These are definitely situations you should share with your legislatures. I think we have three pretty decent sized wheelchair repair shops here in the greater Tampa area. Thankfully two of them do seem to have pretty decent customer relations now. Don't get me wrong, there are still several issues that I and others scream about, but at least all of the mechanics I have dealt with in the last couple of years allow me to go over what I think is wrong with the chair before they start to troubleshoot it.
The only time I let my chair ago in without me is when I am unable to drive the chair. Then I make sure my brother goes in with explicit instructions. Thankfully I have a real good relationship with the mechanics, so I don't have to worry about unnecessary delays. Not everyone has that opportunity. We do need some major overhauls on our system. I don't think anybody can deny that. There may be some argument about how, but the status quo is definitely not the answer. On Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 11:16 AM, bob quinn <[email protected]> wrote: > Amen to that idea! Its another area that screams for health insurance > reform. > > I have a (now 2+ year-old) Invacare Storm TDX3 power chair that developed > a "fault left break" error on start-up. Called my vendor only to be told > they stopped selling and servicing wheelchairs, and there was noone to > fill-in for them. Chair was 9 mos. old, under warranty, but i could not get > anyone to service it because of the absurd Insurance Company restriction > that: > > NOONE CAN SERVICE A CHAIR UNLESS THEY WERE THE ORIGINAL > VENDOR. > > AND not only that, but: > > THEY WON'T (CAN'T) DO IT NO MATTER HOW MUCH CASH YOU OFFER, > EITHER > > It is absolutely inconceivable that any other product could ever have such > ridiculous restrictions. And this on something i am 100% dependent on. > > So now that chair sits idle gathering dust (i'm not sure what to do with > it). Thank God my 8 year old Quickie 626 still works and the vendor is > still in the business. > > > At 10:35 AM 10/16/2009, Greg wrote: > > When it comes to wheelchair repairs your trip to Hell is just starting. > They will never let me just tell them what the problem is, even if it’s > just a flat tire (now I only use flat-free tires). > I either have to go in or have them pick up my chair. If my chair is at all > usable I go in, otherwise they keep it for 4-8 weeks as they get insurance > ok, order parts, etc. > We need some kind of patient rights bill for wheelchair repair shops. > Have common parts in stock. > Get insurance ok’s via phone right away. > Have loner chairs available. > WORK WEEKENDS. > > Greg > > ------------------------------ > > After many months of the recline not working on the chair, I finally found > someone who could at least come look at it. He spoke Spanish & a few words > of English. Had to have an interpreter. When i called the shop I told them > what the flashing lights were saying controller error. He & his wife > came. Stayed about an hour & all he could say was the circuit breaker > wasn't worrying. When you request someone who can work on the computer, > seems to me they should have sent one. > > How do you specify the problems & make sure that the correct repairman > comes to take of all the problem? > > >
