Here's the kind of money Shell Oil Company is making these days (from the Associated Press):
Shell said its adjusted earnings, arrived at by stripping out the fluctuating value of petroleum, was $7.37 billion, sharply higher than analysts' forecasts.
That's their quarterly earnings in billions, with a "b".
When I learned that Dad was hospitalized, my brother and I went to his house and collected everything we could find related to outstanding bills, including a bill from Shell Oil. After spending two days dealing with the emergency tasks, I sat down and wrote out checks for each of his bills and mailed them the next day. The payment to Shell arrived one day after the due date.
A new bill arrived today, and it includes a $15.00 late fee. I thought, surely they would be willing to forgive a $15.00 late fee for someone is in in the ICU.
I thought wrong.
Evidently Shell feels entitled to the $15.00 bucks it tacked on the bill of a man living on social security. It claims that it can make "no adjustments to the account directed by a third party". Of course, it is perfectly willing to make the "adjustment" by cashing my check. In other words, it will make "adjustments" in their favor, but not in the other direction.
I guess we can make that $7.37 billion plus $15.00. What a world.
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4 comments:
I'm guessing that the media would have a field day with this Deb. Perhaps somehow they could find out about this. $15 will mean alot more to your Dad than to Shell. I would also contact Shell's customer service, and ask to speak with a supervisor. Ask for his/her name...and ask for the correct spelling of their name...if they say that there is nothing they can do. (You can imply that you are taking this further, and you want to make sure that the names are correct.) I'm betting that Dick is credited with $15 before you hang up the phone. If this doesn't work, please send me the information, and I will make that phone call. :-)
Being with the Red Cross, I deal with disasters all over the place and people experiencing extenuating circumstances. "Yes, I just got glasses last year, but the earthquake destroyed them". Etc. Etc. Large companies can be convinced to do the right thing if it is approached in a certain way. All the postive PR they spend billions of dollars on can be wiped out in a heartbeat if the press gets ahold on a human interest story where it looks like a big company is doing wrong by John Q Public. And when John Q Public is on a ventilator in ICU, and his children are trying to keep his affairs in order once they find out where he his, who will argue over $15????
Relax, and breathe deeply. This WILL be taken care of.
Give me a shout if you need help!
Cousin Carole
Hi Carole,
It was the supervisor who told me that she can't make any "adjustments". I had already worked my way up from the first-line customer service person. She insisted that the request must come from him.
I hung up and immediately wrote a letter to them under Dad's signature, and will have him sign it in the hospital.
I'm *gonna* get that $15 bucks back.
Well hells bells. When the account holder can't speak, how does Shell expect to speak with the account holder?!!! DUH!
Make sure you get everyones name. And correct spelling. You'd be surprised how personalizing things helps...and folks tend to be afraid that they will appear in some newspaper article...which they will if I have anything to say about things. :-0
Even the Supervisor you spoke with has someone above him/her. Hell. Lets look for a VP or President.
You aren't asking for anything extraordinary. You are asking for a little compassion.
Let me know how you are making out!
Cousin Carole
Hi Deborah,
I'm with your cousin. Speak to a supervisor over the supervisor and tell them that you are having your dad close his account and you're closing yours and the whole rest of the family is too. Even though you may not have one, they can't really find out. Tell them you are taking this further and that you will not stop at this billion dollar companies lack of human compassion. This is absolutely obsurd and so sad. Even after he has been paying on his account regularly. Keep at it, you'll get your dad's $15.00 back. Keep going up the latter to the next supervisor and so on until you get your way. Good Luck!!! LAura
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