Bond on its way back to rightful owner

Updated: June 29, 2012 12:02PM

Dear Fixer: I purchased a book from a Goodwill shop in the suburbs. In the book I found a very large savings bond. I tried to contact the owner, but their phone in Palatine has been disconnected. I wrote them a letter with my address, phone number and email address, but so far I have not had a reply.

Please let me know what I should do.

Gloria Makowski

Dear Gloria: You told us you were thumbing through a book called Undoing Perpetual Stress when you found a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond stashed between the pages. The good news is that finding the couple to whom it belonged was not stressful at all.

We did some research and located the cell phone number for their adult daughter in Glen Ellyn. Interestingly, The Fixer got on the phone with the daughter at the exact time her mom was calling to tell her that a forwarded letter from a Gloria Makowski had just arrived at their new home in Austin, Tex. Her daughter told her to go ahead and call you, and now you have their new address, where you said you’ll send the bond.

We called the woman later and she said that initially her husband was suspicious, having no memory of losing a savings bond. She added: “It’s nice to know there are good people in the world.” (That’s you, Gloria!)

Dear Fixer: I had insurance through UnitedHealthcare to cover prescriptions and decided I did not want it any more.

I called them on Nov. 30 to inquire about what was being covered. I told the representative I didn’t want it any more, to cancel me out. She replied, “OK,” and hung up.

I thought that was the end of it, until I realized I am still being billed.

After several phone calls, they told me I did not cancel within the cancellation period, which I’m sure I did. They said they didn’t have it in writing.

I did cancel and it was not my fault that the rep didn’t do her job and send me the proper papers. I was never told it had to be in writing. Please help. They are billing me every month and I will wind up with bad credit.

Mary Eckhart

Dear Mary: You told The Fixer that when the phone rep replied “OK,” you thought everything was indeed OK.

We figured this mystery could easily be solved by listening to the recording of that Nov. 30 call.

But finding it proved difficult.

After a few weeks, UnitedHealthcare said they’d found a recording, and it didn’t contain any words about canceling.

But it turned out that was an earlier call you had made at the beginning of November. Luckily, you were able to produce your own phone records showing you called them three times on Nov. 30, including the conversation you said contained the cancellation.

Soon after, they came up with a resolution.

We understand they will cover your payments through the end of this year. This November, you will have another chance to cancel during the disenrollment period. If you do, we suggest you document it well.

Dear Fixer: Home Depot offers an every-day military discount for active and reserve military personnel. Most of the time I go there, I get hassled about the discount because they say my I.D. is not valid.

I spoke with the local store manager and she says I should get the discount every day. She said she would notify the staff. But that didn’t help.

I’ve had to call the corporate office about three times since October.

I recently used a VA loan to purchase a house, which I am trying to improve, so I shop at Home Depot often.

Earlier this year, I called the corporate office again to complain. This time I got a claim number, and then I was asked to fax a copy of my military I.D.

They claimed my government-issued I.D. is not valid at Home Depot and can only be used on holidays such as Memorial Day for the 10 percent discount, not every day. They said it should say “active” or “reserve” on it.

I have been in the military for 15½ years — active for four years and reserve for 11. All military I.D.s are uniform, with the branch and rank listed.

I also work for the Department of Veterans Affairs, so I am employed by the government in more ways than one. Go figure!

Vanessa Romero

Dear Vanessa: Given that you’re a petty officer in the U.S. Naval Reserves and your regular job is also in the military, it’s hard to imagine why you wouldn’t qualify for Home Depot’s 10 percent daily discount. It’s not like you’re a teenager trying to pass off a fake I.D.

Team Fixer asked Home Depot spokesman Stephen Holmes: What gives? It took a while to hear back, but apparently they were hung up on the fact that your I.D. didn’t state “reserve” on it. They looked into this more, heard about the drills you still regularly perform with the reserves, and finally sent you written confirmation by email confirming that you are indeed eligible for the discount. (We suggest you keep a copy of that email in your wallet.) Holmes also apologized.

You told us that you’ve shopped there a few times since then and didn’t have a problem.

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