[identity profile] eikichi-onizuka.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] techrecovery
This community is quite possibly the best thing ever created.

I work at a small ISP/computer store/we do a bit of everything in northern Mississippi. We have dialup, DSL, ISDN, T1, and higher forms of Internet available.

I am just about the sole point of support for nearly twenty-five hundred (2500) users.

Yeah.

Anyway, apparently the holiday today has pushed a multitude of asshats out of the woodwork. One, however, just pushed me over the edge.

It was 3 PM this afternoon. I'd already dealt with everything from callers assuming they could use DSL with their modems *off* to someone repeatedly calling for a hair salon, despite the fact that our greeting, as well as my personal greeting, identifies us as a computer store, to the fact that our receptionist spends more time smoking, talking, and drinking coffee away from her desk than actually doing her job.

Anyway, I hear my office manager talking on the phone while I'm finishing up some password reset. This is what I hear:

"Sir. I can tell you.....sir. Sir, please listen to me. Sir, you have....sir, please......HOLD, PLEASE!"

My intercom rings. I pick it up and I hear "Please talk to the sonofabitch on line two. He called me by mistake." I pick up and I am greeted with a HUMONGOUS burst of static, which settles into a nice ear-splitting staticy roar. I can barely hear the customer.

Me: *name of company*, Eikichi speaking, how may I help you?
Asshat (screaming): I HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED NINE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO HOURS. WHAT THE FUCK IS Y'ALLS PROBLEM?!
Me: Sir, I must ask you to refrain from using profanity. Have you noticed the large amount of static on your line?
Asshat: YEAH, BUT IT DON'T SOUND LIKE A GODDAMNED LOT OF IT! I WANT THIS SHIT FIXED!
Me: Again, sir, I must ask you to stop the profanity. I can hear an extreme amount of static on the line. This is probably what is causing your connection issues. Are you on a cordless phone?
Asshat: NO!
Me: Okay, sir, then I am going to suggest we get the static cleared up before we proceed. Would you like the repair number to the local telephone company?
Asshat: NO, I WANT YOU TO FIX MY FUCKING PROBLEM! IF SERVICE DOESN'T IMPROVE, I'M GOING TO DISCONNECT AND GO...

It is at this point that I have had enough for the day, after working a fourteen hour day the day before, and dealing with the aforementioned asshats. I snap.

Me: You know WHAT, sir? You're absolutely right! The static on your phone line is OUR fault, and our fault entirely! Unfortunately, I left my magic telco wand at home today, and I can't clear it up! In fact, I'll send you a disconnection authorization form right now, and you can go on over to another ISP, where you can GLADLY pay for technical support! LET ME GET THAT QUEUED UP FOR YOU! PLEASE HOLD!

I pass the call to my coworker, who has been listening in, understands what's been happening, and I stand up, and storm out the back with the words "That's IT. I've had ENOUGH abuse for today. I will be back in TWENTY MINUTES, and if anybody from here pages me on my cell, I will NOT answer and I will NOT come back. This is ri-goddamn-diculous."

No arguments from the entire office. In fact, our vice president accompanied me, and we went down to the local bar and grill and had a pint of Guinness to calm down. He's cool, and he thanked me for my endless patience and the fact that he probably wouldn't have been able to even tolerate the guy.

Went back to the office half an hour later and felt much better.

Date: 2004-04-09 08:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] residentgeek.livejournal.com
Good for you! Stupid people make me crazy(er). :o)

Date: 2004-04-09 08:23 pm (UTC)
inahandbasket: animated gif of spider jerusalem being an angry avatar of justice (Default)
From: [personal profile] inahandbasket
man, I wish my management was that cool.
=P

Date: 2004-04-09 08:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] usekh.livejournal.com
Man what is it with this holiday. Normaly it is quiet but every wanker in the universe is calling.

Luckily I have most of it off

Date: 2004-04-09 08:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mtlchick.livejournal.com
Yeah, we got everyone calling today too.

Excellent story! I'm glad to hear someone works at understanding company.

Date: 2004-04-10 10:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nirvanaqween.livejournal.com
wow 14 hours.. and your were stunned..

heh at my company we worked 13 hours a day 3 days a week with a half day,, and than were off for 3.
so its wed 2-10 than thurs-sat 10-11 and off sun-tues :)

and they implemented mandatory overtime for our days off.

Date: 2004-04-10 02:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ex-prunesnp.livejournal.com
Was so glad to look at your profile and find out you're far enough west in MS to not have to deal with my dad. =) Bless his heart, but he knows just enough about computers to be dangerous.

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