The Healthcare market is not free

Why is it that we treat the Healthcare Market (HM) differently than all other markets? Sure people will say "Well it's about life and death! Your health and thus it's different". Really? Need it be? Surely it should only vary from other industries where it truly differs from other markets and only to the extent that it needs to. By that I mean your local doctor's office and your car dealership have many things in common. They all are businesses, must obtain some office space, run an accounting system, have employees, pay said employees, have healthcare administration plans themselves, inventory specialized in both cases, etc. IOW why wouldn't you use the many innovations and tried and true methods that say the local auto dealership uses for these basic, needed by most businesses, things. Why wouldn't you consider the doctor's office as the exact same thing as an auto dealership with WRT to these issues/processes and procedures?

This is not to say that the two businesses do not have special or unique attributes as the dealership is interested more in things like tires, oil, nuts, and bolts while the doctor's office may be busier with things like XRay machines and interfacing with pharmacies to provide services to their patients.

Yet there are numerous things in HM that are decidedly different than other businesses. Some may be motivated by things like HIPPA but did you ever noticed you can't elect to exclude HIPPA for yourself. IOW, while HIPPA has all kinds of assurances, for your security and privacy only, that you can't say "Fuck privacy and security - I don't need them". That is not an option you can claim.

Here's a random list of things that are peculiar to HM:

• People in the HM do not provide pricing information.
• There's no real way to shop for better prices on say getting an XRay
• Ever notice the HM brags about having these new-fangled electronic records? Why isn't such electronic records shared by doctors such that I don't have to constantly arrive 15 minutes beforehand to fill out the required paperwork time and time again for your electronic records that you'll never share with another sole! If HIPPA would have any use at all it would be to allow such information to be shared by people in the HM in a protected manner so we are not constantly duplicating effort with all that entails of human error?!?
• Do you know your doctor's email address? Probably not but you'd have a much better chance that the email address of your service advisor is emprinting on his card that he'll gladly hand you.
• I've been to many non-HM businesses where I schedule an appointment and I get an email with an appointment event properly attached so I can one-click add it to my calendar. With an HM? You'd be lucky to get a fax!
• Why is it you have to constantly listen to instructions about calling 911 if this is a life-threatening event. SHIT, WE KNOW THIS ALREADY!!!
• Why is it that HM hours are akin to bankers hours and trying to get a hold of your actual doctor, at any of 15 different offices, always a hassle?
• What's with this "If you do not give us 24-hour notice of a canceled we have a service fee", yet you are forced to wait in the waiting room for hours to see the doctor? Can't I charge you for being late if you're gonna charge me? BTW, try collecting. I won't pay you shit for services not rendered.
• I recently was proscribed a new and expensive medication. I was then told to get a "savings card". WTF?!? Apparently, I can sign up for a savings card for that particular medication and save some 20-70%. Why should this be the case? Why not simply offer the medication at a price with a reasonable amount of profit? Why different prices?!? Where else does this happen? When I go to the tire store and wish to purchase a tire I'm not told to go to the manufacturer's website to sign up for a savings card. Sure, occasionally there might be a sale or coupon that I could apply but this seems different when it comes to medicine.
• As I have my prescriptions delivered to me in convenient packs, I wanted to add on this new medication to all of my other medications I was getting. But the packs come out in monthly or 30 day deliveries and I was in mid-month. So the pharmacy fulfilled the prescription for 21 days instead of 30. Yet the price for 21 pills was almost 1/2 the price of 30 pills! WTF! I know math and this is weird. If the price per pill was $1 I'd expect 21 pills to be $21 and 30 pills to be $30. But 21 pills was like $15. So I asked the stupid question? Can I buy these in smaller quantities where it ends up being way cheaper for me? Of course, the answer is no. Now normally in a normal business, buying a smaller amount would cost you more because it's a special order and buying in bulk is supposed to be cheaper. But not in the healthcare industry - it's exactly bassawards!
• I have yet to call let's say and auto shop between noon and 1 Pm and get their voicemail saying "We're at lunch now, please leave a message". Nope at every small business, I patronize when I call during lunch they have somebody manning the phones. Why? Because, if I called and got that sort of "We're at lunch -> VM" I'd simply call up their competitor!
• In talking to a nurse practitioner I was told that one trick to dealing with expensive medications is that whenever you go to see a doctor ask for samples. She said they use to throw like 4 or 5 bottles as samples to help defer the cost of medication. Now if I could only go to Firestone tires and ask for a couple of "sample" tires for my Corvette...
• I called my primary care physician today to ask for a referral to a physical therapist because my left shoulder had been hurting. I called at around 1:05 Pm knowing that they don't even bother to answer their phones for lunch. Instead, I got an outgoing message that the office was closed! I listened to the message and they said they were open Monday - Friday 8 - 5 Pm yet here on a Tuesday, @ 1:05 Pm they are making like they are close. This is June 30th, 2020. There's no holiday. So I have to call their "Answering service" and I'm now in a hold queue. Apparently, they do lunch til 1:30! UGH!
• Recently (July 27th) I got bloodwork done on the advice of my endocrinologist. As my cardiologist is also interested in the results, while drawing blood, I asked for my test results to be sent to my cardiologist too. A few days later I get a letter from my primary care physician saying it's time for me to do some bloodwork. So I call the primary care doctor and say that I just got bloodwork done and asked if they can use that. They said I need to call up Quest Diagnostics to have them send it over. After being on hold with Quest for 20 minutes the lady comes on and say "Oh you want this other department, I'll transfer you" and after yet another 20 minute period on hold I speak to the next lady and she says I need to have my doctor call them and request it. I said, couldn't I just fill out the form I did the first time to send the results to my cardiologist and they said no, that HIPPA says all that paperwork needs to be done at the same time. For some fucked up reason you cannot fill out another form on a different day because that's not secure or private or some other stupid fucked up reason. So I call up my primary care physician and tell them that Quest told me to tell them to call Quest. They said it doesn't work that way and they doubt if they call up Quest that Quest will release the test results. Why is this so fucking hard to get accomplished?!? Anyway I said call them and let me know what happens, I'm not gonna pay for another blood test.
• OK so today I get a call from my primary care physician and they left a message saying they need the date that the bloodwork was done. The lady's name was Vennessa and she said her extension was 615. So I call back and dial the extension 615 and I get a ringing for like 2 minutes, nobody answers, never get sent to voice mail. I try this several times to verify that that was indeed what was happening. I mean Vennessa left her message at like 8:32 Am and I called back at 8:35 Am - 3 minutes after she left the message. She was not there. Her phone doesn't go to voice mail it just rings and rings. So I call back up and dial 0. To my surprise eventually a real live human being answers.  I tell her I wish to speak with Vennessa and she transfers me. This time, however, I get her voicemail. Doesn't anybody answer their own fucking phones anymore?!? I left a simple message stating my name and saying that the blood test was on Monday. I guess we'll see what happens...
• Next, I get a call from Express Scripts - my new pharmacy. They say there's an important message and I need to call them back. HIPPA dictates that they can't tell me what's the story in a message. That would be too simple and of course, it's for your protection and all even if you don't want that protection! So I call up and the damn voice menu system can't detect that 06281960 is my birthday (gotta protect your birthday!) and after several attempts of saying "June 28th, 1960" the stupid voice recognition system finally gets it. They then proceed to tell me that they can't fulfill my request for Vitamin D3 because my insurance doesn't accept that but luckily since it's OTC, I can just buy it myself. As I've already said if you want OTC medication delivered to you when you have prescription medication also being delivered to you you have to get a script for that. Now I already have D3 vitamins but I figured that since I was renewing all my prescriptions I might as well get the D3 on the shipment. Now, why the fuck can't they just deliver this OTC D3 pills and simply charge me for them. Why the fuck is the insurance company involved at all? And why does the insurance company have the power to deny me an OTC medication?!?

Brad Gruber - The PROFESSIONAL Recruiter

I got approached by Brad Gruber on LinkedIn. Brad Gruber sent the following message through LinkedIn on 02/20/2020 at 5:04 PM:

Hi Andrew,

My name is Brad from Apex in San Diego. I wanted to reach out and see if either you or anyone in your network would be open to some positions in Devops, ETL, or System Admin in San Diego? We offer a referral bonus for anyone referred and hired!

Details:

- 3 different openings - Devops Engineer, ETL Engineer, and System Admins, including some early career and Sr. level roles

- MYSQL is most important skillset* in a Linux environment. Must be able to script using Bash.

- Jenkins and kubernetes used, however similar skillsets are ok.

- Need to know or be willing to learn MongoDB

- Pay rate depends on experience but around $50-60/hour

If you're interested in hearing more or know someone who can be a fit, please reply with an updated resume and the best time/ph # to reach you.

Thanks!

Brad Gruber 

Technical Recruiter

Apex Systems, San Diego, CA

Here's my response:

You know, Brad. The good thing about LinkedIn is that it allows me to look back at the actual experience that you list. Now mind you, you've labeled yourself as a PROFESSIONAL Recruiter. But are you really a pro? Do you really have a long time of service in the field of tech recruiting?

Looking at your LinkedIn profile I see you've only been a recruiter for 3 years. Now that's not really enough time to be a real pro. 

But if I look at your earlier experience I see a mixed bag of Field Energy Consultant for a whopping 3 months. Guess you couldn't hang on to that job. Then a Rent-a-car manager for 8 1/2 years. Now that's your strong suit I guess and it has nothing to do with tech recruiting. Then, of course, there are the obligatory financial and sales jobs. Don't be like Andy Satulla.

I will give you a shot at recruiting me. You need to do the following, exactly, or you will fail. In the process, you will learn the ropes about what it means to be a tech recruiter.

The first job of a recruiter is to screen or qualify candidates. That means that you ensure that the candidate meets, at a minimum, ALL the requirements. That's why they call them requirements! Any candidate who does not meet all of the requirements is not qualified for the job and should not be contacted. After all what would be the point? They could not take the position and therefore you don't make a "sale" and Apex gets no money. You waste your time and my time and piss me off.

Given the above, you need to show me that you've properly qualified me. Take the job descriptions you have and isolate the requirements. Take my resume (if you don't have it already go to https://defaria.com/resume) and ensure that I have each and every requirement met. For this exercise, you'll need to email me (that's right Andrew@DeFaria.com - LinkedIn is not my inbox!) the job description, then take each requirement, one by one and tie it to where you've verified that I have that skill on my resume. If you cannot verify each requirement, well then re-read the previous paragraph.

If you can prove to me, by exact, comprehensive proof of tying each requirement to a skill set I possess and have detailed on my resume then you may proceed to contact me for that position. If you cannot then stop and do not contact me. Actually don't stop, instead, contact me and apologize for bothering me with jobs I am not qualified for (pssst. I know you said you wanted me to let you know if I have anybody that I think does fulfill these jobs but I will remind you that I refuse to do your job for you - you're not doing my job for me so it's only fair).

You see, Brad, this is what a truly professional recruiter does - all others are rank amateurs and only serve to waste my time.

Let's "exercise" some tech recruiters - shall we?

One Andy Satulla, pretending to be a tech recruiter. Here's what millennials are like...

So this dude emails me the following:

From: Andy Satulla <AndyS@fortitudesys.com>
To: Andrew DeFaria <Andrew@DeFaria.com>
Subject: Full Time Sr Python Developer Roles in San Jose and LA (starting at 150k and can go up!) 

I wanted to circle up with you here in regards to your resume because your background lines up great with a couple of positions I currently have available. Give me a call as soon as you can and we can discuss the logistics and details of these positions further. You can reach me at 469-249-0700.

So I respond:

You are cleared to be able to send me email. Please send any job descriptions that you have properly screened me for. 

Thanks.

He says:

I do not have any concrete job descriptions, but would love to discuss this position in further detail.

So I shoot back:

If you have no concrete details then what would we talked about? Tell you what when you get some concrete details let me know.

He responds with:

Hi Andrew, 

So, what I mean by that is I do not have a concrete job description. I work off of bullet points mostly and know that we are looking for a strong python developer, who has also been a part of a devops environment. My manager, Luke, has an exclusive relationship with these guys and they are one of the biggest networking and cyber security companies in the country. Additionally, this person will be working in an open source environment. 

Best Regards,
Andy

Ugh! Seem he doesn't know what he's doing so I educate him:

Dude, dude, dude. If you have no concrete job description then you have no way to properly screen me. To do so would require that you concretely know the requirements in order to compare them to my skill set to ensure you're not wasting my time. This is common sense. This has nothing do to with bullet points but everything to do with the words and meanings that appear after the actual bullet point. 

Even given the limited information you are working with you have full information from my side. You said you are looking for a strong Python developer. Am I a strong Python developer? Let's check with my resume. The word Python occurs only once @ ICANN, a contract that I was at from May 2016 - July 2016 - 3 fucking months. Even a stupid person who knows nothing about technology wouldn't say that such a person was a strong Python developer! Do you think I give a crap about whether this company is "one of the biggest networking and cyber security companies"? Here's a clue - no I don't. 

Usually when I encounter a tech recruiter who fails to provide me with the relevant details about an opportunity thus failing to show that he has done his due diligence in properly screening me for the position such that he is not about to waste my time, and yet insists we get "on the horn" to discuss the position (as if his crackerjack sales techniques will leave me panting at this wonderful position with "one of the biggest networking and cyber security companies") I can tell instinctively that this person has little to no experience with technology nor tech recruiting and definite didn't do shit to make sure he's got a match. So over to LinkedIn... 

From LinkedIn I find, as expected, that you've only been on the job for a mere 7 months. Prior to that, your big experience has been as a summer intern!!! For fitness and sport?!? And yet only for 4 months... with a previous 4-month stint as a driver!!! Hmmm... How many Americans can drive a car?!? 

You're longest gig was 1 year and 3 months as a fucking umpire! And you have the gall to approach me about a highly technical job and you don't know the first thing about?!? Oh and your education in "Exercise Science"!!! Got a BS in that eh? Typical stupid millennial who doesn't know his ass from his elbow WRT the ways of the world and business. 

Even administered a "jumping test". Jump like an uneducated rabbit. Jump away! 

You're privilege to email me has been revoked!

There's a lesson to be learned here and that is if a tech recruiter approaches you, check his background to ensure he knows what the fuck he's doing!

In a way I feel sorry for this Andy dude as it's clear he has a lot to learn...

Google's RCS Messages and iMessage

People are making this Google RCS Messages thing out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread and I just don't get it. Texting is for sending short text messages to other people, perhaps a pic or a link. If you are doing more than that then you should probably use something else like email and placing large files on servers and linking to them. Sending a 500 Meg video via "chat" is just plain dumb.

I'm a Hangouts user. Why? Because with Hangouts I can:

• Send short text messages from my phone, from my Linux desktop, from my work Windows machine, my Linux laptop, etc. Typing texts on a phone is vastly inferior to having a keyboard but it's there if I need it.
• Make VOIP calls, again, from all of those devices
• Make video calls from all those devices too including holding small conference meetings
• Connects to my Google contacts
• Ability to create and text groups
• Has a convenient little extension to Chrome that I can use to handle this texting and calling without having to take up a full browser window

Yes, I know that Hangouts is dying but it has a lot of functionality that I like. I fear switching to Google's Messages app which:

• Runs only on my phone
• Does not run on my Linux desktop nor laptop nor work Windows machines (They say there's Messages for the Web which is clunky to start with, plus doesn't work as they tell you to scan a QR Code by running Messages on your phone, tapping the 3-dot menu and selecting Messages for the Web however Message for the Web no longer appears on that menu so this is broken!)
• I just found out that Messages uses my cell phone's number, a number I haven't used in 13 years as I use a Google Voice number instead!

But what additional functionality that everybody seems to think is so great will I be getting if I switch to using Google's Messages with RCS?

• An indicator when somebody on the other end is typing - whoop T do!
• A green bubble to iPeople - like I give a shit what color the bubble is!
• Full-resolution photos - gee the photos I've texted so far through Hangouts look just fine
• Delivered and read receipts - again whoop T do!
• Works over mobile data or Wi-Fi so you can put your phone in airplane mode and it'll still work - First off, what's airplane mode? I've never used it! Also, Hangouts does this too
• Ability to send somebody money from your phone - wait a minute... let me check... Nope I've never done that and I won't be doing it anytime soon
• Stickers! Don't you want to send stickers and emojis? Generally no but Hangouts do that as well.

I mean some of those features would be kinda cool but they are hardly essential and mostly fluff anyway. I really don't understand the hype!

Job titles are not very in depth

On 8/5/19 5:36 PM, Susan Rosen wrote:

Let me share some thought, Job titles show depth of what you did in a job.

First off try English! "share some thought"? Should be "share some thoughts". Ugh, professionalism ain't what it used to be.

Job titles do NOT show more depth - they show less. How can 3 words give you more depth than a paragraph? If I said I was a Configuration Manager would you know if I meant Software Configuration Management or perhaps Puppet/Chef configuration management. Do you even know the difference - probably not.

If I listed myself as Build Release Engineer would you know if I used Jenkins? Compiled Java code? Was on Linux machines or Windows? Done C# or C++ and if C++ is that on Windows or Linux? What about Mac? You see the later statements contain much more detail, therefore, by definition, depth than just "Build Release Engineer".

There is a big difference between an analyst and a developer, for example. They may have used the same tools like SQL, XML, etc, but had a completely different function and a different skill level based upon the title.

And they may have done both! Not sure of the analyst title - that's a vague term (a person who conducts analysis - of what exactly?) however I've used SQL in an administrative/DB admin type role as well as a developer role. But you'd never determine that if all you had to go on was the stupid title of "Systems admin".

Are you really accusing me of not doing my job?

Yes, most definitely! One merely just google "what are the functions of a technical recruiter" to hit this lovely gem - https://resources.workable.com/technical-recruiter-job-description:

Job brief

We are looking for a Technical Recruiter to join our HR department and help us grow our IT teams.

Technical Recruiter responsibilities include sourcing, screening and providing a shortlist of qualified candidates for various technical roles. You will also network online and offline with potential candidates to promote our employer brand, reduce our time-to-hire and ensure we attract the best professionals.

You see it's right in the description - screening and qualifying candidates (how else would you provide a shortlist of qualified candidates if you don't qualify them!?!)

I gave you the benefit of the doubt by giving you a chance to sell yourself to me.

Again, it's not my job to "sell" myself to you - it's YOUR job to sell me to the candidate. You mean you don't know that?!?

I understand your frustration, the reason you are getting hit by so many recruiters and them telling you that you are not a fit is because your resume isn't specific enough. I am sorry…

Sorry but

FUCKING BULLSHIT!

Had you taking the 3.2 nanoseconds to visit my resume at https://defaria.com/resume you should notice that there's a fucking blinking, red and bolded banner there saying:

Download an MS Word copy!

I mean shit I had to write fucking JavaScript code to get the blinking to work. One might think that something like that might tip-off to these crackerjack recruiters that they could get a Word copy by clicking that link. But nooooooo 80% of them never even notice.
But that's not all! Recruiters just about always put in there "send me a copy of your updated resume" when I have the following right there as plain as day:
I also have the following there:

Important Note: While I am AWS certified, I currently do not have actual on the job experience with AWS. Training for obtaining an AWS Certificate does require hands on with various AWS services as listed above in order to properly prepare for the test. I have been working in the computer field all my life and specialize in coming up to speed with new technologies very quickly and feel confident that I can learn any AWS services in use at your company in a short period of time. Please take this into account while evaluating my skills. Thanks.

So that I'm totally clear about my AWS experience (as most employers will not consider people unless they have AWS experience on the job.
You may wish to say my resume isn't specific enough but the above clearly shows that recruiters are not reading my resume at all! And you're a classic example of that, even after being asked to read my resume you continue to refuse to do so. You're a prime example of a recruiter I could never work with.

BTW the recruiter here is Susan Rosen <SRosen@TeamGRN.com> (480) 454-6287

I believe one should give credit where credit is due but also blame where blame is due so I listed the contact info here so you might be able to avoid this unprofessional and incompetent recruiter.

Is "with experience in" == "mandatory"

In my mind, when an employer says "Linux Admin resource with experience in Cloud / Docker / Kubernetes area" then Cloud / Docker and Kubernetes are required or mandatory skills in order to be considered for such a job. But apparently not for recruiters. Maybe it's just Indian recruiters or recruiters for whom English is not their native language. Personally, I don't see how one could make this error.

From: Anil Sing <anil.singh@q1tech.com> 

Hi,Hope you are doing well!!                           
We currently have an exciting opportunity with a great client; you’ll find details of the position below, even if you’re not a fit for this particular position, we welcome a current copy of your resume and look forward to working together on future positions 

Job Title: Linux AdminLocation: Phoenix, AZDuration: Long termNote:- Only GC,TN and USC only Description: 

Linux Admin resource with experience in Cloud / Docker / Kubernetes area 

Thanks & Regards,
Anil Singh
Technical Recruiter,
Email Id :- Anil.singh@q1tech.com

Contact No. :- 6305368202 Ext - 5522 

 So I responded with:

Do you think I have Cloud / Docker / Kubernetes experience?

To my surprise Anil responded with:

These skills are not mandatory ,  only linux administration was 

At this point I decided to respond with:

They specifically asked for EXPERIENCE with those technologies!

Look at it this way - let's say you have a rare heart condition. You find out that this is your surgen's first operation. But you requested somebody with experience not only with operating on hearts, but with experience with your specific rare heart condition. Do you let him operate? 

I thought this would adequately explain how, at least in English, when somebody is saying something like "with experience in X, Y and Z" that a native English speaker would take that to mean that X, Y, and Z are required skills to possess.  I thought my example was personal and should resonate with the recruiter, even a non-English speaking person. But I got the following back:

I got you but the thing is that one out of 3 skills will do the task . That’s why I was saying those are not mandatory.
Anyway Thanks for your concern and I do appreciate it.
And sorry it was my mistake.
I think you are AWS certified developer , Right ?

So I responded:

I got you but the thing is that one out of 3 skills will do the task . That’s why I was saying those are not mandatory.

That's not how it works. All three items were requested. Again, to my example - you have a person who is trained in the field of medicine. He has, one out of 3 skills. Do tell him, "No problem doc - open me up"? I think not.

Anyway Thanks for your concern and I do appreciate it.

I have no such concern that you think I have.

And sorry it was my mistake.

So then now you admit that you're wrong?

I think you are AWS certified developer , Right ?

No, I have an AWS Solutions Architect certificate. And as is stated plainly on my resume: 

Important Note: While I am AWS certified, I currently do not have actual on the job experience with AWS. Training for obtaining an AWS Certificate does require hands on with various AWS services as listed above in order to properly prepare for the test. I have been working in the computer field all my life and specialize in coming up to speed with new technologies very quickly and feel confident that I can learn any AWS services in use at your company in a short period of time. Please take this into account while evaluating my skills. Thanks. 

Of course being the consummate professional that you are you did read and understand that right?

Be very careful with recruiters as they know not what they are doing!

Hi Andrew in #2083 from Santana at San Melia

This response was not sent to San Melia directly (sanmelia@avenue5apt.com) but rather sent to me. The purpose is to document what happened while it's still fresh in my mind.

Near the beginning of the year, I had found a note tucked into my door. I read it and it was about my lease coming to term at the end of February and presented me with several choices for renewal. I decided to think about the options for a few days. I did notice that that letter mentioned a different owner company and thought "Hmmm... So somebody bought out chrisken.com". I also noticed that my bank balance, which usually dips around the first of the month when San Melia takes their rent directly from my checking account, had not had the rent deducted yet. You see I watch that to ensure I have enough money in the account so as to avoid having my rent payment fail and late fees charged. I had ~$1600 and my rent's around $1200 so I was not worried, but I was concerned because usually, they take the money like the 1-3rd of the month. Knowing that they were bought out I assumed that they were a little late in doing that because of the change in ownership.

At this time I also wished to request a few things be fixed like the fact that my kitchen faucet was once again stuck in spray mode, the handle on the patio door was loose and the screws were stripped and finally to fix the fireplace which had never worked. Being in Phoenix one rarely needs a fireplace but around the New Year it was particularly cold and I thought a fire would be inviting. I even bought a log from the grocery store before I figured out that the fireplace is actually a gas fireplace and the log was useless. That's when I decided to get these three things fixed. I first went to the website to enter in the request only to receive a 404 not found. Then it clicked to me, "OK, probably because of new management. I'll have to go into the office" and did so around the 7-8th of January. Marlene had taken the order by hand. BTW it's currently the 12th and nothing has been done on this repair order.

On 1/10/19 I went back to the office because 1) I noticed my checking account still hadn't been charged with this month's rent and I wanted to inform them that I would be taking the 7-month lease option. I asked them about the rent and they said they had a bunch of their staff go to all of the apartments with a letter stating that, due to the change in management the normal withdrawal of rent would not be done and that at least for this month you'd have to pay by check and that they were working hard to restore that service. I told Santana that I did not receive any letter on my door and was not aware of any change or that I would have to pay by check this month. He said that sometimes the letters get blown away and even went so far to say that only if I was out of the country and could prove it with receipts that he could wave the late fees. I found that stance quiet heavy-handed given the situation. I told him that I failed to see what my error could possibly be that should cause me to be penalized with late fees and that I'd only be paying the rent and not any late fees. The way I see it is that if this new company, avenue5residential, was in the process of purchasing this property from chrisken that things like this (i.e. what will happen to the people who pay their rent through the old service) should have been properly addressed and while paper notification hand delivered to the door might be one way to handle it, if I never received it then I should not be responsible for late fees. IOW they should at least cut me some slack given it was them, and not me, that caused this problem!

I look at it this way: I did get the letter about the lease renewal but I didn't get the letter stating that I'd have to pay my rent this month manually with a check. If I had then surely I would have attended to it. I'm a responsible person and manage my finances closely. Why would I possibly neglect this if I had received notification? The answer is I would have taken care of the situation properly and I probably would have argued that this should have been accounted for and planned for such that the customers, us renters, did not experience any inconvenience. That's how you properly handle such things. And if you aren't going to handle it properly you should let people slide a bit due to your incompetence.

Santana sent me the following email that said I had to 1) pay via cashiers check or money order. Since I don't have a bank that has a physical presence (Ally bank) this imposes yet another hardship on me - to get a money order - which also cost me $16. Let alone it treats me as if I'm a deadbeat that can't be trusted because they would not simply accept a check as if I'm somehow not good for the money. I resent that treatment mightily! And 2) that $76.73 + 6 * $10.23/day ($61.38) for a totaling  of $138.11. Adding on the $16 that I shouldn't have had to pay for a money order for a grand total of $154.11. I will not be paying that because again, I don't feel I had any fault in this messed up situation.

Let alone the fact that it's been at least a week and my service order has never been addressed.
Note: The new Avenue5Residental email is hello@avenue5.com. I may forward this email to them if San Melia doesn't Do the Right Thing(TM).

Update: 01/17/2019: Finally came to my apartment to fix things. Only looked at the air conditioner. Sink's still broken as is the handle on the patio door and the fireplace still doesn't work. As a side note, they left a card from http://fuel.club that has some sort of "mobile gas" thing. It said it was worth $30. I figured well hell I could use $30 of gas. Turns out to be that the $30 only covers some monthly fee or some such and this thing is trying to sell gas such that they come to you. Stupid idea. But you have to wonder why they would leave such at a thing in my apartment. Were they trying to make things better for me? Or are they just into stupid scams?

On 1/10/19 10:17 AM, Property - San Melia wrote:

Hi Andrew.

In regards to our conversation this morning:

About renewing your lease for 7 months: With all new leases we do require (declaration page) of renters insurance, it needs to reflect at least $100,000 liability coverage. (We do need to be listed on your policy - San Melia - as additional insured.) This must be provided 1^st before we can draw up any renewals.

Also about rent not being paid yet: Your total due for today is: rent $1,221.46 + $76.73 late fee on the 4^th + 6 days at $10.23 a day late fees = $1,359.57 due today in cashier’s check or money order.

Feel free to call the office with any questions.

Santana Vialon | Leasing Manager  o:  480.219.2733  f:  480.219.5159

San Melia  14435 S. 48th Street Phoenix AZ 85044 www.liveatsanmelia.com | Facebook | Twitter PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED BY AVENUE5 RESIDENTIAL | AVENUE5.COM

This message and any attachments may contain confidential information, and are intended only for the recipient(s) to whom the message was addressed. If you have received this email by mistake, please reply to us and delete it from your system; you may not copy this message or disclose its contents to anyone.

(BTW BULL-FUCKING-SHIT! I don't give a shit that you claim this is confidential and I'm allowed to copy or disclose its contents to anyone! You cannot dictate to me what I can do with an email you placed in my inbox, which I run and pay for. As evidence for my defiance, the contents of your fucking email is displayed right here!).

--
Andrew DeFaria
Nebraska: At least the cows are sane.

Update: On or around Jan 28th I mentioned to Melina in the office that things will still not fixed and it was fixed around Jan 29th. Sure had to wait for a long time. Still, it doesn't seem like the fireplace works at all or perhaps I just don't know how to work it. There's some metal thing in the wall that looks like if I had a key or something I could turn it and perhaps gas would start coming out. Not sure how to ignite the gas.

Feb 2, 2019: Looks like San Melia's web page is up but there is no section to check to see what I owe, whether or not direct payment is up and working again nor any place to request service. I'm hoping they bring those back up sometime. Meantime, I guess I need to pay my rent by hand again today!

Feb 6, 2019: Received letter in my door documenting charges saying I owe $196.77. Taking the $154.11 off that leaves $42.66. Sent check to San Melia for that exact amount (I will not be paying the $154.11) and set up an automatic repeating payment to San Melia for the 1st of the month for the amount of $1221.56.