Condescending Customer service
By ljcapps
@ljcapps (1925)
United States
April 9, 2007 8:50am CST
Have you ever called customer service, for anything, then when they are unable to help you the person on the other end starts to get condescending? As anyone who has read our more recent posts knows we are trying to buy our first home. I called our phone company to get a letter of reference concerning our payment history and due to the fact that the account is in my wife's name they cannot send anything that says that I am on the account also. The bad thing is I know I am on the account, I can do anything to it, but it seems that I am not listed on our account nor will they add me as a person responsible for the bill. The lady that was "trying" to help told me I am not on the account and there was nothing she could do to help. My wife got the same response when she called. I just wanted to reach through the phone and smack them. This ever happen to you? How did you handle it?
3 responses
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
9 Apr 07
We had the same thing happen to us a year and a half ago when we bought our new house. But it was for the electric company.
Because the electric was in my name where we had lived last, they could not give my partner a reference. The only reason it was in my name was because I was the one that had called to turn it on each time we moved. But this time, my partner moved before me and even though he had paid the bills before we moved...they would not give him the reference. Our hands were tied...we had to pay the deposit. :(
But this past winter, the deposit was given back as a credit toward our bill.
Still irritated us that we had to pay such a large deposit...but we had no other choice.
Sorry you are facing this problem.
Can you put the phone in her name again and this time make sure that you add your name to it?
1 person likes this
@ljcapps (1925)
• United States
10 Apr 07
we tried to get them to work with us and just fax a typed letter(with their letter head) but they wouldn't do even that. They said that due to the fact that I am not "responsible for the bill" they can't send anything saying that I have been paying the bill. Even though you and most of my mylot friends know that my wife is a stay at home mom. Well all we can do is hope that out mortgage broker can explain this to the underwriter so that she will understand. I just have to keep telling my self that if the answer comes back no it is not no forever just no this time. Till then I just try to keep the hope alive
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
9 Apr 07
I think this happens to everyone at one time or another. However, losing your temper can only exacerbate the problem. I always ask for the next person up on the food chain and I keep asking until I get my satisfaction. I wish you luck with your new home and hope everything else goes smoothly.
1 person likes this
@ljcapps (1925)
• United States
9 Apr 07
Maybe we should have tried that, I just get so irritated when they start talking to me as though I am an idiot. It honestly makes me want to cut service with them completely. Thank you for the advice and I will try to remember it when I run into this problem again
@warwizard_99 (81)
• United States
9 Apr 07
I am a customer service supervisor for a local hospital chain. I can tell you that the one thing we never do, is become condescending. Only someone inept at what they do resort to that kind of behavior.
However, I can feel your pain. I've had the same thing happen with the electric, gas, and phone companies. Even our home loan, that both of us had to sign for, is only in my name...
1 person likes this
