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Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:14 pm
by Kiralynx
Image

The letter [click on the image to see a larger version] says it all. They didn't even bother to address it to Dear Ms. Fill-in-the-Blank from a database.

Re: Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:21 pm
by socalmonkey
I love the second line... "we realize you have a choice in health care providers..."

No we don't (well not much on one) - otherwise we wouldn't be dealing with them.

Re: Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:23 pm
by Kiralynx
Exactly -- if my insurance didn't use them, I certainly wouldn't! (The local RT appears to be good, but as far as the rest....)

Re: Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:59 am
by Gerald
When I read that letter, I was reminded about how ridiculous is for us to be forced to obtain a prescription before we can purchase equipment.

Gerald

Re: Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:09 am
by Tcamillemars
I have had to deal with them for 9 months, and I have never been contacted at all. Being fitted for a mask consisted of opening the box, and getting one out and handing it to me- on 2 different occasions. I'm very fortunate now, because they hired an RT who actually knows what he's talking about and cares about the clients. I am afraid he won't be there long because he doesn't seem the type to put up with their garbage.

Re: Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:23 am
by LinkC
Apria wrote:Speak as though you were talking to our customer service representative directly.


Translation: "Pretend we really care about you or your silly compliance while our machine listens compassionately."

Response: Have your phony non-service representative pretend I'm still your customer.

Re: Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:27 am
by carbonman
Dear.....DEAR...customer...
it's been a long time...
too long a time.

You mean so much to us... Dear customer,
we have a machine...
the doped silicone intelligence of the 21st century,
that can recognize your voice.

We want to know....Dear customer....
are you using your machine???
Do you know how to use your machine?

Does it irritate you....Dear customer....
Does it blow in your eye?
Does it dryout your sin'i?
Does it leak on the side or
create a mark on your cheek??

Do you still have insurance.....Dear customer?
Because if there's an inference that there isn't insurance....
well.....we're gon'a need some reassurance that somebody,
Dear customer....someBODY is going to be cough'n up the dollars.

So, inspite of the fact,
that we can never keep track,
of your tubing, filters and masks,
Dear customer....just give us a holler.....

'cause.... we have a machine, that's quit the scholar
who is really just interested in put'n the collar
on your dollar.

Re: Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:00 am
by OutaSync
From all of the negative things that I have heard about Apria, I may have to switch to them. They sound so much better than my current DME.

Bev

Re: Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:19 am
by howkim
Something tells me that I'm glad that it's too small for me to read.

ETA: Ahhhh. From the comment below, this looks like it's tne same letter I posted about a week or so ago.

Re: Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:24 am
by WearyOne
Sometime last year I received the EXACT same letter except for the last two paragraphs, from my DME, who is not Apria. I actually do not want someone (or some machine) calling and bugging me; what I want are physicians and DME's that are responsive when I call them, and that's where my DME shines, my PCP shines, and my sleep doc falls woefully short. My DME did call on check on me several times in the first few months of therapy, but since then they have never called me, except for the recorded call mentioned in the letter, but when I call them, I receive excellent service and response. And that's the way I personally like it.

I do think it's funny, though, that it's almost the exact same letter.

Pam

Re: Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:38 am
by Kiralynx
Gerald wrote:When I read that letter, I was reminded about how ridiculous is for us to be forced to obtain a prescription before we can purchase equipment.


It's somewhat ironic, getting something like this, on top of the announcement that we have to have prescriptions for masks and hoses and so forth.

Re: Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:41 am
by Kiralynx
Tcamillemars wrote:I have had to deal with them for 9 months, and I have never been contacted at all. Being fitted for a mask consisted of opening the box, and getting one out and handing it to me- on 2 different occasions. I'm very fortunate now, because they hired an RT who actually knows what he's talking about and cares about the clients. I am afraid he won't be there long because he doesn't seem the type to put up with their garbage.
My local office has an RT who got me the right machine for me. Beyond that, no interest. Interestingly, one of the local brick-and-mortar DMEs (who is not, unfortunately, covered by my insurance, which is a pity, since they are nice folks) has as their RT a former Apria RT.

Re: Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:42 am
by Kiralynx
LinkC wrote:Translation: "Pretend we really care about you or your silly compliance while our machine listens compassionately."
You know, that was my first thought when I read that.

Re: Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:52 am
by datajack
Shame kinda would've been nice ages ago. 2.5+ years on it and never a peep from anyone. Lame that....

Re: Apria: Dear Customer

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:07 am
by Kiralynx
carbonman wrote:Dear.....DEAR...customer...
it's been a long time...
too long a time.

You mean so much to us... Dear customer,
we have a machine...
the doped silicone intelligence of the 21st century,
that can recognize your voice.

We want to know....Dear customer....
are you using your machine???
Do you know how to use your machine?

Does it irritate you....Dear customer....
Does it blow in your eye?
Does it dryout your sin'i?
Does it leak on the side or
create a mark on your cheek??

Do you still have insurance.....Dear customer?
Because if there's an inference that there isn't insurance....
well.....we're gon'a need some reassurance that somebody,
Dear customer....someBODY is going to be cough'n up the dollars.

So, inspite of the fact,
that we can never keep track,
of your tubing, filters and masks,
Dear customer....just give us a holler.....

'cause.... we have a machine, that's quit the scholar
who is really just interested in put'n the collar
on your dollar.
I love it! Considering they still haven't filled my order for a hose and filters from April.... guess the order wasn't big enough!