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Re: [IBM Pension] EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA
开云体育Looked all over my EH Account site and can not find a "Funds and Claims" tab? ? ? From: no_reply@... To: ibmpension@... Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2013 10:54:40 -0700 Subject: [IBM Pension] RE: RE: Re: EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA ?
lobosphoto,
'Click on the "Funds and Claims" tab' Thanks! I haven't received my letter and didn't know that I could just check on the EH website. I am a bit bewildered though.? Somewhere I read a post that quoted someone from EH saying the HSA amount was based on a complicated formula.? And of course, the initial package I got from IBM didn't state what my HSA payment was going to be.? Then there was chatter on this forum suggesting that younger people and singles? might get less.? That appears to have been wishful thinking by those who are married and older. According to the EH website, my HSA is $3000.? I'm single and turn 65 in January. The only reason I can think of for the HSA amount mystery was a desire to get us to sign up early.? But Towers Watson is clearly not ready for us.? In my state (CT), there is no 2014 information for any plan available.? I was also amused to that the Towers Watson website classifies me as not eligible for Medicare.? Why?? Because the entry portal to their shopping area rejects you as ineligible for medicare if you were born after Jan 1, 1949 when the test should be on or before Jan 31.? Simple coding error?? Sure but the textual error message has the same fault. To me, the fact that most of their 2014 sales information has not been loaded,? in spite of their written commuication that it would be.? And the way they appear to be handling this is to have individuals call their center to find out does not bode well for their execution.? Whats even worse, is when I called in 8 am this morning, the person that I talked to thought that most of the plan information was up.? So Tower Watson/IBM is not only not communicating with us, they're not even communicating with their front-line customer support people. I'm underwhelmed so far. rejects is programmed to reject folks wi ? ---In ibmpension@..., wrote: Click on the "Funds and Claims" tab ---In ibmpension@..., wrote: Dumb Question: ? Where and how do you see your HRA account?? ? Brian Sanborn Groton, MA? 01450 ? |
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Re: [IBM Retiree] [IBM Pension] HRA letter arrived and is it funny
开云体育IRS says can rollover, so this is an IBM Plan rule. To: ibmretiree@... From: gfretwell@... Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2013 10:50:43 -0400 Subject: Re: [IBM Retiree] RE: [IBM Pension] RE: HRA letter arrived and is it funny ?
Are the HRA rollover rules just IBM or is this an IRS rule In a message dated 10/1/2013 7:53:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time, JustPutt2@... writes:
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Re: [IBM Pension] ExtendHealth Called me ? ? ?
Before I said "Register on line". Today I tried to register 6 TIMES!? Each time it said that the registration failed. Maybe the database thinks that I am dead?? Will wait couple of days and then try again. The prices and coverages they are offering are the same as (Humana in our case) announced in their booklet we just go in mail. ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ileftibm@...> wrote: "Schooled in Nigeria?" Perhaps Extend Health has hired someone who was actually schooled in Nigeria . . . ? ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <don_m64015@...> wrote: We were out of town for a couple of days this week, and when we returned there was a message on the phone from some "representative" of ExtendHealth asking for us to sign up. ?The person leaving this message was either schooled in "Ebonics", or learned his English in Nigeria. ?Needless to say, it appears that the scammers are already starting to target IBM retirees, and we need to be extra careful about giving out any personal information over the phone. ?? ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <starykozel@...> wrote: You can do everything on the web... no need to talk to anybody ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote: This DOES pose some interesting questions. ?In the past, we have been able to make choices via a https secured website. Now, we are being asked to make a phone call...trusting that the person on the other end of the line Really Does work for ExtendHealth. ?In all likelihood, that person is probably some "contract" person, working from their home, and entering our data as we give it. ?THAT leaves a lot of room for potential Identity Theft. ?Then, if this company has outsourced some of its callers to places like India, and the person we get barely speaks good English, it Really raises some suspicions. ? Personally, I think I will Not be rushing into this thing....it might be better to wait until several other people have accessed this exchange, and hopefully posted their comments and opinions about what kind of service they received, and what they thought about the exchange representative. ? ? ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <retired_engineer@...> wrote: 1-855-359-7380 is the telephone number contained in the ExtendHealth Getting Started booklet that IBM sent me.
From: LOPATKA@... To: ibmpension@... Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:30:30 -0400 Subject: [IBM Pension] ExtendHealth Called me ? ? ? ?
Someone "puporting" to represent ExtendHealth called ME
a little while ago . . . and was almost unintelligible. Being suspicious I asked to call them back & was given the number 1-855-359-7380. I called that number & asked the person answering the phone to "prove" they represented Extend Health "before" I would give them any personal information to "verify".? They gave me platitudes about ExtendHealth - so I simply told them that I would contact them when I was ready as instructed in the mailing we received.? I was then informed it might take 2-3 hours if I waited any lomger . . . I don't know if the call was legitimate or what a caller would have to do to prove they actually represented ExtendHealth. <Alan Lopatka> |
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Re: [IBM Pension] HRA letter arrived and is it funny
开云体育Per the IBM ExtendHealth Announcement Newsletter, Page 7: "The HRA represents IBM's annual contribution to your health care costs, and will not roll over year to year. Any balance at the end of the calendar year will be forfeited." From: larryrgeorge@... To: ibmpension@... Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 15:15:40 -0700 Subject: [IBM Pension] RE: HRA letter arrived and is it funny ? I got my letter from IBM today too.? I fall in the $3,500 group, since I retired?June 30, 1991.? But since I want to ensure my wife also has this help, should I die before her, I am going to have to take the reduced amount of $2,600 a year.? ? But I have a further question that is not covered in this letter.? If we have any unused money in our HRA at year end, does the remaining amount carry over to the following year?? Because if you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), any unused money?carries over.? Because you might not have a lot of expenses in 2014, but you could have major expenses in 2015 or later.? No, I have not been drinking.? I would just like to be surprised and find out that IBM is doing something good for their retirees.? But then why should they start doing so now???? ---In ibmpension@..., <ibmpension@...> wrote: Well I just got home from a round of golf and opened the letter from Dr. Rhee on the HRA . It's pretty funny and must have taken a group of staff pukes to put it together. Being I fall in the $3000 a year group it looks like the swizzle of the dollars was pretty interesting. To cut to the chase we will get a form in Nov and we need to make a decision on our spouse. If we choose to have our spouses receive HRA cover after our death then our new HRA will be $2374 a year. Upon our death if we die before our spouse she will get a subsidy of $1187 a year for the rest of her life. If we choose not to give the spouse coverage after our death we will have $3000 in the HRA to use but when we die the spouse gets nothing. I'm still laughing so now you know the whole story. They must have been working on this for at least a year. I like the spin ?LOL. ?Good luck , ? Life is Great |
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Re: [IBM Pension] ExtendHealth Called me ? ? ?
"Schooled in Nigeria?" Perhaps Extend Health has hired someone who was actually schooled in Nigeria . . . ? ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <don_m64015@...> wrote: We were out of town for a couple of days this week, and when we returned there was a message on the phone from some "representative" of ExtendHealth asking for us to sign up. ?The person leaving this message was either schooled in "Ebonics", or learned his English in Nigeria. ?Needless to say, it appears that the scammers are already starting to target IBM retirees, and we need to be extra careful about giving out any personal information over the phone. ?? ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <starykozel@...> wrote: You can do everything on the web... no need to talk to anybody ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote: This DOES pose some interesting questions. ?In the past, we have been able to make choices via a https secured website. Now, we are being asked to make a phone call...trusting that the person on the other end of the line Really Does work for ExtendHealth. ?In all likelihood, that person is probably some "contract" person, working from their home, and entering our data as we give it. ?THAT leaves a lot of room for potential Identity Theft. ?Then, if this company has outsourced some of its callers to places like India, and the person we get barely speaks good English, it Really raises some suspicions. ? Personally, I think I will Not be rushing into this thing....it might be better to wait until several other people have accessed this exchange, and hopefully posted their comments and opinions about what kind of service they received, and what they thought about the exchange representative. ? ? ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <retired_engineer@...> wrote: 1-855-359-7380 is the telephone number contained in the ExtendHealth Getting Started booklet that IBM sent me.
From: LOPATKA@... To: ibmpension@... Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:30:30 -0400 Subject: [IBM Pension] ExtendHealth Called me ? ? ? ?
Someone "puporting" to represent ExtendHealth called ME
a little while ago . . . and was almost unintelligible. Being suspicious I asked to call them back & was given the number 1-855-359-7380. I called that number & asked the person answering the phone to "prove" they represented Extend Health "before" I would give them any personal information to "verify".? They gave me platitudes about ExtendHealth - so I simply told them that I would contact them when I was ready as instructed in the mailing we received.? I was then informed it might take 2-3 hours if I waited any lomger . . . I don't know if the call was legitimate or what a caller would have to do to prove they actually represented ExtendHealth. <Alan Lopatka> |
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Re: [IBM Pension] HRA letter arrived and is it funny
开云体育". . . so now you know the whole story."? Well, they only managed to answer 1/2 of question #4. Questions for IBM (can ask EH but I think only an IBM answer can be believed [if in writing]):
From: no_reply@... To: ibmpension@... Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:02:17 -0700 Subject: [IBM Pension] HRA letter arrived and is it funny ?
Well I just got home from a round of golf and opened the letter from Dr. Rhee on the HRA . It's pretty funny and must have taken a group of staff pukes to put it together. Being I fall in the $3000 a year group it looks like the swizzle of the dollars was pretty interesting. To cut to the chase we will get a form in Nov and we need to make a decision on our spouse. If we choose to have our spouses receive HRA cover after our death then our new HRA will be $2374 a year. Upon our death if we die before our spouse she will get a subsidy of $1187 a year for the rest of her life. If we choose not to give the spouse coverage after our death we will have $3000 in the HRA to use but when we die the spouse gets nothing. I'm still laughing so now you know the whole story. They must have been working on this for at least a year. I like the spin ?LOL. ?Good luck , ? Life is Great
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Re: [IBM Pension] ExtendHealth Called me ? ? ?
We were out of town for a couple of days this week, and when we returned there was a message on the phone from some "representative" of ExtendHealth asking for us to sign up. ?The person leaving this message was either schooled in "Ebonics", or learned his English in Nigeria. ?Needless to say, it appears that the scammers are already starting to target IBM retirees, and we need to be extra careful about giving out any personal information over the phone. ?? ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <starykozel@...> wrote: You can do everything on the web... no need to talk to anybody ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote: This DOES pose some interesting questions. ?In the past, we have been able to make choices via a https secured website. Now, we are being asked to make a phone call...trusting that the person on the other end of the line Really Does work for ExtendHealth. ?In all likelihood, that person is probably some "contract" person, working from their home, and entering our data as we give it. ?THAT leaves a lot of room for potential Identity Theft. ?Then, if this company has outsourced some of its callers to places like India, and the person we get barely speaks good English, it Really raises some suspicions. ? Personally, I think I will Not be rushing into this thing....it might be better to wait until several other people have accessed this exchange, and hopefully posted their comments and opinions about what kind of service they received, and what they thought about the exchange representative. ? ? ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <retired_engineer@...> wrote: 1-855-359-7380 is the telephone number contained in the ExtendHealth Getting Started booklet that IBM sent me.
From: LOPATKA@... To: ibmpension@... Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:30:30 -0400 Subject: [IBM Pension] ExtendHealth Called me ? ? ? ?
Someone "puporting" to represent ExtendHealth called ME
a little while ago . . . and was almost unintelligible. Being suspicious I asked to call them back & was given the number 1-855-359-7380. I called that number & asked the person answering the phone to "prove" they represented Extend Health "before" I would give them any personal information to "verify".? They gave me platitudes about ExtendHealth - so I simply told them that I would contact them when I was ready as instructed in the mailing we received.? I was then informed it might take 2-3 hours if I waited any lomger . . . I don't know if the call was legitimate or what a caller would have to do to prove they actually represented ExtendHealth. <Alan Lopatka> |
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Re: The Inequality President
The this week warned lawmakers and their staff not to Obamacare’s health exchanges, saying that the administration hasn’t yet finalized the rules for how to keep paying for their premiums. “Members and staff are advised that they should delay enrolling in health insurance plans until we are able to offer further guidance as to how they should enroll in these insurance plans for 2014,” the disbursing office said in an email to staffers Monday. “Premature enrollment could adversely impact eligibility for the employer premium contribution.” Read more: Follow us: ? ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <no_reply@...> wrote: Once again, IBMPension goes inconsistent in moderation and has the dreaded Obama stuff posted today! --- In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote: |
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Re: [IBM Pension] ExtendHealth Called me ? ? ?
You can do everything on the web... no need to talk to anybody ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote: This DOES pose some interesting questions. ?In the past, we have been able to make choices via a https secured website. Now, we are being asked to make a phone call...trusting that the person on the other end of the line Really Does work for ExtendHealth. ?In all likelihood, that person is probably some "contract" person, working from their home, and entering our data as we give it. ?THAT leaves a lot of room for potential Identity Theft. ?Then, if this company has outsourced some of its callers to places like India, and the person we get barely speaks good English, it Really raises some suspicions. ? Personally, I think I will Not be rushing into this thing....it might be better to wait until several other people have accessed this exchange, and hopefully posted their comments and opinions about what kind of service they received, and what they thought about the exchange representative. ? ? ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <retired_engineer@...> wrote: 1-855-359-7380 is the telephone number contained in the ExtendHealth Getting Started booklet that IBM sent me.
From: LOPATKA@... To: ibmpension@... Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:30:30 -0400 Subject: [IBM Pension] ExtendHealth Called me ? ? ? ?
Someone "puporting" to represent ExtendHealth called ME
a little while ago . . . and was almost unintelligible. Being suspicious I asked to call them back & was given the number 1-855-359-7380. I called that number & asked the person answering the phone to "prove" they represented Extend Health "before" I would give them any personal information to "verify".? They gave me platitudes about ExtendHealth - so I simply told them that I would contact them when I was ready as instructed in the mailing we received.? I was then informed it might take 2-3 hours if I waited any lomger . . . I don't know if the call was legitimate or what a caller would have to do to prove they actually represented ExtendHealth. <Alan Lopatka> |
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Re: [IBM Pension] ExtendHealth Called me ? ? ?
This DOES pose some interesting questions. ?In the past, we have been able to make choices via a https secured website. Now, we are being asked to make a phone call...trusting that the person on the other end of the line Really Does work for ExtendHealth. ?In all likelihood, that person is probably some "contract" person, working from their home, and entering our data as we give it. ?THAT leaves a lot of room for potential Identity Theft. ?Then, if this company has outsourced some of its callers to places like India, and the person we get barely speaks good English, it Really raises some suspicions. ? Personally, I think I will Not be rushing into this thing....it might be better to wait until several other people have accessed this exchange, and hopefully posted their comments and opinions about what kind of service they received, and what they thought about the exchange representative. ? ? ---In ibmpensionissues@..., <retired_engineer@...> wrote: 1-855-359-7380 is the telephone number contained in the ExtendHealth Getting Started booklet that IBM sent me.
From: LOPATKA@... To: ibmpension@... Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:30:30 -0400 Subject: [IBM Pension] ExtendHealth Called me ? ? ? ?
Someone "puporting" to represent ExtendHealth called ME
a little while ago . . . and was almost unintelligible. Being suspicious I asked to call them back & was given the number 1-855-359-7380. I called that number & asked the person answering the phone to "prove" they represented Extend Health "before" I would give them any personal information to "verify".? They gave me platitudes about ExtendHealth - so I simply told them that I would contact them when I was ready as instructed in the mailing we received.? I was then informed it might take 2-3 hours if I waited any lomger . . . I don't know if the call was legitimate or what a caller would have to do to prove they actually represented ExtendHealth. <Alan Lopatka> |
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Re: News for 110,000 retirees
开云体育Lucky you, regarding your comments on medical plans when you hired on and you had a baby.? I hired on in 1959 and there was no medical plan.? We paid 100% of our medical bills and IBM reimbursed us 80% of them, AFTER we paid them and submitted the bills to them. ?It was around 1966 or 1967 that IBM came out with a medical plan, that let you give a medical card to the hospital or doctor that would take care of your bills.? ? Our first daughter was born in August 1959, just three months after I hired on and I had to pay all of the doctor bill because pregnancies were not covered at that time and 20% of the hospital bill.? In fact I had to do major negations with the hospital to get them to wait until they gave me a bill that I could submit to IBM for reimbursement.? Because I started with IBM at $300 a month and I did not have a lot of spare cash to pay the hospital bill. ????? ? From: ibmpensionissues@... [mailto:ibmpensionissues@...] On Behalf Of ileftibm@...
Sent: Monday, September 23, 2013 2:09 PM To: ibmpensionissues@... Subject: [ibmpensionissues] RE: News for 110,000 retirees ? ? I don't remember those words, BUT three weeks after I hired on we had a baby AND THAT WAS COVERED!!?
Remember about a million years ago when you were young and hiring on. I remember the manager telling me I had the job and how my bride would have free medical coverage for life? On Sat, 9/7/13, buckwildbeemer <no_reply@...> wrote: |
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Re: News for 110,000 retirees
I don't remember those words, BUT three weeks after I hired on we had a baby AND THAT WAS COVERED!!? --- In ibmpensionissues@..., <congmc2000@...> wrote: Remember about a million years ago when you were young and hiring on. I remember the manager telling me I had the job and how my bride would have free medical coverage for life?
-------------------------------------------- On Sat, 9/7/13, buckwildbeemer <no_reply@...> wrote: |
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Re: [IBM Pension] ExtendHealth Called me ? ? ?
开云体育1-855-359-7380 is the telephone number contained in the ExtendHealth Getting Started booklet that IBM sent me. From: LOPATKA@... To: ibmpension@... Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:30:30 -0400 Subject: [IBM Pension] ExtendHealth Called me ? ? ? ?
Someone "puporting" to represent ExtendHealth called ME
a little while ago . . . and was almost unintelligible. Being suspicious I asked to call them back & was given the number 1-855-359-7380. I called that number & asked the person answering the phone to "prove" they represented Extend Health "before" I would give them any personal information to "verify".? They gave me platitudes about ExtendHealth - so I simply told them that I would contact them when I was ready as instructed in the mailing we received.? I was then informed it might take 2-3 hours if I waited any lomger . . . I don't know if the call was legitimate or what a caller would have to do to prove they actually represented ExtendHealth. |
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Re: The Inequality President
suspicious_mind
Once again, IBMPension goes inconsistent in moderation and has the dreaded Obama stuff posted today! --- In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote: Please, do a video for us!! PLEASE, Let us know when it is on YouTube!!! Thanks!!!!! --- In ibmpensionissues@..., Sue Runyon <Slouise217@...> wrote: |
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Re: How to Spend Pension Income on 10 Restaurant Desserts Under 400 Calories
The fast food I most commonly buy is McDonald's "hamburger". This is a "dollar menu" item. If I limit myself to that I usually find it's enough. 250 calories.? --- In ibmpensionissues@..., <no_reply@...> wrote: These 20 restaurant foods sound disastrous, but the truth is, they're surprisingly smart picks:
--- In ibmpensionissues@..., buckwildbeemer <no_reply@...> wrote: |
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Re: Lobby Your Elected Officials for a Medicare Discount!
BMI = 25.1? according to BP recorded daily and varies up and down. ?I put the values in a spreadsheet and then produce a PowerPoint graph which I present to the doctor when I have a physical. --- In ibmpensionissues@..., <sbbeaudry@...> wrote: For a 5' 2'' person that would be a weight of less than 164 lbs as a comparison.
From: namremf <no_reply@...>
To: ibmpensionissues@... Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2013 1:01 PM Subject: [ibmpensionissues] Lobby Your Elected Officials for a Medicare Discount! ?
Imagine if Medicare/ACA/IRS/Aetna tracked my BMI and then lowered my monthly premium for staying healthy! "In a letter to staffers, managers announced a $13.33 credit every two weeks for folks who meet a 'weight target' or BMI of 30." We need a national "BMI Appreciation Day", perhaps right after the new "Gun Appreciation Day" on Jan 19th!!!!! For the low-information demographic: Regarding wellness, I challenge all who post to include their BMI. If you do not know your current BMI, and are using up IBM's self-insurance money, shame! BMI here is 30, working on getting to 29. BP at last blood donor appointment was 120/64. (This is a partial re-post from another Yahoo Group) |
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Re: it's that time of the month?
Too late now, but: The way to have avoided the flat pension was to take the LUMP SUM. Then, of course, you had to invest smartly so that your income would grow each year. This looks risky, and it is, but over the long haul Wall Street securities tend to increase in value.? --- In ibmpensionissues@..., <JustPutt2@...> wrote: The reason that it 'happens' is that IBM mgmt looks at the impact of inflation on your pension. ?You should keep in mind that pensions are fixed sums that are established, at your point of retirement. Now comes the Like It, Love It, or Leave It, part. ? When your particular time period of Vested Pensions, happen to have suffered unduly from economic hardships, such as inflation. ?Then and only maybe, their might be an upward adjustment to your Vested
Pension. My personal experience, in 23 years of IBM retirement is, one measureable increase, one dribble, and one letter. ?? So what might be the best. ?If you are going to live a long life,,, there is ONLY one
thing to do,,, defer SS Income as long as possible. My SS today is coming close to approximating my IBM monthly pension, at time of retirement it was less than ONE THIRD!!!!!? I hope this might help at least one person.
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Re: FW: [ibmretireeissues] ExtendHealth May Be Limiting Our Choices While Not Adding Any Value!
开云体育The major questions so far seem to deal with the HRA. Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA) Questions:Homework:
To: ibmretireeissues@... From: elueke@... Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 22:42:01 -0500 Subject: Re: [ibmretireeissues] ExtendHealth May Be Limiting Our Choices While Not Adding Any Value! ?
I am not surprised that there is no value add from Extend Health.?
Use them to get the HRA, and what about vision and dental
insurance?? Might that be a reason to use Extend Health?? I'm going to their introductory meeting on Monday, and am going to take along a list of questions, so am willing to ask, provided of course I get the chance -! On 9/21/2013 3:49 PM,
retired_engineer@... wrote:
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Re: Suggestion on How to Make this Board More Worthwhile
开云体育Yes, it's too bad that on all bulletin boards there seems to be trolls.? I guess these folks have nothing to do but cruise around and cause discontent.? Is there a way of verifying an individual's actual IBM credentials? ? From: ibmpensionissues@... [mailto:ibmpensionissues@...] On Behalf Of suspicious_mind
Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 6:59 PM To: ibmpensionissues@... Subject: [ibmpensionissues] RE: RE: Re: Suggestion on How to Make this Board More Worthwhile ? ? ?Yeah, IBMPension is losing value real fast..once again, the Don guy is is not an IBM retiree is posting a lot of verbose useless stuff...noise level today was sky-high! ? ? In ibmpensionissues@..., "zimowski@..." <zimowski@...> wrote:
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