A bumpy road leads to map refund

By NANCY PARADIS

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 15, 2000

I ordered a U.S. quarter-collector map in early January from a Bill Gale in Eden Prairie, Minn. My check was cashed, but since I still hadn't received the map by early March, I called the 800-number to follow up. What I got was a phone answering service that could only take new orders. It referred me to a number that was answered by a recording identifying itself as the New York Mint. No one ever responded to the message I left. As a further complication, we have now returned to Wisconsin and my wife has had her birthday without my gift of a quarter-collector map, something she wanted. Carl Wilkie

Response: Thanks for letting us know that a refund check was sent to you in Wisconsin. With regard to your continuing search to find a U.S. quarter map for your coin-collecting wife, we can only suggest trying coin stores or shows. Alternatively, you can always give this same company another chance, this time paying by credit card. That way, the issuing bank can charge back your purchase if you don't receive the map.

Our thanks also to Sondra Goodyear who let us know she received a $60.90 refund check from New York Mint in Eden Prairie, Minn., for three U.S. quarter maps she ordered but never received.

Settlement will be slow

A fire at Dress Well Cleaners in Spring Hill on Feb. 8 resulted in my losing three pairs of pants, total value $110. I did see the owner and gave her my information, which she copied on a form. Since then, I have left four messages about this at the phone number for the business that Spring Hill Fire and Rescue gave me. I have also written to an address for Dress Well Cleaners that someone wrote with chalk on some plywood at the fire scene. I requested information on any progress on my claim. I have still heard nothing. Edward Sheren

Response: Charlene Cresci, president of the company that owned Dress Well Cleaners in Spring Hill, is aware that the insurance company has not yet paid claims. She is still in the process of documenting her business loss, she said, as the store's records were destroyed.

From our experience in similar cases, this could drag on for quite some time while the insurance companies compile claims and negotiate with each other. Also, don't expect to be reimbursed what you paid for the pants. The usual procedure, if the insurance companies pay at all, is to depreciate the garment according to its age; you end up getting only a fraction of the original price.

We can only suggest being patient. Cresci said she is also eager to get this settled, but it's time-consuming and tedious work to provide all the required documentation.

Exposed electrical wires

Last June I had Gulf-to-Bay Lawn Sprinklers in Clearwater convert my sprinkler system to electric. Later on I discovered the job was not completed. The electrical wires were not buried but left lying on the ground. I called and the owner had one of his employees come out. He said this was the normal way of doing it. He said I'd have to pay for a service call if I wanted the wires buried.

A few days ago, the gardener said his lawn mower was about to cut some electrical wires. Thank goodness he saw them in time. I called Gulf-to-Bay on March 30 and left a message that I wanted to discuss this situation further. My call was ignored. I don't think I should have to pay more to have the job done correctly. Charles Gutierrez

Response: Thanks for letting us know that Gulf-to-Bay Lawn Sprinklers has now resolved this problem completely to your satisfaction.

Action solves problems and gets answers for you. If you have a question, or your own attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call (727) 893-8171, or, outside Pinellas, (800) 333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request.

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