http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/08/2...-missed-emails/

 

Unknown to Kim, there was a problem with his English placement test and when SJSU sent him an email over the summer to fix it or face un-enrollment, Kim never responded.

 

Kim said that every time he had logged into his SJSU email account “it was something unimportant.” He said that he had also received an email about disregarding messages about placement tests. After getting that email Kim said he stopped checking his account.

Seems like a slanted story. I think a letter should have been sent and the school is wrong, but the facts for the student seem off.

 

First, I guarantee he agreed to receiving communications via email in his application (whether he knew what he was signing or not).

 

Second, if you watch the video that "disregard messages" seems like it was saying to disregard message about enroling in the EPT test he already took. Not to disregard all messages about the test he took. But they don't talk much about what should be their best evidence.

 

All that said, again, a letter should have been sent to cover their ass and make sure they attempted to notify the parents for such a serious issue.

Things like this are the primary reason I never opt out of paper notifications for anything. The back up is really nice to have.

Things like this are the primary reason I never opt out of paper notifications for anything. The back up is really nice to have.

 

You just hate trees and Mother Earth.

Things like this are the primary reason I never opt out of paper notifications for anything. The back up is really nice to have.

"Request read receipt when email is read"

 

It's just like you to demand that you have a government agency, the Postal Service, covering for you.

"Request read receipt when email is read"

 

How does that help when you are the recipient?

To me, the whole paper vs electronic for bills and other documents, should be easy to solve. But of course, it is made difficult.

 

Case in point - I changed a lot of my regular bills, like cable/internet/phone, ComEd, gas, etc., to just automatically come out of my credit card, and also only send me an email bill. Since everything happens on it's own, I was just throwing the bill out anyway.

 

But then, due to some confusion over an old versus new account, when we got a new credit card (from expiring), Comcast updated our OLD account that had been closed for months, instead of the new one. A bill was missed, then another. Meanwhile, they sent no extra emails, made no phone calls, sent no mail. So of course the bills I got just said "your statement is ready to be viewed", and I didn't know anything was wrong.

 

Until they cut off our services.

 

This should be abundantly clear and simple. If someone is on e-bill, keep it that way, but if something has gone wrong - like a missed bill or the like - then you should call, mail, email something other than "view your bill", ANYTHING to get their attention, before actually cutting off their services. Pissed me off, especially since it was them who put the new card info to the wrong account (and after I told them this, they did indeed remove the late charges).

 

E-bill can be great, if used properly.

 

 

Of course, the problem is...unless you require a corporate entity to take the extra steps, with some sort of rule that requires them to actually check in prior to adding penalties or cutting off service, they have no motivation to do so. You miss the email, you pay the extra fine, and you get a lecture about personal responsibility.

To me, the whole paper vs electronic for bills and other documents, should be easy to solve. But of course, it is made difficult.

 

Case in point - I changed a lot of my regular bills, like cable/internet/phone, ComEd, gas, etc., to just automatically come out of my credit card, and also only send me an email bill. Since everything happens on it's own, I was just throwing the bill out anyway.

 

But then, due to some confusion over an old versus new account, when we got a new credit card (from expiring), Comcast updated our OLD account that had been closed for months, instead of the new one. A bill was missed, then another. Meanwhile, they sent no extra emails, made no phone calls, sent no mail. So of course the bills I got just said "your statement is ready to be viewed", and I didn't know anything was wrong.

 

Until they cut off our services.

 

This should be abundantly clear and simple. If someone is on e-bill, keep it that way, but if something has gone wrong - like a missed bill or the like - then you should call, mail, email something other than "view your bill", ANYTHING to get their attention, before actually cutting off their services. Pissed me off, especially since it was them who put the new card info to the wrong account (and after I told them this, they did indeed remove the late charges).

 

E-bill can be great, if used properly.

 

Comcast is great for that, I had essentially the same thing happen several times.

Comcast is great for that, I had essentially the same thing happen several times.

 

I had the same sort of thing with ATT during moves. They were the reason I went to Comcast.

All that said, again, a letter should have been sent to cover their ass and make sure they attempted to notify the parents for such a serious issue.

 

If the student is over 18 the schools can't and/or won't say anything to the parents. They'll be more than happy to accept my credit card, but not answer any questions about anything else. Like how much does he owe?

 

"Hello my son is Tex Jr. SS# 123-45-6778 I would like to pay his remaining balance"

"How much would you like to pay"

"His balance"

"I can't give you that info"

"How do I know how much to pay"

"You will have to ask your son"

"OK, what if I pay $1,000 will that cover his balance?"

"No sir"

"If I pay $2,000, will that cover his balance?"

"Yes it will"

"What is I pay $1,500" . . .

If the student is over 18 the schools can't and/or won't say anything to the parents. They'll be more than happy to accept my credit card, but not answer any questions about anything else. Like how much does he owe?

 

"Hello my son is Tex Jr. SS# 123-45-6778 I would like to pay his remaining balance"

"How much would you like to pay"

"His balance"

"I can't give you that info"

"How do I know how much to pay"

"You will have to ask your son"

"OK, what if I pay $1,000 will that cover his balance?"

"No sir"

"If I pay $2,000, will that cover his balance?"

"Yes it will"

"What is I pay $1,500" . . .

 

Welcome to FERPA. It's the same reason you can't call and ask what his grades are, unless he's given explicit written permission stating the names of people whom the school is allowed to share such information with.

"Hello my son is Tex Jr. SS# 123-45-6778 I would like to pay his remaining balance"

"How much would you like to pay"

"His balance"

"I can't give you that info"

"How do I know how much to pay"

"You will have to ask your son"

"OK, what if I pay $1,000 will that cover his balance?"

"No sir"

"If I pay $2,000, will that cover his balance?"

"Yes it will"

"What is I pay $1,500" . . .

 

Welcome to FERPA. It's the same reason you can't call and ask what his grades are, unless he's given explicit written permission stating the names of people whom the school is allowed to share such information with.

 

Exactly. I understand why they do it, but at times it was crazy.

If the student is over 18 the schools can't and/or won't say anything to the parents. They'll be more than happy to accept my credit card, but not answer any questions about anything else. Like how much does he owe?

 

"Hello my son is Tex Jr. SS# 123-45-6778 I would like to pay his remaining balance"

"How much would you like to pay"

"His balance"

"I can't give you that info"

"How do I know how much to pay"

"You will have to ask your son"

"OK, what if I pay $1,000 will that cover his balance?"

"No sir"

"If I pay $2,000, will that cover his balance?"

"Yes it will"

"What is I pay $1,500" . . .

 

You named your kid Tex Jr? You are really trying hard to pull off the native Texan thing, aren't you?

You named your kid Tex Jr? You are really trying hard to pull off the native Texan thing, aren't you?

 

 

They definitely should have sent a letter.

 

This isn't referencing this particular story, but I'm still shocked at how many adults don't regularly check their email. How the hell do they function? It's pretty much inexcusable to not check your email regularly these days, especially if you have internet at your home and/or work.

You would be surprised how many adults do not receive regular email. I have 100 students and have email addresses for less than half. Of the 40 or so I do have, a dozen of them had to ask their kids what their own email address is.