This thread is for me to vent about my thirty years of misinformation/problems caused by "my" retirement association, Alameda County Employees Retirement Association (ACERA).
My stomach hurts almost constantly and I don't sleep well so I hope it's OK to vent here.
ACERA employees incompetence has cost me about two years' income (Social Workers' disability income is not real great, as you may imagine) Thirty years of problems with the IRS and the humiliation of being blamed for their mistakes on occasion by an employee who actually talked "baby talk" to me.
This worker then asked for my helping in avoiding upsetting members of the Board of Directors because they really don't like it when retirees com to their meetings and address them. This after I had done just that. She was the cause of the problem that had brought me there, after asking for my help in not upsetting them she once again told me that I was responsible for her arbitrarily cancelling my medical coverage while I was in the midst of eight surgeries. Way to get my cooperation!!
I need to vent and to rant. When I cry I do it privately.
If you want to comment, please do not suggest I get a lawyer. While my contributions to ACERA pay for their team of lawyers to defend their incompetent employees, I have to pay for a private attorney and I don't have the resources.
Yesterday I wrote to Ellen DeGeneris as I have a wonderful fantasy of her giving these people the attention they deserve as they have not only lied to me, particularly about the IRS situation, but they have a judge who ruled that it's OK for them to lie to retirees!! It is really unbelievable gut true.
The situation is a lot like "The Emporer's New Clothes" They assure each other that what they are doing is OK and that anyone who opposes them is stupid or crazy.
MY goal here, besides venting, is to get help in writing a brief statement, about half a page, that I can pass out to anyone who might help. ACERA does a divide and conquer, I need a team. If I have a statement that I can give to media people or anyone else who might publicize this travesty it would help. So much has happened I tend to get lost in the details and my feelings about all that has happened.
Any suggestions on what to clarify or include are welcome.
If anyone wants to write to Ellen on my behalf, this is something she could do that would help a lot of people. And I don't want money, car, etc from her. I can see her saying, "They lied to you, cost you two year's income,, thirty years of problems with the IRS, arbitrarily cancelled your medical coverage (remember I'm disabled) while you were in the midst of eight surgeries and Judge ruled that you were not entitled to any compensation?" Yes, Ellen, that's all true. This is what our "service" organization has come to.
I realize that Ellen is a long shot but the up side of a thirty year history is that I have the documentation.
The woman who was my attorney has quit being an attorney and can't talk to me now as her experience with this was so painful to her. She now makes jewelry that she sells on Etsy.
My thanks to those of you who are reading this.
There is so much more: they cannot handle a change of address, they don't answer emails, they lose snail mail (and whine about how much they get - a great story here - later) give wrong information on the phone.
My mind is going into overload. If any of you are interested in this, let me know. I could use some support.
katie
