COUNT ME OUT!
Whistleblower gets runaround
Dear John: I am a Census Bureau field representative who has filed a harassment complaint against my supervisor. This stems from reprisal after my telling her about another rep telling me she is turning cases in as vacant even though people live in a house.
I have since come across the 100-page report on the Philadelphia office issues, and my issues appear remarkably similar.
I let my field supervisor run her game while I collected supporting documentation. I have filed with human resources, and they have scheduled my interview. This is the third person my case has been handed off to.
My filing incident was Sept. of 2017. Today’s new investigator [was hostile to me]. I expect to be buried. I could use your help and advice. E.F.
Dear E.F.: If you think someone is committing fraud, you should contact the Inspector General for the Commerce Department, which is in charge of Census.
As you probably know, I conducted a long, successful investigation on this kind of fraud, and that led to the report to which you are probably referring. And you’ll get the chance to mention the lack of cooperation from HR and bring up some of the other is- sues you mentioned in your email that I decided not to include.
Dear John: I had the same experience with Hertz in Ft. Myers, Fla., as you described.
A very aggressive male employee seemed to have the sole assignment of checking gas gauges upon return. He actually started an argument with me about “how full” my fuel gauge read.
Horrible customer service. And not a very nice person. Is it not enough that rental rates at this airport are among the highest in the country? M.B.
Dear M.B. Hertz decided to return the $26.94 that it charged me to put gas in my already full tank. And all it took was me beating the company over the head in a column!
“I sincerely regret the incorrect refuel charge that was applied to this rental,” said Audrey B. of Hertz executive customer service.
I’ll say it again: The business practices of car rental companies need to be investigated. From excessive fuel charges to bills for dings in cars that weren’t your fault to charging extra for tolls on EZ Pass, these companies have gotten away with too much for too long.
Dear John: Just a suggestion on your car rental. I live in Fort Myers and know where you filled your tank at Costco.
The distance traveled back to the airport could not have used more than 50 cents worth of gas. L.J.
Dear L.J.: Thanks. But let me expand on that.
Take photos of the whole car when you pick it up, so you can avoid the argument about whether the ding in the left fender was already there when you got the vehicle.