Jerry--

It really does sound wonderful--and very grounded--a man who has real connection to the earth and lives in harmony with nature--to go out and pick blackberries for your cereal.

When Jan came over, she felt strongly that we should also try to live in harmony with nature. Part of it was not hard to convince me at all--instead of a lawn--small anyway--we have plants and a rock garden. Our back yard was already woods. We're thinking of putting up a bat box--if we can figure out where. Jan is even more than willing to sacrifice our hostas etc. to deer who might be seeking refuge in the woods.


But mostly we're not very peaceful these days--seems like a constant struggle against "service industries".

Last week both my car insurance firm and the company we called out to deal with carpenter bees and termites tried to charge me more--after I'd paid in full. They both admitted they were wrong.

Right now we're trying to bring a shady medical equipment operator to justice.

Jan had to have a corset for her lower back. Our MD suggested a place called Hanger Prosthetics. Jan paid $262 for a corset--thought she could have had just as good a product at Sears. She then got a bill from Hanger, saying the $262 was "insurance disallowance" but she was to pay $ 114 (the balance). I called Hanger and told them she'd paid $262 already and that in fact $262 was what Hanger was not allowed to charge by the insurance company (Blue Cross), not what Jan should have paid. The person-I got her name, as I always do-- agreed.

Then when Jan called, the person she spoke to kept insisting that Jan owed $114, since Blue Cross had refused to pay anything. Hanger said they had no record Jan had paid anything.   Hanger has now sent us 2 bills for $114.   We keep records--and she had the $262 on her Visa statement.

It's blazingly clear to me--and Jan--that in fact since she's already paid $262, far from Jan owing anything, Hanger owes us the difference between $262 and $114--$114 being the actual price to Jan.

When she again called Hanger, the person who answered said the $262 was in fact insurance disallowance, but the previous bill had been sent by a member of the old staff--who were now all gone. Also, it turns out Hanger has changed location several times. But the new Hanger employee still insisted Jan owed $114. When Jan threatened them with the BBB, the manager told her all she'd have to do is send proof having paid $262 and the matter would be closed. We've since found out there have already been quite a few complaints filed with the BBB against Hanger.

Jan says that when she was in the shop, all the other customers were also being charged the insurance disallowance rather than the real price. And does Hanger also have no record of their paying anything?

Many of the other customers, Jan says, were in great need of prosthetics. Some were elderly--and many probably paid without question--and when they got the new bill, also paid the balance. It seems it's possible, if the others were treated as Jan was, that a very vulnerable population is being massively exploited. That will stop, if we have anything to say about it. We'll make sure our MD does not refer anybody else to Hanger. We'll contact the BBB--and possibly the press.

Hanger will straighten out--or close--and not by just moving to another location and getting new staff--which seems to be their MO.