Dear So and So

[azfiddle]

And Muireann, the cheating was actually so widespread- way more than 3 people had the answers. I only caught 3 for sure.

[Trek420]

Dear so and so,

I'm planning to retire in about 164 days but who's counting? It's been a good ride, I am grateful for this surprisingly good job all told. Awesome bennies. And I'm not one to complain. But as I prepare to wind down and perhaps go to an encore career I'd like to speak frankly to my audience, you, the customers. Yes, I've worked all manner of customer service for a really beeeeg telco. And you need to know that ...

When you call or chat in or Tweet or however I'm going to need some kinda verification. Your first name is not enough. Have your number, the passcode if there is one and there almost always is and if you don't have that, an immediate plan to get it. Yelling at me, for 15-20 minutes "This is my account, I pay the bill, you sure want your money every month and I pay you hundreds every month .... don't you see that????? I demand to speak to your manager. I know the president of the company!!! I'll have you fired!!" is not enough.

I'm protecting your account. How would you feel if someone called, gave your name and number, we didn't verify anything and they ordered a few iPhone 7's and iPads, had them shipped to another address and you got the bill as is happening with Sprint? Not too good.

You have passcode and passwords. There are apps to save those or even a little book. Use those. Stop yelling at me.

Trek I can help you with that 420

[Crankin]

I can't say anything, except people are azzholes.

[rebeccaC]

Trek I can help you with that 420

and enjoy your retirement adventures wherever they lead!!!!!

[emily_in_nc]

Trek,

I couldn't agree more! I never, ever mind giving all that info when I call (most recently to DISH, to change our local stations address since we moved from NC to FL), because I know why they need it. I would much, much rather they ask than not. Gotta be so careful these days with all the online fraud.

Congratulations on your impending retirement!

[smilingcat]

Dear nephew,

I am duly impressed and very proud of you to have bought your first house. And you are not even 30 yet.

[smilingcat]

Trek420,

I'm one of the azzholes of very different kind. I know too much of how somethings work and when I tell you that the company supplied FiOS modem is piece of garbage, I can tell you why and I just need to talk to a tech to say that the company supplied equipment fried during an electrical storm. Yes it did. Don't give me a runaround, send a tech out to replace the wall mounted unit and replace the unit by my desk. And don't tell me that my router blew out your equipment. I couldn't even ping the company equipment. Magic packet went nowhere. And dear field tech, don't BS me.

Yes I think you deserve a much needed retirement and not have to deal with unreasonable and irate customers. I could never do it. And counting days to your retirement. Congratulation!!

[Trek420]

Trek420,

I'm one of the azzholes of very different kind. I know too much of how somethings work and when I tell you that the company supplied FiOS modem is piece of garbage, I can tell you why .....

Yes I think you deserve a much needed retirement and not have to deal with unreasonable and irate customers. I could never do it. And counting days to your retirement. Congratulation!!

165 days!

Smilingcat, I love talking to customers like you! Sometimes I learn stuff. I'm not dealing with uverse anymore other than the mobile end. Yes, sometimes the modem is for instance the reason wifi calling won't work inside the home. It can be a challenge to finagle a new modem for my customer from the land line side but if the modem is effecting service, it's what we do.

Dear customer,

My job is dizzyingly complex, a lot more than just a answering the phone. As I used to mutter under my breath and/or put the phone on mute when I was on the land line side, earning almost twice as much as I do today and probably more than most of my callers earn (yes, took a pay cut to transfer) "If you were capable of doing my job you'd be doing it"

Still, this is a tough job and a good one. And it always makes my job so much easier and helps me to solve your problem faster when you jump up and down, yell, scream, hurl insults and epithets at me. This does not happen often but ... be nice. We'll get through this together faster.

Regards,

Trek counting the days 420

PS; was talking to a steward yesterday who said a recently retired coworker had a novel way of counting down. He stacked paper plates at his desk, each had a number on it. Each lunch he took the top plate. From what I heard when he got down to about 50 he took vacation and scedadled.