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You would think with all of five blocks to keep track of the city of Pacific could keep it pothole-free. ;-) In my experience with handling these kind of problems, I've found my superiors were more likely to grant a claim if:
1) Send a polite reminder (not complaint) directly to the division responsible for the streets to fix the pothole (and exactly where it is--photos help a lot) and carbon-copy anyone with power in the city government you can. Mayor, city council members, deputy director, city attorney's office, etc. This is to get everything on record and in writing. It also makes your argument more convincing. 2) Immediately after the email, call the street division directly and speak to the superintendent or foreman. Kindly explain exactly where the pothole is, how deep it is, and tell him you sent an email. 3) Call the city attorney's office, explain what happened, and ask if there is any way you can be compensated for your loss. They'll get back to you after consulting the street division (this is why it's important to get in good with the street division first). These three steps will not guarantee you a new tire. However, if this ever happens again in the future your argument will be very convincing because it happened once before, you went through the proper channels, nothing was fixed, and this time you want it fixed. I've seen my superiors deny claims and accept claims based solely on how helpful and kind the person is. City workers really appreciate it when they deal with someone who is kind, helpful, and respectful since a lot of the time you deal with people who are stupid and rude. The photos are a plus because I can't tell you how many times someone complains about a pothole, the service order is written up incorrectly, and I have to spend more time finding the pothole than fixing it. If someone includes a photo, it makes my job more efficient and, in turn, makes me happier. The happier I am the more likely you are going to get compensated for your tire. :-)
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I hate winter. |
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