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I hate making phone calls.
If I can solve a problem using email or fax, then I am all for it, but, unfortunately, some companies don't provide me with an email address, and, unless I know exactly who to contact, faxes go astray. Sometimes, you just need to talk to a live body on the phone to solve a problem.
A couple of months ago, we got an item in that had been damaged in shipping. It was a fairly high ticket item, and very heavy, so it was easier just to order a replacement part than it would have been to try and ship it back.
I called and spoke with somebody and was assured that the part would be on its way once I sent a fax request.
I did that, and I was very specific in stating that it was WARRANTY to replace shipping damage.
The part came fairly quickly, but for some unknown reason, we were billed $32 for it.
I called then and left a message, but got no response. December came, and it was so busy that I kind of forgot about it, but the office girls were doing their year end paperwork and came across the bill again. I was reminded to call about it again to get the credit.
That's where the fun starts.
I called and got a recording asking me to choose the language I wanted. I hit "2" for English. There was a silence for a few seconds, then I was again asked to choose my language. Did it again. Same thing. Silence and then the recording asking me to choose my language.
Third time was the charm.
Then I was met with a recording listing different departments. It was hit and miss as to which department I should be talking to. I chose Customer Service.
I gave her my story, only to be told that I needed to speak with someone in billing. I was transferred.
I told my story again, only to be told that I needed to speak with the person who handles the accounts for our company.
I got voicemail, so I left a message.
Having no response from that, I looked up the actual number and extension to dial that person direct.
I had hoped the phone issue had been resolved, but I ended up in that choose a language loop again.
I finally got through, and it said if I knew the extension, I was to enter it.
I did that, and I got, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear your selection. Please try again."
I tried that 4 times before hanging up.
I figured I would go through their operator to get to the right place, so I bit the bullet and dialed again.
I ended up in the choose a language loop and went through several recorded messages until I got to an operator, only to get another voicemail saying the operator was busy and to leave a message.
I left a message, but again got no response, so I called again, went through the language loop, and got the operator. I was transferred to the rep, only to get voicemail again.
I left a message.
After no response, I thought, why not try an email? I looked it up in our company's files. Wouldn't you know, it bounced back.
I checked the address and figured it was a typo. I knew there should be an 's' at the end of 'logistics', but I figured since this was a company in Quebec, it was a French variation. I added the 's' and the email went through. I explained my frustration with their phone system, and then gave her the details regarding the billing for a warranty item.
A couple of days later, she emailed me back. She apologized for the phone issues and said she had passed on my concerns to their tech department, and that she had passed my billing issue on to another rep. That rep's phone number and extension were at the bottom of the email.
That person didn't contact me, so I called her.
Things started to look up because I didn't get caught in the language loop.
I entered the extension, and got a recorded voice saying, "Transferring now."
It was dialing through.
My joy was short-lived, though, because I then got a recording telling me that, due to changes in their automated phone system, this rep could no longer be reached in this manner, and I needed to call a completely different phone number.
I called that number and ended up in the damned language loop from hell yet again!!
I finally got through, only to end up once again on voice mail.
I left a message.
Finally, on Friday, a completely different rep called me back and told me to fax in a credit request with all the details of the order, and he would put through a credit.
AAARRRGGHHH!!!
I hate the phone!!!
I hate companies who do not follow through on phone messages, and I hate getting the freakin' run-around.
If I can solve a problem using email or fax, then I am all for it, but, unfortunately, some companies don't provide me with an email address, and, unless I know exactly who to contact, faxes go astray. Sometimes, you just need to talk to a live body on the phone to solve a problem.
A couple of months ago, we got an item in that had been damaged in shipping. It was a fairly high ticket item, and very heavy, so it was easier just to order a replacement part than it would have been to try and ship it back.
I called and spoke with somebody and was assured that the part would be on its way once I sent a fax request.
I did that, and I was very specific in stating that it was WARRANTY to replace shipping damage.
The part came fairly quickly, but for some unknown reason, we were billed $32 for it.
I called then and left a message, but got no response. December came, and it was so busy that I kind of forgot about it, but the office girls were doing their year end paperwork and came across the bill again. I was reminded to call about it again to get the credit.
That's where the fun starts.
I called and got a recording asking me to choose the language I wanted. I hit "2" for English. There was a silence for a few seconds, then I was again asked to choose my language. Did it again. Same thing. Silence and then the recording asking me to choose my language.
Third time was the charm.
Then I was met with a recording listing different departments. It was hit and miss as to which department I should be talking to. I chose Customer Service.
I gave her my story, only to be told that I needed to speak with someone in billing. I was transferred.
I told my story again, only to be told that I needed to speak with the person who handles the accounts for our company.
I got voicemail, so I left a message.
Having no response from that, I looked up the actual number and extension to dial that person direct.
I had hoped the phone issue had been resolved, but I ended up in that choose a language loop again.
I finally got through, and it said if I knew the extension, I was to enter it.
I did that, and I got, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear your selection. Please try again."
I tried that 4 times before hanging up.
I figured I would go through their operator to get to the right place, so I bit the bullet and dialed again.
I ended up in the choose a language loop and went through several recorded messages until I got to an operator, only to get another voicemail saying the operator was busy and to leave a message.
I left a message, but again got no response, so I called again, went through the language loop, and got the operator. I was transferred to the rep, only to get voicemail again.
I left a message.
After no response, I thought, why not try an email? I looked it up in our company's files. Wouldn't you know, it bounced back.
I checked the address and figured it was a typo. I knew there should be an 's' at the end of 'logistics', but I figured since this was a company in Quebec, it was a French variation. I added the 's' and the email went through. I explained my frustration with their phone system, and then gave her the details regarding the billing for a warranty item.
A couple of days later, she emailed me back. She apologized for the phone issues and said she had passed on my concerns to their tech department, and that she had passed my billing issue on to another rep. That rep's phone number and extension were at the bottom of the email.
That person didn't contact me, so I called her.
Things started to look up because I didn't get caught in the language loop.
I entered the extension, and got a recorded voice saying, "Transferring now."
It was dialing through.
My joy was short-lived, though, because I then got a recording telling me that, due to changes in their automated phone system, this rep could no longer be reached in this manner, and I needed to call a completely different phone number.
I called that number and ended up in the damned language loop from hell yet again!!
I finally got through, only to end up once again on voice mail.
I left a message.
Finally, on Friday, a completely different rep called me back and told me to fax in a credit request with all the details of the order, and he would put through a credit.
AAARRRGGHHH!!!
I hate the phone!!!
I hate companies who do not follow through on phone messages, and I hate getting the freakin' run-around.
). First I called the number on the wrong sign and worked through their system to determine I'd called the wrong place. Then I got the proper number and had to "press 3 if you are an utter moron" several times before getting the information I needed - the name and number of the impound where I could retrieve my vehicle. And all of this without ONCE speaking to a live human being...incredible. I'm just glad there was no cause to leave a message, since leaving a message in an automated voice mailbox is akin to folding a tiny paper boat and placing it lovingly in the class 5 rapids: it will be thrashed about mightily and will then disappear without a trace as you watch from the shore, mouth agape at the carnage.
)
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