color me frustrated

And/or, everything is broken.

My knee doesn’t work, spring still hasn’t managed to find its way up north, my computer keeps revolting, my house is a mess and it took five phone calls to get the phone company to fix the thing they told me was fixed on the first call. And it only got fixed on the fifth call because Rebecca in Arizona accidentally switched me to the programming department.

This was after John in New York assured me it was fixed two weeks ago, and Terry in Florida assured me it was fixed a couple days after that, and Jody in Colorado assured me it was fixed three days ago, and two hours ago, Jenny in Virginia assured me it was really, truly fixed this time after we spent 45 minutes on the phone together.

Except, it still wasn’t fixed.

So when I called back AGAIN, I got Rebecca, whom I could barely hear and who, after I spent five minutes explaining the whole problem to again, stressing that I work from home and really need this taken care of, said, “So, what can I help you with today?”

Deep breath. Long strings of silent curses that were dangerously close to becoming audible.

“I just explained it all to you, did you not hear what just I said?”

“I’m sorry, I was listening to someone else who was talking to me at the same time you were.”

Deep teeth marks in my tongue at this point, from all that biting.

Finally, after being put on hold (again!) for so long that the phone rang through to somewhere else, I ended up with the programming department in the city 30 miles from here, which is where they handle all the problems that I have been explaining to other people all over the country for the past two weeks.

Is it just me, or is there something wrong with this picture?

Can’t someone, somewhere, figure out how to set up a customer service system, or a health care system, or any system, that actually works?

I know, I’m ranting. And I’m sorry.

I know there are far worse things going on in the world, and quite honestly, that is all part of this frustration, this feeling that everything is broken.

That’s from a song, you know. I didn’t make it up.

But I’m singing it really, really loud right now.

Is anyone listening?


17 Responses to “color me frustrated”

  • Stina Says:

    I’m listening!!!! The good news is that you are probably close to the point of surrender — which always feels better somehow. And surrendering with a friend is always the best…. which brings me to my next question: are you free this weekend at all? Maybe we could meet up for a cup of coffee. The girls are with me, and I know they’d love to see you! Let me know! And HANG IN THERE! 🙂

  • beth Says:

    i listened !!
    i have had those same frustrating calls and when you’re going through it, it is the worst thing EVER !
    at least you didn’t end up talking to someone in india. i usually get a couple of those and can never understand what they’re saying.

    hug ?
    tea ?
    chocolate ?……come on over for all three, K ??

  • Kath Says:

    Sing it out!!!! I hear ya and agree wholeheartedly. The bad knee is frustrating and painful. I know. I’m not an Internet {hugs} kind of person so i will buy you a drink -here, put some of this baileys in your coffee.

  • Kathryn Says:

    Oh sweetheart . . . been there and it’s enough to send our stress levels through the roof. Hoping that Spring reveals itself to you today and that your phone really is fixed this time. x

  • Stereo Says:

    Definitely listening!!

    I agree with Beth; a healthy dose of chocolate cures a multitude of ills! And ranting is wonderful, cathartic and usually short lived. Vent away!

  • Jillsy Girl Says:

    Beth stole my comment!

  • Jennie Says:

    A lot of things in the world do seem rather broken lately. It leaves one feeling overwhelmed.

  • Tracy Brown Says:

    You know I know that I feel your pain.

    I have found a useful tool, however, with dealing with the runaround: Twitter.

    Seriously. G. had a couple of weeks of run around with our cell phone company. (I’ll spare you the details, but at one point they gave him the login and password for a different customer – we could view all her private info!)

    So, I went on Twitter and said: Hey @___ you get a #FAIL in customer service (or something like that). In 30 minutes a rep contacted me via Twitter. She connected me to the right department and within 24 hours, issue resolved and the rep gave me his direct email.

    Twitter is my new best friend! 🙂

  • Barbara Says:

    Oh my gosh, I’m listening! You gave me nightmarish flashbacks! And it just seems to be getting worse, not better, doesn’t it?

  • Joan Says:

    Oh, yes, I hear you. I, too, work at home on a computer and when it goes wrong, I’m out of business. Double frustration. I’m not just playing here. And I do not know why, since these over the phone fix-it systems have now been around for years, they can’t be fixed!

  • erin Says:

    What has happened to customer service? I mean, really, where is the service? I am totally with you on this one, girlfriend!

  • Chantal Says:

    I love the photo, natural tones are great to present

  • Kate Says:

    I think we have all experienced similar situations and it is exasperating, frustrating, and once even had me in tears. DirecTV was my personal situation and after an entire year, it was finally fixed by someone kind enough, someone that I will always remember. All I wanted was for my TV to work.

  • Graciel @ Evenstar Art Says:

    whether you are ranting or spinning straw into poetry, i want to “listen” to your words forevermore. you astound me and soothe me with every word.

    xo

  • debi Says:

    we’re listening, but they ain’t. as you know. and it feels damn overwhelming because you’re paying money for them to listen, and really, even if you weren’t, they should anyway. they should want to help. they should want to get the problem fixed. i guarantee you if they were paid not by the hour, but by the number of problems fixed, they’d be listening.

    and i love that picture – it reminds me of how my belly often feels.

    xoxo

  • wholly jeanne Says:

    Sugar, when I’m queen, you won’t be having this kind of experience.

  • Noel Says:

    We are. My advice? Google the name of your phone company and the CEO, or someone high up in the company. Sometimes you can miraculously find a direct email address, and I can tell you from experience, those emails ALWAYS get answered and those are the problems that get fixed!!

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