Is software our helper or our dictator?

Its amazing what we take for granted! Because we have a flexible spending account through a Federal employer and the website is federal in name looking - but the clue should have been the “.com”. Once I established that they are a third party provider and NOT a federal agency, the willingness to help me out with informaiton was markedly cheerier!

I have been fighting with FSAFEDS.com for reimbursement off and on for the same amounts since October 2009. It is only March 22 2010 so I guess it is not as bad as it could be… But their argument is the same each time… you must provide this information in “THIS” format to qualify under the IRS guidelines… So I looked at the guidelines… http://www.irs.gov/publications/p969/ar02.html#en_US_publink1000204184 And of course there is no mention that the informaiton must be in THAT format, only that the information must be provided.

Three emails and two phone calls later, I finally get a customer service representative that understands my questions..

“Do you require that information in that format because it is the IRS Regulation and if so please provide the reference…?”

Me: ” No, i see your guidelines on your website, ….”
“Thanks, yes I see your rules on the claim form…”

What is the IRS regulation that requires you to demand that of me?

or please answer:

“Do you require the information in that format because that is the way your software is set up for data entry?”

Well, just so happens that finally she looked at the denied claims and saw that there was really no reason why the claims were not paid, and no reason why future claims should not be paid… and “We regret any inconvenience this may cause.”

At times like this, you have to love unlimited cell phone plans…..