So, The Bull goes out to the mailbox today and finds a letter from the US Treasury. “No need to panic“, say I. “Time for me to update my payment plan with the Veterans Affairs bunch over in Biloxi.” I open the letter only to find that the VA has submitted me to have my disability check reduced by over $100 – just a couple of days before Christmas!
“WHAT?!?!”
A little back story here… I am a veteran and get my health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. I am on several medications. I take them and they keep me breathing and walking. I take them, and since I’m on a lower tier in the VA’s system, I pay for them. No problem. There is a bunch of fine ladies over in the Biloxi office that keeps up with it all and they bill me a set amount monthly. Now, if I were the sort that would lie on his annual paperwork I could most likely get my medications covered, but I figure that I can afford to pay the fair amount the VA set for me and there are many of our brave young souls coming home with much more serious needs than me.
What pisses me off – and should piss off ANY right-thinking Veteran & American is that the VA sneaking in a grab on my already limited budget like this without ANY WARNING WHATSOEVER! No letter, no call. Just a letter from Treasury saying they are taking had taken my money. Money that feeds my kids. Money that keeps a roof over our heads. Money that I paid into the coffers in FICA taxes during those golden years of productive working life.
This is the system that the Department of Veteran’s Affairs calls VISTA.
The ladies in the Biloxi, MS billing office could do nothing to fix the problem. And as one would expect, the bureaucrats at Treasury were no help at all – even once I got a live, English-speaking one on the phone. Seeking some action, I called the Director of Biloxi VA’s office.
They were extremely helpful – until they heard that I wasn’t a drug company rep, or a Washington D.C. politician, that is! As soon as the Director (one Thomas Wisnieski (228-523-5766)) found out that it was a veteran was on the line he immediately tried to put me off. He suddenly didn’t have time for me. When I wouldn’t budge he had his secretary verbally attack me and hang up on me – twice!
Methinks it is time that these guys find out that The Bull’s horns will hook! It is also time that this bunch at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs gets the point tht they can’t treat American Veterans like trash!
I will not be able to retrieve these lost funds. I know that. What I can do is make sure that no other person has to go through this horseshyte ever again and that a fair system of notification is put in place for everyone.
The Bull would like to encourage everyone who reads this to call Mr. Thomas Wisnieski over at the Biloxi VA and insist that their system be updated. Tell them that you, the tax payer will not tolerate veterans being treated like trash by either the directors or their staff. The number for Mr. Thomas Wisnieski’s office is (228)523-5766.
I’ll appreciate it, and so will every veteran who is dealing with this system. Right now I have to go try to lower my blood pressure before I blow a gasket somewhere vital.
Bull, out! 
