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“What’s Your Problem” author Jon Yates offers tips for consumers for getting the most from customer service calls and your health insurer.
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Look if -- never been denied health insurance claim gotten overcharged on your utility utility bill that is there.
Waiting for what seemed like hours to speak to a customer service -- you're not alone here with useful advice -- me.
For the Chicago Tribune and author of the book what's your problem cut through the red tape challenge the system and get your money back John it's great to have you on the show.
Now -- big problem because we deal with us a lot on the show.
Big companies not being responsive to consumers.
Anxious and very first problem you have.
Is it you can't get a human being on the telephone to listen to your complaint.
So what do you do.
Absolutely that's the number one -- and I get to you know companies are trying to cut costs in the first thing they do is they cut back on the customer service.
You want to -- getting through did you know all these.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- There's there's a -- several things you can -- the first thing there's a really good web site out there called -- human dot com its user generated.
They've come up with all the best numbers that you can dial through along with how long you have to -- usually just a minute or two for all the major correlations all the companies.
Consumers get together and they come up with this advice that's great step now I want to repeat some things that you've said -- book that I thought were really interesting you say.
Try to staying silent or speaking gobbledygook.
Our press a bunch numbers not tell me how that works.
Well essentially these are computers that are looking for input so they can figure out where to run your caller where turned writer Karl call away from.
So that you can confuse the system sometimes I just speaking in a different language speaking gobbledygook plain dead Clinton gets you anywhere -- happens to -- -- human.
Often times yes okay.
Oftentimes it -- oftentimes exactly so you're you again you just wanna make sure that they can't run you somewhere else that they get confused and you get fed up with -- and put you through -- approach.
But I so beat the system I love that -- I would talk about health insurance.
Because I don't know about you but when I get that bill -- -- primary care physician -- can even understand if I'm supposed to pay or not pay or what I'm paying who's saying what.
You've got some advice for people out there -- -- -- -- facing a major medical bill they really need help.
In getting that bill paid by the insurer you say study your policy you also say don't trust your doctor's office why.
World.
I -- he should you should do the things yourself because you want to empower yourself to get to get things done.
You know you -- doctor's office generally is a decent place to start at least because they had their.
The incentive is to get paid as well so they're gonna have a -- on your behalf.
But the more you do on your own the more empowered to be in the more you'll know about your policy so when things come up you'll you'll be able to solve them yourself.
I didn't know you did file an appeal.
-- -- -- -- -- -- you're appealing to the the very health insurance company you can usually appeals three times.
If it doesn't work after the third time you can also.
Generally there's an advocate in your state and -- in -- we have.
Department of insurance they will often advocate on your behalf as well.
I love that OK I wanna talk about -- when a billion edition I'm gonna -- A grade my bathroom maybe and that fix up my kitchen you've got some real advice out there for people who are hiring.
Somebody do that work for them tell us what they should do -- Well first of all never ever hire someone who's isn't it just in the neighborhood and says I'm doing a -- Java me to give you cut rate.
If if I do year the concrete under driveway.
No don't do that -- -- do as much research as you can before and even if it's just cruise the Internet and looking on some of these review web sites and there -- plenty of amount there.
To figure out who's good who's bad it doesn't take that long you know most people spend you know.
510.
Minutes a day at least -- or longer on FaceBook or whatever.
To spend some of that time doing a little research on the front and to figure out what contractors out there you should give your money to connect on a good ones just want to avoid the bad loans.
Accorsi and you don't wanna put a lot of money down I've heard that maybe you can get a big job the only put down about 15% you definitely want -- contract right.
Absolutely read the contract make sure you understand before hand.
Do not pay everything up front as soon as you give all your money over the contractor has no incentive to complete the job.
William him -- her just enough to to buy the supplies and -- going.
Pay as as the project gets completed you know -- different spots but -- back -- about anywhere from ten to 25% for that final payment until.
Everything is completely done in -- completely satisfied with the work.
It's them and hopefully you are completely at this slide -- -- broad question here -- so sure the rules of the road near the consumer.
You're having trouble with a very big company at some -- at a now Telecom -- itself.
You know as a utility company.
What is the best thing to do to get service the single best idea that you have.
Well there -- one of the best ones as always if it especially if you're doing with the big.
You know Telecom or whatever.
Threatened to leave they know that it's more expensive to go out and find new customers.
Then to retain the ones they have I went through this myself with -- with my telephone company my -- broke they wanted to charge me for anyone I said you know what.
Forget -- I know this competition out there I'm gonna go to the -- -- the competition out here.
And immediately they patch -- retention specialist and they've they've paid for my new -- Being a bang out a lot so you've got service John I love that thanks for your help today great job and great advice next time I have some trouble give me call.
The eastern.
