Important Lessons...

Advise to those starting out on by themselves pre or post college from someone who is doing it on their own.

These are just some tid bits of information that I had the unfortunate experience of learning the hard way and I am putting this online in the hope of helping others. In some cases I have been able to solve the problems and in others the situation was just a hard lesson that I hope can be a warning for others to spare them pain.

Malpractice

Choosing a dentist… I used my insurance company, Delta Dental, and online searches to find a dentist in Waltham, MA area. I found the practice of Damien Meola on Main Street in Waltham and starting being treated there because the local Boston press has many articles detailing Meola’s excellence in treatment. I have never been seen by Meola himself however was treated by his associate MY FIRST MA DENTIST. MY FIRST MA DENTIST was not skilled enough to treat me but rather than be honest let his ego drive patient care. As a result during the first appointment for a crown drilled a hole into my skull. Once he finally took the drill out and I spit up all the blood MY FIRST MA DENTIST went to check with Dr Meola about the next steps. Together they decided to put in the stitches themselves including dislocating part of my jaw. Two layers of stitches had to put into my soft palette and I was then advised not to go to the hospital. Silly me, I listened to the dentist thinking he knew what was best. Instead I was unable to chew for three weeks and had to wait for two months before any more work could be done with regard to putting the crown on. Finally the crown was put on by MY FIRST MA DENTIST and broke into pieces in nine days in my mouth. I called my insurance company, Delta Dental, who insisted I had to go back and be treated by MY FIRST MA DENTIST. First he had to drill off the remaining crown and then take impressions for the second crown, at this appointment I continued to complain about extreme jaw pain and MY FIRST MA DENTIST responded by making fun of me. He told me that I wasn’t trying hard enough to heal my jaw and it was my fault the crown broke. Again I called Delta Dental asking for my options as clearly MY FIRST MA DENTIST was not competent of a simple crown procedure he clearly cannot fix his mistake. Instead Delta Dental again insisted I return to the Meola practice to be treated by MY FIRST MA DENTIST. The second crown was put on and the resulting pain again prevented me from chewing for over a week. And now I was in more pain as each time I tried to close my mouth or chew I could feel the crown hitting my bottom tooth. Again I called Delta Dental as I wanted someone else to fix it and they said I am responsible for any and all costs with regard to this crown, as their liability has been met. With no other option I went to a competent dentist that is able to treat patients and paid him OUT OF MY POCKET to adjust the crown so I could again chew food.

I have since requested reimbursement from Delta Dental which they agree to as they are responsible for covering proper dental care however eight months later the check for $51 still has not arrived.

A year and a half later I am still being treated to re-align my jaw and will have to wear a dental splint for the rest of my life. Additionally, I will never again eat a sandwich, chew gum, or bite into an apple as the resulting pain in my jaw extends into my ears and causes them to ring. Ever since the drill went into my skull my ear has been popping when I breathe or chew and this is also permanent.

To attempt to solve my ears ringing and popping I was referred to Dr Poe at the Boston Children’s Hospital but after sitting in the waiting room for over two hours the desk clerk LeAnn stated that I would never been seen. At that point I left the office however the Children’s Hospital of Boston billed my insurance for over $300 anyway.

MY FIRST MA DENTIST was reported to the MA Board of Health and Kathleen Atkinson recently informed me that his behavior was not in violation of any laws or standard of patient care in this state. Kathleen conducted her entire investigation without ever returning one of my calls or allowing me to send any documentation in support of my claims. MY FIRST MA DENTIST is still practicing at Meola’s office and he specializes in ‘treating’ children plus teaches at the BU Dental School. He is a graduate of Harvard Dental School.

For your information if you ever have a serious dental or skull injury the only doctors capable and willing to treat the victim you should call the Tuft Craniofacial Pain clinic. The doctors at Tufts are the best in the world and written many articles in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Misappropriation of Federal Student Loan Monies

I was emancipated as neither of my parents could see through their alcoholism to feed or clothe me from the age of 16 on. For three years I applied for financial aid at Gonzaga University and never got enough to attended. Finally in the fall of 1999 I began my freshman year and one week before finals of my first semester was given notice my aid was insufficient for the next semester. This caused me great panic just before my first time taking college finals and instead of studying had to spend all my free time outside classes and work at the financial aid office begging for more money. Within two weeks the problem was solved however for the next two years repeated at the end of each semester one week before finals.

In January of 2002 I began my spring semester and just couldn’t get enough sleep resulting in being so tired I kept sleeping for 10+ each day. After two weeks I went to the Gonzaga University health center and the doctor ran some tests, we discussed my diet, and sent me home to sleep. Tests came back negative and my symptoms began to get worse so I was at the Gonzaga Health center once a week for the next two months when I was finally told I might have Leukemia. Before confirmation yet another blood test was run and it turned out I had mono, which can only be treated with rest for months. The doctor insisted I drop all classes and quit my job to recover as it took so long to diagnose. The university informed me that even though their doctor mis-diagnosed me for three months because I missed the withdrawal deadline I would be charged the full $13,000 for the semester. The Federal Student Aid organizations see no problem with this either.

Illegal Management

Red Lobster is where I worked during college for Janet Ryzeck in Chandler, AZ who I caught with her manager Amanda Henry discussing my personnel file in their office with my coworkers. To cover up for themselves while I was on vacation they forged customer complaints and then tried to fire me upon my return from the vacation. I called Janet’s boss and insisted on a meeting where after she again made these accusations I provided her boss proof that on the dates of my “complaints” I was in California. Instead of firing her, I was refused a transfer to one of the five restaurants in 20 miles. Janet then created a false sexual harassment complaint after her boss conditioned my continued employment on silence of this situation. Instead Janet singled me out in multiple staff meetings and falsely accused a very good man of a horrible act. I will not mention his name here as he has already been victimized enough due to Janet’s incompetence.

Lesson being that a “general manager” such a Janet who throws big parties for her boss will always have her illegal active covered up. And will always cover for other liars like Amanda Henry.

Fraudulent Billing by Cable Service “Providers”

Cable service for television and Internet…now I won’t get into details but I have had to file complaints about fraudulently billing issues Cox Communications, Qwest, and Verizon. Each of them having to apologize, as their billing was incorrect and the months of aggravation to solve these issues was deemed by the Better Business Bureau as inappropriate. Even today Comcast is created false missed appointments and is trying to collect over $200 for services that they never provided. I have made incremental payments in good faith after being told the issue will be resolved but instead the account is still open. Ironically they owe me money for the last account I have with them but refuse to pay claiming they do not have a current address…will update soon on how the Better Business Bureau resolves this one.

Fraudulent Billing on Federal Student Loans

Sallie Mae is the owner of some of my college loans and originally had some federal loans, after I refinanced and the new owner of the loans had paid Sallie Mae, but Sallie Mae still sent my account to collections and collections began calling me daily on my cell phone demanding payment. I responded they had already been paid in full during my refinance however they continued to call my family and me for over two weeks.

As they still have other private loans they have also misapplied, lost, and received payments all resulting in hourly calls to my cell phone demanding payment by employees who yelled at me calling me names such as a “degenerate”. Again my family and myself received these calls multiple times after the payment had been posted to my account and paid out of my bank account.

Slumlord abuses resisde--MA

Giovanni Curso a landlord in Waltham, MA with a rental property near Moody Street left me with no stove for over three months. He even showed up at my door on August 1 2006 demanding rent to finance his Australian vacation informing me he was not going to buy new the stove until after he returned which was over two weeks. As the stove broke in late May this was month three of my incurring the cost of eating out of the microwave or at restaurants. Giovanni refused any and all pro-rated arrangements only replacing the stove the day after I gave notice I was moving.

Slumlord Covers for Drug Dealer--AZ

Alliance Residential Properties owned Willow Creek apartments in Tempe, AZ and rented me a studio apartment (2005) six months later moved in a drug dealer to 2030 Broadway Road, Apt 2131 named Miguel. Miguel not only was dealing pot but also cocaine all the while living there with his son and later moved in a crack hore. As he had partied until 2pm and continued even when being asked nicely to quiet down, I was forced to go to the management company. Then the apartment complex manager told me that she would speak with him and later that day he showed up at my apartment informing he that before I said another word to management I should keep in mind he could “put a cap in me from his couch”. Willow creek management was informed again but refused to take any action without mentioning my name and won’t even let me change apartments without financial penalty.

Identity Theft & Fraud

After graduating from college upon the advise of a very smart financial aid counselor I checked my credit report and found a number of accounts totaling in the thousands that were not mine. I immediately reported this to all credit agencies and have spent the next three years dealing with the paperwork and resulting issues to get these accounts off of my credit all the while paying hundreds of dollars yearly in interest due to the low credit score. As I did more research I traced the time of my identity being stolen back to an email account I hadn’t used in years and began checking this email account regularly. I was surprised it was still active, as I hadn’t used it regularly for a few years. I changed the password and kept track of the emails for open accounts, which lead to me to many of the accounts not in my name but on my credit. These accounts include a home mortgage with Countrywide that they wanted me to refinance and a monthly Capitol One account statement ending in #’s0795. Also a Brylan Homes account which I managed to log into using my email address and found the information of the Sarah C Brewer who opened all of these accounts. Sarah C Brewer listed her address as 366 Piney Creek Drive in Blacklick OH 43003 and her day phone is 704-501-8231. Capitol One informed me via my email address as of 12/20/2007 that Sarah C Brewer had 10555 No Hassle Miles from her credit card purchases.

AS OF TODAY March 17, 2008 ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE IS TRUE AND CORRECT.

ALL INFORMATION CAN BE PROVEN WITH DOCUMENTATION.