Down The Consumer Rabbit Hole

We really do live in interesting times…and, like the ancient Chinese philosopher, I do mean we are cursed — not blessed — by such interesting times.

Consider me, your friendly neighborhood blogger. For the past 2 — now 3 — months, I’ve taken time out from posting at The Richfield Patch to be on T.C.B. alert. That is, I’ve been trying to take care of my business, but I keep running into a quagmire of contradictions, outright lies, and red tape. Not what any consumer wants or expects, but it’s what I got.

Now usually under these circumstances, the wounded consumer (me) would offer advice to others. You know, common sense tips and requisite warnings for other consumers. In doing so, I’d be able to make sure the bad things that had happened to me wouldn’t happen to others. Then I’d be able to give some meaning to all my headaches and suffering. (Sigh). But in this case, I just can’t do that.

I would be lying if I told you, dear readers and fellow consumers, that you actually could DO SOMETHING about such issues. Or even head off these scams and rip-offs at the pass. But you can’t. You’re doomed. We’re all doomed. And I’m not kidding, I’m serious.

Remember The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? It was that idealistic “help” agency that was supposed to advocate for the beleaguered and the powerless little guys. Founded in 2008 as a watchdog for consumers, it’s now been successfully spayed and neutered, courtesy of The Donald. Trump’s strategy? Kill the CFPB’s budget, then put trained weasel Mick Mulvaney in charge to destroy the agency from within.

Now the CFPB has been reduced to merely sending letters from consumers to the appropriate parties that have been causing problems for said consumers. Oh, they still read consumer complaints and assign long file numbers to identify each case. But as soon as the company/business in question responds to the consumer complaint, the case is closed. Not resolved, just over and done with as far as the CFPB is concerned.

Definitely NOT what the Obama Administration had in mind when it formed The Bureau 11 years ago.

Anyway, there’s no point now in boring anyone with the entire saga in detail. No, I’m just going to give you the condensed version. Here goes: This Big Bank claims I owe them money, and I had no idea such a debt ever even existed for me. There. That says it all.

In fact, I didn’t even hear about it from Big Bank. I didn’t know about it until another bank told me my credit was in shambles. Initially, I thought someone had stolen my identity. Or pushed the wrong button on the computer. But Big Bank now insists I have this debt to pay.

Of course, I contacted Big Bank in search of accurate, consistent information. More specifically, I wanted to know why this bank had never told me about the debt. I got 2 completely different answers from the same Big Bank

First Response: WE DID NOTIFY YOU!

Second Response: WE COULDN’T NOTIFY YOU BECAUSE IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW! (??)

Then my valid questions and concerns got moved to the bank’s complaint mode.

So I started asking various consumer “help” agencies, groups, organizations for assistance. My written account of what had happened soon found its way to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Then the CFPB forwarded it to Big Bank for their response.

Last Tuesday, Big Bank e-mailed me their written response. It was filled with more inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and contradictions than I ever thought possible. But because Big Bank gave a response, the CFPB closed my case. It’s what they do now.

Confused and disappointed, I phoned the CFPB and inquired about responding (in writing) to Big Bank’s lies. Too bad, my case had already been closed. There was nothing further The Bureau could do about my case. Then I got the scripted lecture that all disappointed and confused consumers get:

The CFPB advocates for consumers as a whole, not as individuals. We don’t give information or advice to individuals. The company (i.e., Big Bank) responded, now your case is closed, there’s no more additional information. Yes, you can send us a response — as feedback — and we can review it. But we can’t give you any information about it. We don’t comment on violations of the law. The only time we say anything is when enforcement actions become public. Otherwise, we have no comment. You can send us your response, but you won’t hear anything about it from us.

Well, thanks, CFPB. You were a great concept until Big Business realized you really meant business and stomped you into the ground.

Now for my other real-life nightmare: MEDICAL RECORDS.

For years, I actually believed that I, as a patient, had some legal rights to my own medical records. I really thought that if these records contained some misinformation, I could get things corrected. Oh, I did realize only doctors could remove certain info from my records. But certainly, if I wanted to add something to amend my own records, I could do so — especially if correcting inaccurate or false information was involved. That’s what I thought, anyway. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

How could I have been so stupid? Once the gods of healthcare enter something in your medical records, it’s carved in granite. Forever.

In my case, my medical record has falsely maintained that I was taking Gabapentin — a powerful anticonvulsant that has now gained popularity as another go-to street drug. BUT I HAVE NEVER, EVER TAKEN GABAPENTIN! Despite my concerted efforts to get their error corrected, Big Clinic refuses to correct their mistake. I’m now on my 4th year of trying to correct their mistake. NOT the 1st. NOT the 2nd. NOT the 3rd. BUT THE 4th YEAR!

I’ve also come across some other inaccurate statements in my records about things I allegedly did or said that I never actually did or said. Maybe if I keep trying to straighten out these things, they’ll get corrected next year — or, as I like to call it, #5.

On the bright side, I did get some help from the Minnesota State Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Division, in regard to a tire rebate.

After I bought 4 tires last November, I was supposed to get a $100 VISA card as a rebate. But I kept sending in required information, and the rebate headquarters kept saying they didn’t get the right information, no matter what I sent to them. After getting the run-around for nearly 5 months, I contacted the Consumer unit and then later received the rebate that had been initially promised. Thanks, Team Ellison.

As for the other T.C.B. stuff, I can only keep trying — and hoping. But I’m really starting to think that if you’re in a particular demographic or income level, you’re always going to get screwed by The Man. Or else you’re always going to be in the crosshairs as his next consumer target…