Kvetching up
I... I don't even know where to start... I reckon I've been remiss for so long, not many eyeballs roll over this page anymore. It's not my fault. Life caught me by the panties and hung me up on a coat hook and I've been hanging on the wall ever since. I've been fighting the government, the CBC, my mind & my traitorous body. Busy, busy, busy!
I don't have the energy to give all the details -- but basically Revenue Services BC. on behalf of MSP (BC Health), decided to garnish my wages for outstanding fees. Fees that apparently weren't rec'vd from the CBC for three out of the four years that I worked there. The kicker is that the CBC was deducting money for MSP from of my pay the entire time. Now, you can just imagine all the fruitful phone calls I had to make. Finally after many frustrating conversations with CBC HR, I got someone to admit that they did indeed take my money and did not pay MSP. Armed with this information I figured I'd be cooking with gas, but Revenue Services was not sympathetic and informed me that they would continue to garnish my wages until all the necessary paperwork was processed. Sweet Marie.
Paper work. The CBC had to fill out a form and send it to MSP. Then MSP had to process the form and send CBC an application to fill out in order for them to accept the money that the CBC owed for my account. I was told that there's approximately a 4 month backlog for MSP to process anything. Add the amount of time it would take for all this information to be passed on to Revenue Services and we're talking easily half a year during which my wage would continue to be docked $250 a pay period. I nearly went out of my mind. No one would listen. I had a letter from CBC HR admitting to the 'error'. I offered to fax it to Revenue Services and asked them to please put a hold on the money sucking until all the paperwork was processed. No go. The fuckers weren't interested in my letter. There's a process that must be followed and that process involved making me destitute. $500 a month was $500 I simply didn't have. Unless I cut out some of life's frivolities like eating or getting to work.
I started writing to my MLA and my MP. My MP, the "Honourable" David Emerson, assured me that he would look into it. I never heard from him again. However, the office of my MLA, David Chudnovsky, was incredibly helpful. God bless the NDP. They managed to get Revenue Services to give me a 45 day stay of execution. Mind you, it's pretty fucking unlikely that I'll have maneuvered through all the bureaucratic bullshit required in that amount of time, but at this point I'll take what I can get. I think I have 5 days left. Still, it was more than I could do. MSP wouldn't even speak to me. And Chudnovsky's office has promised to continue to support me. Nice.
Some good news: In order to fill out some of the required forms I had to file my taxes... from 2002-2007. Yep, I am now a recovered tax evader. And wouldn't you know it, I have a gigantic tax return to the tune of $11,000. I won't see a dime of it as it will all go to cover my student loan arrears, but still... A fair silver lining. I wonder if those fuckers (the guvment) would have hunted me down so ferociously if they knew they owed me all that dough-ray-me? And even though I won't get the money, it feels pretty good to be a legit citizen. I've even started paying back my student loans. $100/month that barely puts a dent in the interest, but baby steps.
To make a long story longer, I've been getting fucked pretty hard by some big corporations over the last couple of months. It's crazy because the CBC has done this to three other ex-employees that I know of. Two of them were sacrificed to a collections agency and the other had to basically give up a few months of his life to argue with some French guy from the CBC HR dept. It's ridiculous and shameful. HR didn't offer to help me at all. In fact, when I asked to be reimbursed for the amount that Revenue Services wanted, I was told that the CBC does not do business that way. But taking money from employees and leaving them without health care IS how they do business? Cheers.
Blah, I don't expect anyone is reading anymore. But I felt I had to get the back story down because intend to bitch about this situation. A lot. Especially once my 45 day reprieve is up and they giving me the squeeze again.
In other news, today has been a really shitty day. I want to move out of this city. I've grown wary of the nooks and crannies of this place. I can't seem to turn a corner without some nasty reminder or small humiliation ambushing me. Oh, yes I know... popular opinion is that you can't run away from your problems. But, that's not entirely true. Sometimes you can pull up stakes and leave ugly things behind you. There may be new ugly things waiting for you in the future, but at least you've put some real estate between yourself and the old ones.
My fingers are cold. I'll go now.
I don't have the energy to give all the details -- but basically Revenue Services BC. on behalf of MSP (BC Health), decided to garnish my wages for outstanding fees. Fees that apparently weren't rec'vd from the CBC for three out of the four years that I worked there. The kicker is that the CBC was deducting money for MSP from of my pay the entire time. Now, you can just imagine all the fruitful phone calls I had to make. Finally after many frustrating conversations with CBC HR, I got someone to admit that they did indeed take my money and did not pay MSP. Armed with this information I figured I'd be cooking with gas, but Revenue Services was not sympathetic and informed me that they would continue to garnish my wages until all the necessary paperwork was processed. Sweet Marie.
Paper work. The CBC had to fill out a form and send it to MSP. Then MSP had to process the form and send CBC an application to fill out in order for them to accept the money that the CBC owed for my account. I was told that there's approximately a 4 month backlog for MSP to process anything. Add the amount of time it would take for all this information to be passed on to Revenue Services and we're talking easily half a year during which my wage would continue to be docked $250 a pay period. I nearly went out of my mind. No one would listen. I had a letter from CBC HR admitting to the 'error'. I offered to fax it to Revenue Services and asked them to please put a hold on the money sucking until all the paperwork was processed. No go. The fuckers weren't interested in my letter. There's a process that must be followed and that process involved making me destitute. $500 a month was $500 I simply didn't have. Unless I cut out some of life's frivolities like eating or getting to work.
I started writing to my MLA and my MP. My MP, the "Honourable" David Emerson, assured me that he would look into it. I never heard from him again. However, the office of my MLA, David Chudnovsky, was incredibly helpful. God bless the NDP. They managed to get Revenue Services to give me a 45 day stay of execution. Mind you, it's pretty fucking unlikely that I'll have maneuvered through all the bureaucratic bullshit required in that amount of time, but at this point I'll take what I can get. I think I have 5 days left. Still, it was more than I could do. MSP wouldn't even speak to me. And Chudnovsky's office has promised to continue to support me. Nice.
Some good news: In order to fill out some of the required forms I had to file my taxes... from 2002-2007. Yep, I am now a recovered tax evader. And wouldn't you know it, I have a gigantic tax return to the tune of $11,000. I won't see a dime of it as it will all go to cover my student loan arrears, but still... A fair silver lining. I wonder if those fuckers (the guvment) would have hunted me down so ferociously if they knew they owed me all that dough-ray-me? And even though I won't get the money, it feels pretty good to be a legit citizen. I've even started paying back my student loans. $100/month that barely puts a dent in the interest, but baby steps.
To make a long story longer, I've been getting fucked pretty hard by some big corporations over the last couple of months. It's crazy because the CBC has done this to three other ex-employees that I know of. Two of them were sacrificed to a collections agency and the other had to basically give up a few months of his life to argue with some French guy from the CBC HR dept. It's ridiculous and shameful. HR didn't offer to help me at all. In fact, when I asked to be reimbursed for the amount that Revenue Services wanted, I was told that the CBC does not do business that way. But taking money from employees and leaving them without health care IS how they do business? Cheers.
Blah, I don't expect anyone is reading anymore. But I felt I had to get the back story down because intend to bitch about this situation. A lot. Especially once my 45 day reprieve is up and they giving me the squeeze again.
In other news, today has been a really shitty day. I want to move out of this city. I've grown wary of the nooks and crannies of this place. I can't seem to turn a corner without some nasty reminder or small humiliation ambushing me. Oh, yes I know... popular opinion is that you can't run away from your problems. But, that's not entirely true. Sometimes you can pull up stakes and leave ugly things behind you. There may be new ugly things waiting for you in the future, but at least you've put some real estate between yourself and the old ones.
My fingers are cold. I'll go now.
posted by ... at 9:35 PM
3 Comments:
I'm glad you're back writing to your legion of faithful followers, but your story is one that boggles the mind !
It should be as simple as explaining what happened to the powers that be..and have them say
"Oh damn, really??--geez we're sorry...everything will be peachy in no time...sorry you were victimized, relax we've got you covered"
But god ! there is even more stupidity and torture?? for you -Jezus P. Junkdrawer ! that is Terrible !! awful !! ghastly !
I hope the kind forces in the universe iron this out for you asap...as for moving...a friend of mine was in a bad situation and needed a break from Vancouver...and said how about HOPE?--and she wandered off and found it be right for her...especially the sign at the edge of town that welcomes you with "Experience HOPE" --having said that....how about Nelson...cuz Kelowna is too 'spensive.
glad to read you again ...and good luck !
Corporations suck!!
You situation would be driving me to utter militancy. Would calling a lawyer help? Perhaps you could get a pro bono lawsuit moving against the CBC for your losses and psychological / emotional damages. They might settle...but what do I know. I really hope those assholes get theirs!
Keep your head up :)
The CBC !!!! who knew, terrible Get a lawyer or at least speak to one about what can be done. My sympathies are with you.
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