Panicking: Paratransit Rides Booked My Monday Trip Incorrectly

[sun seeker]

I wish I could go out for pizza with you. If I start walking now, I'll be there in about a year. :(

 

[sun seeker]

Oh... right. Forgot about the border. I'll have to get a passport. Might be longer than a year. I think you'd better not keep the pizza warm for me.

 

[Justmehere]

Ava, I have deal with a few paratransit nightmares.

Right now, try to ground and cinbect to this moment now as much as possible. That will help reduce this reaction that comes from the past. Step one is to lower your anxiety and fear so that you can use more of your excutive functioning skills to problem solve.

Can you put a call into your therapist to explain the situation and your level of distress? Who knows, they may even happen to have an opening at the earlier time.

Is this oaratranisparatransit service through public transit system? It is it NEMT transport paid for by Medicare? They can not legally ban you for missing a trip that was scheduled at the wrong time - I went through this same issue about a year ago and the law backs up your right to keep using the service as an ADA matter.

Do you have any documentation of when you requested the trip to be at?

I'm guessing that the problem with the arrival being an hour early is because you know or assume the return trip will be an hour early as well - is that right? So they have you scheduled to leave just when your appointment stars?

 

[Ava Jarvis]

Ok. So my understanding is that paratransit is a travel organization to get you to your appointment. Why...

Hi

I don't mind it early

The return trip time is 1hour before my appointment even happens though

That is the problem

 

[Friday]

Missed Psych Appointment $300
Paying out of pocket for a cab 50miles about $135 + tip
And that's the most expensive option. Limos are usually cheaper for long trips :)

 

[Ava Jarvis]

@Justmehere - yeah it is the return trip that is the problem

Frankly I don't care if they drop me off five hours early I don't mind

I don't care if they pick me up five hours after my appointment

I just would like them to not take me away before the appointment is all

 

[Ava Jarvis]

Missed Psych Appointment $300
Paying out of pocket for a cab 50miles about $135 + tip

Yeah when it is like that that is actually pretty ok alternative if all things go bad!

 

[Ava Jarvis]

@joeylittle and @Justmehere

Thank you for help and reassurances and advice.

I'm overwhelmed right now but I will get through this and manage to talk to people tomorrow to get this straightened and in the worst case I know a taxicab that will take me back. I usually tip pretty heavily so $135 turns into $175 for me but I Am Prepared For The Worst.

But it sounds like The Worst won't happen unless Murphy's Law really hits bad. And even if it does happen I'll be OK.

But yeah

1. Wake up at 6:30am Monday
2. Call paratransit services and let them know about the screw-up
3. Then be flexible for what happens next
--- assume pick up time remains the same (early)
--- if return ride can't be arranged then make arrangements for return taxicab ($175)

I tried to put in steps for canceling the therapist appt but I realized it is past the cancellation/reschedule deadline so that might not happen and t would involve calling paratransit repeatedly and I think I would probably self-combust.

And I probably really need the therapist appt lol.

 

[joeylittle]

I tried to put in steps for canceling the therapist appt but I realized it is past the cancellation/reschedule deadline so that might not happen and t would involve calling paratransit repeatedly and I think I would probably self-combust.

Definitely - besides, you can prioritize yourself in this whole thing. Getting to therapy is a major win. You got this :tup:

 

[Ava Jarvis]

So I checked this morning first thing at 7am

They tell me they have the right times down and to disregard the call I got yesterday

I do not know why but apparently their automated call system that had never called me before, called me and gave me the wrong times

It was from their number so it was their call thing

I usually call ahead of time myself to check the ride times again but on Friday they didn't have the times available even near closing time

I don't know what happened

Well a mistake happened I guess and I have no idea wtf happened

Today is just not fun anyways because Mother's Day triggered me anyways and I have spent this whole morning from 5:30am hating myself

But at least this bit worked out

 

[joeylittle]

But at least this bit worked out

That's something, at least. Doesn't take away any negative things, but lets you put one thing in the 'turning out OK' pile.

Hope travel goes well today.

 

[Ava Jarvis]

Thanks @joeylittle -- you and the others are so helpful. This forum is a life line.