Possible Customer Data Breach at T-Mobile

A report in USAToday says that a hacker has stolen undetermined customer data from T-Mobile's customer database. The claims were made Saturday on the Full Disclosure security mailing list. T-Mobile has not responded to the purported security breach. Back in 2006, a cyber thief stole 17 million T-Mobile customer records. If you are customer with T-Mobile, what do you do?
1. Contact T-Mobile and determine if you are among the customers whose data has been breached.
2. Contact all three credit bureaus and request a security freeze on your account to prevent identity theft.
3. Check all your financial accounts to ensure that there has been no suspicious activity.

Kiplinger's Ten Best Cities For Jobs 2009

Which are the best cities to live and work in the USA? Kiplinger Magazine has researched and compiled a list of the Ten Best Cities to live and work in this downturn economy. According to Kiplinger, these cities have a robust job market and have well-paying positions. They are:

1: Huntsville, Alabama
2: Albuquerque, New Mexico
3: Washington D.C.
4: Charlottesville, Virginia
5: Athens, Georgia
6: Olympia, Washington
7: Madison, Wisconsin
8: Austin, Texas
9: Flagstaff, Arizona
10: Raleigh, North Carolina