What cheeses me off

[Lynda2475]

In many cases Apple only provide stock on consignment meaning Apple retains ownership and the retailer gets a commission, in this way they heavily influence pricing with any minor discount usually coming from the retailers commission.

Once a product reaches a certain age, Apple then will sell actual stock to retailers.

 

[JohnK]

Some time in the past 3 weeks shifting from one hospital to another my dad has lost his Medicare card that both he and mum use.

Do you think we can call up and request new card?

FFS, he is 86 years old with very little English and zero computer skills. He cannot create a myGov account, link Medicare and request a replacement card.

Why no telephone support? I'm waiting to speak to someone about myGov. It should be much simpler for those who are computer challenged. I should be able to call and request old Medicare to be cancelled and new one issued? That would make way too much sense.

 

[DejaBrew]

@JohnK - have you considered/explored Enduring Power of Attorney? Might make sense under the circumstances.

 

[MARTINE]

Some time in the past 3 weeks shifting from one hospital to another my dad has lost his Medicare card that both he and mum use.

Do you think we can call up and request new card?

FFS, he is 86 years old with very little English and zero computer skills. He cannot create a myGov account, link Medicare and request a replacement card.

Why no telephone support? I'm waiting to speak to someone about myGov. It should be much simpler for those who are computer challenged. I should be able to call and request old Medicare to be cancelled and new one issued? That would make way too much sense.

A few things may help and I have done all in similar circumstances:
1- you could set up the myGov account for him online quickly ( get a new card which is instantaneous). If you turn up to an office or telephone they will need to speak to him directly……not as easy
2- get your father/mother to sign you as contact for myGov for all comms going forward so you can speak on his behalf
3 - having a medical and enduring power of attorney is critical for ageing parents for whom you will be the interface with agencies/you do not have to have it for (2) but I recommend you get one for future in any case
4- if all else fails email local member (federal) with your concerns. You will get a reply within 24 hours

Good luck John - its a hard situation

 

[JohnK]

@DejaBrew that just came up in the follow up call to Medicare. Maybe that's the way to go but that doesn't help with this issue.

They need to identify dad. He can't speak English and he is hard of hearing.

We'll get an interpreter. Dad can't hear on the phone.

She's laughing at me. How did we let society get to this point where we can't do anything? My brother will try calling them and if no luck then I'll call again and pretend I'm dad.

 

[MARTINE]

@DejaBrew that just came up in the follow up call to Medicare. Maybe that's the way to go but that doesn't help with this issue.

They need to identify dad. He can't speak English and he is hard of hearing.

We'll get an interpreter. Dad can't hear on the phone.

She's laughing at me. How did we let society get to this point where we can't do anything? My brother will try calling them and if no luck then I'll call again and pretend I'm dad.

Best you set it up online….

 

[VPS]

You purchase a sandwich at Brunetti's in Melbourne. Pay and there is a credit card surcharge.

They come over and say I'm sorry you can't have a sandwich here because of cross contamination with your allergy and we will give you a refund.

Refund comes but no refund of the credit card surcharge.

 

[equus]

Refund comes but no refund of the credit card surcharge.

That's the time to get narky and insist they refund that as well.

They will most likely try and say it is not them making the charge, but the bank - which is wrong, they are the merchant charging the fee. Most merchant facilities for credit card typically consist of a fixed monthly fee for the terminal, then a percentage of the transactions (sometimes on a sliding scale based on volume). Refunds and reversals are netted off purchases, so they don't incrementally pay anything once they do the refund. As they are only legally allowed to surcharge to recover their costs of accepting the payment, they need to refund that surcharge as well.

 

[Pushka]

Not getting old. That’s just poor etiquette on behalf of the parents. I know kids can be tough to manage at times, but that doesn’t mean everyone else needs to suffer.

DIL refuses to accept any lounge invites we give her because she knows the kiddies will want to run and exercise and she doesn't want to inflict that on others.

 

[Pushka]

You purchase a sandwich at Brunetti's in Melbourne. Pay and there is a credit card surcharge.

They come over and say I'm sorry you can't have a sandwich here because of cross contamination with your allergy and we will give you a refund.

Refund comes but no refund of the credit card surcharge.

Did you check they didn't charge a credit fee for the refund too?

Post automatically merged: Today at 2:16 PM

@JohnK - have you considered/explored Enduring Power of Attorney? Might make sense under the circumstances.

We have set up such legal documents for us and we are only in our sixties because doing it later is too late when it's really needed. I was PofA for my MIL for many years from her fifties. I didn't enact it until her sixties when she became terminal. But all the banks had been pre advised and I was instructed by her on everything. She died at 66.

 

[prozac]

We have set up such legal documents for us and we are only in our sixties because doing it later is too late when it's really needed. I was PofA for my MIL for many years from her fifties. I didn't enact it until her sixties when she became terminal. But all the banks had been pre advised and I was instructed by her on everything. She died at 66.

When I fell ill I contacted my accountant and asked about estate planning. I worry that when I die assets will be sold and the dollar amount might not be as useful for my children as the income stream they generate. The income enables borrowing which leverages anything they might want to buy.

 

[DejaBrew]

We have set up such legal documents for us and we are only in our sixties because doing it later is too late when it's really needed. I was PofA for my MIL for many years from her fifties. I didn't enact it until her sixties when she became terminal. But all the banks had been pre advised and I was instructed by her on everything. She died at 66.

It's not something that anyone wants to think about, but it's incredibly important (with the caveat being that you do require complete trust in those to whom PofA is being granted). I've witnessed/experienced the challenges of not having it (one grandparent, which resulted in PofA being rapidly organised for the other ), but thankfully have everything in place and ready if/when needed for my remaining parent. Hopefully will never be truly required, but huge peace of mind should the time come.

 

[Pushka]

It's not something that anyone wants to think about, but it's incredibly important (with the caveat being that you do require complete trust in those to whom PofA is being granted). I've witnessed/experienced the challenges of not having it (one grandparent, which resulted in PofA being rapidly organised for the other ), but thankfully have everything in place and ready if/when needed for my remaining parent. Hopefully will never be truly required, but huge peace of mind should the time come.

Both sets of parents set up the PofA for us kids so we have done the same for our kids.

We never thought we'd really need it for Mum but when we contacted our lawyer a couple of days before we knew she would pass, her advice re using it in a particular way saved us so much stress. Lawyer never charged us.

agree. Need to trust the people concerned. It costs money. It's a bit like travel insurance that isn't taken out then who then have an accident then set up a go fund me exercise. People who travel overseas then expect others to help them really CMO.

 

[MARTINE]

Both sets of parents set up the PofA for us kids so we have done the same for our kids.

We never thought we'd really need it for Mum but when we contacted our lawyer a couple of days before we knew she would pass, her advice re using it in a particular way saved us so much stress. Lawyer never charged us.

agree. Need to trust the people concerned. It costs money. It's a bit like travel insurance that isn't taken out then who then have an accident then set up a go fund me exercise. People who travel overseas then expect others to help them really CMO.

Agreed
We had all in place before we were married.
As did our parents.
We set up will/PoA for our daughter as soon as she turned 18 and including her capacity to act on our behalf when we are overseas (if necessary with sensible aunt as a cosignatory).
Now 30 - and an only child - happy to report she did not send us broke!!!
So many died in our family young and /or suddenly that we discuss these contingencies as a matter of course