Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.

[Latestarter]

There is so much misinformation, misconception and down right deception by one side trying to "beat the other side" out there that discovering the truth of ANYTHING is becoming damned near impossible. Kind of like what our laws have become... find a law that says one thing and if you look hard enough, you'll find another that contradicts the first. And there are so many laws that one can be found to make basically anything that you do punishable under some pretext or another. It's no wonder that many of us are becoming more and more withdrawn from society as a whole and want to just be left alone.

 

[CntryBoy777]

I agree....and with most of the politicians being lawyers there will never be any tort reform....no matter what is said or promised for your vote.....irregardless of the "label" that is claimed to be worn...........

 

[Rammy]

There is so much misinformation, misconception and down right deception by one side trying to "beat the other side" out there that discovering the truth of ANYTHING is becoming damned near impossible. Kind of like what our laws have become... find a law that says one thing and if you look hard enough, you'll find another that contradicts the first. And there are so many laws that one can be found to make basically anything that you do punishable under some pretext or another. It's no wonder that many of us are becoming more and more withdrawn from society as a whole and want to just be left alone.

Amen to that.

 

[Latestarter]

So after a half hour run around including multiple pass offs including being passed off to a busy signal, I finally got what I was seeking. My DirecTV bill is due by tomorrow. I presently have 3 tiers/levels. They promised me a set price for 2 years and then only gave it to me for one. My 2 year commitment is up. It is presently costing me $139.41/mo. I could have switched to dish network and gotten all but I think 2 channels that I now watch for ~$79/month (+taxes and fees) locked for 2 years. When I finally got to speak with someone in Customer retention, I was able to remain with everything exactly as it is now service wise for $69.49/mo (+taxes/fees) for one year with a one year commitment. The bill due tomorrow will remain at the old amount however, as it's actually to cover from 1/4 through 2/3 and they no longer prorate. So starts next billing cycle. So $70/mo savings... basically cut the bill in half. Now to do the same thing with my internet service... Wish I could do it with my mortgage...

 

[Mike CHS]

Saving money is always a good thing.

 

[B&B Happy goats]

Have to agree with above rant on everything from misinformation to politicians. .....but then again they are one and the same thing ...glad you got your Direct tv bill reduced !

 

[Mini Horses]

Wish I could do it with my mortgage...

You know we'd all love that but, they don't cooperate. Oh, you could pay 1/2 and they would call it "foreclosure"..

VA does not have homestead exemptions & land is lower rate for ag use, except 1 acre & house, etc....but, I qualified for a senior allowance of $1K per year on RE Tax It's not a pay-back at sale, just a "gift". Jumped on that.

ON the subject of expenses -- I had to renew my driver's license last week. $31. on line, saving $5 from "in person". Couldn't believe it! Heck, I remember when it was only $6. OK, been a while but, they sent me an email to renew online. I guess if you can read email you can drive.

I'm taking every senior discount I can find.

 

[greybeard]

There is so much misinformation, misconception and down right deception by one side trying to "beat the other side" out there that discovering the truth of ANYTHING is becoming damned near impossible.

I've not found that to be the case most of the time.

So after a half hour run around including multiple pass offs including being passed off to a busy signal, I finally got what I was seeking. My DirecTV bill is due by tomorrow. I presently have 3 tiers/levels. They promised me a set price for 2 years and then only gave it to me for one. My 2 year commitment is up. It is presently costing me $139.41/mo. I could have switched to dish network and gotten all but I think 2 channels that I now watch for ~$79/month (+taxes and fees) locked for 2 years. When I finally got to speak with someone in Customer retention, I was able to remain with everything exactly as it is now service wise for $69.49/mo (+taxes/fees) for one year with a one year commitment. The bill due tomorrow will remain at the old amount however, as it's actually to cover from 1/4 through 2/3 and they no longer prorate. So starts next billing cycle. So $70/mo savings... basically cut the bill in half. Now to do the same thing with my internet service... Wish I could do it with my mortgage...

This happens frequently and it is usually the fault of the salesperson if the original point of purchase was by phone. Salesperson is authorized to offer only 1 yr discount but will often offer 2 years verbally but when the written contract arrives, the fine print of the TOS states 1 yr. BUT, DTV records all their phone sales conversations, even those with overseas salespeople. If you have a dispute, tell them to cut the service off and send you the packing box in which to ship their electronic box back, ... within a day or 2, customer retention will go back and review that conversation and will almost always make good the 2 yr commitment their salesperson originally offered, tho it may be in the form of coupon discounts, and I have seen instances where those coupons dropped the monthly premium down to below what the one yr premium discount was.

(One way to avoid this, is to look closely at the written contract the minute it arrives by mail, which is usually a couple days after the original phone conversation with the salesperson. At that point you call and keep calling until you get someone on the phone that speaks good English.....lots easier to get it straightened out right after service is established)

 

[Bruce]

So $70/mo savings... basically cut the bill in half.

Persistence pays off!

ON the subject of expenses -- I had to renew my driver's license last week. $31. on line, saving $5 from "in person".

Interesting. It would cost more here because they nail you for using a credit card (since they get nailed a %age by the CC company). Cheaper to renew by mail or in person with a check.

 

[greybeard]

Persistence pays off!


Interesting. It would cost more here because they nail you for using a credit card (since they get nailed a %age by the CC company). Cheaper to renew by mail or in person with a check.

It's 'only' $76.50 to renew my pickup registration for 2019. I don't know what it is to renew my driver's lic, since that is at another office (state) and I haven't had to do it for several years.
They "nail you' here for using plastic even in person at the county DMV/county property tax office, & you sure don't want to use plastic to pay property taxes. I believe it's a 2% surcharge for using your debit card.