Service industry downfall

billinwv · #1 12/17/14, 09:08 PM

I sold a property in July this year. Thirty days before closing I made changes to utilities, phone, propane, insurance, etc. I arrived at my new property on July 28, and expected phone service to be installed on July 29 (had new number and had given it to family, credit cards, etc.) Internet was installed but not phone. Frontier said number I was given wasn't available in my area. New work order submitted and phone was on Aug 4. Aug 9, I had no phone service. Called for repair. You have no service with us!! New number was cancelled and given to someone else? Still had internet. After 15 hrs. of phone aggravation I got the second number. Buyer of my old property waited 30 days for them to disconnect my number before they could get service. First bill was 440.00 !! I got a 25.00 credit for aggravation. Today I got a late bill for propane for the property I sold and a call from insurance agent for unpaid car insurance for a truck I traded before I moved! Jeep I still was driving was uninsured. Chevy I traded was insured. Another hour and a half fixing this! I dot my I's and cross my T's by the book. I guess the reps I spoke with were texting a friend rather than doing their job!

BlackFeather · #2 12/18/14, 07:47 PM

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-1...and-us-economy

Your not the only one.

k9 · #3 12/18/14, 07:54 PM

If it's not documented it didn't happen.

simi-steading · #4 12/18/14, 08:15 PM

We fight with these kinds of services constantly... I can't tell if it's the company as a whole, or if it's employees that just don't do their jobs.. I think it's the later, and the employer could care less they don't..

I've had to threaten Frontier a few times wit an FCC complaint before the got on the ball and did their jobs..

Ceilismom · #5 12/18/14, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackFeather

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-1...and-us-economy

Your not the only one.

No, most definitely not the only one. We didn't have trouble with the phone/internet service, but insurance has taken about 10 months to get all straightened out.

puddlejumper007 · #6 12/18/14, 08:34 PM

i have gotten so i ask the person i am speaking to their name and how to spell it..write it down, now they are not so anonymous, maybe.....that will help, maybe not....at least you know who to complain about....but if their english is terrible that is another problem...

Ozarks Tom · #7 12/19/14, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puddlejumper007

i have gotten so i ask the person i am speaking to their name and how to spell it..write it down, now they are not so anonymous, maybe.....that will help, maybe not....at least you know who to complain about....but if their english is terrible that is another problem...

Oh, you mean like the Dish tech service rep with broken English named "Spike"? Only took 3 tries to get an American, who straightened it out in 5 minutes.

Darren · #8 12/19/14, 01:27 PM

I've always had problems with phone companies almost everywhere I've lived. One of the worst was in Arkansas where they still used Strowger switches in the CO. When I dialed long distance, I had to ask the wrong numbers what state I'd reached.

I finally learned the trick on how do deal with them. It cost Verizon $300,000.

Frontier is starting to

me off. I figure I can get them for several hundred thousand too. If what I think is happening, is happening, maybe seven figures.

FWIW, I've had problems with utilities going back close to thirty years. There are a few magic words that get their attention because they have the potential to affect their rate increase requests. I almost enjoy it when something like that pops up.

plowjockey · #9 12/19/14, 07:18 PM

Interesting, for someone as contrary as me. I was considering starting a thread about teh improvment in customer service, at least what i have been experiencing, not everywhere, certainly.

Our Centurylink DSL internet went out (line was completely dead). called support verified no signal, asked if I could be home next day. "No, I have to work and won't be home till 5pm" "ok we'll have a tech meet you then". I received emails and calls from support reps reminding me of the appointment. The service was already restored by the time i got home.

Purchased a "Duralast" reman alternator - next higher amp, from Autozone (their brand). Could not get the belt back on as the part looked physically a little larger. the part had a 1-800 tech support sticker number on it, so i thought I'd give it try - on a Saturday. surprised the call was even answered. They did say "please leave a number and we will call right back"

decided to call autozone store about it and while I was on the phone the Duralast tech support was already calling back - on a Saturday. Needed a larger belt, so I just swapped the part for the same same amp size as before.

Looking to get karma (lush) perfume for DW xmas. Can't find it anywhere on the Internet. Call local Macy's store (25 miles away), transferred to the lush department (every fragerance now has it's own department) The helpful lady says they are out, but she will take my name and number and call me if it's on that days truck delivery. Really? The next morning i get a call and they offer to hold a bottle for me. I am a happy customer.

I saw a State patrol Officer changing a tire for an able looking man.

We attended a rock concert, where the users, most of who were elderly could not be more helpful.

There still is plenty of bad service, but I'm noticing a lot more good service also.

plowjockey · #10 12/19/14, 07:33 PM

Telecom is about a given to have problems, with 40 years of mergers and farming out support to independent contractors.

I remember the company I worked for having T1 lines the "phone company" could not determine at all, where they might be physically routed. 10 calls later, someone knew right where they were at.

MO_cows · #11 12/19/14, 08:23 PM

Did some Christmas shopping after work tonite, so drove thru KFC for a bucket of chicken for dinner. Pulled up to the speaker, the kid says, hold on I dropped something. Well it must have been something he had to mop up, it took several minutes to come back. Then gave my order, pulled up to the window and was informed the chicken had 3 minutes left to cook, did I mind waiting. Ok, fine. The kid gave me a free coke for being patient. So I pull up and wait, here comes a young woman with a sack. Stupid, stupid me - I didn't check what was in the sack. I drove home. 30 miles. Then I find out I got one of their bowl thingies, another box with 2 slabs of chicken with cheese in the middle, and a couple orders of fries. To feed 3 hungry people.

These stupid fast food places, when the "manager" is barely 20 and they chew up and spit out the rest of their help on a weekly basis, how is anything supposed to run right??? I called them and supposedly I will get my family meal that I paid for, just call them and come pick it up at my convenience when I'm back in town. And gee, they are very sorry. Yep, that's a good way to describe it. Sorry service.

plowjockey · #12 12/20/14, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO_cows

Did some Christmas shopping after work tonite, so drove thru KFC for a bucket of chicken for dinner. Pulled up to the speaker, the kid says, hold on I dropped something. Well it must have been something he had to mop up, it took several minutes to come back. Then gave my order, pulled up to the window and was informed the chicken had 3 minutes left to cook, did I mind waiting. Ok, fine. The kid gave me a free coke for being patient. So I pull up and wait, here comes a young woman with a sack. Stupid, stupid me - I didn't check what was in the sack. I drove home. 30 miles. Then I find out I got one of their bowl thingies, another box with 2 slabs of chicken with cheese in the middle, and a couple orders of fries. To feed 3 hungry people.

These stupid fast food places, when the "manager" is barely 20 and they chew up and spit out the rest of their help on a weekly basis, how is anything supposed to run right??? I called them and supposedly I will get my family meal that I paid for, just call them and come pick it up at my convenience when I'm back in town. And gee, they are very sorry. Yep, that's a good way to describe it. Sorry service.

One thing i had noticed, when the economy started improving, the 40-year-olds left working at the fast food and convenience stores, leaving the high schoolers, a good thing for the most part. Now these businesses beg for what ever workers they can get, including some with teeth missing from meth use.

Even though they are charging $13 for 10 small pieces for chicken, KFC had $4.5 billion in U.S. revenue, last year. Their pay is minimum wage part time. Maybe they are getting (or at least keeping) the workers they are paying for, ultimately at your expense.

Nothing worse than a hungry wife and kids.

bowdonkey · #13 12/20/14, 03:27 PM

I feel your pain Mocows. I 've been to a few of those places where no one cared. I also been to some places where it was all teenagers and the place hummed. The kids hustled, smiled, everyone seemed to be having fun. My boy and I are on the road alot with hockey, so we experience both extremes in service. Luckily most of the time it's the latter. No way of knowing for sure but I have a feeling where the employees are happy and competent, they have been trained well and are treated like valued employees. Just a hunch.