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Tharp case still makes me cry

I initially blogged about this case as it unfolded, then re-titled the blog and condensed my comments. As far as I know, nothing has ever ...

Saturday, May 19, 2018

THANK YOU, Firestone, for offering online chat

Update 6/1/2018 - After using the chat service on Firestone's website, I got e-mail info for the financial department, and my refund arrived pronto. This is GREAT news for me 'cause I've been VERY favorably impressed with Firestone's service, and will be DELIGHTED to continue being their devoted customer. I especially want to thank Firestone for offering the opportunity to chat online, which indicates their awareness that everyone doesn't have a phone. I haven't had one - landline or cell (never wanted or had a cell phone) for over four years, and I LOVE it. I decided to let AT&T disconnect my home phone and Internet instead of paying the crooks a $118 bill I didn't owe 'em, and I've saved a TON of money. I REFUSE TO PAY TO BE HARASSED BY ROBOCALLS.

Updates 12/15/2019 - 
> I'm now convinced that this entire matter was due to a fake website I contacted on 4/13/18 - the lady I chatted with later at Firestone's authentic website was unable to verify my claim number and said it didn't appear to be one of Firestone's. I'm TOTALLY SATISFIED with Firestone's service as well as their response to this matter, and I extend my apologies to Firestone for being a bit too hasty to write the original post,  titled "Beware of Firestone Complete Auto Care," which I have now removed. Much pressure - far more than I realized at the time I wrote the original post - is being exerted on businesses by the telephone industry to refuse to communicate online, thereby attempting to force consumers to use phones. The telephoned industry is intimidating businesses from communicating online for fear their e-mails will be blocked. The three instances I have blogged about (click the links) have now become business as usual. Nonetheless, one of the quickest ways to lose my business is for any business to refuse to communicate online, preferably like Firestone does, by offering both live chat and e-mail. Edward Snowden has exposed the government's and businesses' interest in everyone having a phone, preferably a cell phone. Read the article, then tell me if you really wanna hold a cell phone next to your brain. No wonder Amazon offered a $50 discount on a pair of shoes provided you entered a mobile phone number to get their "Prime" credit card. Got news for telephone-industry-kissin' Amazon: I make WAY more than $50 by not having a phone and by using a computer at the library.

> SUDDENLY, I'M BLOCKED FROM PUBLISHING ANYTHING AT ALL ON TWITTER. WONDER HOW MUCH TWITTER CHARGES TELEPHONE INDUSTRY GOONS, ALSO KNOWN AS REPUTATION MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, TO ACCESS SOMEONE'S ACCOUNT, AND WONDER HOW MUCH THE TELEPHONE INDUSTRY PAYS THEIR GOON SQUADS TO PLAY EVERY DIRTY TRICK IMAGINABLE - INCLUDING FAKE WEBSITES - TO HARASS CONSUMER-ORIENTED BUSINESSES LIKE FIRESTONE WHO DARE TO OFFER ONLINE COMMUNICATION. MEANWHILE, A PAID-OFF CONGRESS (DUE TO AMERIKA'S CORRUPT ELECTORAL SYSTEM) LOOKS THE OTHER WAY AS LIFE IN AMERIKA BECOMES A NIGHTMARE. 

Update 2/2/2020 - ANOTHER GREAT EXPERIENCE with Firestone today. NO CHARGE for diagnosing my problem and referring me to a muffler shop. Seems businesses that offer to communicate online are the best bet for great service otherwise.