QUESTION: I don’t know if it is because I’m a senior but I’m tired of receiving poor responses to problems I try to resolve. Can you make any suggestions?
ANSWER: I’m sure your frustrations are shared by the general public and not limited to senior citizens. When you find that service or merchandise is less than acceptable you have a right to complain. To be effective, it’s best to be brief, to the point and above all else polite.
Keep your focus on the facts. Find a clerk or customer-service representative and calmly explain what went wrong. If possible offer a solution to the problem. If the person you are speaking to gets defensive try to speak to a manager. Remember you need to locate only one reasonable person to effectively resolve the problem.
If your purchase was paid for by credit card you can present the problem to the credit card company. They in turn will follow up on your complaint and if it is valid may remove the charge from your account.
Many times the establishment with which we have a problem is a franchise. If this is the case and you have not made any headway at the local level make an appeal to the corporate offices.
In all cases, make sure you keep receipts, correspondence, warranties, etc. This will help prove you did not receive what was promised. Don’t make idle threats, it will just make you look foolish and you won’t be taken seriously. Above all else be courteous. The old expression “you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar” is still true.
QUESTION: In a past column you wrote about the OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) academic semester courses. I am looking for single lectures. Does OLLI offer such individual lectures?
ANSWER: During semester break OLLI will be offering several single session lectures. They will be offered on Wednesday from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Ventura Adult Continuing Education (VACE) in Ventura and on Saturdays from 10:00 am to noon at CSUCI Extended University Satellite Campus in Thousand Oaks.
The classes being offered are Comparison of Healthcare Systems Between U.S. & Europe at Ventura on 11-18 and Thousand Oaks on November 21; Marcus Aurelius at Google in Ventura on December 2 and Thousand Oaks on December 5; Anatomy of a Murder at Ventura on December 9 and Thousand Oaks on December 12 and Cuba 101 in Ventura on December 16 and Thousand Oaks on December 19.
The Ventura Adult Continuing Education (VACE) is located at 5200 Valentine Road in Ventura and the CSUCI Extended University Satellite Campus is located at 501 Marin Street in Thousand Oaks.
For more information or to register for a class or classes call (805) 437-2748.
HAPPENINGS:
MONDAY – November 9 – 5:30 to 7:00 pm – The Empowered Caregiver Series – Seminar – “Social Security – Think It Doesn’t Matter – Think Again!” at Senior Concerns Day Care Center – 401 Hodencamp Road in Thousand Oaks. For reservations call (805) 497-0189.
WEDNESDAY – November 11 – 8:00 am – Veterans Day Breakfast and USO Show – at Goebel Adult Community Center, 1385 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks. Free tickets available at Goebel Center – seating is limited.
TUESDAY – November 17 – 5:30 to7:00 pm – The Empowered Caregiver Series – Seminar – “Family Dynamics” at Senior Concerns Day Care Center, 401 Hodencamp Road in Thousand Oaks. For reservations call (805) 497-0189
WEDNESDAY – November 18 – 1:30 pm – Seminar – “Scammers Enjoy the Holidays Too!” – at Westlake Village Civic Center, 31200 E. Oak Crest Drive in Westlake Village. For information call the Advocate’s office (805) 495-6250.
MEDICARE ONE-STOP-SHOPS – assistance and counseling with making changes in your healthcare coverage for 2016 – walk-ins are welcome.
THURSDAY – November 5 and FRIDAY – November 6 – 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Area Agency on Aging Offices – 646 County Square Drive in Ventura.
FRIDAY – November 6 – 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Camarillo Health Care District, 3639 E. Las Posas Road in Camarillo.
MONDAY – November 9 – 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Goebel Adult Community Center, 1385 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks.
TUESDAY – November 10 – 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi in Simi Valley.
