Spin off... company frustrations

[sam_gordon]

OK, just a spin off from the Kohl's online order thread (https://www.disboards.com/threads/online-order-issue-what-do-you-think.3926198/).

I just need to vent. I've dealt with three companies in the last two days that have just frustrated me.

BestofSigns.com
I use these folks to print the "Senior Banners" for our HS soccer teams. This will be the fourth time I've used them and fortunately the last. I design the banners (one "group" banner that should be 8'x4' and five "individual" banners that are 3'x6'). I go through the order process and try to upload. I get anywhere from 35-75% complete for the first banner and it would hang. I reach out to their online chat help, and they have me try a different browser, incognito mode, reboot my computer, etc. The upload keeps failing. They have me try WeTransfer. That finally works, but I've got to upload each file individually. I mark each upload with the order number, and which size banner it is. This was Thursday night.
Yesterday morning, I get my "proofs" back. Despite marking which file goes to which banner, they used one of the individual designs for the 8x4 and put the group in one of the individuals. Back to chat. They redo the proofs in a couple of hours and send me new ones.
They have the files in the right location, but the "group" banner is listed as 4'x8' (which is how I had to order because they didn't offer a 8'x4'). Back to chat to confirm they're going to orient the banner correctly. OK, we'll have proofs to you in 6-8 hours. 24 hours later, no proofs. Back to chat. OK, we'll have proofs in 3-4 hours (we're now almost two hours into that window).
I've had good luck with them before, am happy with their quality, shipping, and price. Otherwise, I'd look elsewhere.

Kroger
We've used their 'clicklist' service for years now. You order on the app, choose a pick up time, go to the store, let them know you're there, and they bring the items out to you. DW usually does the ordering and I'll often go to pick up. In the past, there was a phone number you call, give them the name and slot number, and you're good. I show up today, there's no phone number, you can only use the app or the website to let them know. I had to call DW to get login information so I could use the website.

Capital One
I set up DW as an "authorized user" last night. It asked for her name, email, phone number, etc. I get an email confirming and she gets an email to set up her own online access. She tries to follow the link and it keeps failing. So I try calling. First the Rep says "authorized users" don't get online access. I pull up the page and quote where it says if they're over 18, they do have access. He asks for her address, phone number, and SS#. I give all the information and "None of that shows up". So he has to text me a link so I can upload DL images. After trying that five times, none of which go fully through, he has to send me an email with a link to upload the images.

Not looking for advice. I'm just frustrated and want to vent.

 

[tvguy]

OK, just a spin off from the Kohl's online order thread (https://www.disboards.com/threads/online-order-issue-what-do-you-think.3926198/).

I just need to vent. I've dealt with three companies in the last two days that have just frustrated me.


I set up DW as an "authorized user" last night. It asked for her name, email, phone number, etc. I get an email confirming and she gets an email to set up her own online access. She tries to follow the link and it keeps failing. So I try calling. First the Rep says "authorized users" don't get online access. I pull up the page and quote where it says if they're over 18, they do have access. He asks for her address, phone number, and SS#. I give all the information and "None of that shows up". So he has to text me a link so I can upload DL images. After trying that five times, none of which go fully through, he has to send me an email with a link to upload the images.

Not looking for advice. I'm just frustrated and want to vent.

Why would your wife only be an authorized user and not a joint account holder? Man, if something happens to you, she may be up the creek credit wise.

 

[kymom99]

Why would your wife only be an authorized user and not a joint account holder? Man, if something happens to you, she may be up the creek credit wise.

Maybe she already has her own credit card?

 

[tvguy]

Maybe she already has her own credit card?

I just know the mess people have had to straighten out when one spouse dies and the other isn't on a credit account.

 

[kymom99]

I just know the mess people have had to straighten out when one spouse dies and the other isn't on a credit account.

My husband isn’t on mine and I’m not on his. I guess I’m doomed.

 

[AgentMama]

My husband isn’t on mine and I’m not on his. I guess I’m doomed.

My husband and I only have one joint account, the rest are all individual.

 

[DisneyHardin]

My husband and I only have one joint account, the rest are all individual.

That's how we are too.

 

[tvguy]

My husband isn’t on mine and I’m not on his. I guess I’m doomed.

Or your husband is doomed if you go first. It literally took my mom 30 years after my dad died to get his name off her Natural Gas bill and her name in. Everything else was set up jointly, and that was no issue. How business views married women's credit certainly has changed. That would be soooooo illegal now.

 

[china mom]

I have a frustrating story to add....

I ordered a 13 piece outdoor furniture set from Amazon


One part of one of the seats is warped and after muscling it together, it looks crooked and makes the whole setup look cheap. Also, there is a bent piece of metal on the firepit top.

Here is the response
Thank you for your order and sorry to hear that.
Unfortunately we are unable to view Google Drive videos due to system limitations.
According to your name , we find your order number is 111-0863595-5815404, please confirm it.
About the part C
In order to assemble the product successfully, we suggest tightening the screws to 70%-80% first and fully tighten the screws after all parts are connected.
It will be more convenient to use a drill, could you please have a try?
Hope you can successfully complete the assembly.
If not, please contact for another solution.
OR
Could you please flatten partC with something else?


About the top cover of the gas fire pit.
Could you tell us that the dent affects table use?
If it doesn't affect usage,
We are willing to give you a $10 refund to your payment account.
You can brush it up with paint.
So what's your idea?
Your reply will be highly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Zora
Alpha Mart Customer Team

Wow, fix it myself and they will give me $10 on an $1100 purchase.

 

[DCLMP]

My husband isn’t on mine and I’m not on his. I guess I’m doomed.

My husband and I have multiple credit cards and were not authorized users on any of them. Why in God's green earth would that matter when it comes to credit cards? It only matters with bank accounts, IRAs, property, 401ks, cars, and any other shared assets. 401k and IRA's you just designate beneficiaries. Putting utilities and phone bills in both names will save you a headache if one of you passes, but it's not the end of the world to straighten out.

 

[lanejudy]

It literally took my mom 30 years after my dad died to get his name off her Natural Gas bill and her name in.

A utility account is different from a credit card account. Plus -- things have changed since then (wasn't that in the 70s?)Back in the 70's so much was listed as "Mrs. Husbands Name" instead of a woman's own name. Fortunately the world has come around since then.

 

[tvguy]

A utility account is different from a credit card account. Plus -- things have changed since then (wasn't that in the 70s?)Back in the 70's so much was listed as "Mrs. Husbands Name" instead of a woman's own name. Fortunately the world has come around since then.

1960's when my dad died. Early 2000's when it finally got straightened out. A utility account is a credit account FYI.

 

[sam_gordon]

1960's when my dad died. Early 2000's when it finally got straightened out. A utility account is a credit account FYI.

@lanejudy didn't say CREDIT account. She said CREDIT CARD account. And I totally agree with her.
1) Comparing a SERVICE CREDIT account (utility) to a REVOLVING CREDIT (credit card) account is apples to oranges.
2) Unless your mom went almost 40 years without service from the gas company, it must not have been too much of a hassle, which is what you claimed...

Man, if something happens to you, she may be up the creek credit wise.

I just know the mess people have had to straighten out when one spouse dies and the other isn't on a credit account.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

1960's when my dad died. Early 2000's when it finally got straightened out. A utility account is a credit account FYI.

I'm sorry, but this is a ridiculous statement. It did not take 40 years of actively trying to resolve this for it to take effect. In the absolute bizarre case they refused to work with you then you would just stop paying the bill since it's in the deceased's name and set it up in the new name. I've moved a ton of times and if you call the utility company to set up utilities in your name from a date certain they will do so. I have never had to provide a lease or the deed to the house.

What typically happens is the bill keeps coming in the deceased's name and the spouse just keeps paying it and it's not a problem anyone addresses until many years later. This was especially true before online billing was common place. Just get the bill, mail the check, bill is paid, lights stay on (gas stays on)...no problem. It's not typically a priority people address in the immediate aftermath of the death of a spouse. And then once it's working it just kind of falls by the wayside on the "to do" list. Usually the utility company will ask for some documentation including the death certificate and people don't get around to providing it because it's not a priority. A couple of months to straighten it out I would believe but not 40 years. I dealt with this issue A LOT in my previous job.

I know that when my husband and I set up our utilities in this house it had to be in one person's name. We could add an authorized person but the bill (electric, gas, cable) come in one person's name.

 

[tvguy]

I'm sorry, but this is a ridiculous statement. It did not take 40 years of actively trying to resolve this for it to take effect. In the absolute bizarre case they refused to work with you then you would just stop paying the bill since it's in the deceased's name and set it up in the new name. I've moved a ton of times and if you call the utility company to set up utilities in your name from a date certain they will do so. I have never had to provide a lease or the deed to the house.

What typically happens is the bill keeps coming in the deceased's name and the spouse just keeps paying it and it's not a problem anyone addresses until many years later. This was especially true before online billing was common place. Just get the bill, mail the check, bill is paid, lights stay on (gas stays on)...no problem. It's not typically a priority people address in the immediate aftermath of the death of a spouse. And then once it's working it just kind of falls by the wayside on the "to do" list. Usually the utility company will ask for some documentation including the death certificate and people don't get around to providing it because it's not a priority. A couple of months to straighten it out I would believe but not 40 years. I dealt with this issue A LOT in my previous job.

I know that when my husband and I set up our utilities in this house it had to be in one person's name. We could add an authorized person but the bill (electric, gas, cable) come in one person's name.

Ridiculous, yes. Which is why it was amazing it took so long. And yes, the lady with PG&E who finally got it straightened out did note my mom had been paying a dead man's bills for so long!

 

[tvguy]

@lanejudy didn't say CREDIT account. She said CREDIT CARD account. And I totally agree with her.
1) Comparing a SERVICE CREDIT account (utility) to a REVOLVING CREDIT (credit card) account is apples to oranges.
2) Unless your mom went almost 40 years without service from the gas company, it must not have been too much of a hassle, which is what you claimed...

Huge hassle to get it in her name. But yes, they accepted the checks signed by her until it was.
As for as credit, isn't it treated the same by the credit bureaus?

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

Ridiculous, yes. Which is why it was amazing it took so long. And yes, the lady with PG&E who finally got it straightened out did note my mom had been paying a dead man's bills for so long!

Sure she was paying a dead man’s bill. That’s exactly what I said happens. But she didn’t tell pg&e every month for 40 years and they wouldn’t change it. That was my point.

 

[barkley]

Everything else was set up jointly, and that was no issue. How business views married women's credit certainly has changed. That would be soooooo illegal now.

no matter the gender an authorized user is still treated differently than an account holder on a credit card. there are limitations on what they can and cannot do on an account-including closing one down. in the last dozen years we had to help a family member with this due to the death of a spouse-the credit card companies required verification of who was authorized to deal with the estate of the deceased. being forthcoming that the person had passed only triggered the credit card company to advise the authorized user that their authorized status ends upon the death of the account holder and placing a freeze on the account.

What typically happens is the bill keeps coming in the deceased's name and the spouse just keeps paying it and it's not a problem anyone addresses until many years later.

OR-the credit card or public utility company finds out through the social security death master file which triggers a shut down of charging privledges but continues to incur annual fees, late charges and interest unless it's closed down or transferred into a new name (for utilities).

being the person who has had to deal with it years down the line has left me to create a document for dh and myself that lists all our accounts and whose name is primary/what online user names and passcodes are so that the surviving spouse/executor on death of remaining spouse can ideally deal with these issues online ahead of them receiving a death notification and creating a time consuming back and forth with death certificates and court documents.

 

[tvguy]

no matter the gender an authorized user is still treated differently than an account holder on a credit card. there are limitations on what they can and cannot do on an account-including closing one down. in the last dozen years we had to help a family member with this due to the death of a spouse-the credit card companies required verification of who was authorized to deal with the estate of the deceased. being forthcoming that the person had passed only triggered the credit card company to advise the authorized user that their authorized status ends upon the death of the account holder and placing a freeze on the account.

You just made my point why spouse should be joint account holders.

 

[sam_gordon]

As for as credit, isn't it treated the same by the credit bureaus?

Our service accounts don't show up on our credit reports.
And service accounts aren't going to show "available credit" nor "used credit", so I'd say "no."

You just made my point why spouse should be joint account holders.

Your opinion. How is it any different if someone has a credit card and no spouse at death? Someone still needs to notify the CC company to have them shut down the card.

Having charging privileges shut down isn't an issue as long as the spouse has their own card.