Military widow: Rep. Hamadeh’s office solved my problem

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OPINION — I’m not really into opinions. Facts and actions are what count. My experience as a 40-year military widow was mightily reaffirmed recently. I must share.

My VA compensation check has been deposited in a Washington credit union the last 38 years. That bank would not easily add either of my two competent adult children as co-signers, a pro-active measure I wanted to take for my future, so I opened another account to move the direct deposit.

After many unsuccessful calls to both VA and the 38-year credit union, I failed to match the account number buried in long-ago computer system hardware updates.

At their direction, I created A VA.gov account. It was not functioning for direct deposit actions for several weeks, and “did not know when the system would function again,” so I called their recommended phone number, and ended up at the same dead end.

Nearly in tears and plenty mad that every honest attempt to take action would not accomplish my goal, I walked into Abe Hamadeh’s office on Bell Road. In 10 minutes, I was directed by Abe’s district director to the VA Phoenix Regional Office. Once there, in 10 minutes the goal was accomplished. Done.

I’ve not bothered “the system” in 38 years, and needed to make one simple change. Only one walk into Rep. Hamadeh’s office accomplished what I’d been working on for two years. I am grateful, and now protected. Abe has my vote.

Rep. Abe Hamadeh is running for reelection in Congressional District 8, which includes parts of Glendale, Peoria, north Phoenix, Sun City, Sun City West and Surprise. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.