You get to a point with the non stop uphill battles, where you are not only bracing for impact but are having to pave out as many back up plans “and if that happens than this…” type maneuvers and game plans. It’s like a coach with his team, making plays and having a whiteboard with what could come next and how to combat it- that’s been our life for the past 8 and a half years, at that point in time.
Thank goodness for a well planned, organized husband because he records, dates, saves every email and backs conversations up with emails. He also went through the six thousand, four hundred page employee handbook document ( yes, you read that right and it’s not a dramatic exaggeration) and did non stop FOI ( Freedom of information) requests to help us know exactly what was being said, the truths or the not so truths. So when it came to this letter that completely stripped me/us of everything that we needed for me to afford my treatments, he did another FOI, checked his records and his emails. And what did he find…..NOTHING. Because there was no phone call, that boldly written date in the official letter was made up and never happened, and there was no us not following protocol. When we got the FOI to confirm, he immediately called the adjuster and headed it up to management. We were told that the letter was sent by mistake and was just “a template” letter. Coincidentally enough ( or not a coincidence) the letter was sent by our current adjuster that had wreaked havoc on everything she could put her hands on that included me in it, it was her last hurrah and dig at us as she switched departments. Her flippin last day of work in her department and that’s how she chose to end it. Brandon had always tried to disarm me with explaining it wasn’t personal, that the ICBC adjusters were just doing their job, until now. Now we knew it was personal and not only did I know it, but so did he.
We both had gotten a non stop flow of emotional whiplash as ICBC abused us over and over. Making power moves that left us completely depleted, and unable to do anything because of the many new laws and regulations. We reached out to a couple of lawyers on opinions on how to proceed and we were told that there was essentially nothing we could do. The deception, lies and unimaginable fear that grips you because you financially are at their disposal- a messed up, twisted relationship. We pushed for an amendment of the letter and an apology. A new letter was sent but no apology came, just another carefully worded email back, of empty maybe's and downplays of how much damage they caused us.
I may have written this before but I think those that are living in British Columbia need to fully grasp and understand that we are in big trouble, the system is even more broken than ever before. I often think of the doe eyed, new drivers fresh into the world, getting their taste of freedom with driving out on the open road. And the single income families, living pay check to pay check. Or the student that’s living off of ramen noodles and neck deep in student loans. The elderly couple that’s only living within their means, due to their minor monthly retirement cheques. It scares me to think that if anyone gets into a car accident in BC and needs ongoing health care, that the car insurance that we ALL faithfully and legally have to pay into, will not cover them for what is necessary and will receive next to nothing for what they need. And when you can’t work, you can’t pay for your cost of living and when that happens - people lose their homes and jobs. Educate yourself, there is an overwhelming amount of news reports upon news reports, telling of others tragic stories with ICBC. This could easily be you, your friend, a loved one and in an instant with one mistake on the road, the battle begins. It doesn’t matter how safe of a driver you are, it only takes a distracted driver, a split second and your life or someone you know’s life, could be changed forever.
After the letter and exposing the truth, now throw into the mix an appointment that I had to attend at the pain clinic to rule out another diagnosis possibility. So much stress, stress that doesn’t add any positivity to my life but are setbacks, ramping up my pain. Instead of being able to fully keep my focus fixed on disciplined, hard work with exercises and appointments, I’m instead trying to keep my head above the water and the feeling of depression and defeat sucking me under. It’s a yo-yo of up and downs and now having to try and stand tall and face another unknown with this appointment, while dealing with the heaviness of ICBC. I was barely keeping it together.
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