I have a plan at work where I get reimbursed for my travel and parking though an outside source. In 2003 I submitted recepits for some of what I’m owed reimbursement for, but I’m still out about 500 dollars. I understood vaguely that the deadline for submitting receipts was this spring, but yeserday, I found the notice informing me that the last date to file was March 31.
I called up the company and was told that the only chance I had was to write a letter to the company explaining why I should still get my $500.
What’s the best kind of letter to write? “I’m a nice doofus, and I screwed up ,please give me the money?”
“Hey, you have no right to it, no matter what the date is. That’s $500 that was withheld from my paycheck and I want it now.”
“It’s not like I’m coming back to you in 2008 and reminding you of the dim, distant past.”
Or any other suggestions. I’m writing some kind of letter this afternoon, so I’d appreciate input as soon as is convenient. I’m kind of thinking this is a longshot, but I only have to write a letter, and it is $500.
Maybe you have heard the old joke -
I have kind of a feeling that no matter what kind of a letter you write, that’s 500 bucks somebody else is gonna spend.
You could try “Sorry I missed the deadline, but I have all the receipts. If you can reimburse me anyway, I would be very grateful”.
It probably won’t hurt to try, but don’t get your hopes up.
Regards,
Shodan
I agree with Shodan’s method. What might be even better is to call and speak to someone, and basically be really polite and kicking-yourself embarrassed, and ask if there isn’t something that can be done.
I had something similar happen last year. I was scanning my online bank statement when I saw a strange charge - something I shouldn’t have seen since 3 years ago. It was a quarterly automatic billing from my last dialup ISP, which I hadn’t used since I moved into my new house and got a cable modem with another company. I swore I recalled calling them and telling them to discontinue my service, the same day that I told the phone company that they wouldn’t have to install a second phone line, and we don’t have a second phone line… but my memory sucks so maybe I was in the wrong. (And yes, I was kicking myself hard for not paying closer attention to my account activity, I know, I know…)
I called their customer service line and was sheepish and polite. I told them the above, and that they could see I hadn’t been using the account, and asked if I could at least be credited back the most recent payment or a bit more. The guy pulled up my account info - yes, I’d continued to be billed, and yes, I hadn’t logged in for the last 3 years. He put me on hold for a short time, then came back and said he appreciated my understanding and calmness, and that he would have a check mailed for the whole amount. My jaw dropped, I said thanks, and we chatted a bit about dealing with customers on the phone. (I always, always try to be understanding when I know the person I’m dealing with is not directly responsible for a problem I’m having.) And sure enough, the check arrived and I was one happy camper.