my brain

Acoustic Neuromas 5

2008-11-30T11:23:23Z

I rarely post on here any more, and when I do it's usually just a line or two, however there is an update with my Dad's Acoustic Neuroma that I thought I should share.

Way back in January 2005(!) we were hoping that Dad would be able to get operation scheduled for Feb of that year after being diagnosed with Acoustic Neuroma in August 2004. Then dad got bowel cancer which was a greater life threat to him & the Acoustic Neuroma surgery got pushed back.

We found out on Thursday of last week that all going to plan (we aren't holding our breaths), Dad will be in (and out) of hospital before Christmas this year - over 4 years since he was first diagnosed.

I'll be travelling to Sydney December 19-21 to see Mum & Dad and catch up with a few people before the New Year.

For those of you who don't know what I'm on about and want to catch up on the saga, I give you:

Faulty products

2008-10-18T10:47:46Z

Walking into a store, you find the product you are looking for at a price that whilst expensive, is within your budget.

Speaking to a salesperson you are told that you can pay on your credit card with by the month instalments.

Knowing the display product isn’t the one you will receive, you are told that one of the accessories will be delivered and installed the following week as it is out of stock. The accessory isn’t vital to the product’s operation so you agree that a one-week wait is ok.

You sign the contract and make the first payment.

A week passes. The accessory hasn’t arrived and you have had no contact from the store. You make a phone call and are told there’s been a further delay and the accessory will be a few more days. Slightly annoyed you agree this is ok as the product is useable without the accessory.

More time passes and the accessory has still not been delivered.

Meanwhile you discover there are other, unrelated issues with the product. You arrange for a repairman to come to look at the problem and take time off work. As a contractor, every hour not working is money out of your wallet, but you need to get the problem fixed.

The repairman arrives and determines that the fault is caused elsewhere, but they can arrange a resolution. Heading back to work you’re annoyed that you lost a number of hours pay with no resolution, but are glad the issue is being looked at.

A few days later you are told the cause of the issue has been rectified and a repairman now needs to come out to look at the product again. You arrange more unpaid time off work.

After a number of failed attempts to repair the issue and more time off work, it’s discovered the store caused the issue and they need to fix it, not the repairman.

After a month the issue is finally resolved. Meanwhile the accessory you were promised delivery of a week after your first payment still has not arrived and the second payment is due.

You make the payment and contact the store again, however you aren’t told a definitive date for the accessory to arrive.

A few other minor issues occur, most of which are fixed within a reasonable time.

You make the third monthly payment and the accessory still has not been delivered despite many enquiries to the store … you note that you always have to initiate contact with the store – they never give you an update unasked.

You notice that the finish on the product has started to peel off, and contact the store to arrange to have this repaired.

Days go by. In desperation you write a letter to the store informing them that you believe they falsely advertised the product as after three months it is still not what you believer you ordered or have been paying for.

Another month has past and it’s time for the fourth monthly payment, which you make. The accessory has still not been delivered and the peeling finish has not been inspected or a repair attempted.

Contact with the store – all of which you have to initiate - is getting you nowhere.

You write them a letter informing them that you intend to return the product as it is not what you were sold.

You receive a response saying that you are breaking the sales contract by returning the product and will be liable for a number of fees and charges.

You make the 5th monthly payment, however outraged at the audacity of the store to charge you for returning a faulty product, you contact consumer affairs and are currently awaiting a response from them.

This is a true story.
What would you have done?
Would you be willing to pay to return the faulty product?
Let me know in your comments.

arty_au @ 2008-09-08T10:12:00

2008-09-08T15:20:01Z

1:30am - home time! Bai bai office - see you in about 6 hours.

arty_au @ 2008-09-07T17:01:00

2008-09-07T22:09:01Z

in the office for the start of another fun-filled(?) week

arty_au @ 2008-09-06T19:16:00

2008-09-07T00:24:26Z

2nd coffee of the day & some solids to go with it (a toasted fruit muffin). Now back to the grind

arty_au @ 2008-09-06T17:46:00

2008-09-06T22:54:06Z

having my 1st coffee for the day & contemplating all the work i have to get done today

Writer's Block: The Expendable Sense(s)

2008-09-02T09:55:09Z

If you had to give up one of your five senses, which could you live without?

Submitted By newbiepoet

View 500 Answers

arty_au @ 2008-08-28T06:12:00

2008-08-28T11:19:05Z

home! it's time to head home!

arty_au @ 2008-08-27T08:41:00

2008-08-27T13:47:59Z

heading home from office after 16 hour day. nite all!

arty_au @ 2008-08-25T07:33:00

2008-08-25T12:39:04Z

finished the web site Statement of Work from hell

arty_au @ 2008-08-22T02:34:00

2008-08-22T07:40:23Z

Home after a stressful day at the airport.Typhoon Nuri closed Hong Kong airport so Terry got changed from Cathay to Thai and re-routed thru Bangkok then London.

arty_au @ 2008-08-06T02:44:00

2008-08-06T07:48:30Z

waiting for the RACV ... they tell me it's 40-70 mins til someone gets here. Next car will have lights that turn off automagically after a set period!

Milo Cake

2008-07-24T12:51:25Z

125g butter or margarine
3/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons milo (or more to taste)
2 eggs
2 cups self-raising flour
1/2 cup milk.

1.Grease & flour loaf pan
2.Cream margarine, sugar and milo
3. Add eggs and beat with electric mixer on medium
4. Add 1/2 sifted flour
5. Add milk
6. Add remaining flour
7. Beat on low for 1 minute
8. Spread in pan
9. Cook on centre shelf of 180º oven for 40-45 mins
10. Enjoy

arty_au @ 2008-07-23T17:28:00

2008-07-23T22:30:19Z

liquid goo phase commencing

arty_au @ 2008-07-23T07:37:00

2008-07-23T12:39:49Z

bed time for me. hopefully well enough tomorrow to go back to work. so much to do

arty_au @ 2008-07-22T07:36:00

2008-07-22T12:38:05Z

discovered my head is full of lime green ooze. not blood and pink mushy bits as expected...

arty_au @ 2008-07-20T16:17:00

2008-07-20T21:18:53Z

Monday morning back in the office. Feel like s#1+. Sore throat can barely talk.Damn open plan offices & their flu spreading ways

arty_au @ 2008-07-17T03:53:00

2008-07-17T08:55:04Z

has red wine open. settling in for a night in front of the TV

arty_au @ 2008-07-15T17:07:00

2008-07-15T22:08:26Z

good morning, good moooooorrrrrning..... bah who am i kidding, i want to be asleep still

arty_au @ 2008-07-14T04:47:00

2008-07-14T09:48:14Z

is it wrong to feel relief when you realise all the smoke and all the fire engines are in your street because it's the house next door that burnt down not yours?

arty_au @ 2008-07-13T16:54:00

2008-07-13T21:55:40Z

monday morning, in the office. feel like I need another weekend

arty_au @ 2008-07-12T07:17:00

2008-07-12T12:18:32Z

can haz done tax return... can haz money now plz ATO? ktxbai

arty_au @ 2008-07-10T07:34:00

2008-07-10T12:34:54Z

off to bed. 1 sleep til iphone day (if i can get one that is)

arty_au @ 2008-07-10T01:34:00

2008-07-10T06:34:28Z

After 10 yrs with 1 mobile carrier, I'm churning to Optus for an iPhone tomorrow to prevent being Vodapwnd

arty_au @ 2008-07-09T16:18:00

2008-07-09T21:18:30Z

Morning all. It's a lovely* 9º rainy day in Melbourne and I'm at work again (*compared to yesterday's 4º at this time)