Aidpage

I have a story I want to share with the members of Aidpage, but the only way I can tell the full story is to go into lengthy detail.  Still, what I want to say is very important, so I will do my utmost best to make it as interesting as possible. 

 

I believe that every human being deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.  I have lived my entire life by those standards and have befriended everyone who has entered my life, which is probably why I wasn't popular in High School.  Everyone is important and should be treated as such, especially when we become adults and enter the work force where we are expected and obligated to uphold the integrity of that company.  Unfortunately, not everyone chooses to uphold those values.

 

Since I am the sole provider of my family of four, I don't often spend money on myself.  I don't get manicures or pedicures.  I'm 44 years old and I've only had 3 manicures and 1 pedicure in my entire life.  My first manicure was in June 1991 prior to my wedding day.  My second manicure was on Administrative Professionals Day in 2002 where I received a gift certificate from by boss.  My third and last manicure was also on Administrative Professionals Day in 2008 when I received another gift certificate from my boss, which also included a pedicure.  However, I love makeup and will splurge on cosmetics whenever I can afford to do so.  Since I have extremely sensitive skin, once I find a cosmetic product that works for me, I remain a loyal customer for life. 

 

My story begins with an encounter I had recently with a particular company.  In 2010, I discovered a cosmetic company online that specialized in paramedical camouflage makeup.  When I read more about the company, I was even more drawn to their products when I learned that the owner/CEO was associated with highly respectable plastic surgeons.  At that time, I became a loyal customer and continued to place orders with this company on a regular basis, and even praised them for offering products that I had been looking for throughout most of my adult life.  I didn't start having problems until the fall of 2011. 

 

It all started with problems with their website.  On numerous occasions, their website would be down and I was unable to place orders, so I would contact the company where I was asked to provide my credit card information via email.  Once their website became available again, it wasn't working properly.  Many of the links contained server application errors, which would later lead to missing or lost orders.  Once again, I contacted the company where I was asked to provide my credit card information via email.  On one particular occasion, I chose to use a different credit card to place an order.  When the order didn’t go through again, I was asked to email my credit card information to the company in which I provided the new credit card number I wanted to use.  For some reason, they charged my order to the wrong credit card, which was the old credit card number they had on file instead of the new one I had just provided in an email.  Therefore, I had to email the company again and request that they reverse the charges on one card and apply them to another card.  In each case involving lost orders and/or ordering and billing issues, they were apologetic, and on two occasions offered me a complimentary product for the trouble, which was greatly appreciated.  Then things got worse.

 

Since I no longer trusted their website, I did not feel comfortable placing another order until their website problems were corrected, so I contacted the company to express my concerns.  In fact, the following statement is provided on their website by the owner, so I was only doing what they asked.  "We have taken great measures to ensure that your visit to the Site is an excellent one and that your privacy is constantly respected. If you have any questions, comments or concerns about the Site's privacy practices, please email us at XXXXXXXX.@comcast.net".  I went on further to explain that I would be placing all future orders by mail and paying by check, but asked if they had any sample products they could offer to accommodate me for the extra time-frame of waiting for a mail order to process.  They declined, but I was perfectly okay with that.

 

Then a few days later an unauthorized charge appeared on my credit card from this company when I had not recently placed an order.  In fact, I had just informed them that I would no longer be placing credit card orders until their website was working properly.  I contacted the company by email and received no response, so I called them to explain what had happened.  The individual who answered the call was extremely rude to me from the moment she answered the phone.  I heard the fumbling of papers as if she was sorting through a file and she immediately made an accusation that I had deliberately placed the order and now wanted to cancel it.  I had done no such thing!  Then she brought up the email where I had asked for a sample product and she rudely said to me, "And here you asked for a complimentary product and we don't do that!"  I couldn't believe how I was being treated!  Then she went on to say, "So you're saying you don't want this order now!"  I replied, "No, I don't want it, because I never ordered it!"  I tried expressing my concerns that the application errors with their website is most likely causing the problems, possibly even duplicating orders, but I was abruptly cut off.  Out of frustration and getting nowhere with this individual, I said, "You know what?”  If you're going to be so rude about it, then I don't have to remain a customer!"  She said, "I'm not being rude at all, and I'm the owner's niece!"  Okay, does that give her the right to treat me with disreprect?  I replied by saying, "I don't care who you are!  We don't treat people that way where I'm from!"  She ended the call by saying, "I don't care either!  We don't want or need your business!", and hung up on me without settling the dispute involving the unauthorized charges on my credit card. 

 

Shortly thereafter, I received an email from the owner, who accused me of placing orders and then having the charges reversed; stating it was becoming a problem.  This is not true!  The first time was because they charged the wrong credit card, which was their fault and not mine.  The only other time was when they made an unauthorized charge to my credit card.  I was also accused of asking for free products and after those requests had been honored, asking for more free products!  That couldn't be further from the truth!  Any complimentary products I received were offered to me because of the trouble I was having with their website.  The email ended by telling me that their company would no longer do business with me and asked that I not place any future orders.  How insulting!  What happened to treating all customers with dignity and respect?  I had been a loyal customer for 2 years and customer loyalty is imperative for building good customer relations.  When the same customers do business with you in the long-term, they'll recommend your business to others.  In doing so, they'll help it grow.  Does this company not understand that terminology?  Well, the story doesn't end here.

 

I knew I had done nothing to deserve the way I was treated, therefore was determined to defend the accusations against me.  I promptly wrote a complaint letter to the owner, which also included copies of the paper trail of emails exchanged between the company and me that corroborated my story and the problems I’d encountered as a result of doing business with them.  Although I wanted to ensure that the unauthorized charges were removed from my credit card, my primary goal was the hope of receiving a much deserved apology from the company for the way I was treated.  I received nothing.  So I took the next step and filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.  This apparently angered the owner, because they responded back to the BBB with an angry letter that added more insult to injury.  When I read their response to my complaint, I was disgusted by some of the horrific things that were said about me and I felt degraded for days.  The following are actual statements this company made to the Better Business Bureau in an attempt to degrade my character.

 

"I am enclosing copies of correspondence that was sent to my company which indicates the "severity" and absolute EXTREME URGENCY by this disturbed customer.  This customer has been given complimentary products in an attempt to appease her since her website order didn't process.  I feel threatened by this customer and ask that she not contact me or my company anymore."  Am I now a “disturbed” customer for defending my rights?  This statement is coming from the owner of a company who also does business with customers who are former patients of plastic surgery.  Some are possibly burn victims, former victims of domestic violence, etc., who are not only seeking products to help them look their best, but also for emotional support through compassion and empathy from a business owner who specializes in treating special skin care needs.  I’m not a former plastic surgery patient, but knowing what this experience has done to my self-esteem, I sincerely hope that no one else has endured this type of treatment from this company.

 

The unauthorized charges were ultimately credited back to my card, but a simple apology from the company would have prevented my complaint letter in the first place.  I hope that my message will create awareness to prevent it from happening to others.  In doing so, I will show the owner of this particular company the respect that was not shown to me by not publicly exposing the name of the company, name of the owner, or the website address.  However, I will reveal that this company is located in Reisterstown, Maryland and specializes in Paramedical Camouflage cosmetics. 

 

Thank you for reading my story.

We wouldn't be here if we didn't need help or weren't looking for information. But there is a reason for having private one to one and public messages.

Public messages are where you can voice your problems, needs or rants. It's where others in the community can get to know you and find out more about you. Also try to personalize you home page and be open about yourself without giving out too much information. Privacy is best to keep you safe. That's why one of the rules on this site is not to post personal information on the public areas.

That is where the one to one posts come in. If someone contacts you then you can reply with some information, but feel them out first, remember to think of your safety first. Once you are more comfortable you can move forward with things. But always remember to respect others privacy.

There are some posters that are sending one to one messages to people and asking them to help them directly BEFORE being contacted. This is sorta like spamming - contacting a stranger without their permission. That could start trouble if people start to complain about it.
Never randomly contact someone privately to demand, beg or aggressively ask for help - it's not right.

Others on here are in bad situations, respect their privacy and don't one to one unless someone contacts you to ask about your situation. If you post in the public areas, if someone can offer help or information they will privately or publicly message you. But don't spam others in the community, we've lost some members here due to these kinds of actions. They just don't come around as much...because they feel violated or disrespected.

If someone rudely demands my help, I will block them. I'm not in the best situation myself. But for someone that's a friend, I will do whatever I can to help - or I'll find where they may get help.

Brightest blessings to all and respect one another - Happy Holidays!

For all of those giving to people that fell on hard times this year I'd like to Thank you. You really make a diffrence. On that note, I would like to ask for one thing. Please remember not all the people asking for help are lazy or trying to scam you. It is very hard to reach out and swallow your pride to ask for help so when someone accuses or assumes that everyone that asks for help is just lazy or trying to get as much as they can out of you, it really effects people I'n a negative way. It makes people that really truly need help not ask for it. I can tell you that this is the first year I have ever asked for help. I always give to others and never have treated them like less of a person or beneath me for needing help, but I can tell you that I have had the worst experience when it was me that needs help. I have never been treated so poorly or treated like the scum on the bottom of their shoes. I have never treated anyone like that and I don't care who they are or how much money you have it doesn't make you better or give you the right to look and talk down to others. I'm sorry there are SOME people out there just looking for the easy way or hand outs cause they are lazy but that's not all of us and if we didn't care about our kids and their happiness we wouldn't be trying so hard to give them what they deserve. Don't assume I'm on welfare or didn't go to collage. Don't tell me to go back to school or look for a job. You have no idea why I'm I'n this spot. I won't be using this as a resource every year and by next year I will be the one giving back once again like all the years before. No one ever knows when their life can turn upside down. It happends to the best. The difference is, some of us don't have family or friends to pull us out of it. Just please keep I'n mind that we all have pride and no one wants to have to ask for help but when someone does just remember it could be you. Just have respect and compassion. Thank you

To the attention of:

Barack Obama, US President;
US Senators from Massachusetts: John F. Kerry, Scott P. Brown;
US Representatives from Massachusetts: Barney Frank, Bill Delahunt, Edward J. Markey, James P. McGovern, John F. Tierney, John W. Olver, Michael E. Capuano, Niki Tsongas, Richard E. Neal, Stephen F. Lynch;
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Dear Presidant Obama, you are the first person whoever got me into politics, now I want to fight back on alot of issues.  Even though I AM PROLIFE, iTHINK you have a reall hard job and was left with a mess. I am very sorry about the republicans and the way that they have treated you, even though I don't have five dollats right now and not much chance of meetin you or having dinner with you anyway I still wish I could. keep the faith and let the Holy spirit be your guide as you speak to the nation and others.

thank you

Darlene Mccourt

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Post Open Letter to your Elected Representatives

Tried of all the games life is to short we need help money to pay our bills living on ssd is not that much and if you worked you can't get some benfits becasuse you make to much. People that never worked can get full benfits dental ect. That not fair i can.t get glasses teeth fixed because i worked and i get to much thats funny if you knew what i live on. Depressed overwheled with life i feel what the world did we give our life and time to this country to have to beg for help and we give money to every other country take care of home first we are dying.

 HI everyone ...I have to say ,unfortunatly i am in need of some serious dental work , I have low self esteem due to the fact when i engage in conversation or go on job interviews i feel it is a factor ,because I cant seem to get a job ,I know I am a good person and am very reliable ....but when you deal in customer service jobs ...you have to appeal to the public ,shallow i know but that is the realilty . You hope that people will over look it but they dont .I know its un attractive and has held me back from even getting married because I don' t and wont even take pictures ...out of fear of what my smile portrays .(ugly teeth...really big ugly crooked ) 

    The aid page has givin me hope , like I've never had before and it keeps me going maybe that someday ,I will be able to smile and like what i see and what others see.Reading success stories gives  me hope and if thats all i have its better than no hope . I need to get out of a situation so I can become independant and have respect for my self ,so in turn others will respect me ....I can hope and have faith that maybe someday I will be happy with what i see in the mirror ...HERES TO HOPE AND FAITH IT KEEPS ME GOING   I NEED AN ANGEL TO ANSWER MY PRAYERS .

I am in the process of writing curriculm for children along with their parents regarding basic manners and common courtesy.  I am basing this teaching on respect which I believe is lacking in children and teens.  My goal is to teach self esteem and confidence by being able to express opinions without judgements and to listen to others with interest and respect. 

 I would appreciate input and opinions as I build my workshops.

Note: This aidpage was started as a comment on "Home page of ScootertrampDad"

I am 58 yrs old. Many years ago, I had an illness which ended up making me loose most of the bones holding my teeth together.. this is a concern, especially if I decide I like eating and chewing food , in place of just drinking it.

I had to have surgery to remove all the upper teeth and last week, had to loose  a few of the lower !.

I was told stress also was a big contributer.

I have a dental plan that I pay on my own, and it does not help much.

I have recently gone through a divorce, lost my home and my Ex committed suicide. I used what money I had to help out my Dad and  a friend, who ended up taking my help, but seems to have forgotten how to  pay back I do not regret helping his person, but all I can say is that at my age, I was or am still naive and trusting, becasue I allowed myselve to be taken advantage of not once, but three times, all becasue of my trust in people.  I imagine that after being deceived my my husband, who I trusted with my Life, I needed to believe again.Now that I am going through the possiblity of having no teeth, I am worried and I am feeling stressed about this and that maybe it is time for some things to go in a more positive direction. I have lost so much, my home, my marriage, my husband, and my self esteem. But I will NEVER loose my faith or my sense of humor.

After my Ex committed suicide (which was about 3 month after our divorce). I stepped in to handle his affairs. he had told me he had no family left, except a brother he was astranged from. I took care of his  reamins and making sure he was showed some respect, even after his death. I did this becasue no one esle stepped in and I wanted to make sure that after death, he was treated like a person and for the good things we had, not the bad. I searched for his brohter and what i found out was something i did not expect. his family were not all dead as he had told me, they awere all alive and well and living in canada, still fter fiding them, what happened over the next three years was part of my stress factor. We were divorced, so I was not doing this for money, I would rreceive nothing, but his family did not step in. i had to go to where he died and gather his belongings and loo at some hings that were ours and sell them to pay his reaminign bills, This ordeal has taken over 4 years and is almost complete. Did this add additional stress? I think it did. But I did what i felt was right for another human being, he had some persoanl  things happen in his past that made him the man he was when we divorced and I learned why he acted the way he did. It was not a good story, but a sad one, but it was his Life.

I cannot smile AND I HIDE MY MOUTH WITH MY HANDS WHEN I SPEAK, A SIMPLE THING LIKE LAUGHING AND SMILING HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY.I do not eat out in public because of the way I look and feel.

I hate even having to ask for help, since I have always been the one to help others.

thank you, even if you just read and listenned,

 

Marsha

I am a 58 year old woman, living in California.

I have been a wife and a mother and a daughter.

I have helped my children my Father and my friends when they needed help , I have alwasys been there for them and will continue when I can.

A few years ago, i went through a divorce that was  a surprise and unexpected to say the leaset. I will not go into the entie story becasue it would be way too long. I will say that I found out the man I loved and married was not who he said he was, But in his defense, he had some reasons for his lies and behavior towrds the end. We got divorced and I lost the home I had and my security. He committed suicide and although we were divorced, I tried to do the right thing and  took care of him and made sure he had some respecy after his death, no one else would step in, not even his family who he had told me had died, seems they were all alive and living in canada. It took me over four years to handle his after death stuff and it is finally over with. In between loosing my home and marrige and him, I went through three surgeries and still pulled myself up and moved on, I moved to a small apartment and staryed a new job at my age, I had a little of money and lent it to the wrong people AND ENDED UP LOOSING IT ALL. bUT I STILL SMILED AND SAID, ANOTHER LESSON LEARNED. i HELPED OUT MY DAD WHEN HE NEEDED IT. tHEN i STARTED TO LOOSE THE BONES HOLDING MY TEETH IN, ALL FROM STRESS I WAS TOLD, i HAD TO HAVE ALL THE UPPER TEETH TAKEN OUT AND THIS MADE ME FEEL A LITTLE  SAD AND A LITTLE OLDER THAN MY YEARS AND MY SELF CONFIDNEE WAS NOT WHAT I WORKED HARD TO HAVE. bUT I STILL TRIED TO SMILE A LITTLE AND LEARN SOMETHING. NOW, I NEED TO HAVE EITHER MORE DENTAL WORK OR IMPLANTS DONE AND THE MONEY I HAD WAS TAKEN BY SOMENE I TRUSTED AND IS LOST. I CANNOT SMILE, I CANNOT EAT IN PUBLIC, I HAVE NEVER ASKED FOR HELP OR ASKED OUR GOVERNMENT FOR HELP. I AM TRYING TO BE STRONG AND TO DO THIS ON MY OWN, BUT I NEED SOME HELP.

IAM NOT ASKING FOR A HOME TO LIVE IN, CLOTHES TO WEAR, OR A VACATION THAT I HAVE NEVER TAKEN, I am asking for teeth SO I CAN SMILE, SO I  CAN EAT, AND SO I  CAN HAVE MY SELF ESTEEM BACK.

I WILL try to still TRUST people, Have faith in People, and Respect for Others.

I MAY HAVE LOST A LOT, BUT I WILL NEVER LOOSE MY SENSE OF HUMOR OR MY FAITH.

THANK YOU.