To:
Ceridian Benefit Services
CC:
United States Department of Labor
Dallas Regional Office
525 South Griffin St, Rm 900
Dallas, TX 75202-5025
Dear Ceridian Benefit Services,
You have asked me to fill out your “Consumer Satisfaction Survey” concerning my recent dealings with your company. This I am happy to do.
The background: My contract position ended and I elected to continue receiving health benefits from Blue Cross of Texas and sent in my COBRA payment to Ceridian Benefit Services, to whom the contract agency had farmed out their COBRA fulfillment. Despite this, when I went to get a prescription refilled, my pharmacist told me my insurance had expired.
Calling Blue Cross, they said they had not received official notice from Ceridian that my COBRA had been paid up. Calling the Ceridian Benefit Services support line (which, I now understand, goes to a call center in the Philippines), they confirm I’m paid up, say the information had been sent off, but said they would send it again.
I am now going to condense multiple calls to both Blue Cross and Ceridian, in which your representative repeatedly stated the information had been emailed/faxed/etc. to Blue Cross, and Blue Cross still had no record of it, despite getting verbal assurance on the phone that I was covered and that the information was on the way, stories that seem to change every time I called.
Only by contacting my former employer several times, and emailing ContinuantServices@ceridian.com, was I able, after 45 days of paying for COBRA, to get Ceridian to actually transmit the information to Blue Cross.
Moreover, my Blue Cross support representative (I was able to get the same one on the line, as opposed to different people in the Filipino call center) said that plenty of other people had experienced problems with Ceridian.
In the publishing industry, there are several firms that were infamous for “payment upon lawsuit.” Ceridian seems to be cut from the same cloth.
Moreover, my experience seems to be the norm among those having to use your “service.” On Epinion, 35 people have rated your service: one gave it four stars, the other 34 rated it one star. Let’s pull up some quotes, shall we?
I have continuously paid my continuation of services premium to Ceridian for four months. Yet I have never been ‘covered’ according to my insurance company. I have also called Ceridian during each of the four months. They have assured me that they will ‘submit a request for service update’. Which when I call to check on submission, has never happened. Last week when the third ‘request’ was submitted, I asked to speak to a supervisor. After being on hold for a while, I was told that the supervisors were all busy but that they would ‘submit a request to have a supervisor return my call’. I asked how long they thought that would take. I then reminded them that their prior ‘requests’ for things had not resulted in action being taken. In fact, my most recent ‘request for service update’ was an ’emergency request’ (their words) and was supposed to only take 24-48 hours. It has been six days and the service update has still not occured. The ‘supervisor’ called me back 48 hours after my ‘request’ and said that they service update had been made and that my coverage was active. I called Blue Shield (my original insurance co.) and my coverage was NOT.
I was laid off after a decade with my prior company, and for the first time in my life, have had to use COBRA. My understanding was that the coverage would be “seamless” — but apparently I knew nothing about Ceridian! First of all, I was provided with paperwork which indicated that I could register online — that was completely false, as they had no record of me, and when I talked to them on the phone, they told me to wait 7-10 days. (Which I understand is their standard fake answer…) So I talked to my former company’s HR people, and they told me to mail in the paperwork via regular mail, which I did. The check was promptly cashed, and eventually, they acknowledged payment in their system. But they still have yet to inform my insurance carrier of the premium payment. In the meantime, I have paid them the premium, but cannot get prescriptions filled or see doctors. I have basically paid for 2 months of nothing!!! Ceridian is a scam, which basically preys on those who lose their jobs and have no choice but to elect COBRA coverage, and the hope of Ceridian is that you will either (a) die, or (b) get a job before they get around to covering you. Either way, they pocket the money for doing nothing. Pretty neat racket, huh? I intend to file a complaint with the FTC, and if I can’t get anywhere with that, a federal class-action lawsuit — possibly even for RICO violations, as this is unconscionable in our current economy.
Ceridian is the worst company ever! Do not choose it for anything! The staff positions would be better filled with elementary school children. These people cannot enter information correctly into their computer system nor answer a phone in a professional tone. No two staff people will tell you the same thing, and each monthly bill will be a different amount. I called about my account and these morons would not let me get passed the authorization of my account because they had the wrong address entered in their system, yet somehow the bill made it to my house every month. To make it worse, instead of listening to what I was saying, the repeatedly inturrupted me asking “tell me the other address we have on file.” How should I know what address you have on file? I’ve lived in the same place for 32 years! Then they stopped my coverage for the delinquent payment of a penny, yes I said it- a penny. This company should be put out of business. I will call every better business bureau, every newspaper, even Obama to try and warn people about their service practices.
Here are some more complaints:
I sent Ceridian the amount due for Cobra. I was shocked when the drug store informed me that my insurance had been canceled, so I called Ceridian and they stated it was a billing error on their part and should be resolved in a couple of days. The representative stated that as soon as the error was corrected, Ceridian could notify my Insurance company and I would be able to get my prescription…that was 3 weeks ago and many more fruitless calls to ceridian, and still…no prescription and no insurance coverage. The representatives always saying the same thing over and over and over again…they kept giving extremely vague, senseless excuses.
I am also involved in a Ceridian nightmare and have been for the past 6 months. I still don’t have resolution.
My opinion is that Ceridian is not a “service,” it is a criminal enterprise run by thieves and engaged in systematic interstate mail and wire fraud. It is my opinion that Ceridian takes money from the recently unemployed, then, instead of passing the portion due onto the insurance company, takes that money and then fails to inform the insurance company. It is my opinion that Ceridian does this unless someone is willing to scream loud enough and long enough to convince someone outside the call center that they’re not going away, at which point someone at Ceridian is evidently authorized to actually comply with the law and inform the insurance company that COBRA has been paid.
How proud Ceridian executives must feel when they go home at night! “What did you do today, daddy?” “I stole from the unemployed, honey!”
No company should ever use Ceridian for anything, ever, and know that if forced to use them for any service, at best it will take multiple calls to get them to provide what you have already paid for, and at worst they will take your money and leave you with squat.
Tags: Ceridian, con-artist, crime, ripoff, scam
If only there were a different way of providing medical coverage.
[…] Thugs. Pimps. Nazis. Ceridian Benefit Services. My opinion is that Ceridian is not a “service,” it is a criminal enterprise run by thieves and e… […]
Notice the last section of the site: http://www.ceridian.com/employee_benefits_nav/1,6267,15691,00.html
You have been properly adjudicated…..
Bummer to hear what you went through, despite enjoying your wonderfully prosaic account of it. best.
This is amazing! My father is going thru the same thing! We have paid for 4 months and the Cobra hasn’t been activated! I already complaint to DOL and Florida Dept. of Financial Services and we are waiting on the results.
My next step will be to get the informatrion when the insurance company received the information from Ceridian and the employer, and call the IRS, they will be charged tax penalties for each day they were behind on reporting the Cobra coverage insurance! They have to pay somehow!
Hopefully, he will get the insurance soon! Fingers crossed.
Ceridian is bad news. My company insists on using them even though they are holding thousands of dollars belonging to employees whose claims were rejected. You can send them receipt after receipt and it’s never good enough. They will claim its just used as a tax shelter for the employee. It’s a scam. First of all, you can only use your flex card at the doctors office or pharmacy so I am often puzzled at their business practices. They will seize the money you put into your benefits and never return it. They are professional thieves. The excuse they use is it’s for IRS purposes. I even told them on the phone that I would gladly send my medical bills to The IRS for proof if they release my money. Stay away from them. Go off on your own if you have to have a flex account. Eventually your employer will get the message.
[…] Linoge’s post, it is hard to decide who is worse: the blogger in question, or Ceridian Benefit Services. I think I have to give the edge to Ceridian, but it is a close race to the bottom. Anyway, […]
I could not believe it when I read the comments from the Man With the Iron Fists! He told my story…almost word for word. I have been fighting with them since January 2, 2013. As was noted, Ceridian continually told me babble and excuses about why my insurance coverage was not activated. I contacted my HR services and they told me the dates the information was sent to them. Ceridian denied they got it until after my 3rd call, and after I gave them the name of the HR person I spoke with. They still have not done what is necessary to allow me to use MY insurance to see a Physician or get Prescriptions. I was told to pay out of pocket and the Insurance Company would reimburse me. I am UNEMPLOYED. I cannot afford to do that.
I have had to be very specific insisting Ceridian tell me what exact data is sent – and asking my carriers to dig for the exact document or transmission sent – since start dates had not been correct and claims denied, repeatedly. I opened a Case number, and call carriers and Ceridian every few days to check status. I do believe something has moved, but they did not copy me on communications as I requested. I don’t know how this company is set up to make money – who pays them? When do they get paid? If Ceridian’s income is related to held funds of Cobra clients, they really are set up to steal via chronic underperformance. It is difficult to give the company any benefit of the doubt, I fear them as a predator without boundaries. labor bureaus should not be the regulating body for financial services companies. they do not understand the magnitude of this problem, or have the teeth to investigate properly and protect the public trust. what a mess!
My company is using Ceridian FSA. They mailed me nice Ceridian MasterCard to pay for my out-off-pocket medical costs. So far they demanded itemized receipts for every copay transaction, all of which are from the well established healthcare providers like Boston Children’s Hospital.
Shockingly, this is exactly what I’m going through as well. After paying for benefits as soon as they would tell me how much I owed, two months later my claims are still being denied as “inactive” – Ceridian has ONE JOB to do, and they fail at it, every single time.
I want to know if there is any class action lawsuit against this farce of a company that takes your money and conveniently holds on to it, until you complain. I need immediate attention at Mayo clinic and they stuttered on the phone with no direct5 answers. After speaking to a supervisor, I am no better of than before. There needs to be justice for those of us that have COBRA coverage. I did not choose Ceridian they did. Can I change? please say so. Any FL lawyers looking for work feel free to let me know
Exactly the same thing I have been going through for months. I finally asked for a refund and you would have thought I asked for the rep’s first born child. “They under no circumstances give refund checks.” I have spent hours upon hours waiting for a supervisor who does the same thing the other twenty people I spoke to have done. Absolutely nothing! I am really tired of fighting and getting upset and nothing happens. I have even been told by a supervisor to stop paying until this is straightened out. I’m with Cecelia….any Florida lawyers looking for work?
Hi dear author and everyone,
I am also going through the same thing with Ceridian. I’ve been paying my COBRA for 6 months and still I believe that Ceridian has been holding my payments because I don’t believe that Blueshield would deny my coverage if they had received my payments from me. I really need insurance and really angry at Ceridian. Every time I made a call they assured me that they did pay the carrier and that they couldn’t provide me with the proof of payment. I wish the system could just allow me to pay Blueshield directly. can anyone give me some advice? has anyone has successfully resolve this issue with them? Please need help ASAP. email: zheng16@yahoo.com
I stopped electing to use Ceridian FSA thru my company after fighting with them to reimburse me MY MONEY for healthcare costs. Ceridian truly is a criminal enterprise…legalized thievery, and I’ve informed them of that via their claim form. I calculated the total pre-tax “savings” over the course of a year – $50! Not worth the aggravation. I found an interest bearing account that offsets the tax “savings” offered by Ceridian. Hopefully, I won’t be subject to their bullying ever agin.
My story sounds familiar. Last year, I tried to log on to my account and they had no record of me being in the system. (Even though they were receiving funds from my paycheck). Got that straight.
This year they send debt card, it work for the first purchase but not at the doctors office and the pharmacy. After several emails and phone calls they admit that they suspended the card. (Even though they were receiving funds from my paycheck). See a trend?
Today they denied reimbursement for insulin pump supplies. I sent in the invoice but they now want a statement from my doctor wanting to know if it is medical necessary. WTF, Type I diabetes and they want to know if insulin delivery is necessary? Only if I want my daughter to live. Screw em. I only wish I could get my hands on who ever wrote that letter. Please let me find you one day.
My company is dropping these guys as a collector of our health benefits. THANK GOD! They screwed up my automatic payment when my bank changed their routing code. All other companies handled this with no trouble. On my first call I was told that they had updated the routing number and would get my money in a couple of weeks. No worry, I was told. Two weeks later no money was transferred, I called and was basically told I was lying and I must fill out an entirely new automatic withdrawal form. I tried to give them the new routing number, no go, “you must fill out the form, law you know”. After another two weeks I called again and after ONE HOUR of agony (no BS) I was told they got my form but when they entered it they update my security question, but failed to change the routing number. They would not be going back to re-enter the number and I should just send my $380.00 dollar check and make sure I do so by midnight of the deadline. I told them no way until I go to my bank and stop the automatic deduction. Next morning before I left for the bank I just wanted to double check my account to verify they had not taken the money, well guess what. They did take the money over that night. I note some complaints on the net about trouble getting money refunded on overpayments, could this be their scam? Anyway, if their not dishonest, they are totally incompetent. Stay away my friends if you can help it.
I experienced the EXACT same thing! Multiple people, multiple answers, multiple supposed “transmissions” to the insurance folks, etc. I got it all straightened out after 2 months but then my former company changed insurance providers – it started ALL over again. These people are a joke. My favorite was that somehow I overpaid (because the invoice showed I didn’t owe them anything but their representatives said I did so I paid twice) but when I discontinued my insurance through them they didn’t really want to give me my money back. I had to threaten legal action to make sure I got my refund. People there are rude, unprofessional and most of the time don’t listen or get angry with you if you challenge them. HORRIBLE service (and my background is in Call/Support Centers.) Run away, far far away!
Yes! Finally someone writes about need money now unemployed.