Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/624400
ByJenniferCooper SocialSecuritymanager in Redding Social Security is at the forefront of adapting and meeting the ever-chang- ing needs of our custom- ers. Technology plays an important role in helping us provide the world-class customer service America expects and deserves. And we're changing to keep cur- rent with new laws and ju- dicial rulings as well. One way we've evolved is by developing the my Social Security account. Once you enroll for a free account at www.socialsecurity.gov/ myaccount, Social Secu- rity can help you estimate your future retirement or disability benefits, or man- age them if you are already receiving benefits. You can do all of this easily and se- curely from the comfort of your home or office. Social Security listens to your needs as we improve the technologies that en- hance the customer expe- rience. We continue to look fornewservicestoaddtomy Social Security to make it an evenmorepowerfulresource for you and your family. Another way we're evolv- ing is by adapting to le- gal and social changes. In 1935, when Social Secu- rity was created, the defi- nition of "family" was dif- ferent than it is today. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, hold- ing that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry in all states. As a result, more same-sex cou- ples will be recognized as married for purposes of de- termining entitlement to Social Security benefits or eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pay- ments. Not only have we adapted to provide benefits for same- sex spouses, but transgen- der people can now change the gender marker on their Social Security records based on identity, with no requirement for reassign- ment surgery. Our mission at Social Se- curity is to deliver services that meet the changing needs of the public. By keep- ing the public informed of their benefit estimates with my Social Security and adapting to our changing society, we will continue to achieve our goals and help you achieve yours. No mat- ter who you are, you deserve the benefits of Social Secu- rity. Find out more at www. socialsecurity.gov. SOCIAL SECURITY Evolvingtomeetchangingneedsofcustomers Whiskeytown National Recreation Area offers a new and convenient way to pay recreation fees by using the website https://www. pay.gov. As a designated US Fee Area, Whiskeytown re- quires a seven-day permit, annual or lifetime pass to cover recreation fees. Until now, visitors entering the park could only purchase passes at the visitor cen- ter between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. or they could use self- pay stations found at vari- ous locations. Now the $10 seven-day permits, $40 annual passes and $1 gold panning per- mits can be purchased on- line at any time. Transactions are com- pleted safely and securely using the Federal Treasury websitehttps://www.pay.gov. For the seven-day permits, the visitor will print out the confirmation e-mail as their pass to display on the dash- board of their vehicle. For gold panning per- mits, the visitor will print out the confirmation email, sign it and keep it with them when they are en- gaged in gold panning at Whiskeytown. The annual pass, valid both at Whiskeytown and Lassen Volcanic National Parks, purchased online will be mailed to the ad- dress provided at the time of purchase. Whiskeytown and Las- sen Volcanic's use of Pay. gov is another component of the park's commitment to be more convenient for vis- itors by increasing the ease of paying fees at home and to be more environmen- tally conscious by reducing the use of traditional "iron rangers" or self-pay sta- tions. At the "iron rangers," visitors use a payment enve- lope and need exact cash or a check. Park personnel must travel by vehicle to these sites and spend many hours counting and verifying pay- ment envelopes. With the use of the Pay.gov website, paymentsaredirectlydepos- ited to park accounts where the funds can be used im- mediatelyfordeferredmain- tenance projects related to visitor improvements in- cluding trail construc- tion, campground mainte- nance and other services. To use this new payment opportunity, go to https:// www.pay.gov. For more in- formation about Whiskey- town's recreation fee pro- gram, call the park's fee management office at 242- 3412. WHISKEYTOWN Park passes available online The way a company deals with its customers after the sale is as im- portant as what hap- pens to get that sale in the first place. I am quick to criticize companies who give poor customer service — and have done so right here. And when a com- pany gives excellent cus- tomer service, I believe they should get equal billing. Last March, I stopped by Babies R Us to pur- chase a gift card for a very special baby shower. Our second grandson would be due in only a few weeks; I was in a frenzy, packing and pre- paring for our big move to Colorado. Our son and daughter-in-law had cre- ated a registry at Ba- bies R Us. I knew they would appreciate a gift card to get exactly what they needed, when they needed it, and I would appreciate saving a little time by not having to fig- ure out exactly what that might be. The store manager helped me with this pur- chase, which I recall spe- cifically in that we had a nice chat about store managing stuff. Draw- ing from my best advice when purchasing any- thing that holds a prom- ise, such as a deposit or tickets for something in the future, I paid for the $100 Gift Card with a credit card — on my way to the shower. I quickly signed the card and tucked the cute Baby Boy Gift Card inside. Several weeks later, Wendy went back to the very same store to pur- chase baby items. At the check out the clerk re- gretfully told her that the card had no value on it. The clerk tried several times to input the card for payment, each time showing Wendy how it registered at $0.00. What? The clerk men- tioned that perhaps the value had been stolen, but offered no remedy. It was weeks later that Wendy received a phone call from Babies R Us. We can only imagine that they connected the event with her registry to get her phone number. They explained that in- deed that somehow be- tween the moment that she activated the card and presented it for pay- ment its value had been stolen. We've all heard about this happening, right? But this time, I'd already reimbursed her with cash and she no longer had the bad card. Thankfully, she'd given it back to me. Now you're probably way ahead of me. Yep, in the move and all, I to- tally misplaced that bad gift card. And could I find the original receipt? In your dreams. I wish I were more organized. But since I'd paid for it with a credit card, I had the transaction number. I had proof that I'd pur- chased it. Had I bought it with cash, I would have been out of luck without the original re- ceipt. With that transac- tion number, the Gift Card number and PIN (I did find it, whew!), I went online to Babies R Us. Using the live chat feature, I explained my plight. Wow! Such won- derful people work at this company. Within about 20 minutes, that kind chat person had the situation figured out, in- cluding how to fix it. In short order ,the company replaced the gift card in its full value with their kindest apologies. Im- pressive. Babies R Us is the newest entry in the Ev- eryday Cheapskate Cus- tomer Service Hall of Fame. I'm grateful and have a newly warmed place in my heart for the company. And an even warmer place for babies in general and our sweet Sam in particular. Question: Who would you add to our Customer Service Hall of Fame? Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@ everydaycheapskate. com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Ste. B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE A new addition joins the Customer Service Hall of Fame The Tehama County's University of California Ag- riculture and Natural Re- sources 4-H Youth Develop- ment Program is recruiting youth directors, teen staff and adult volunteers for its 4-H Youth Camp. Teens do not need to be enrolled in the 4-H pro- gram to attend and can re- side in any county. Camp staff will attend camp in July at Camp Tehama in Mill Creek. The program is seeking teens and adults who are enthusiastic, responsible and caring, who like work- ing with children, the out- doors and can work as a team to be a part of this year's staff. All interested teens, who are in eighth grade and above, are encouraged to attend the camp plan- ning meetings being held at the Cedar Street Fire Station in Red Bluff. For an updated list of meet- ings, visit http://cetehama. ucanr.edu/4-H_Program/ Youth_Camp/. Teens who would like to apply to be youth direc- tors must send or bring their completed applica- tions the 4-H office by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 1754 Walnut St. in Red Bluff. Applications for other teen staff positions will be released in Febru- ary. More information about Tehama County 4-H Youth Camp, staff positions available and to down- load a youth director ap- plication, visit: http://cete- hama.ucanr.edu/4-H_Pro- gram/Youth_Camp/. The University of Cal- ifornia 4-H Youth Devel- opment Program engages youth in reaching their fullest potential while ad- vancing the field of youth development. For more information, call Allison Tucker at 527- 3101 or visit altucker@ ucanr.edu. 4-H CAMP Teen staff and adult positions available COURTESYPHOTO Tehama County 4-H Camp staff positions for teens and adults are available. The first round of applications are due Jan. 20. Mary Hunt redbluffdailynews.com • Choice of ad sizes • Free ad design • Free link to your webpage Now Look Here... Get All This ➞ 6,000 guaranteed online ad impressions For $ 99 CallyourDailyNewsadvertisingreptoday! (530) 527-2151 advertise@redbluffdailynews.com Smog Check (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. starting at $ 29 95 + $ 8 25 certificate Shop Equipped With 4SmogMachines For Fast Service No appointment Needed LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, January 8, 2016 » MORE ATFACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A5