(From a ways back, but I've been swamped at work)

I need some Jilli style advice, I think. I'm going bananas trying to come up with a new look.

Allyson, I just sent you mail at your profile addy.

And yes, I want the steampunk keyboard.

I would just repeat, "I'm sorry Customer, I'm afraid I can't do that."

Ha! That's perfect.

The problem they had was that blind people can't hear them coming like regular cars.

Solution? More cowbell!

(Actually, I think the reporter said the car equivalent of a cowbell)

And bingo...

Stupid support call.

I have an amount that UCLA Medical says I owe them that's been in dispute for months. During that time, they've sent the amount to collection. Every time I receive a bill, I call collections to say that it's in dispute, and I'm not paying it until the dispute is cleared.

I had to tell today's guy to calm down. I also had to ask him if what he meant was that calling the collections company was no use, and that I should be talking to UCLA Medical instead.

That's what he should have volunteered, instead of repeatedly snapping at me that I'd told them it was going to be removed from the bill the last time I called.

Especially since I never said that.

Now I have another supporty call to make. To UCLA themselves. Oh, the joy.

Did they threaten you with paycheck garnishment? Bad credit rating? Repossesion of your head?

The problem they had was that blind people can't hear them coming like regular cars.

Oh yeah.

They should make that burbling sound the flying cars on The Jetsons made....

The other thing I think Joel on Software may have over simplified is the rude waiter/old lady/owner sitch. If the lady has been coming there forever, she may have the waiter/waitress she likes and likes how they handle her. Now other waiter probably has his own way that his regulars like. Now because Mike didn't treat her like Julie always does, Mike was rude.

And I don't think saying, "Huh. We've never had a complaint about him." is out of line.

Except I think that was a wrong response. At the very least the owner could have asked:

"rude? Exactly what did Mike do that was rude?". It probably is not smart to dismiss a customer complain without at least hearing the specifics.

That sucks, ita.

Collections people, in my experience, are...hm. I don't like them...not only because they have called me asking for money, but because their general attitude is, unfailingly, one of barely suppressed rage.

But I get it, you know? I myself am fortunate that my job doesn't involve calling people and asking them for money. I imagine that collections people get quickly embittered because 99% of their phone calls are met with instant hostility.

So, it's like collections is the pitiable lesser cousin in the "customer service" family. You feel kinda sorry for them, if you think about it.

But you still wanna smack 'em in the nads with a shovel for being insufferable fuckwits.

"rude? Exactly what did Mike do that was rude?".

Even that (as phrased)could be interpreted as challenging. I'd got with even more vague "Oh? Why don't we go discuss this [where ever that is not within earshot of everyone]?" and go from there. It presumes nothing, labels no one.

Amazing what a little backlighting can do...

I had a collections guy calling us all the time for the previous resident of our house. It took a lot of calls before he believed that we were indeed not the people he was looking for.