No Reason, it’s just Policy

[Greynomad]

Went to the Medicare office in Albury today to lodge a refund claim.
Sign on door said wait here until we open the door.
Bloke opened door & gave us the third degree: are you suffering any of these symptoms; have you visited a virus hotspot; have you had close contact with a person diagnosed; have you been advised to self-isolate; where do you reside (answer ‘Rutherglen’ prompted, what type of border permit do you have); do you have a medical appointment (yes, that’s why I’m here for a refund)... then we were allowed to enter the building and walk 10ft to the counter.
Girl behind perspex screen then repeated ALL the questions we’d just answered, and was surprised when we got stroppy!
Supervisor came to the counter and spoke severely to us. I then asked if she expected our answers to change in the 10ft walk from the door. No answer. So I asked why it was necessary for the girl to ask the same questions we had just been asked.
“IT’S GOVERNMENT POLICY.”

[BernieQ2]

Same here in Biggenden Ray , I went to the doctor yesterday...went thru the same procedure .
Cept they put the heat gun on my head...Duh...next person gets my germs...bugga...I must have the one before me's ?
AND there is ..and hasn't been any Covid stuff .
Bernie .

[jon_d]

Not sure why you'd have to go in & lodge a claim?
I haven't had to do that for over 10 years or more I reckon.

.... I'm guessing, no reason, just policy

[Dot]

as you were going out the door you should of turned and said "I LIED" then run like buggery.

[SteveW]

as you were going out the door you should of turned and said "I LIED" then run like buggery.

[T1 Terry]

Had a similar grilling at the nutter doctor waiting room in Murray Bridge hospital complex. When asked if I had a runny nose I said yes, head appeared from all around the room, the next question, do you have a cough, yes, any body aches and pains was asked rather tentatively, yes, a second check with the infra red heat gun but all normal there ..... do you feel tired or exhausted, yes, the alarm levels are starting to peak now, how long have you felt these symptoms, most of my life and especially in winter .... the heads started to fade into the back ground again with a noticeable lowering of tension, the receptionist laughed and said, you need to be careful how you answer these questions if you want to keep this appointment .... I replied that being honest can get me into trouble sometimes, but as far as I understood it, you couldn't catch the virus from behind a plastic screen when we both have a mask on and you can't catch via a video conference and that was what I was here for .......

T1 Terry

[Dot]

When I saw the specialist on Monday I was not asked one question or attacked with the temperature stick.

[Greynomad]

Not sure why you'd have to go in & lodge a claim?
I haven't had to do that for over 10 years or more I reckon.

.... I'm guessing, no reason, just policy

Paid Doc & got a paper receipt. As we were less than 1km from Medibank office, I thought I’d save a stamp & a two week wait for the refund.
Got another paper receipt, and we have another appointment in Albury next week.
Gunna go again. This time I’ll be prepared for their silly repetition. Gonna see how many times I can answer, “Man at the door has already asked that. Nothing has changed in two metres.” before they either give up or try to throw me out.
If they try the latter, I plan to ask to see the printed directive demanding I answer the questions twice.

[T1 Terry]

When I saw the specialist on Monday I was not asked one question or attacked with the temperature stick.

Did they just look into your eyes and see that someone so pure could not be carrying any sort of virus? Or did they look into your eyes and decide to ask George instead

T1 Terry

[Greynomad]

Was back at Medicare Albury today.
Same same...
I have since sent the following to Service NSW:

In the past two weeks I have on two occasions visited the Albury office of Medicare. I was let in to the locked office by a security guard who had me stand in the entry and answer a series of questions to determine that I was not a Covid-19 risk. Once he was satisfied that I was safe, he allowed me to walk the five paces to the counter, where the receptionist proceeded to ask me the identical questions. When I protested that I had already answered these questions to the satisfaction of the man at the door, she became insistent that I answer them again. When I protested that nothing had changed in the 30 seconds since I answered them at the door, she became even more stubborn, and when I reacted similarly, she called her supervisor. The supervisor informed me that this was a Service NSW directive, and if I didn't answer the questions, I would be escorted from the building. Twice I asked to see a copy of the directive, and twice she responded simply that "It is a Services NSW directive." She did not offer to show it to me. I then answered her questions: "No, No, No, No, No, Rutherglen, Border Resident's Medical Pass". The supervisor then insisted that the receptionist ask me the questions before I answered, and threatened me with removal if I persisted with my argumentative manner. I do not believe at any time I was argumentative. I simply wanted to know why I had to answer again the same questions to which my answers satisfied the security guard at the door. I was twice rebuffed with a non-answer when I asked to see the directive which specifically requires me to answer the same set of questions twice in three metres, when there has been no opportunity for anything to change. The staff were both bluff in the extreme in their attitude toward me, and would not entertain the thought of being at all helpful with an explanation. On my exit, the (different) security guard also made disparaging remarks, threatening to refuse me entry on my next visit. I found his attitude inappropriate. Could you please provide me with a copy of the relevant directive?

I await their reply with great interest .................