We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and a presumption that once our eyes watered. -- Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Reading: Dark Heart, Margaret Weis and David Baldwin
Listening to: The Chieftans, Stone Heart
July 26, 1999
"Customer Service"
I almost forgot about the fun I had with the GM Card customer service folks on Friday.
My bill is usually due on the 8th of the month. I also usually have the statement in hand by the 18th or so of the previous month. I was concerned that I didn't yet have my statement, so I called customer service on Friday when I got home from work.
First I got a recording saying that all the customer service representatives were busy. My call was important, though, so I should stay on the line and my call would be answered in the order in which it was received. I hung on. And hung on. And hung on some more. Every two minutes or so, the voice came back, assuring me that my call is important and I should keep holding. After about 10 minutes, I hung up.
An hour later, I tried again. Same recorded voice. Same result. Holding, holding, and holding some more. I gave them 20 minutes this time. Finally, I gave up again. I checked for the automated number and called that.
After punching in the last four digits of my card, I had the option to find out what my payment was supposed to be and where I should send it. When I selected that option, guess where I went? Right back to your call is important to us. I finally found a way around all that and got the address for payment. I wrote the check and sent it off on Saturday morning.
Of course, the statement arrived in Saturday's mail.
Today at lunch was another adventure in customer service. I went downstairs to the deli and ordered a turkey on rye. No pickles, I said. I got the sandwich with two pickles. I should have been as precise as the guy behind me in line. He ordered half a tuna salad sandwich with one piece of lettuce and one slice of tomato.
I am part of a small online book club, and I should be writing my review of Ender's Game. I just can't seem to settle down. I could wait for the others to chime in with their opinions and then work from there, but since this is my first book with the group, I want to do better than that. I know two of the people in RL. We tried to have a face-to-face book club, but it didn't work out. It was just not a good mix of people. I am less inclined to be shy when I'm writing, so I hope that this time it will work out.