Amazon is speeding things up when it comes to delivery.  Today, the company launched Prime Now, an app that allows Prime customers to get some products delivered within an hour.  When I heard you can get things like food and cold beer in an hour without leaving home, I knew I had to give it a try.

The app allows you to shop 25,000 items for delivery in just an hour.

“This a natural evolution of our service over the last 20 years,” said Stephenie Landry of Amazon.

Landry said the service is setup to handle a variety of needs.

“Customers are using it for the things that they need most,” explained Landry.  That might be diapers and baby formula that might be a big screen TV for the Seahawks game.”

I wanted to test the app for a variety of products.  So I ordered ice cream sandwiches, chips, salsa, paper towels, Seahawks sunglasses and beer.  I submitted the order at 2:15 pm.   Within 15 minutes I got a text message saying my order was near and pushing me to the app where I could track my delivery.  By 2:45 my order had arrived and was complete.
A few things you should know:  Prime Now is only available to Prime members.  The driver will ask to see your ID if you order alcohol.  The company encourages tipping and builds in a $5 tip for your driver but you can change the amount to whatever you would like.

Do you have a story you want me to check out? Call 1-844-77-JESSE (53773) or send me a message here. I’ll be part of KIRO 7 Eyewitness News most weekdays at 5:15 p.m. You can also check out my Facebook page and click here to follow me on Twitter.

First it was food and supplies for the volunteer firefighters. Now it’s help for the evacuees. I spent the day in Okanogan County giving a helping hand to those who could use it most.

The issue here in Omak is gas cards. Thanks to viewers and friends, we’re going to take care of folks like Daniel Hustis. Hustis exemplifies the spirit of those who live in north central Washington. He’s driving supplies to help others who are shut in.

“Probably 150 to 200 miles a day,” said Hustis.

The help from Daniel is free. The gas to fill his truck is not.

“I’m getting help. That’s the only way I’m able to help is because I’m being helped,” explained Hustis.

So we’ve decided to continue the giving circle by providing him enough gas to fill his truck twice. John and Connie Pence are in the battle for their home and for their animal’s lives.

“It is hard. The gas and the feed and going back and forth through the smoke,” said Pence.

And so with that, we filled their tank too. We helped people at grocery stores and fire fighters and EMTs. Bottom line, if they can help, so can we. We need to keep the same spirit on our side of the mountains as they do here because if you have something, you should think about giving something.

Jesse will be collecting donations at the Commons at Federal Way, near the entrance to the “Century Theater” on Thursday morning until 10. From Noon to 2 p.m. he’ll be near the front of the Everett Mall.

If you can’t make it to either location, gas cards can be dropped off at our KIRO 7 studio in Seattle through 5 p.m. Thursday.

Chevron cards are preferred, because they have the largest number of locations in North Central Washington.

With your help, Jesse Jones and the KISS FM morning team has raised more than $17,000 for people affected by the Washington wildfires!

Tuesday morning, Jesse and Bender from Bender and Molly in the Morning were collecting gas cards at The Commons in Federal Way. The need for gas cards was raised by the Okanogan County Community Action Council, which helps people affected by the wildfires.

After going to Everett, Jesse and Bender were at the Everett Mall from noon until 2 p.m. collecting gas cards and cash.

If you didn’t make it to meet Jesse but still want to donate, swing by the KIRO 7 studio at 2807 3rd Ave. in Seattle anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday.

Those interested in making a donation are encouraged to purchase gift cards for Chevron gas stations as they has the largest number of locations in North Central Washington.

Jesse will be back on KIRO 7 News from 5-6:30 with an update of how much is raised!

Mobile Viewers: swipe pictures to view the full gallery.

Today was a good day.  I got to spend my time handing out gas cards to evacuees and volunteer firefighters in north central Washington.  It’s something I wouldn’t have been able to do without your generosity.

Last week when he partnered with Bender and Molly from 106.1 KISS-FM to raise money for wildfire relief.  The response generated $17,000 in cash and gas cards.  Now those donations are in the hands of those who need it most.

The volunteer fire fighters of the Okanogan valley gathered again this morning.   This time not to fight a fire but to receive a small token of gratitude in the form of gas cards.

“It’s a beautiful thing. I don’t think you can put it into words,” said Eric Tollefson, Malott Volunteer Firefighter.

Gas cards also went to people displaced by the wildfires.  The Bishop family is now staying at a shelter at the Cornerstone Church in Omak.

“Until we found these guys, this church has done everything they can to help us, especially our daughter,” explained Alyssa Bishop, an wildfire evacuee.

We tried to help too with a $100 gas card.   Many more will be helped because we were able to give Lael Duncan from the non-profit group Okanogan Community Action a $5,000 check and thousands more in gas cards to help meet the regions needs.

“I can’t express how important this is to all of our community members across our county,” said Duncan.

Most of all, it’s the attitude of the people here that is impressive.  For all that has been lost in this valley, the sense of pride and the level of care for one another in this community remains for all of us to admire in awe.  And now they are thanking you.

Do you have a story you want me to check out? Call 1-844-77-JESSE (53773) or send me a message here. I’ll be part of KIRO 7 Eyewitness News most weekdays at 5:15 p.m. You can also check out my Facebook page and click here to follow me on Twitter.

It doesn’t look like much from the road, but a new carport is something 89-year-old Ollie Berentson has been anticipating for a very long time.

“The wife and I can get out without getting soaked, rain or snow. That’s a big thing,” says Ollie.

Ollie called me a couple of months ago after his old carport was removed by the owners of his mobile home park.

State law says park owners are responsible for structures like carports.

But it turns out that only applies if you have a signed lease.

Ollie and his wife are now month-to-month, so they were left without any cover when weather hit.

Ollie told me, “I was really disturbed when they tore this thing down for no good reason.”

Ollie served his country in Korea during World War II and in Vietnam.
So when he asked for help we went into action.

I called the folks at McLendon’s, who jumped at the chance to help, providing a custom carport.

Bill Haytack is the Woodinville store manager.

“This is awesome, this is one of the things we try to do as a company and the fact that my store is involved, it means everything to us,” Bill said.

Now the job is done for a man who’s done more than his share for all of us.

And Ollie couldn’t be happier.

“I just think this is great, it’s fantastic.”

Do you have a story you want me to check out? Call 1-844-77-JESSE (53773) or send me a message here. I’ll be part of KIRO 7 Eyewitness News most weekdays at 5:15 p.m. You can also check out my Facebook page and click here to follow me on Twitter.

This morning the Washington Attorney General announced a lawsuit against CareOne Dental.  Attorney General Bob Ferguson said the business and its owners, Dr. Do and Dr. Tran, manipulated the business’ Medicaid billing.  Ferguson said at least 20% of bills submitted since 2011 were inaccurate.  His office is seeking $1 million in damages.

“Medicaid funds are a precious resource meant for the health care of Washington families in need,” Ferguson said. “I will not tolerate anyone defrauding those families and taxpayers, and I’ll use my legal authority to hold them accountable,” said Ferguson.

Join me tonight at 5 on KIRO 7 for an exclusive interview with AG Ferguson where he explains details of the investigation.

I’m hearing from people who have been hit by the latest scam targeting BECU customers.  According to the credit union, it holds about 20% of the customer base here in Seattle so scammers have a one in five chance of finding a BECU customer.

It starts with a phone call that appears to be from BECU.  The automated message claims there is a problem with your BECU card or it has been blocked.  The recording prompts you to enter your card information in order to unlock it.

BECU has confirmed the calls are not from them.  If there is a problem with your card, you’ll not be able to use it.   So, if you get one of these calls – hang up the phone.

BECU told me the fraudsters are also using text messages in this scam.  The text makes the same claim about issues with your card but you’re asked to call a number or click a link and give up your credit card number.  Again – if you get a text like this, do not respond.  Simply delete it.

If you believe you may have fallen victim to this scam, contact BECU immediately.  The credit union will deactivate your card, send you a new one and begin monitoring your account for fraud.

When it comes to internet security, you may have hear the term “two-factor authentication”.  It’s a technology used by a variety of websites to confirm a users identity with two different platforms like email and text.  The technology is meant to give you an added layer of protection.  But I’ve learned scammers now have a way to crack this code that’s so sneaky it even fooled an internet security expert.

“For me a security information professional, it’s embarrassing to admit that I got scammed,” said computer expert Michael Schearer.

Schearer’s road to embarrassment began when he used sent a tweet on Twitter to Pay Pal, asking for help with his account.   What he didn’t know was the person who contacted him back was a scammer using a fake twitter handle.

“They took the images and all of the information from the legit pay pal help account and just copied into their profile so it looked the same,” explained Schearer.

According to security expert Christopher Burgess, scammers will pose as customer service agents and ask for your email address.  Then they’ll enter it on a site’s password retrieval page to gain more information.

“Now that he’s got the email address, the cyber criminal comes over here to his terminal, goes to that same page that you’re on, puts in your email address and then says, okay I’ve sent you to your code,” said Burgess.

The code is sent in a text message to your cellphone.  The scammer will ask you to verify the code and it’s then that you’ve got a big problem.

“They were able to reset my password, log into my account and make a fraudulent purchase,” said Schearer.

The best way to avoid this is to only seek help on a company’s actual website and never give up codes you receive during the authentication process.

Here is a statement I received Monday night from a PayPal spokesman:

At PayPal, we offer 100% protection for the unauthorized use of your PayPal account. We are vigilant in our efforts to report all false PayPal handles or Facebook pages and work with Twitter and Facebook to have them removed, if possible. We encourage our customers to look for the “verified” Twitter symbol that indicates trusted brands or people. We also remind our customers never to give out their password or other personal information over Twitter or on Facebook. PayPal will only ever require your password or verification code to log into your account.

 

Do you have a story you want me to check out? Call 1-844-77-JESSE (53773) or send me a message here. I’ll be part of KIRO 7 Eyewitness News most weekdays at 5:15 p.m. You can also check out my Facebook page and click here to follow me on Twitter.
 

It seemed like a good deal – Good to Go offering to dismiss fees and civil penalties for drivers with few restrictions.  Despite the chance to save some money, it seems few people are taking advantage of the program.

It’s been almost two months since the customer resolution program began. and of 300,000 unique license plates eligible, only 9,500 have taken part.

“It’s a start we didn’t expect everybody to show up and pay and i know in the future we will get people to participate,” said Patty Rubstell, WSDOT toll operations director.

Even more stark is that potentially $79 million in civil penalties could be wiped away but only $4.4 million has.

“It’s hard to know how to attract this attention.  We’re hoping through these avenues with your spot we can get the message out,” explained Rubstello.

I’ve also learned that WSDOT hasn’t sent any letters or emails is making calls to those who are eligible for the program.  Rubstello said that’s because the state doesn’t have good addresses for many drivers.  She said they’re looking at alternatives but until then, the program continues quietly.

“The best thing about this program is that it is ongoing.it’s not just dealing with people with past civil penalties its people into the future,” said Rubstello.

Click here for more information on Good to Go’s customer resolution program.

Do you have a story you want me to check out? Call 1-844-77-JESSE (53773) or send me a message here. I’ll be part of KIRO 7 Eyewitness News most weekdays at 5:15 p.m. You can also check out my Facebook page and click here to follow me on Twitter.

Apple users have been looking forward to the new features in the iOS 9 operating system.  But with the release of the update came a number of complaints about unsuccessful downloads.

However, there is a work around.  Many people have found a successful workaround by downloading the update through iTunes.  Click here for instructions.

The update does come with some exciting features including smart calendars that sync with email and better organization tools.  Mashable has gone through an detailed the 12 hidden features every user should know.  

Guilty until proven innocent? It’s not what we’re used to hearing but that’s what a Seattle man is experiencing. His issue is with a vehicle he no longer owns.

It wasn’t too long ago when you would sell a car and let the new owner keep your old plates. Rick Davis is glad was a victim of the old process and is glad to see it changing.

“It’s been a nightmare,” said Davis.

Stuck at Lincoln Towing is Davis’ nightmare on Aurora Street – a piece of junk 1977 RV he sold five years ago. But it keeps coming back like Freddy Kruger.

“I submitted my title transfer to the state and I was done with it,” recalled Davis.

When Davis sold the vehicle in 2010 he followed the law and completed a sellers report. This released him of responsibility for the vehicle. However, since then, he’s received five parking tickets, notice of an accident and impound notices.

“I have to explain that this vehicle is not mine, I sold this vehicle and taking time out to make sure that that letter is mailed and that they receive it,” explained Davis.

Brad Benfield with the Department of Licensing confirmed Davis followed the law perfectly.

“People shouldn’t be going after someone with an active sellers report on the record for that vehicle,” said Benfield.

According to Benfield, police and other agencies should be able to see in the system when a vehicle has changed owners so notices aren’t sent to a previous owner. In Davis’ case, the RV had been sold a second time so there’s no way he should be getting letters.

I decided to take Davis’ case one step higher, to Representative Mark Harmsworth so see if more can be done with the process. He said under the current law DOL should go after any buyer who doesn’t complete ownership transfer.

“They need to be working with people like State Patrol and other agencies to go after these people that are taking vehicles and not completing title transfers so that the owner that’s done everything right doesn’t get penalized at the end of the day,” said Harmsworth.

Since the current rules aren’t being enforced, Harmsworth said he will write legislation so people like Davis are not haunted by these kinds of oversights.

“We can put an amendment around this. We can even amend it in committee as well. And come up with the right solution that will really have some teeth in it as you said to go after these folks that are making life difficult for everybody,” said Harmsworth.

In January, the state started requiring buyers get new license plates so whenever you trade a car make sure you take those plates with you!

Do you have a story you want me to check out? Call 1-844-77-JESSE (53773) or send me a message here. I’ll be part of KIRO 7 Eyewitness News most weekdays at 5:15 p.m. You can also check out my Facebook page and click here to follow me on Twitter.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that the state won a judgment against the operators of a South Lake Union wedding venue.  The default judgment of $304,995 against Ronald and Amanda Crane was issued after they failed to respond to the lawsuit.

The couple is accused of booking weddings at EM Fine Arts despite knowing the space would not be available.  At least 59 customers have come forward claiming to be victim’s of the Crane’s.  It’s believed nearly $50,000 in deposits and payments was lost.

The venue owners unexpectedly closed their business in June 2014, telling customers scheduled events would not be held and there would be no refunds of money paid.  Initially, the Cranes claimed they were closing because of an electrical fire at the venue.  Calls to the Seattle Fire Department revealed that not to be true.

According to an investigation by AG Ferguson’s office, the Cranes knew their lease was being terminated in March 2014 but continued to rent the space for 2015 events.  The investigation found that the couple received multiple notices from their landlords and the Seattle Department of Planning and Development that their venue was violating land use ordinances.

The Cranes are no longer in Washington state and have only been available through email or PO Box.   The AG says the couple claimed to have not received the original lawsuit due to an outdated address.  However, the investigation found that they checked the mail 27 times in the month after the complaint and summons were mailed.

Click here to see the original story about the lawsuit against EM Fine Arts.

Starting tomorrow, Washington Health Benefits Exchange will no longer accept payments for customers insurance.  Instead, insurers will be paid directly.  Customers will now receive monthly invoices and payment information directly from their insurance companies.  According to the Exchange, the switch is in response to nearly two years of issues.

“This change will be beneficial to our customers while also improving account coordination between the Exchange and insurance companies,” said Pam MacEwan, CEO of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. “By taking the Exchange out of the payment process, customers and insurance companies can work directly on any accounting-related issues. This frees the Exchange to do what we do best, providing easy comparison of health plans, access to financial assistance and help with enrollment.”

Last December, the Exchange Board voted for this change to address billing and invoicing concerns brought forward by both customers and insurance companies. The Exchange has billed and collected premium payments for health insurance coverage since opening Oct. 1, 2013.

“This was something our Board felt was important to do for customers and have completed prior the upcoming open enrollment period (Nov. 1, 2015 –Jan. 31, 2016),” added MacEwan.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said his office received hundreds of complaints about the Exchange over the years.  He feels the change is something that will benefit everyone.

“Once they got into it, it didn’t work very well. I think it will be better for consumers if they allow the insurance companies to do the premium aggregation. That’s how it’s worked historically. They have the resources and the ability to do it rather than having the exchange do it,” said Kreidler.

If you just made your payment, the Exchange will send the check right back to you.  33% of enrollees are on an electronic pay system and are should close those accounts. Finally, you may want to let your insurance company know your payment may be delayed for this month.  Kreidler also encouraged customers to continue to take advantage of the Health Plan Finder website.

“They can go and make the determination on whether you’re eligible for a subsidy or not or whether you’re eligible for apple health or whether you don’t receive any subsidy but you just want to take a look at the other plans, that’s where you go to have the shopping experience,” said Kreidler.

Click here to read the Exchange’s full press release on the change.

Did you know you can look up important information about a hospital or surgeon before becoming a patient? The non-profit group Pro-Publica has compiled data into an easy to use website that will provide data on complication rates for eight elective surgeries from knee and hip replacement to gall bladder removal. It also takes a look at death rates and ranks complications as low, medium or high.

“It’s a good place to start and it’s a good place to start educating ourselves and thinking about what the right place is for care,” said Mary Kay Clunies-Ross from Washington State Hospital Asscoiation.

While Clunies-Ross believes website is a good starting point, she feels it shouldn’t be the only thing patients should use when making medical decisions.

“You may have a hospital that has developed an expertise, may take on more complicated patients or they’ve developed an expertise that’s really unique in the region. They may be pulling people in from all over the state and other states,” explained Clunies-Ross.

A search of surgeons will also show complication information, how many patients they’ve had and the number of services performed for the year 2012. The American College of Surgeons isn’t impressed with the database. In a statement it said,

“The American College of Surgeons strongly believes that patients and their families deserve to have meaningful information available to assist them in selecting the right surgeon. Last week, two public interest groups launched websites promising to assist with surgeon evaluation.  Unfortunately, the usefulness of the information they shared is questionable for a number of reasons.

The two groups used differing methodologies, including how many years of Medicare data they reviewed, procedures studied, and rating scales used. A patient who visited both websites could potentially find the same surgeon rated very differently or only find a surgeon on one of the two websites.

Use of clinically validated data would have more fully taken into account the severity of the patient’s condition when assessing surgeon performance. For example, an 80-year-old diabetic patient with heart disease undergoing a gall bladder removal faces many more challenges than a healthy 40-year-old undergoing the same operation. Without factoring in surgeons’ success rate with the more challenging patients, the potential for wrongly directing patients away from these surgeons certainly increases. And as troubling, some insurers might restrict access to these surgeons in the future.”

While our options are often limited by insurance, Clunies-Ross said information like this is a great way to exercise some choice in your decision making.

“That’s when you talk to your provider say so listen where is the best place for me, where are you going to be, do you have a suggestion of a surgeon i should be working with,” explained Clunies-Ross.

Do you have a story you want me to check out? Call 1-844-77-JESSE (53773) or send me a message here. I’ll be part of KIRO 7 Eyewitness News most weekdays at 5:15 p.m. You can also check out my Facebook page and click here to follow me on Twitter.

Volkswagon and Audi owners are scrambling to figure out what they should do next — now that the “emissions rigging” scandal has grown to include millions of vehicles worldwide.

A legendary con-artist spent the day at Microsoft. The life of Frank Abagnale was profiled in the hit movie, “Catch Me If You Can”.  Today, he works with the FBI informing about identity theft.  He has surprising information about who he believes are the nations biggest target for identity theft.

“Catch Me If You Can” shows the old Abagnale – living the high life as a pilot faking and scheming his way through his victims pocketbooks.  He posed as an attorney and even a doctor.  Eventually he was get caught and when to prison.  After serving time, he switched sides and became an FBI agent teaching his tricks to agents.

“Right now we have a victim every two seconds in the United States,” said Abagnale.

Frank teamed up with the AARP and Microsoft to explain how easy it is for fraudsters to get your information.  His first line of business is to get people to stop using their debit cards.

“Debit cards – the worst tool that was ever given to the American consumer because with a debit card, every time you pull it out of your wallet, you access your money.  So, if I get your debit card, I’m stealing your money. If you use a credit card, I’m stealing the Mastercard, American Expresses money, not your money,” explained Abagnale.

As for the most sought after identity to steal – Abagnale says it’s your kids personal information, not the parents.

“So I can become that child for a long period of time before the parent or the child ever know i’m using their name and their credit,” said Abagnale.

It really comes down to being very careful with that information.  Don’t put it online, don’t tell everyone your kids birthday on Facebook. Guard it like you do your child’s future because it is.  Abagnale says there were 15 million victims of identity theft last year, creating $50 billion in losses.  As time goes by, the old thief said stealing is still easy because we make it that way.

“It would be like you asking me to count to three. One, two three. It’s that simple. All I need is your name, your social security number, your date of birth. Unfortunately that’s everywhere. Unfortunately on social media there is so much information,” said Abagnale.

Do you have a story you want me to check out? Call 1-844-77-JESSE (53773) or send me a message here. I’ll be part of KIRO 7 Eyewitness News most weekdays at 5:15 p.m. You can also check out my Facebook page and click here to follow me on Twitter.

Volkswagon and Audi owners are scrambling to figure out what they should do next now that the emissions rigging scandal has grown to include millions of vehicles worldwide.

Nate Jones is driving one of 11 million Volkswagen diesel vehicles that has software designed to fool emissions testing while pumping out ten to 30 times the amount of nitrous oxide allowed by law.

“It’ll be like throwing cigarette butts or trash out the window.  You’re not keeping the trash in your car, but you are making it everybody else’s problem,” explained Jones.

Now Volkswagen’s upmarket, Audi, said more than 2 million of its vehicles are among those effected with the emissions rigging scandal.  As the fallout continues, Jones has some real questions about what to do next.

“I bought the car because it was capable of up to 42 miles per gallon and has some good power.  It’s a good handling car. I’m kind of stuck right now,” said Jones.

I called the top experts on the subject of the Volkswagen issue and here’s what they have to say.  John Voelcker from Green Car Reports said to sit tight while the company tries to find a fix.

“I don’t think they’ve figured it out and they will have to get permission from both the EPA nationally and California specifically before they make any changes so right now owners should keep driving their cars,” said Voelcker.

Experts believe some of the diesels will just need a software fix but Jones’ car doesn’t have a certain injection system called urea, so it will need a lot more work to get into compliance.

“For the ones using the primitive style there is some possibility they will have to retro-fit this new system which involves a separate tank, a bunch of plumbing, some injectors and an additional catalytic converter-it’s a mess,” explained Voelcker.

That hits right at Jones’ second issue – resale value.

“<If> I find I owe considerably more than the car is worth, I’m going to be very mad at Volkswagen,” exclaimed Jones.

The folks at Kelley Blue Book said history is on Jones’ side. Toyota’s unintended acceleration issues and GM’s ignition recall didn’t hurt values of those vehicles dramatically.

Bottom line, Jones just wants what he paid for.

“They are touting how clean their particular product is. This is a clean diesel vehicle and then it’s not? I’d like to have a clean diesel vehicle that’s capable of the mileage they promised.  I don’t think that’s too much to ask for!” exclaimed Jones.

Do you have a story you want me to check out? Call 1-844-77-JESSE (53773) or send me a message here. I’ll be part of KIRO 7 Eyewitness News most weekdays at 5:15 p.m. You can also check out my Facebook page and click here to follow me on Twitter.

A Seattle cancer patient in need of alternative cancer treatment was shocked when his airline turned him away at boarding.  Unsure where to turn, he called me and I took a closer look at what airlines can require of sick patients.

We got to the airport about 30 minutes after Michael Dacanay called our office.  Dacanay told me he was being refused a seat on an Asiana flight to Manila.

“They found out I had cancer and they told me I can’t fly on their airplane,” explained Dacanay.

Dacanay has stage-four bile duct cancer.  He’s headed to Manila for alternative medicine and to see his sick father. About a week before his flight, Dacanay asked the airline what he would need from his doctor before taking off.

“She told me medical certificate as long as your doctor approves,” said Dacanay.

But when he showed up for his flight, he got a different story

“I can’t ride the plane. I have to get clearance from their headquarters from Korea,” said Dacanay.

My inquiry of airline staff went unanswered so I went to Asiana’s website.  I couldn’t find cancer or Dacanay’s type of health situation on the airlines medical list for air travel.

As Dr. Shingo Chihara from the Virginia Mason Travel Health Clinic explained, most airlines have rules for passengers who are weak or sick. But the passenger’s doctor usually rules.

“If we feel they are not fit for travel we will say that,” said Dr. Chihara.

International passengers should also remember, the health care in their destination may not be able to help in an emergency.

“If there is that risk, it’s that do I really need to go at that time or can we postpone the trip,” explained Dr. Chihara.

In this case, Dacanay is healthy enough to travel.  We spoke to Asiana Airlines and were told it needed Dacanay’s full medical work-up, completed on their form, for their doctors to approve.  So we called Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and they helped him get the documents he needed and on the very next day, Asiana gave him the OK to fly.

Asiana issued the following statement:

Asiana Air is going by the rules established by the FAA which are  the same rules for every airline that flies in the U.S. We want to make sure that everyone flies safely. If oxygen is needed we want to make sure the passenger has it. In this case, our doctors believed the passenger needed to oxygen so it was provided to him at a small cost.

Asiana Airlines provides guidance to ensure a healthy, safe trip for passengers who have a chronic disease or who are in poor health.

Passengers who need a doctor’s note

The in-flight environment is similar to that of the top of Mt. Halla located approx. 2000m above ground; where air pressure and oxygen tension is a slightly lower than on the ground. Healthy passengers have a very low risk of health issues in this in-flight environment, but if you have a disease or generally are in poor health, medical issues could arise due to changes in the environment. Therefore, if you have a chronic disease or are in poor health please discuss this with your doctor before the flight and carry necessary medicine, etc. with you at all times.

• For cardiovascular system patients like myocardial infarction, angina, cardiac insufficiency, etc or passengers who have had heart surgeries
• For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, pneumothorax, and other respiratory system diseases
• Patients who have nervous system diseases like cerebral infarction, brain tumor, etc. or who have had brain surgery
• Passengers who have recently had surgery
• Passengers currently hospitalized or who have illness that requires consistent treatment
• In case of acute tract infections or infectious diseases
• In case of uncontrollable mental illness
• Travelers pregnant for more than 36 weeks
• Infants less than 1 week old
• If oxygen, stretcher or special medical device is required during flight
• How to submit a doctor’s note

When making a flight reservation, fill out the ‘special passengers transportation application,’ get a ‘doctor’s note on air travel’ from your doctor and submit them to Asiana Airlines 2 days before your flight, or 1 week in advance if you require an in-flight bed or oxygen device.

Do you have a story you want me to check out? Call 1-844-77-JESSE (53773) or send me a message here. I’ll be part of KIRO 7 Eyewitness News most weekdays at 5:15 p.m. You can also check out my Facebook page and click here to follow me on Twitter.

If you have an outstanding toll bill or ticket you could end up paying an extra fee when you register your car.  It’s a $15 fee issued by the Department of Licensing.  But what happens if you were ticketed or tolled incorrectly?  I found out how you can get a refund.

Kristine Brager and her husband have had a few good to go penalties caused by a mix up with her registration.  When she went to renew her car tabs she discovered the extra $15 dollar fee.  DOL issues the fee when local agencies and courts alert them that a toll or ticket has not been paid.

“This is a way to ensure that the people getting these tickets, take care of these tickets in a timely way,” said Brad Benfield with Washington Department of Licensing.

This could be a real issue for the thousands who have been hit with Good to Go civil penalties.  Some of those drivers got the penalties because of an error by the state so I started asking if there will be refunds for those drivers.  Patty Rubstello, the state’s tolling director, said only if it was the state’s mistake.

“If it’s because of something we have done, like we have misidentified the driver if it’s our mistake then we are contacting dol and asking that the $15 is waived,” said Rubstello.

Timing can also have an impact.  Your tabs are generated 90 days before they expire.  So if you pay your civil penalty or tickets before that time period, you won’t have to worry about the hold.  Otherwise, you can apply for a refund and challenge the fee if you feel a mistake was made by the agency.  DOL has a form online for requesting a refund.

Do you have a story you want me to check out? Call 1-844-77-JESSE (53773) or send me a message here. I’ll be part of KIRO 7 Eyewitness News most weekdays at 5:15 p.m. You can also check out my Facebook page and click here to follow me on Twitter.