open letter #2…

Cruel adj: lacking or showing kindness or compassion or mercy

Unfathomable adj. Difficult or impossible to understand

Sincere adj. Not feigned or affected

...yet another letter sent
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May 16, 2006

XXXX XXXXX
Public Works & Government Services Canada
Superannuation, Pension Transition and Client Services Sector
Shediac, NB

RE: Death Benefit Claim Form
Pension Number XXXXXX

XXXX XXXXX,

I received the required death benefit claim form, along with your personalized letter.

I would like say that it was very nice of you to have taken the time to personalize your cover letter, but my father died in 1985 and your sympathies however sincere are a bit late. In addition he never worked for the government or received any pension from the Superannuation Department.

What would have been appreciated in this difficult period was if you had taken the time to verify the gender of the deceased. I assume in this case your condolences are meant for the death of my mother who was employed by the government for 35+ years.

While I understand that personally knowing my mother by anything other then her 6 digit ID number would be beyond reason - I have to believe that the gender of a former employee would be information on file.

I find it unfathomable that a simple piece of information, such as gender can be misrepresentation in a letter as devastating as this. This not only trivializes the death of a loved one but also gravely upsets those that have been left behind.

What I would like to suggest for the future is that if you do not have the time to research the details for a particular case, then either do not offer your condolences or leave it generic.

Should you have any questions or require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me at the address listed below.

Given that this is the second such letter I have had to write - I would rather that you/your office not respond to this letter by indicating that due to the high volume of claims that you/your office handle it was an oversight.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
XXXXX (Miss.)

cc. MGR

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...is this really happening?