One of the problems with traveling for a living is keeping up with your bills. Sure, we have online banking and bill receiving capabilities nowadays, but you still have to look at bills closely and figure out a way to save money. One finds surplus charges on credit cards more frequently then they’d like to. And if some corporation has you upset, don’t just take it on the chin. Write a note to them and see if you can’t get your problem resolved, and maybe get a little something back. It’s really not hard.
When I’m mad about something petty, I think of how to relieve that stress in the best way. Last month, I got back close to $200 worth of rebates and credits by applying myself for no more than five minutes. Take notice and follow my example — you may just be able to get something for nothing.
Squeaking the Wheel
Everyone should be a member of the frequent flier programs and the car rental programs. You get free tickets and upgrades; there is no downside to it. I personally belong to Avis. Took me three minutes online to get a “Wizard” preferred customer number one day. Now, I may only use Avis three times per year, but each time, I get amazing discounts and free upgrades to larger cars. And I don’t wait in any lines.
Last week I rented a car at LAX for three days. The total came out to $119 — not a bad deal for a major city. Upon driving the car that evening, I detected the odor of cigarettes. I could live with it, but I don’t have to. I look at my online reservation confirmation and notice there is a spot where I can leave comments. So I expressed my concern that I was a valued, preferred client, and they gave me a car that stinks. I hate it, and just want to let them know I was upset.
Within 24 hours, I receive a nice courtesy apology email along with a $50 voucher for my next rental. When I get home, I found an additional survey they sent me, asking about my rental experience. I filled it out. The next day, I am credited another $30 to the Amex card that I used for the reservation. That’s $80 (two-thirds what I paid) that I get back for using Avis. All I did was use a pen for two minutes.
On Sunday, I flew on Delta back home. They offer this in-flight Internet program (Gogo) for 15 clams per flight. The NFL playoffs were on, and I wanted to follow the scores live. But the usually good connection was pretty slow this flight. I was slightly inconvenienced. The next day I get an email asking about the service. I took a minute and let them know I was disappointed and will never waste money on their service again. Fifteen minutes, later I have a code for a complimentary voucher of Internet usage on my next flight. One minute of writing equals three fins — nice.
Every time I go shopping, some store wants me to use their personal credit card. I normally opt against this because I have enough cards, and I don’t get the miles that Amex and Visa give me when I utilize their plastic. In October, I tried to buy $175 worth of clothes for my kids’ school year. The Gap explained to me that if I signed up for their card, I would get a $50 instant voucher. As a new member, I’d also be able to take advantage of a discount that day of 25 percent off everything in the store. This meant that I could get all those clothes for 100 bucks. And as a bonus, I could still use my Amex card to pay off the Gap debt and get the miles.
But the problem was, I was going to be gone all fall, and I couldn’t pay the bill until I got the paper statement with the new card. Sure enough, I get home just before Christmas and I have a bill there that is a week past due. So I pay it and await the obligatory late charge on the next months’ tab. When that $25 charge comes, I sit down to pay it. But then I decide to take a chance with the toll-free customer service number they list on the bill. I call that number and was all set to deliver the ultimatum: “If I am forced to pay the late charge, I will. But then they need to cancel my card, because I will never shop there again.” It never gets to that. Halfway through my explanation, the customer service lady stops to tell me she gets it and has credited my account. Two minutes on a phone saves me another 25 bucks.
Kindness Works, Too
On Sunday, my Mac laptop decides to take a dive. Apparently the battery is acting up — the computer works great when plugged in. Mac batteries never last more than two years for me. I seem to drop money on these things every year and I’m not happy. The battery says it’s fully charged, but it cuts out like it’s overheated. So I go into my local Apple store and kill ‘em with kindness as I drop it off for repairs. I know it’s the battery and it’s not covered under warranty, or by the extra “Apple care” package I bought with the computer. But I take a chance, because this is a fine product and the workers at these establishments are nice, cool folks. Sure enough, it passes all the battery diagnostics, and they are stumped, so I leave it for more testing. I come in the next day and they hand me back the ‘puter with a new battery, for free. They even told me they should charge me for it, but since I am a loyal customer, they will look the other way. Again, I could not win if I did not play.
Sometimes, all the writing doesn’t help you one bit. Years ago, I used a certain credit card to pay for my wedding reception. I wanted the miles. When the bill came, I promptly paid the thing in full — or so I thought. I had misread the amount by $30 and accidentally wrote them a short check. The next month, they hit me with a $600 interest charge — on the whole amount, not just the 30 bucks. Despite calls and written letters, they told me it was policy and I had to abide. I paid, but in the long run, the company that issued the card will lose. Everything I charge now goes on my Amex card. Forever. And they give me double the Delta miles for every buck I spend.
