USPA BS!!

[Thanatos340 1]

Just had my first experience dealing with the USPA directly. I wasnt impressed... At all.

I have been a member for 5 years. Always paid the extra to get the Magazine early.. Always contributed to the Airport Defense Fund. I needed to get my Membership renewed. Simple enough I thought.

First I tried to go to the website... Couldn’t find anywhere to renew there. So I Called and get put on hold forever. Then they finally answer, Give them my member number and credit card info.

Just a renewal. No big deal right???

WRONG!! I am informed that it will take two to three weeks to process my application..

WTF?? A Renewal?? What is there to process?

I told them I wanted to jump this weekend. Whats the deal?? Why so long to mark the computer screen that they already up right there as they took my info as Paid??

I understand them charging $5 to fax confirmation that you are up to date with them... No big deal. But then an extra $20 to "Expedite my Application"?? What application... Its a Renewal!!

This is crazy. I feel like I am being fleeced by here. Can anyone give me a rational reason why a Renewal would take two to three weeks to “Process”? I could understand two to three weeks to mail out the card.. But what is there to Process??

[skybytch 273]

I dunno. I faxed a renewal to them last year and had my new card in hand a week later, just in time for a boogie I was going to attend - and that was without paying the "expedite" fee.

Perhaps they told you two to three weeks for the "shit happens" factor?

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I told them I wanted to jump this weekend.

Why'd you wait so long to renew? Why is it their problem that you didn't deal with it before your membership expired?

[Thanatos340 1]

I was pretty clear on the fact that I was going to a Boogie next week and needed to Renew so that I would be covered.

She said it would take Two to Three weeks to Process my application. I asked her "What application.. its a renewal". She said Two to three weeks and then if paid an extra $5 they would fax me conformation AFTER the Application was processed in two to three weeks. Or I could pay an extra $20 and they would "Expedite" my application and fax me conformation in two to three days.

"What Application" I asked again.. Its a Renewal. She said it all the same.

[popsjumper 2]

"fleeced"...don't you feel naked right now and is that a bad thing?

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[Chrissay 0]

You can ask them to email you a verification of your current membership and take that to your boogie. I've had to do that before and did not have any problems with it.

[skybytch 273]

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I was pretty clear on the fact that I was going to a Boogie next week and needed to Renew so that I would be covered.

You've known that you're going to the boogie for how long?

Lack of prior planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on anybody's elses part.

[wildcard451 0]

I do believe I saw this in the Pixie's sig line one time...

"A person's lack of preperation does not constitute and emergency on my part..."

[hobbes4star 0]

I agree with you for a renewal it should be same day. The only reason it is like this is USPA has the monoply on the USA.

if fun were easy it wouldn't be worth having, right?

[popsjumper 2]

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...You've known that you're going to the boogie for how long?

Probably well over a year...does that change anything about a renewal taking so long to "process"?

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[Andy9o8 2]

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I was pretty clear on the fact that I was going to a Boogie next week and needed to Renew so that I would be covered.

You've known that you're going to the boogie for how long?

Lack of prior planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on anybody's elses part.

Yeah, and if this was 1986 I might agree with you; but it's 2006. Everything is computerized and can be processed and sent via fax or e-mail immediately. I regularly do the following online, AND get immediate confirmation and documentation: pay most of my bills, renew my auto insurance, renew my professional liability insurance, sign up for continuing education courses, buy airplane tickets, make hotel reservations, etc., etc.
USPA is behind the times. There's no rational reason why they cannot renew online and/or over the phone and provide immediate confirmation, they simply WILL NOT do so. If they don't have their office technology and procedures in the 21st Century, then we're all missing out on some of the value we ought to be getting for our dues money.

[popsjumper 2]

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[...USPA is behind the times. There's no rational reason why they cannot renew online and/or over the phone and provide immediate confirmation, they simply WILL NOT do so. If they don't have their office technology and procedures in the 21st Century, then we're all missing out on some of the value we ought to be getting for our dues money.

Well put...

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[pan 0]

Not that this has anything to do with your problem, But it does show a lack of organization. I renewed last month, couple weeks later got my new card and just yesterday recieved another leter saying that my membership had lapsed and i should renew. As an instructor i flipped out. WTF...so i called, everything was fine....no sh@t.

[skybytch 273]

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Probably well over a year...does that change anything about a renewal taking so long to "process"?

Because he was told "two to three weeks" does not mean it will take "two to three weeks." In the over 15 years that I've been a member it's never taken that long. I'd be surprised if he doesn't have his card in the mail sometime next week.

Quoted directly from the renewal form in Parachutist magazine - "Normal processing and delivery of membership card takes three to four weeks. Expedited processing with email or fax confirmation is done within 48 hours." (note - emphasis mine)

It takes as long as it takes. Forget to renew and need it for a special event? Accept the fact that you screwed up and pay the extra $20.

Seems really simple to me.

[michaelmullins 81]

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Just had my first experience dealing with the USPA directly. I wasnt impressed... At all.

I have been a member for 5 years. Always paid the extra to get the Magazine early.. Always contributed to the Airport Defense Fund. I needed to get my Membership renewed. Simple enough I thought.

First I tried to go to the website... Couldn’t find anywhere to renew there. So I Called and get put on hold forever. Then they finally answer, Give them my member number and credit card info.

Just a renewal. No big deal right???

WRONG!! I am informed that it will take two to three weeks to process my application..

WTF?? A Renewal?? What is there to process?

I told them I wanted to jump this weekend. Whats the deal?? Why so long to mark the computer screen that they already up right there as they took my info as Paid??

I understand them charging $5 to fax confirmation that you are up to date with them... No big deal. But then an extra $20 to "Expedite my Application"?? What application... Its a Renewal!!

This is crazy. I feel like I am being fleeced by here. Can anyone give me a rational reason why a Renewal would take two to three weeks to “Process”? I could understand two to three weeks to mail out the card.. But what is there to Process??

If you go to the USPA website http;//www.uspa.org, click on "Already a Skydiver", click on "Membership Services", click on "Renew Online", then you would have been able to renew online. If you had printed out that page and presented it to the DZO, he probably would have accepted it as proof (if you had coordinated this in advance). Or, you may have been able to do it at the DZ in the presence of the DZO and he would have accepted that as proof ( I would accept either one).

Or, since membership is valid with postmark, you could have faxed the completed renewal form to the DZO, S&TA, your Regional Director, or a National Director and they in turn could have mailed or faxed it to USPA and then vouched for your membership by phone to whoever needed verification or even faxed verification to whoever. Cost: zero.

If you will use the resources that are available to you(Regional Director, National Director, S&TA) you will usually have a better outcome. The address, telephone numbers, and emal addresses of all the Regional and National Directors are in the front of each and every Parachutist Magazine.

I am sorry that you are disappointed with the service from HQ but I know that they are understaffed by at least 9 at this time. Plus they are undergoing the transition to the new building where they will have staffed a call center that can be more responsive-- no menus, a real person will answer the phone.

There is a balancing act between the service that HQ can provide and the money allocated to do it. We could have immediate service to all your needs but then what will you accept for dues?

Next time seek the help of your elected representatives. I know that they would have helped you in this situation ( your lack of planning ) and I know that I would have helped you.

Best regards,
Mike Mullins
USPA National Director

[adobelover 0]

My USPA card is IN my rig with the reserve repack card.

_________________________________________


Old age ain't no place for sissies!

[davelepka 4]

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If you go to the USPA website http;//www.uspa.org, click on "Already a Skydiver", click on "Membership Services", click on "Renew Online", then you would have been able to renew online

I did that at the end of October. My credit card was charged the next day. I still have not seen a new card or an issue of Parachutist (I'm sure I'm not missing much).

Seeing as I don't jump in the winter, it didn't bother me too much. I did call USPA 10 min ago, and they said my membership was current, and they would send me a card.

Maybe they should send me $20 for extra slow processing.

[Thanatos340 1]

The issue here is why was I told it would take Two to Three to "Process" a renewal. That is ridiculous. They saw this as an opportunity to get extra money from me and did so.

Even if they would have said $20 to Fax the conformation to me.. I would have thought it was high but would not have complained because as you stated, It was my lack of planning.

I just couldn’t believe that they claimed it would take two to three weeks to process an “Application” for renewal. What Application??

She had the screen up with my info on it. Mark it as paid, Fax me the Conformation. Charge me a reasonable fee for doing so.

But dont tell me that it will two to three weeks to "Process" a renewal unless I pay an extra $20.

What extra work is there to do once they take my credit card info??

Charge extra for calling them?? Understandable.
Charge extra for letting my membership lapse?? Understandable.

But dont LIE to me and tell me it will take two to Three weeks to "Process" a renewal. It doesn’t.

With all these extra fees.. Maybe USPA should look to Skyride to fill some of their vacancies.

[Thanatos340 1]

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It takes as long as it takes. Forget to renew and need it for a special event? Accept the fact that you screwed up and pay the extra $20.

This is where we disagree.

All I was asking for was conformation that I had paid my dues. Paying $5 for them to fax that to me is reasonable. Claiming that it will take two to three weeks to do that unless I pay $20 is not.

The money is not a big deal.. What I am trying to figure out is why I was told a simple renewal to an existing membership would take two to three weeks unless I paid $20 extra?? I truly find that hard to believe.

[billvon 2,991]

>What I am trying to figure out is why I was told a simple renewal
>to an existing membership would take two to three weeks unless I
> paid $20 extra?

Cause they have an expedite fee for renewals? As other people have mentioned, if your objective was to just jump, you can do that with a signed renewal form. If your objective was to get USPA to send you something - pony up the $20, and next time renew on time so it won't be an issue.

[Thanatos340 1]

Mr. Mullins,

Thanks for your response. I understand that this was caused by poor planning on my part. I Assumed that in 2006, A renewal to an existing membership was not big deal. I didnt think a lot of Planning was required for such a simple thing. I thought call up, Give then credit card info and Pay a little extra for them to fax me a receipt of my payment. No big deal.

An extra fee to fax me conformation that the dues were paid is completely understandable. What is not understandable is being told that it will two to three weeks to "Process a Renewal" and then if I pay an extra $5 they will fax me conformation of my payment at that time or for an extra $20 they will fax it to me sooner.

It is also sad that I have learned much more here on what my options were than when I called the USPA directly. I was not aware that could have done the Post marked or Signed form. I would bet that many members are also not aware of that. Maybe the organization that we support with our dues could tell us things like that.

[Taylor610 0]

This is just a thought from the business side of things...

Approx 252 working days a year...
Approx 34,000 members of the USPA...
If everyone waited and needed their renewal processed that day, then...The uspa would be expected to process and fax Approx 135 re-newals everyday which translates to Approx 17 per hour, or approx 1 every 3 minutes.

Not a mind boggling feat, at the same time, sounds pretty close to a fulltime job to me. What would we like the USPA to spend our membership money on? How much is this expedited service worth to you and what does it cost the USPA? Where does the "break-even" mark fall fiscally?

Again, not say that the USPA is doing a great job, just asking is this particular complaint really justified?
It is just a thought from the business side of things.

[airtwardo 7]

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Again, not say that the USPA is doing a great job, just asking is this particular complaint really justified?
It is just a thought from the business side of things.

***

You beat me to it.

Working in an office that is as understaffed as USPA is no doubt a challenge. I don't know about there, but places I've worked, if 1 person is doing the job of 3 or 4...little time can be spent on anything.

I sent in for my renewal and PRO sticker 30 days in advance of them running out. When I hadn't heard anything a month later I call, Told it had been sent two weeks earlier...(yeah right) So I asked they send me another set...that night the neighbor comes over with an envelope he had been sitting on for over a week..my USPA stuff!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[HydroGuy 0]

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Approx 252 working days a year...
Approx 34,000 members of the USPA...
If everyone waited and needed their renewal processed that day, then...The uspa would be expected to process and fax Approx 135 re-newals everyday which translates to Approx 17 per hour, or approx 1 every 3 minutes.

If everyone needs to renew once a year, the same statistics hold true anyways...

Someone should be entering your info straight into a computer when you call...pretty much making that renewal instant. If not, it means they are writing it down on a piece of paper and entering it into the system later, making a second step and being inefficient, which means they are wasting our dues...that is, if you really want to look at this from the business side of things...

Get in - Get off - Get away....repeat as neccessary

[kelpdiver 2]

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This is just a thought from the business side of things...

Approx 252 working days a year...
Approx 34,000 members of the USPA...
If everyone waited and needed their renewal processed that day, then...The uspa would be expected to process and fax Approx 135 re-newals everyday which translates to Approx 17 per hour, or approx 1 every 3 minutes.

USA Triathlon is about the same size - claiming 60,000 members and has a similar one year membership that is renewed each year. It too provides insurance to the sport - if you aren't an annual member doing a USAT sanctioned race, you pay a $9 race fee. (versus the $30 annual)

Those who might do 3-4 races will often sit on the fence on the annual and might wait till the week (or day before) of the event to decide which way to go. (4 months earlier when they signed for the race they said/paid for being a member or not)

So what do they do - go to the web site, pay the money, print out a sheet that can be presented to the race director. 15 minutes. And this is in a sport so uptight that they claim it's impossible to transfer a race slot to a friend due to 'insurance/liability concerns.' You're lucky to get 50% back in credit if you can't make the event.

Unless the USPA sees these fees as a profit center rather than work overload, it behooves them to improve the process. Or to direct callers with immediate needs to the web site. A printed confirmation of payment coupled with last year's USPA card should be adequete, no?

[Thanatos340 1]

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This is just a thought from the business side of things..

I agree.. Lets look at the Business side of things...

A Members of USPA, we are their customers.

In 5 years as a Member, I have made one (1) phone call to them. That phone call was to continue to give them my business.

I was late, So I was willing to pay for their trouble of faxing me conformation that they had received my payment. Something any BUSINESS or Member organization should be willing to do. They want my business don’t they??

Instead I was told it would take two to three week to "Process" this.

This is what I am complaining about. Why on earth should it take two to three weeks to process a payment and send a receipt?? Charge me for sending the receipt?? fine. (even tough I have never heard of even that from any business). Charge me a Penalty for being late.. Fine. Call it what it is but don’t piss on my back and tell me its raining.

Why was I not told that I didn’t even need to do any of this as Mike Mullins pointed out?? I was talking directly to the USPA.

If a Business was run this way, it would fail very quickly. Yes, I do believe that this complaint is very justified.

I have paid the money. No Big deal. The only real looser was the AirPort Defense fund. I always send $100 every year for Dues, First Class Magazine Delivery and the balance to the AD Fund. This year the same $100 went for Dues, Magazine and Expedite fee to expedite something that should not have taken any extra effort on their part. The Dues were paid, just send me a receipt.