XIAM007

Making Unique Observations in a Very Cluttered World

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Pet insurance scam / ordeal riles dog owner - PetCare denies claim, then pays tiny share, citing miscommunication -

Pet insurance scam / ordeal riles dog owner - PetCare denies claim, then pays tiny share, citing miscommunication - 




A Vancouver pet owner is going public to warn others about the perils of buying health insurance for their pet.
"If I were to buy another dog or get another pet I would not buy insurance. I would take my chances," said Ralph Eastman. "The customer service was absolutely terrible — and there was not even an apology."
Eastman paid well over $6,000 for health insurance for his two dogs, Chester and Ted, in monthly payments over a 10-year period.
However, after his dog Chester became ill this winter with diabetes and then cancer, PetCare insurance denied his claim for $8,000 in veterinarian bills.
"For several weeks and months we were at the vet quite often," Eastman said. "Vet bills can get high, and you think insurance is a great idea because you never know. Only there's a whole bunch of things that [Chester's] health insurance didn't cover."

After Go Public got involved, the company reassessed the claim and couriered Eastman a cheque for $1,877, because Chester had cancer, which is covered by the policy. Eastman said the company also waived his $250 deductible because of the problems with his claim.

PetCare is a subsidiary of Pethealth Inc., an Ontario-based company selling pet insurance in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. It says it is the No. 2 provider of pet insurance in North America.

Obama signs Westminister Abbey guestbook, dates it May 24, 2008? -

Obama signs Westminister Abbey guestbook, dates it May 24, 2008? - 


President Obama Has No Idea What Year It Is



This is how President Obama signed the guestbook at Westminster Abbey earlier today, where he got a tour from the Very Reverend Dr. John Hall and laid a wreath on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. 
It is a great privilege to commemorate our common heritage, and common sacrifice.
Barack Obama
24 May 2008
It was really nice until he got the date wrong by three years. Granted, 2008 was a great year for him, and we might try to live it for as long as possible, too, if we were him. Also, though, he may have had a stroke.
Update: For those who find the European-style date suspicious, the Telegraph reports that a "Westminster Abbey spokeswoman confirmed it was the president who had written the wrong date."

New Zealand Casino Staff Forced To Wear Flea Collars to Keep Blood Suckers At Bay -

New Zealand Casino Staff Forced To Wear Flea Collars to Keep Blood Suckers At Bay - 


Workers at the casino in New Zealand's largest city have been forced to wear flea collars to work in a bid to ward off the blood-sucking critters, the New Zealand Herald reported Tuesday.
The alarming report follows news of similar infestations forcing nurses at some Auckland hospitals to adopt a similar course of action in December -- sparking a warning from health authorities against humans wearing the pet collars, which emit toxins.
Employees at SkyCity Casino were spraying themselves with insect repellent and wearing pet flea collars around their ankles to ward off fleas, according to Unite Union national director Mike Treen.
He said staff had been complaining about infestations on the casino floor "for years" and that although the business had been undertaking a cleaning process, "it doesn't seem to be working."
SkyCity management told The NZ Herald the casino floors were cleaned every day and it was not aware of any complaints about insect bites.
The facility, which also features a convention center, bars, restaurants and hotels, is the only casino in Auckland.
SkyCity Entertainment Group has casinos in three New Zealand cities -- Auckland, Hamilton and Queenstown -- while in Australia it owns properties in Darwin and Adelaide.




Read more: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/offbeat/new-zealand-casino-staff-forced-to-wear-flea-collars-to-keep-blood-suckers-at-bay-ncxdc-052411#ixzz1NHl2KSSV