I take medication and do talk therapy for anxiety and depression, have for years. About ~2 years into therapy I happened to find a kitten and my therapist encouraged me to keep him as an ESA. (She didn't pressure me; she knew that it was something that I wanted but that my anxiety had kept me from doing, so she encouraged me to give it a try if I felt ready.) She was right, my cat saved my life in the difficult time I didn't know was coming my way.
I have two ESA cats now, and I'm applying to live at a new apartment. To have them considered ESA I had to submit letters from my therapist, which I already had on hand for this reason, so I submitted the very official letters with her name, credentials and provider number, LOCAL phone number, LOCAL address, and NO WEBSITE.
The place immediately declined me and sent me a denial letter saying they aren't ESAs because I bought my letter from a website without talking to a therapist. Tons of "HUD says these websites are insufficient." And I"m like 'WHAT FUCKING WEBSITE?'
There is no website mentioned anywhere in the letter or elsewhere. If you Google my therapist, all you find is her PsychologyToday page where she talks about her actual, real, local practice. She doesn't even have a website.
I specifically had to tell them at application that a) I did not pay for my letter, b) I did not get my letter off a website, and c) I did not get my letter after only a single visit or questionnaire.
And they send back "No because websites aren't good enough?"
The only way I can see this happening is if they literally didn't look at my application and sent out a default, standard denial letter. Why would they do that? Because they think they can get away with it; and unfortunately they may be able to because people who have ESAs may be less able to spend time fighting their bullshit, collecting and submitting documentation, etc. But guess what, fuckers, my response to feeling mistreated is to exercise agency and force the control I should have. At this point my motivation is beyond ESA costs, it is now righteous indignation. Years ago I was also declined for my top surgery and I fought that so hard that the state stepped in and told insurance it had to be approved I now have a direct line to BCBS director of medical decision making because of the call he set up to personally apologize for this mishandling of my case.
When this shit happens I fight it 40% for of me, but 60% because I know they're doing it to other people who may not have the time or spoons or resources to fight, and I'm going to call that bullshit out.
snowghoul
blakekathryn
romaincrisis
andulkaphoto
titsay
gummygunk
stormborns
