phone phrustration

I got on the phone early this morning to make a car payment and my battery died right after I had already hit about 57 buttons to get me to the correct menu. Growling, I think I may have frightened my youngest son when I said through a clenched jaw how much I dislike those automated phone systems (I know this because as I grabbed my purse to leave for work he jumped up and opened the door for me and gave me a huge hug, sensing that I needed it).

Pulling up to my parking lot, which is only a mile from my house, I quickly tried again to make the call and make the payment. The zip code you just entered is not recognized in our system. What? So I entered my zip code again, only to be told the same nonsense about it being unrecognizable. Just then the bus with our little angels was getting ready to pull up to the school and I hurriedly hung up and decided to try again later. More growling ensued.

My lunch break always flies by as I attempt to get some errands done. So, as I was driving through town I tried again, and found that I had never set up to use my debit card on this system. There was the bus again, coming back with the afternoon kids. I am just not meant to own this car, I thought to myself!

So, just now I walked into the house, ready to bask in the few quiet moments before everyone else piles in, and I tried one more time. Finally my e-check went through and I am officially legal, as far as the car is concerned, but not without herculean effort on my part.

Now I have this insatiable craving to go on a nice long drive. Without my phone.

6 comments

Heidi | December 10, 2008 at 3:18 PM

I automatically love any post wherein is contained the word herculean. :) Man, how frustrating is the whole phone/company service (not!) thing? It's like customer service is an afterthought. It is one of the main gremlins of my life, just trying to deal with problems over the phone. (In other words, I feel your pain). Hey, real word for the word verifier: viscous. I know it's real because the Little Guy told me so--he's so good as to share what he is learning in school. Pretty much constantly.

Juliana | December 10, 2008 at 3:48 PM

My favorite experience like this was when I was at the airport trying to change my cell phone plan because I knew I was going to go over on the minutes. It was one of those systems that you have talk to instead of push buttons. The airport was so loud that the phone system kept saying, "I'm sorry, I didn't understand that. What were you trying to say?" when I hadn't said anything at all. And then when I had to choose an option, I had to yell it. Imagine how awesome I looked to the guys sitting next to me. Sitting there in total peace and then I suddenly yell, "ONE! THREE! ENGLISH! CHANGE MY PLAN!" It was really embarrasing. Phone systems... grrr!

charrette | December 10, 2008 at 6:10 PM

It shouldn't be that hard for them to take our money, right? Oh, but I can totally relate to the post-phone growling and the jumpy child! :)

Miss Brandy | December 10, 2008 at 8:45 PM

I think there's some extra stress at this time of year too! Last night, right before I'm supposed to hold an enrichment class, I drive to Robert's to return some things I didn't use in some gift baskets I was making. 3 bags of items, 4 wild children, me wanting my $ back, standing behind a lady returning 52 (honest to goodness), acrylic paints. When she was done she wanted to return some Christmas tree balls. NO CAN DO. However, only at the Provo store. You can go back to the Orem store where you bought them if you'd like. We print that on our receipts, but Orem doesn't. Wait a second. Aren't you all owned by the same company...yes...huh? I'm so sorry ma'am....not as sorry as I am. Sure enough, drove to Orem and got my $.

LisAway | December 10, 2008 at 11:26 PM

I never growl.

My kids do that jumping and being extra sweet when I enter the room after a growl session.

Either that or they run out of the room as soon as I enter it.

Anonymous | December 20, 2008 at 5:42 AM

Great post because so many of us can ABSOLUTELY relate to it. Very entertaining though.