I woke up thinking I was going to have to call an airline and demand to know why my credit card wasn’t reimbursed (as promised) for an airline ticket that I’d paid full price for and cancelled at least a week in advance. Last night I compiled all my dates and times, credit card bills, and relevant emails. After my coffee, I was going to battle.
The previous day my beef had been with the property tax office. I’d convinced my husband to support an increase in taxes for our local schools by pointing out that old farts like us could get an exemption. At the time I had a sneaky feeling the tax people would find a way to wiggle out of that promise and guess what? We got our property taxes on Sept 9. 2023 (due in December) and in itty bitty print above the list of taxes was a note telling people to call the number next to each tax to find out the process for applying and being approved for an exemption. (sounds like a ton of fun, doesn’t it?) Luckily the call back number for each of the applicable taxes was the same. Don’t ask me why they didn’t just list the one number. ; (
We got our call back at supper time.
Sweet Young Lady to Rotten Old Poop: “I’ll put you on the list to receive applications for exemptions for each of the taxes. You should get them by April 2024. They must all be completed and returned by May and then they will be forwarded to the appropriate departments and begin the approval process.”
So basically for this year … forget it. Actually I don’t really mind. Our property taxes are already sooo high that what’s one more blow? And, I did vote for the taxes. But it is rather sneaky to get folks on fixed incomes to vote for a new tax by telling them they’ll be exempt and then make the process so onerous. Besides, I’ve got a sneaky feeling that asking for an exemption has landed me on the list of Rotten Old Poops Who Don’t Care About Kids! Soon to be published in the local paper and on the obnoxious NextDoor site.
Anyway, that was yesterday’s waste of a hour or so. Today, before I called the airlines, I decided to take a second look at the credit card statement, and there, (listed in payments and not charges), was the reimbursement for the unused ticket … in full. Whew! I may be a rotten old poop who doesn’t care about kids but at least I’m not on the list of Stupid Old Farts Who Don’t Examine Their Credit Card Statements! Yet …
So today was better than expected simply because I slowed down and took a second look. I’ll have to try and remember that in the future but no guarantees!
Yesterday I posted a snippet of the first chapter of The List For Herr Azmus, to read the entire thing click here.
Saying nothing in particular 
One for two isn’t bad. As for the first, it’s the government. What did you expect? 😳☹️
I’ll take whatever break I can get!
I agree! 😁
Brilliant ..
We are all guilty of going off half cock 💜💜
I usually do! (go off half cocked!)
Lol 😆😆
I wish Maine had that exemption. We never had kids at all but still pay high school taxes. Glad you received your airline refund, I’m sure it was a sizable chunk.
😉
It wasn’t a huge tax increase … but, considering who the exemptions are aimed at, they should make the process a little easier.
I see a charging buffalo and I’m pretty sure he’s justified. Seems like every little thing requires a fight these days.
Ain’t that the truth!
Really enjoyed this, Jan. The title, the story, and the ending. All the while I was smiling because the photo of the ant and the subtitle made me laugh, and I totally agree with the whole onerous process. Folks in Calif. already pay a lot of extra taxes, so I’m one of those, like you, who raise their eyebrows at another and another additional tax. Happy ending was fun too.
Thanks Jet. It was a huge relief and an excellent way to start a day!
Such is the cost of living in the free world. (Yeah, right!)
I never mind helping the schools but I get irritated when they create such unnecessary hurdles and confusing processes.
AI is going to completely remake education.
Assuming civilization continues on its current path, and there remain cities still viable amidst global warming, what a child learns and how they learn it will change dramatically.
How’s that going to happen? Of course being a teacher these days is a frustrating and dangerous job. They’re leaving the profession in droves.
Time for a post…
Hi Jan,
Yes, I see the angry elephant, but do you see the man walking away from the giant scorpion? I feel my vision indicates a damaged individual who is afraid of scorpions, if I do say so myself. Here is a video that should make you feel better. Duke
https://www.google.com/search?q=white+noise+offical+clip+netflix&oq=white+noise+offical+clip+netflix&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIMCAEQIRgKGBYYHRge0gEKMTcwMzhqMGoxNagCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:c26b1e35,vid:nJblPY5hVHI,st:0
I can see the scorpion but the man seems to be dissolving. I guess if I ran into a scorpion that huge I’d dissolve too.
Did you like the video? Acapulco is still messed up, but El Presidente says the disaster is over. So Otis is being swept under rug. Natch. Duke
Yes I did – AI taking over the grocery store! I’ve seen videos of Acapulco (not on US news) and it looks like it was bombed. Those poor people. Just one of many disasters around the world.
Hi JT
sometimes they really do make the process “onerous” and extremely difficult – I see this with technology settings – to turn stuff off or opt out can be such a royal pain!
And glad you did not have to call about the ticket reimbursement – these drains can add up. In fact, we bought a cheap microwave ($62) for a guest house and already one of the digits is not lighting up for the time. It is less than 30 days old – and the hubs and I chatted about it and decided it was not worth the effort to return it – the headache of boxing it up, in line, might get a hassle, then exchange and all that – sigh – nope! the one digit off will be okay and we just want to get one year out of that cute little (obviously cheap and China crappy) mini microwave.
I agree. At some point you have to decide if your time is worth more to you than the fight. The airline ticket was almost 1,000 so it would have been worth the time. But I think the total amount of the taxes is about 400. Luckily I don’t have to decide until April 2024!
I’m all for paying for education, but agree that people who are retired should get an exemption. I don’t think that whether you had kids or not should be a factor (you never said it was, just talking about opinions I have heard), because I think taxes are for the common good, not the individual good. Shitty indeed that it takes so long to get your exemption, that is insane.
I agree – even if you don’t have children, it’s in your best interest that the young people who will be running the country have a good education. Otherwise we end up with presidents who don’t read or think much beyond their own self-interests.
Nothing is easy. I do like the idea of you being on a list of Rotten Old Poops Who Don’t Care About Kids. It sounds like a badge of honor under these circumstances.
Yup, it’s supposed to get easier as you get older but that’s a bunch of baloney.
Oh man!
You’ve reminded me I have to go to my page on the gov’t’s website to deal with the underused housing tax. (what will they think of next?)
Your pic “ant collecting property taxes from a flower” is outstanding.
Happy Monday, Jan!
Thanks Resa … I hope the Canadian gov’t is easier to deal with. Good luck!
It’s not. Yes, luck….. and a good accountant if you can afford one, is needed.
Property taxes are very high in the USA compared to other countries so I understand your concern. I hope you get the exemption. As for your flight, that was great good luck and saved you another waste of time.
Always read the fine print. I took Law in two countries and two languages. Both say the same. (Applies for credit card refunds…) congrats. You got your money back. I’m still waiting for a partial refund of my disastrous September rent in Paris… Grrr.
Happy week-end
These days I always pay the fully refundable fare. I never go for the bargains. Been there; done that! Getting refunds on rentals is always a nightmare.
Bargains are costly. Agreed. I got a refund from Airbnb in Ny this summer. With the help of my daughter who nagged them for a month. Yeah!
You won’t get reimbursed over here even if you cancel your flight on time. They just don’t care.
Oh I cancelled in plenty of time – I just hadn’t read the credit card statement accurately!
Lucky you.