When your tomorrow comes, remember I fought for you today

It is the ones without conscience who take advantage of the elderly and lonely, but help is at hand for the future

BY RANI JHALA

Yesterday, I officially became a senior. How I had waited for this moment!

The time when I would become a ‘respected’ elder and valued ‘senior’! My husband and I had planned to go around the world and visit all the places that we had dreamed about. We had saved every penny towards that dream, and to our retirement. But as our dream edged itself closer to becoming a reality, reality took a different turn and took with it my soulmate and my strength.

I chose not to move from the home that held all my memories. Between my friends, my books and my work, my days were happy. Only the nights saw my tears. As time flew by, even those tears abated. I still miss my husband and though time could not take away the pain, it did lessen the sorrow.

For five years after his death, I tried to maintain my independence, but six weeks ago I finally gave in. It just became too hard. It was battle after battle, and disappointment after disappointment. I think all seniors go through this, but when you are a single, aging woman it is as if you suddenly become a punching bag that everyone decides to practice their jabs on.

It was not the loneliness that broke me, nor was it my ageing bones. It was man and his unexplainable need to amass ‘unethical’ wealth. I say unethical, because these people work within the law, but misuse their position to gain a profit.

My first experience with these cheats began two years ago. I received a courtesy call from my telecommunication company; one of the two major players in this field. As we chatted she spoke of the various promotions they had on offer. I declined every upgrade. As a single person, I did not need the ‘extras’ she recommended. Yet somehow an hour later, I bid goodbye, having agreed to a phone plan that included the internet. The lady assured me it was the way of the future and that I would be able to see my relatives and friends as I spoke to them. The modem arrived two days later. As I looked at the various attachments and cables, I knew I would not be able to work it out on my own, so I rang for assistance. The man on the line spent an hour trying to help me but somehow nothing worked. They suggested I call a technician. I was unable to get hold of anyone for the next month. Finally a neighbour had a look at it. And I learnt then that like me, my husband’s old computer too had aged, and did not have the capability for the latest technology. I rang the company back to cancel the order. But they say it was past the cancellation period and refused a refund. And so for 24 months I paid for an internet connection that remained unused. Should there be a law that prevents the sale of products over the phone to the elderly, who can’t see what they are buying and if it will really work? Yes!

Around that time my 11year old hot water system finally called it quits. It was the time when the government was offering rebates for energy conserving alternatives. I too opted for this. The latest model with a full 12-month warranty. 13 months later, it blew up! I rang the company, but the warranty had expired. They sent the same technician out and I paid him four hundred dollars. As he was leaving, he calmly told me that it was a common fault that people were not aware of at the time of sale. My old electric hot water system had lasted eleven years, the new one, just over a year. Should there be a law to ensure that the warranty period does not end just before the breakdown period starts? Yes!

Six months ago, I had a problem with the electrical power point. The estimated $100 dollar expenditure ended up costing me $15,000. Why the difference? Well, he assured me, the entire wiring was faulty so they rewired the entire house. That led to the installation of co-related

‘necessities’. I unhappily parted with my money but went to bed that night, safe in the knowledge that all was well. Not even a week later I had to call him for the power point blew up. I found out that he was away on an overseas trip and that I would have to call another electrician. I got hold of a local one this time. Ten minutes after he stepped into my home he gave me the bad news. Not only had I been overcharged by $6000 but worse still, the work had not even been done properly. I was living in what he called a ‘hot zone’ where there was a real possibility of a fire or electrocution. This time I contacted the local ombudsman and as directed, took legal steps to prosecute the company and its sole ‘director’. I paid the new electrician another seven thousand and got everything rewired. I have been given no guarantee that I will ever see anything of the money taken, but I was given an assurance that without his license, that man would never wire another home again. i learnt that like me, my husband’s old computer too had aged, and did not have the capability for the latest technology. i contacted the local ombudsman and as directed, took legal steps to prosecute the company and its ‘sole ‘ director

The same thing happened with my car. After a standard service, a screeching sound appeared when I turned corners.

I was charged for every new ‘check’. Hundreds of dollars later that noise never went away.

Five years after my husband’s death, I had had enough. I sold my home and moved into a retirement village. I no longer need to organise electricians, plumbers or mechanics. The village has their own technicians and because the cost of maintenance is built in, the tradespeople only fix what really needs to be fixed. I even sold my car. The village van takes us to the shops or I call for a taxi. I have taken one action that will hopefully stop this ‘unethical’ behaviour. I have begun a campaign for all local councils to keep a list of ‘honest’ technician and tradespeople, who are willing to adhere to a standard rate and who are prepared to have their work randomly checked by council inspectors.

I no longer need this safeguard, but the new generation will soon step into ours. ‘Our’ vulnerability should not be used for ‘their’ profitability. When your tomorrow comes, remember that I fought for you today.