Cabinet company gets the job done - eventually

By Suzanne Palmer
Published November 29, 2007

Q: In early August I phoned the Cabinet Place to get an estimate to have two cabinet doors made. I'd used the company in the past and was pleased with the work.

Owner Tony Jackson came and took the order for two glass-paned doors. I gave him a down payment of $127, with $100 to be paid upon completion.

The doors were to be done in two to three weeks.

I last spoke to Jackson Sept.17, and he said the doors would definitely be delivered by Sept.20.

They were not.

I've called repeatedly, but all I get is voice mail and he never returns my calls.

I really want my cabinet doors, but if that's not going to happen, at least I want my deposit back.

Beatrice Mattei

A: It took a while to process your complaint since the Cabinet Place was no longer at the address listed on your contract.

Tony Jackson e-mailed Action on Nov.12, more than three months since your order was placed.

"These doors are now ready, with the proper colored glass to match (Ms. Mattei's) original," he said. "We expect to schedule the installation this week." He offered no explanation for the delay.

You phoned Nov.13 to say you'd still heard nothing, but on Nov.19 Jackson sent a fax to say your doors were installed.

I was unable to contact you by phone, so let me know if that is not the case.

Help for donors

Q: There are lots of notices about donating blood lately. But aren't there some restrictions, like for people who take pain drugs, etc.?

I don't see this information on their Web site. I tried to e-mail from their site, but it didn't work.

I'm deaf, so I can't call.

Barbie King

A: You didn't specify which Web site you checked for the information, but I went to Florida Blood Services' site at www.fbsblood.org.

It wasn't obvious where the information might be to me either, so I contacted J.B. Gaskins, vice president of donor systems.

To see the general requirements, go to the site and click on Education at the top of the page, then Blood Donation FAQ.

Gaskins explained that there are simply too many possible restrictions to list them all. They have become so severe that only 37 percent of Americans are eligible to donate, he said.

For example, due to recent travel-related restrictions, if you have visited the United Kingdom since 1980, you are not eligible to donate blood due to the risk of mad cow disease.

You specifically asked about prescription painkillers. Most are fine, but to be sure, contact your local office first.

In Pinellas County, call (727) 568-5433; Hillsborough County, (813) 632-5433; or Pasco County, (727) 819-5433. All others, call toll-free 1-800-682-5663.

You mentioned that phoning isn't an option for you because you are hearing-impaired.

Florida Telecommunications Relay Inc. could change that for you. FTRI is a statewide nonprofit organization that distributes telecommunications equipment to Florida residents who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/blind and speech-impaired.

The equipment provided by the program is loaned to qualified permanent Florida residents for as long as they need it, at no charge.

To qualify, you need to be a permanent Florida resident, at least 3 years old and be certified as hearing- or speech-impaired.

Florida Relay Service, the communication link used with the equipment, is funded by a monthly surcharge billed to all landline telephone customers in the state.

Visit www.ftri.org or phone toll-free 1-800-222-3448 or TTY 1-888-447-5620 to learn more.

Action solves problems and gets answers. Write Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call (727) 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request. Complaints can only be accepted by mail. Send only photocopies of personal documents. Names of letter writers will not be omitted except in unusual circumstances. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

[Last modified November 28, 2007, 16:03:14]