They just don't get it...

[attackgypsy.livejournal.com]

When we have new techs come out of triaing, they do two weeks of what we call "transition". They are taking calls, but nothing is ever held against them, unless its something huge like tell a customer where to go... and they are HEAVILY supervised. By heavily, that means two senior techs and their trainer for 8 trainees.

Last night was the last night of transition for this class. And, one of them has an outage call. Had been down for 22 hours, but was back up now. Ok, no problem. Wanted a credit. also no problem. Got a whole 1.47 in credit. Then he started screaming at my trainee (ok, I was the senior with them. I enjoy doing it) about why weren't they called about this outage being so long, etc... That's when I got the phone.

He started up with me, and I told him exactly why he was down so long. Something nobody in our department knew, because I happen to be friends with somebody in dispatch, I found out.

"Sir, there was a major automobile accident in your area last night that destroyed several telephone poles. That is what caused your outage. The reasons WHY your aoutage lasted so long were...

1. Someone died in the accident. The police sealed off the entire area for a number of hours.
2. Then the electric company had to replace the poles.
3. The electric company repaired their lines.
4. The phone company repaired their lines.
5. And finally, our techs were allowed up the poles to run new lines.

Cust: Well, why did it take so long?
Me: Because we're the last ones allowed to go up those poles.
Cust: Well, change that. This is intollerable.
Me: Certainly sir. Just as soon as you tell your legislator to change the laws, we'll be happy to go up the poles first.

*CLICK*

*tap tap tap tap* Whoops, must have entered the credit in wrong. Its not showing up.

*BEEP* Thank you for calling ***** my name is....

Comments

[valiskeogh.livejournal.com]

lol, reminds me of my answer to the question about how the user can stop getting so much spam.

call your congressman and ask for tougher anti-spam laws

[zercool.livejournal.com]

*sigh* flippin' starfish.

I hung up my tech support headset two years ago and started doing 911 dispatch instead. I've had too many conversations reminiscent of this one since.

"The road is closed due to an accident."
"When will it open?"
"When the police and fire department believe it is safe to do so and the investigation is complete."
"How long will that be?"
"Til it's done."
"But I have to get to XYZ!"
"And?"
"I need to get there now!"
"The I suggest you find another route of travel."

Another time, when I was out working an accident, and the road was closed (by a 40-foot lime green fire truck parked diagonally across it, and a dump truck with trailer beyond that)...

"Road's closed, you have to go around."
"I'm the judge! My court is right there!"
*stare*
"I have to get through!"
"Judge, the road is *closed*. No traffic."
"I have to get to my court!"
"Then I suggest you either take the long way around or start walking."

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of some of the horror stories from 9/11:

"Why can't you reconnect me to my conference call???"

"Sir, we think there's been an accident. The call was based in the World Trade Centre, we can't get in touch with our collegues, and we're desperately concerned for them."

"I DON'T CARE! THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT FINANCIAL MEETING. RECONNECT ME IMMEDIATELY OR I WILL TERMINATE MY CONTRACT WITH YOU."

(I've been assured it's true by one of the people trying to get through to their collegues. And I believe the people at WTC got out OK, but the caller didn't have their contract renewed.

[canray.livejournal.com]

Oh, look at that, a letter to my legislator trying to make it open season on Entitlement Whores!