About Late May or early June of 2008, I went to the local supermarket to get some food for dinner. There they had a STORE MADE PIZZA in the refrigerator case.
Hy Vee makes some of their own pizzas and this was chicken and cheese, and sauce.
I purchased this item, brought it home and cooked it. While eating it, I hit something HARD in the left rear side of my mouth. I began to choke on it but was fortunate
enough to be able to get it out of my throat..
( I'm a retired nurse )
The object in the Hy Vee Pizza was a piece of steel I measured it. It was 3/8 inch by 3/4 inch and nearly as thick as a dime.
I brought it to the store, and the deli clerk where I bought it called over the acting manager of the store.
I explained to him what happened and showed him the steel piece that had pizza sauce baked onto it.
He asked me if he could keep it, and since I trusted them I said yes. I insisted however that he let the manager know about this immediately and report it to the various companies who made the components.
He seemed quite DISTRACTED DISINTERESTED AND INDIFFERENT ...so I re explained it to him at least 3 more times.
I said if I had trouble with the tooth I'd go to a dentist. If there was no trouble we oculd forget it HOWEVER, THEY MUST CONTACT THEIR SUPPLIERS.. IMMEDIATELY
as this was a public health AND SAFETY issue.. and they HAD A NEED TO KNOW.
i EMPHASIZED TO HIM THAT SOMEONE ELSE COULD CHOKE OR DIE ON A SIMILAR PIECE.. PERHAPS AN OLD PERSON OR A CHILD.
The next day, I ran into the stor manager and brought the subject to his attention. He had NEVER BEEN TOLD ABOUT IT.. so I went over it with him.
No one ever gave me paperwork.. though the clerk was a witness to the event.
Some months later, the tooth began to feel irritated. At first I thought it was just something in my gum but it got worse. I saw a dentist and was told the tooth was split vetically a cavity and infection had formed and it was not a good prospect for a crown.
I notified the store and they sent back a note from a personell mgr... / asst mgr.. one Taylor Ward. She and I spoke and met a few times and she assured me that they would "do the right things and make it right.
Meanwhile, the idiot I gave the metal and the initial report to, LOST/ THREW AWAY THE METAL AND NEVER WROTE A REPORT. THE STORE MANAGER HAD LIKEWISE NOT WRITTEN A REPORT.
After prolonged treatment for infection, the tooth was removed. The one behind it was also damaged.
I researched the costs of implants and bridges. Implants generally were about 2,000 and up. Bridges were about 3000 or more...
So by this time the personell mgr had shoved me over to their "risk manager" at EMS RISK MANAGEMENT. He was likewise very reassuring and seemed quite honest to me.
Perhaps he was honest.. In the end, however Hy Vee made all the calls as the amount came under their deductible.
They initially offered me 1,500.oo.. I told them they were nuts as the damage had caused me.
4 dental visits..
initial exam complete set of x rays treatment for infection and extraction
2 visits to the e. r. for the severe infection
1 visit to the doc for antibiotics when the dentist was closed
200 + miles of driving as the dentist and doc are a 45 mile round trip...
to top it off I have lost a tooth...and choked on this dangerous object...
I would say that they skate on the thin ice of FRAUD.. RATHER NICELY.. VERY POLITE WHILE SPITTING IN YOUR FACE.
DO YOU SHOP AT HY VEE? I SURE AS HELL DON'T.
MIKE TRASTER
CHEROKEE IA.
Read Next Complaint >>
