The battle continues at a glacial pace. I've submitted all the paperwork--the details required made me feel like I was standing nude in the middle of the street. I know I should be used to being examined and questioned about all the private aspects of my life, but this process has been particularly demeaning.
The information I'm receiving is very inconsistent. I had a call from one of the member services people on Monday who informed me that the amount likely to be released is roughly a quarter of that which I requested. By the time tax and medicare levy is deducted it will not cover half my current outstanding bills. I asked how they arrived at that figure and no-one could tell me. Then I had another call saying my case had been referred to 'senior management' for review. What does that mean and who are these people? Can I speak to them? No.
The only fun part has been responding to the constant emails asking for feedback about my experience with them. You want honest appraisal? Brace yourself, here it comes--complete with the names of everyone I have talked to and the contradictory advice I've been given. It would appear I've got a big red dot on my file as everyone is now being exquisitely polite and careful with me. They are still useless and evasive, of course, but I've come to expect nothing else. Who is paying for all this consulting and appraising, I wonder?
