Blogcritics Comments on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:30:02 EDT

I've consulted 6 lawyers and they all say that Chrysler can pull the rug right out from under me no matter how many sale papers and handshakes I got.

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:28:30 EDT

All right all you legal experts and Know-it-alls. Lets see if anyone can sink their teeth into this challenge and come up with a palusable solution. I was accepted by Chrysler financial for a car loan to buy the vehicle I was leasing, and then two weeks after being accepted for the loan, because of fine print I've been screwed by a car dealership. I signed a contract I accepted papers I turned in the lease papers they took my license plates and issued me temporary tags until the paperwork came to buy new plates. I put $1,000 down on the car. They shook my hand. Quick and dirty version. My 5-year lease (July 17, 2003-2008) is up on my 2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible. ...I got it back when I could afford one. With my credit card bankruptcy last year, it'd be impossible to get a car loan anywhere, so knowing that I'd soon be without wheels I went to the people that know me best financially: I was turned down by my bank-National City so... I tried Huntington Bank, whom I was leasing it from because I was advised that they'd either continue the lease another year til I could get back on my feet, or take into account in their own records that I'd never been late or missed a payment, even through the bankruptcy... they turned me down. Lease turn-in date is July 17th-last payment due June 17th. June 3rd, I went into the dealership where I got the car. Layed out my situation concerning bankruptcy and how I'd never missed a payment nor been late with one. The alesman told me it might take some doing, but he'd give it a try. I filled out all kinds of loan papers of which I have copies, laid out the whole situation regarding being on Workman's comp, and Social Security disability, figuring they'd find out if I didn't tell them up front. He had me fill out income statements, He got some kind of approval and called Huntington Bank to get the buy-down figure on the car. He was amazed that I only had 40,000 miles on it. Half an hour later the salesman congratulates me, shakes my hand and gives me more papers to sign. Suddenly remembers that he wanted me to sign an income statement leaving the amount blank. He takes a $1,000 cash down payment from me, removes the Huntington bank license plates from my car, issues me temporary tags and installs them, has me sign odometer reading and lease turn-in sheets, has me sign a bunch of "As is" and "We owe" papers. I was a little worried, because it seemed that since I was the 2nd owner the 7-year 70,000 would be invalid. Never got a straight answer on that one. He informed me that I need not make the final lease payment to Huntington, and issues me papers that state that my payments to Chrysler Financial would be $292 a month for five years. The first payment would be due by July 4th 2008. Congratulates me on being the 1st/2nd owner of my car, and sends me on my way in my car pulling in a leasee and leaving an owner. He said the ownership documents and payment book, so I can get my plates will be coming soon. The salesman wanted me to by gap insurance for the car incase anything happened to it, but I couldn't afford it. He said he negotiated my finance rate down a point for being a repeat customer and used that to buy the gap insurance for me. I went home a happy man for a change. Out of the blue on the afternoon of June 17th (the day of my final lease payment to Huntington) Caldwell calls me back to say that Chrysler changed their minds. I had 15 minutes to rush to Huntington to make the final lease payment before it was late. Took Huntington 15 minutes to find it because it wasn't on the computer-because it'd been canceled/bought out? by Chrysler. I went to Caldwell and politely and calmly asked what the heck was going on. I even offered to put an additonal $500 down if it'd help. I was asked to wait a few days to see what happens. Meanwhile I have no idea who owns my car or if the insurance is valid on it (yes if by Huntington-no if by Chrysler). I love this car, it's the first one I ever got new, and I was really hopeful for this deal to go through because I'd never be able to get another car with the credit I have, and would be out of transportation as of July 17. I'm still being treated for post traumatic stress at OSU, and severe depression because major things keep going wrong in my life without warning, making it nearly impossible for me to talk myself into leaving my apartment. I'm hoping you can help something go right for a change... Please? Workman's comp/Gallagher Bassett didn't pay a bill in 2006, and kept insisting they had, this went on my credit report, which gave both Mastercard and Visa an excuse to charge me 33.9% interest and inpossible to meet minimum payments. Thus I filed successfully for bankruptcy in March of 2007 and it was final on July 2nd... all of which was explained clearly to the Salesman at Caldwell. The first year of my car lease I paid $299.83 for five years to the tune of about $18,000 (paydown was $11.???). The new agreement papers I have say $292.40 over a period of five years... which means all in all I'd wind up paying $36,000 for a $27,000 car. But I didn't mind, I love that car, and would never be able to get another of any kind with my finances. I can't get a loan for any car because the bankruptcy is less than a year old, and $2000 cash doesn't buy much of a car these days I have all the documentation you'd need to see. I hope you can recomment someone who can advise me in this matter. Thanks Jet

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:14:40 EDT

Okay, more details of my latest disaster. That phone call yesterday came half an hour before Huntington Bank's closing, which meant if I didn't get that final payment in by 3PM close of daily business, it'd be marked late... the only payment the whole lease that would be late. It's one of those weird deals all banks have that even though they're open till five or six, you have to transact your business by three, or it hast to go on the next day's business. anyway, I rushed up there and it took the forty-fice minutes just to find the lease, which had been canceled when Chrysler bought it out from them June 4th, The bank manager said he'd mark it on time because they were unable to find the lease agreement on their computer before the "close of business." All the way up there on Rt. 71 through each construction zone, I kept thinking all I'd have to do is nudge the wheel just slightly and I'd sideswipe the semi that was dangerously close in the narrow lanes, or if I nudged it the otherway I'd slame into a bridge abutmentent doing 60. When I got home, even though I'd just seen her yesterday, I made an appointment with my shrink for this morning. After meeting with her, I drove up to my bank National City. the moment the words bankruptcy left my mouth, I was turned down. I told the manager that the bankruptcy was because workman's comp hadn't paid a $20,000 bill that'd gone onto my credit report, which gave the credit cards to push my finance rates from 7.9 to 33.9 percent, causing impossible minimum payments forcing me into bankruptcy against them. She said there was nothing I could do. Huntington Bank's offer was at $308 a month, but Chrysler's was $292 a month, which is why I went with them. Now I'd have to go back to Huntington on bended knee and ask them if the deal was still open... it wasn't. It was a "handshake" deal. So I droveover to the dealership and they said it was some sort of "temporary possesion thing" where they gave me my own car to drive while the loan cleared Chrysler Financial, which sounds like bullshit because they closed the lease deal, effectively buying the car from Huntington Bank and then selling me my own car. Took my plates and issued me temporary tags, signed a paper transfering title to me on the condition I give them $292 a month for five years, and sent me on my way, after taking a $1000 cash down payment, only to pull the rug out from under me yesterday afternoon. So the sales manager said he'd try to get another deal and asked me to do nothing until then. I'm thinking of contacting my workman's comp lawyer to see if he can refer me to another lawyer. But with my track record I'm not getting my hopes up and looking toward losing my car July 4th even though the lease is up the 17th because they took my plates away and that's when the temporary tags are good to... stay tuned.

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:12:42 EDT

I need someone to help me understand what Chrysler just did to me, I'm finding that I'm able to cope less and less and I find my self on the edge. June 4th I called my Chrysler dealership as my lease on my car expires July 17th. With last year being forced into bankruptcy by the credit cards upping my finance rates to 33.9 and with the bills for my uninsured conjestive heart failure and then heart attack, I just can't cope. I love that fucking car. I can't get a loan for another cheaper one, so I figured they'd see that I'd never been late or missed a payment in five years... which is exactly what they told me. ... So I went to the dealership, layed it all out for them, they said a down payment would go a long way towards approval, so I gave them $1000 in cash. They took my money, made me sign all manner of paperwork, made me take my license plates off and buy temporary tags that only last till July 4th, shook my hand and sent me on my way-a happy car owner. That was June 4th. The seventeenth they called a half an hour after I got home from my shrink at OSU, to say they couldn't get approval on my loan... no excuses, no reasons, and after I started making plans and budgeting for two weeks, I can't have the car past the 17th. With all I've already endured, with putting all my heart soul and love into that car until it became a part of my identity, this just may be the thing that pushes me over the edge. I just wish I could understand.

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:06:32 EDT

Two weeks ago I signed around 10 documents in order to by my car. By the time I finish I'll have paid $18,000 to lease it, and another $18,000 to buy a car that lists for $26,900 new. Why Because of the bankruptcy last year, I can't get another loan, so the only two sources of a loan are Chrysler and Hungington bank whom I was leasing it from. Now Chrysler calls, after I made all those arrangements to tell me that they won't approve the loan half an hour before the banks close so I can get my final lease payment on time. July 17 unless I can come up with another source, I'll lose my beautiful car (click the url and scroll down to see the red chrysler convertible). There's no hope of getting something cheaper. Is it any wonder why my blogsite is called Blogging on the edge of Suicide?

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Sun, 18 May 2008 23:56:43 EDT

I've been asked to try to turn this article into a novel, which is why I've been gone for so long. Writing fiction is easy, my own life is hard, especially when I have to force myself to relive painfoul events. For accuracy, I'm going through medical logs, journals, comment dates I've made in this forum, and cab schedules. Since it's a work of non fiction, I've got to be precise as the what happened when. Should any of you be interested, (or want to volumteer to proofread) the chapters with a lot more photos, they'llbe posted on my blog/URL so they'll be copyrighted as I work. More when I can :) Jet

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Wed, 7 May 2008 16:22:57 EDT

You guys don't have the echos echos echos fixed fixed fixed yet yet yet???

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Wed, 7 May 2008 10:55:26 EDT

I've found even more photos of my British cars and of my vegetable garden on my terrace, just click my URL and scroll down...

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Mon, 5 May 2008 23:39:28 EDT

I found some old photos of a British/American auto repair shop that I used to be a part owner of, mostly Triumphs and MGs. If you're interested, just click on my URL and scroll down to the 1987-1996 chapter. The photos will enlarge to much bigger ones if you click on them... Jet

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:16:38 EDT

LOL I used to have a siamese cat like that. Sorry for the delay, I found a satelite photo of the circle and apartments where I was robbed and had to insert it in the Nov 6th article. I grew up with siamese cats all my life. My father bred them and I did too. Very lucrative. The male siamese was Chasra (Kazzra) ahd the female was Maddame Chang (Shang) When I moved up to my penthouse, my landlord changed the pet policy and I had to decide which pet that I'd had for 10 years that I liked less. She'd just had a litter that was then 8 weeks old, so I gave her away free with a kitten to a good home. I sold the rest to Petland for $75 each. Kaz died a year later of kidney failure, he was 15. I may have to buy my Sebring, though it'll expose me to it being called an asset. The monthly bills would be a lot less, but up until now that pain-in-the-ass lease has been a godsend, as they can't take it, because I don't own it. I'll have to decide soon, as the lease ends July 17th, and if you click the URL and scroll down you'll see why it's so damned difficult for me to even think of giving up...

Comment by Dr Dreadful on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:34:40 EDT

That's a beautiful cat you have, Jet. One of ours is also a rescued cat, and very skittish. She'll let herself be petted, but it has to be on her terms. I was very chuffed earlier today when she actually climbed onto my lap - an extremely rare event. She couldn't quite bring herself to sit or lie down though. We have our little morning routine whereby she will come to me to be petted when I'm sitting on the bottom stair putting my shoes on. Other than that, we can go for most of the day without seeing her at all. That has a lot to do with our other cat, who seems to consider it his life's mission to try to hump her at every opportunity - this despite the fact that he was 'fixed' long ago. She hates him and her life is a constant quest to find new hiding places where he can't get to her. His personality is the complete opposite of hers and if you pick him up he will put his arms around your neck and hold on like a baby chimp. He'll also let you hold him like a baby. No dignity... I don't really know where the 'no cat blogging' thing came from. Must have happened some time between now and when that 'Death of a Cat' article that still gets regular comments was published - at least a couple of years ago I think. Perhaps they're worried about being inundated with sappy fluff pieces from elderly spinsters with blue hair...! It's a well-written piece, IMHO. 'T would certainly be publishable under normal circumstances. Go figure...

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:26:16 EDT

I've got two more chapters posted along with photos of my balcony, view and cars... thanks for your patience

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:22:10 EDT

Doc, do me a favor? I've just published an article on my own blog that's an expansion of the chapter in the 2007 section about my cat Mischief. I'm kinda disappointed that BC has a no "Cat blogging" policy??????? This isn't some childish "well if Mom says no, I'll go to Dad" request. I'm just insecure... I thought it was one of my best efforts. Is it really written that bad? thanks jet PS if you go into your Dashboard then click the Layout tab and then colors & fonts tab, you can do pretty much anything you want... except widen the view. Thay's why I chose sand dollar, it actually expands to fill whatever sized screen you have.....

Comment by Dr Dreadful on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:53:18 EDT

Thanks for the compliments, Jet. I'm actually thinking of moving the whole blog over to WordPress or somewhere because I can't get it to look the way I want it to. Can't figure out why the fonts randomly change in the middle of posts either. I mean, can't a guy write something up in Word and then paste it into his blog any mooore??! Jeez... ;-D (I'll try out Sand Dollar, though, see how it looks. Ta for the suggestion!)

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:23:25 EDT

Doc, I read your piece and I liked it a lot. If you changed your template to Sand Dollar or one of its relatives, you wouldn't be confined to such a narrow space. Just a suggestion... I like your title graphics though. Jet

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:07:16 EDT

We all have our own processes Doc, we all have our own processes... :)

Comment by Dr Dreadful on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:21:18 EDT

an artist hates his work right up to the moment he finishes it, then he loves it... I've always found it to be the other way round. I love the creative process (while sometimes hating it at the same time). It's when I've finished, and step back to take a critical look, that I find all the flaws.

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:22:03 EDT

Thanks Doc, I'll definately check that out. I've added a photo of my Cat Mischief and her heartbreaking story to the 2007 chapter. while I do have a style of writing (I used to be a pro at it) it's all true. After the evening dust settles I'll for sure check it out. Thanks for the ocmpliments on my art, an artist hates his work right up to the moment he finishes it, then he loves it...

Comment by Dr Dreadful on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:34:48 EDT

Good work, Jet - and I don't just mean the art. You're a heck of a storyteller, and as Ruvy recognizes, with a bit of application, imagination and luck you might just be able to pull something positive and lasting out of your nightmare. Passing on our experiences to others, whether orally or in writing, is the only way most of us will ever achieve immortality. I find it a rather melancholy subject myself, as witness this piece I posted on my own blog last year - if you're interested. Look forward to reading more of your adventures!

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:51:18 EDT

Should anyone be interested, I've just posted some artwork I used to do, on my blog in the first chapter.

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:58:50 EDT

Thanks Ruvy, I will. I've pulled all the entries on my personal diary blog-the URL above-and I'm using my journald to reconstruct the whole story. So far I'm sorking backward from the present. The journals are sort of scattered all over my computer.

Comment by Ruvy on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:38:47 EDT

Crushed, disappointed, helpless, and there's not a damned thing they can do for me. The chamber is dead cells and the only thing they can do is try to keep me alive with an appliance in case my heart starts fibrulating. Jet, look at it this way. Thirty eight years ago (when my father, may he rest in peace, had a major heart attack) you'd have been dead already. At the very least, you have the opportunity to record the experiences in your life on a medium that, if used properly, will outlast you. Keep working on your blog, and contact someone who can back it up at least twice, so that you can leave a legacy. My father had only me to carry his legacy. Fortunately, I have a very good memory and have told my sons many stories about my father. They know far more about their zeideh than I ever knew about my own zeideh. You need to use a computer to accomplish the same thing, as I assume (perhaps wrongly) that you do not have sons. But you have friends, whether you realize it or not, and they can help you preserve a legacy. Do you realize how many writers and published authors frequent this magazine? Think about it, and then get back to work.

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:10:06 EDT

Okay Doc I got it now, I had to compensate for the distortion that blogspot sometimes displays. You watch they'll fix it tomorrow and it'll look redulou ridulou redi... It'll look funny. If you click the image it's much better but now that blurs it. I just can't win...

Comment by Jet in Columbus on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:53:11 EDT

Unfortunately that happens on occasion when I post a photo, I'm working on trying to fix it, but I'm quickly running out of cuss-words

Comment by Dr Dreadful on Blindly Navigating a Maze of Bureaucracy, Depression, and Suicide

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:39:22 EDT

Looks pretty nice, Jet. Did you squish the photo a bit to fit it on your blog? Everything looks a bit narrow...