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Mis-Typing A URL Means You're SOL ASAP Plus: Why You Never Rely Solely On E-Mail And: Strap On The Grenades And Go After The Physical Therapist Who Violated Your Rights
May 13, 2004
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Dear Ben: In your column last week you answered a question from a reader wanting to know how to get a letter from the President of the United States for a person on their 97th birthday. Your response indicated that readers should go to a special section on your website. I went there and it was not what I was expecting. Are you sure the correct web site address was published?
Dennis L., Garland, TX
Dear Ben: Just read your column in the May 6, 2004 edition, and you goofed on your response about receiving a birthday greeting from the President. According to the White House’s website you can also request greetings by fax or by e-mail, too. I recently requested greetings by web mail for my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary and they received it just in time for their big day!
Kay R., Flower Mound, TX
Dear Dennis and Kay: Thanks for your e-mails...just two of several hundred generated by last week’s column that touched on how to obtain congratulatory letters from the president (as well as the governor). Why the huge response to that topic? Because someone here at the paper allowed the typesetting software to inadvertently "break" the URL (web address for the special web page on my site) with a hyphen. Anyone who’s spent a little time on the Internet by now knows that it’s a most un-forgiving place. You’ve gotta type website or e-mail addresses exactly as they’re written: Adding an extra dash, slash, dot or hyphen will shoot the wheels off of your cyber-hunt. So to answer your question, Dennis: You’re right–they published the incorrect web address...here’s the correct one: www.bendover.com/congrats.asp.Now, on to Kay’s comments: I’ve been burned on several occasions by either ridiculously long or randomly-changing URLs published by government agencies...so my solution? I simply direct readers to a permanent (and hopefully simple) web address on my site for additional information and (hopefully) a much easier web environment to navigate for answers. You’re right, it’s possible to now fax or e-mail letter requests to the White House, but it’s important to remember that e-mail is still an inexact science. Relying solely on e-mail for crucial communication is risky. My advice if you’re determined to e-mail something important? Print a copy of the e-mail after it’s been sent and then fax a copy of it as a back-up.
Dear Ben: I requested a copy of my bill from a collection agency trying to collect for a medical bill for a physical therapy center, but what I received was a bunch of information (they failed to include the requested itemized bill) along with copies of two my checks I paid to them, along with copies of checks from three other patients. I now have the checking account and routing number information for three complete strangers and am left wondering how many people have copies of mine. Needless to say I’m closing my bank account ASAP but was wondering who I should notify about this?
Kerry S., Reno, NV
Dear Kerry: I’d contact the three other people (you’ve got their information off the front of their checks, right) and let them know what’s happened. Then I’d contact an attorney who specializes in pursuing cases involving federal law violations. Sounds to me like there’s been a major breach of responsibility in several areas, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Divulging personal information either in the collection of a debt or relating to health/insurance issues is a major no-no and actionable. Oh yeah: I’d also force the debt collection agency and the original creditor (physical therapy center) to foot the bill for closing your old bank account and opening a new one while you’re at it.
Dose of Dover For The Week: Just a reminder that I’m out there fighting the fight and covering your assets 24 hours a day/7 days a week./366 days (this) year–but I only have 52 chances a year via my weekly newspaper column. Solution? My continuously updated (and free!) website and weekly newsletter. From information on the latest scams and viruses to breaking news on pending changes in my local media presence–they’re all just a point-and-click away: www.bendover.com/newsletter.asp.
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