Amazon.com Video on Demand is offering a free $4 credit to watch a movie.  Movies range from $0.99 to $5.99.  You can watch the movies on your PC or on a TV connected to your PC or Internet.

To redeem your $4, visit Amazon Video on Demand, select a movie, then click on “Redeem a gift card or promotion code” located below the video screen.  Enter the promotion code “AVODGIFT“.  

The promotional offer is valid for a limited time only and subject to change. Promotional offer is valid from 12/23/2009 through 01/03/2010.

Your code must be used by 01/03/2010 11:59 PM PST and may be redeemed only for purchase (on ownership or rental basis) of digitally-formatted movies or TV shows then available at Amazon Video On Demand.  Have fun!

As expected the Senate approved a $626 billion bill to fund the Defense Department for the fiscal year that began almost three months ago.  The bill was approved via an 88—10 vote.  The bill next stop is the White House where President Barack Obama is expected to quickly sign the bill into law.

The bill includes $128 billion for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, $13.3 billion to extend unemployment and COBRA benefits for the long-term unemployed whose benefits would otherwise expire.

Good news for those of you unemployed.  The House of Representatives today passed a temporary extension of unemployment benefits and subsidized COBRA health insurance for laid-off workers as part of a $636 billion spending defense bill.  The measure was approved on 395-34 vote.

The Bill extends the COBRA subsidy by 6 months to a total of 15 months where 65% of the premium is paid by the government.  This is for people who lost their jobs through February 28, 2010.  People who lose their jobs after December 31, 2009 are not eligible for the subsidy. The legislation requires employers to notify current COBRA and future beneficiaries of the new 15 month premium subsidy.

Additionally, the new legislation will give beneficiaries whose subsidy expired and who didn’t pay the full premium a second chance to get coverage. For example, a beneficiary whose nine months of subsidized coverage ran out November 30 and who didn’t pay the regular unsubsidized December premium could pay the 35% premium share in January and receive coverage for December.

The Senate should pass its defense bill with the same extensions this Friday.

Several months ago I wrote a post titled “Can’t Get Help with a Problem, then Write the CEO“.   I also wrote a post titled “What to do if Immunization is Not Covered by Health Plan“.  Both these posts were about problems I had with a company and how writing a letter to the C.E.O. or the person in charge got things resolved. 

Here is another example of an issue I had with a company.  The person I was communicating with wouldn’t help me so I decided to write the C.E.O. a letter for resolution.  I will not go into details because the letter listed below will explain everything.  However, the letter worked because today I got my check for $54.77. 

——————————————————————

P. Birmingham
XXXX XXXXX XX
XXXXXXXX, XX XXXXX
XXXXX@XXXXX.com
XXX-XXX-XXXX

November 12, 2009

XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX, CEO
XXXXXXXXX Inc
XXX X. XXXXX XXXXXX, Suite 200
XXXXX, XX 83706

Dear Mr. XXXXXXXX,

I am an affiliate with your company and I have a small problem I’m hoping you can help me with.  Your company mailed me a payment check on 8-5-09 for $54.77 that I never received.  I contacted your accounting department after a few weeks and notified them that I never received the check.  They informed me that I needed to pay $20 for a check to be re-issued because they have to put a stop on the check.  I asked why I am being penalized for a check I never received.  I was told it was XXXXXXXXX’s policy.  

I then decided to wait 90 days because the check is only valid for 90 days.  After the 90 days I contacted your accounting department and asked for them to now direct deposit the check in my account.  I was told again that I still needed to pay $20 to stop the check.  I asked the accounting rep (Laura) why should I pay for an expired check?  She never responded to my question.

I realize its only $20 but I think it’s very unfair to ask me to pay $20 for a check that is no longer valid or that I never received.  Why am I paying for something that isn’t my fault? If you mailed a check to someone and they never received it, is it fair of you to ask the person to pay to stop the check?  The sender is the one that should pay to stop the check, not the receiver.

I am asking in good faith to pay the $54.77 without me paying the $20.

Thank you!

________________________
P. Birmingham

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 31 million people are unemployed, however, not all unemployed people are considered unemployed as evident in humorous but true video above.

Checkout the interactive map at AmericanObserver.net of the unemployment rates by county starting January 2007 to October 2009.  The interactive map shows a vivid representation of the deterioration of the U.S. economy, approximately one year before the start of the recession to the most recent unemployment data available today.

Years ago I was in the job market after being laid off as a Sales Engineer.  It was a job that I really enjoyed so I was disappointed when I got laid off.  The division that I was working for was spun off and immediately announced they were cutting 5,000 jobs.  After being assured by some of my fellow co-workers that I wouldn’t be laid off because I was recently hired, the company invested in training me via an intensive 5 month training program and had relocated me to a new city.  They felt the company would cut the more senior employees.  They calmed my fears, however, they were wrong.  One morning soon-after, my manager called me into his office and politely told me my job was “surplused”.

After being in the job market for about 4 months I thought I would be hired by another company as a Sales Representation.  After interviewing on 5 different occasions and even doing a presentation during one of the interviews I got a rejection letter.  I was shocked and quickly became annoyed.  At first I was ready to move on but after having invested so much time and energy during the interviewing process I needed an explanation as to why I wasn’t offered the job.

I gave the Human Resources Manager a call and asked her what happened.  She stated they decided they wanted someone with more experience.  I said OK and told her I was disappointed and that I had the skills to do the job.  After hanging up the phone, I then thought about my next step and decided to call her back with an offer.  I called her back and told her, “if you guys are concerned about my experience, then hire me on a temporary basis for the next 60 days to monitor my performance.  If you are not happy with my performance, I will move on, no questions asked.”  She said OK and that she’d get back to me.  

The very next day I was offered the job and was hired as a permanent full-time employee.  The Human Resources Manager stated that they were impressed with my persistence and that was a good attribute to have as a successful sales rep.  

I learned from this experience that no doesn’t always mean no, when looking for job or even in other situations.  If you are ever rejected, sometimes it’s just a temporary setback.  You can always go back and negiotiate to get a “yes”!

Last July I wrote a post about how I’ve learned over the years that “It Never Hurts to Ask“.  Here is another example I experienced yesterday.  

I have a free ticket on AirTran that I wanted to use to attend an upcoming convention.  I went online to book my free ticket, however, the flights offered for the free ticket wasn’t the ones I wanted.  The flights offered were late night and required 1 stop.  I wanted to leave in the morning with a non-stop flight.  I immediately grew very annoyed.  

I then decided to give AirTran a call and request the early non-stop flight.  I told the customer service representative of my problem and requested as a courtesy to book me on the flight I wanted.  She said hold on, then came back on and said her supervisor approved my request.  I was happy about that!

I then went online to book my return flight home.  The convention had a discount code to get a 10% discount on my flight; however, for my return flight home the date for the discount was the day after I wanted to return.  I then decided to give AirTran another call to get the 10% discount even though it wasn’t offered for the date I wanted.  To my surprise AirTran give me the 10% off.  So there you go another example of “it never hurts to ask”.

Related Article: It Never Hurts to Ask