JBlog

So one of the things I was looking forward to when I started bike commuting was getting rid of my more than $30 per month parking fee. Add that to the amount of money I’ve saved in gas and oil changes and I’m looking at a savings of more than $1000 per year.

So I was looking at my pay stub the other day (for the first time in more than a year … it’s online, I get direct deposit … I never even think about it) and I notice that the parking fee is still coming out.

I bought my bike at the beginning of July, which just so happens to coincide with the time we’re supposed to renew our parking passes, so I just didn’t renew my pass. Subsequently, I never received a pass, so my assumption was that all was taken care of.

Until I see that stupid fee a few days ago.

So I called the parking department who informed me that I had signed a little card four years ago that said I to specifically call and request the automatic payroll deduction to cease or the money would still be withheld.

The director of parking called me last Thursday morning (apparently she’s the only one with the authority to issue a refund) and she says she can do nothing for me, but she was willing to give me three “scratch off” parking passes which would basically allow me to park on campus for three days for “free.”

A few thoughts.

First this is my employer. They are not in the business to make money off of their employees.  I apparently did sign a little card almost four years ago, but who the hell remembers fine print on a contract … for parking, no less … on something they signed years ago anyway? On top of that, I’m a little perturbed that even though I’m helping to alleviate parking congestion on campus, am reducing the amount of exhaust emissions and conserving a natural resource, I’m being penalized because I failed to recall fine print on a parking contract I signed four years ago.

She called me back this morning and offered me half of my parking fees back.  So I’m to get half of the money for which I have received nothing in return and I’m supposed to be OK with this?  Well, I’m not.  I told her we’d probably have to get our bosses involved.  I really don’t understand her position at all.  Am I being taught a lesson?  What’s the purpose of campus parking keeping any of my money that was withheld without cause?

Yep.  It’s just about 6:00 in the evening and here I am.  The air conditioner in my server room stopped working, so I got called in to deal with that problem.  Also with me is Marty, the refrigeration tech from Polar, who would also rather be at home with his family.  Merry Christmas! What else is there to say?