Utterly useless complaint: I'm tired of companies not trusting people or being human.

[lildreamer316]

I know;
I know;
I know.

Don't even start. I'm very aware that this is completely useless and semi-naieve post. But it is screaming inside me to be said; so goddamn it I'm going to say it.

I mean, look...on the front of the DU site, is a post that reads: "Prolonged Aid to Unemployed Is Running Out"..It says that " as many as 1.5 million jobless Americans will exhaust their unemployment insurance benefits, ending what for some has been a last bulwark against foreclosures and destitution."

So it's obvious that there are going to be close to millions of people who won't be able to pay their bills. Their basic bills, you know...like electric, and water, and mortgage, and ...oh yes...phone bills.

I would think this kind of news would be a tad bit alarming to companies that provide these services. Of course most of them have a wide base, and are not going to go under just yet, but what if you aren't a monopoly provider like the electric or gas? What if you have,oh, say, at least 4-5 other competing companies that offer about the same service you do? Wouldn't that increase your concern a little? Or am I just not following a logical train of thought here?

So, knowing these facts; let's say you are one of these companies; contacted by a person who has been paying their bills to you(sure, they've been late; but they've always paid). A person who just upgraded their service package with you (sure,it's a cheaper package,but they got a phone that's eligible for a really expensive data plan - one you know they will eventually purchase because it's inevitable; addictive; AND they've already asked about it once - AND you know all this information because it's recorded on the person's account).

Said person has also put up with really bad reception/service, such as the fact that sitting in bed, if the person switches the phone from the right ear to the left, she loses the call EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. even though her house is actually on TOP of a hill - oh,not to mention that this NEVER happened with the carrier she was with when you bought them out (did some telephone towers magically disappear?). She would say with impunity that 9 out of 10 calls are dropped, all the time; every time. Yet, she has (foolishly) stayed with your service, hoping for some improvement and just getting along because, well, she's not really the kind to get horribly upset about that. There are bigger fish to fry; more important things to spend time on.

Mostly.

Let's say this person has a spouse that has been out of work for around 11 months.I'm sure you've been hearing a lot of stories like that. No? Well, I certainly have. Must be the area I live in...

ANYway; he's picked up the odd job here and there, but nothing substantial. So like many people in this situation, they let their home phone service lapse and decided to use their cellular service providers for awhile,you know ...just until they got back on their feet. I mean, you are offering these really competitive price packages; and usually a free or very cheap phone to initially sign up - why not? It seemed this couple was saving around $70-$100/month by dropping the home phone and just using their cell phones. And since they have a child, they felt it behooved them to have some form of communication available to each of them. I dunno, maybe that was just too much to ask? Maybe they felt 'entitled' to something they clearly did not need or deserve? As I said before, I can be a bit dense and naieve; so please do correct my bent of mind here.

Lest you believe you are dealing with some really irresponsible; 'welfare queen' type of people; let me inform you that said couple has
1)No house payment
2)No credit cards
3)No car payments
Her last clothing purchases were at the local Goodwill - she was quite thrilled with all that she got for $22.45! He has holes in the bottom of his work shoes that he covers with gel insoles.
No, neither one has a drug habit. I know it crossed your mind; I have no problem addressing it.
Sure, they like a bottle of wine one or two nights a week. Do you really begrudge them that little bit of happiness?

SO.

With all this information,as well as already being armed with the bank account numbers; when you process a payment that this person (the lady of the couple) made and it bounces, do you send her a text (as you did the day before saying that a payment was going to be due this coming Monday?) Do you inform her in that lovely digital voice of yours when she calls YESTERDAY (when you obviously had to actually attempt to process the payment) to find out how much she owes, knowing that the money is tight and that she needs the info so she can get to the bank before it closes?

NO, you do not.

You wait until TODAY - you know, a SATURDAY - at 4PM; to completely and totally cut her phone off. Now, I mention totally because your particular company has been known to have a 'staggered' rate of shut-off: in other words, first you limit the ability to text; then you limit the ability to receive calls; then as a last resort you limit the ability to make calls. This is usually carried out over about a week's time. Of course, the lady in question understands that her payment bounced. She understands that she needs to make the payment. She, with her ADD-addled brain, is compulsive about making lists - and your payment TOPS the list of Bills We Have To Catch Up On; posted prominently on her refrigerator.

See, at 3:30 PM EST, her loving husband set off to his NEWLY-ACQUIRED job. The one he started last Thursday; the one he interviewed for in January. Notice that I said JOB. You know, one of those things that, it seems, some million or so people right here in the US of A DO. NOT. HAVE. And, according to the information that I pointed out at the beginning of this treatise, are not likely to have anytime soon.

This would imply that the couple in question would have the ability to actually pay the bill that they owe, and fairly soon, yes? Or again, am I being thicker than a whale omelette?

Of course, since you rescinded service at exactly 4PM this afternoon, the lady had no way to remedy the situation. She called your lovely customer service and explained, as politely as was possible considering the fact that she is a bit stressed, that she had
1)No car
2)A young child in the house
3)No other form of verbal communication
4)No friends within walking distance (really)
5)No living relatives within 3 hours' drive (if she actually had a car)
and that she was literally 'begging for your mercy'. Surely, you could allow her phone calls out of her phone (remember the 'staggered' shut-off?) for just a mere few 12 hours until her husband arrived home from his FOURTEEN HOUR SHIFT?

She admits, it amazes and yes, upsets her that you would find this to be such a huge, insurmountable, absolutely horrible imposition. I mean, you are such a small company that even a few precious extra hours of time must cost you , oh, thousands of dollars. Tell me, how is it, then, that you can hire Michael Douglas's wife to do a couple of tv ads for you? I must be missing something - remember, I'm a bit naieve and dim. Oh, I did forget to mention that she was prepared to pay the full amount when YOUR COMPUTER SAID IT WAS DUE - ON MONDAY.

After all this, plainly speaking: We are in a different kind of time, you idiotic corporate fucks. People ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR BILLS ON TIME. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. When they actually bother to call you and work something out, and to tell you what is going on in their lives, MAYBE IT'S TIME TO START BELIEVING IN THEM. EXAMPLE: my POWER COMPANY gave me an extra day, ON TOP OF MY PAYMENT AGREEMENT; to pay them. That was all I needed.
ONE.
LOUSY.
FUCKING.
DAY.

How..HUMAN of them. Hey, guess what?? THEY GOT THEIR MONEY.

Tell me, what do you have to lose by being a little more understanding, a little more trusting; a little human?

More customers??

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. :rofl:

And if you still don't get it, I refer you, once again to the unemployment benefit statistics. And that's if you've just been living in a cave for the past 14 months.

Well, you just lost one more customer than you would have, originally. I rummaged around in this slow brain of mine and figured out a way to make calls on your phone anyway; at least for awhile..and no, I don't feel one bit ashamed about it. And I have several unused cellular phones in this house. Heck, this really nice one that I upgraded to (for $25, in case anyone wants to call me out on that as well)can be 'flashed' to a different carrier! Who knew?

The difference between being human and following business as usual just cost you money, and it will continue to.
Enjoy yourselves.





Sorry guys. Had to get it off my chest.

[REP]

1. I hate to say this, but they're not mind readers

I used to work delinquent accounts for a terrible company. Some people made good arrangements and kept them, but until they called and made them, we had no idea when and what they were going to pay, and the account was set to be shut off on the day printed on the notice - unless the customer a) called and made arrangements and b) kept those arrangements. A dishonored payment - for whatever reason - is not a kept arrangement. The people on the other end of the line have no idea if the dishonored payment was a mistake, intentional, or what - but when it doesn't go through, the arrangement is broken and the system automatically terminates service.

The company is only agreeing to provide a service in return for money. I can assure you, no one there cares what kind of person you are, as long as you pay on time - and the automated system cares even less. Have kids? They're your responsibility; the person taking your payment arrangement responsibility is to make an arrangement that will keep your service on and allow the representative to retain his/her job. Believe it or not, people lie. A lot. If having a baby or whatever was the ticket to keeping services on without paying, that's all they'd hear all day, and when I did that kind of work, that's all I did hear - to the point where I wanted to scream, "Look, lady, I didn't fuck you and I can't help you with the kid."

Times are tough for everyone. The companies want your money. The representative on the other end of the line doesn't really care why you need to make arrangements, but if you call, they'll help you keep your services on.

And you can make 911 calls when you cell phone service has been interrupted for non-payment. FCC reg.

[Brigid]

4. There's one thing to remember about cell phones:

They are a luxury item. Some of us actually remember a time when we didn't even have them. I work customer service for a cell phone company, and all day I hear from people who buy ridiculously expensive phones, with equally ridiculous rate plans, data and text packages -- then they're surprised when they get the bill. Home phone service is much cheaper, and I believe many states have programs to help you with home phone service. Whether they apply to cell phones, I don't know -- but I doubt it.

[REP]

5. States are mandated to provide subsidized low-cost landline service to low income households

There are also programs for utilities (electric, gas) for low-income households. The income thresholds vary from state to state, but for people who have fallen on hard times, it's definitely worth calling and asking your landline provider and utility companies about these programs.

[lildreamer316]

7. Yes, and I've seen those programs..

that, in my state, I had to wait about one to two months for resolution on that.
By that point, we would have made the bill money. We're only talking a couple hundred dollars here, give or take. If husband has a good night,the bill is paid. If he does not, we have to wait for his paycheck and hope nothing else comes up.
All I needed was a 12 hour grace period.

[REP]

12. They're based on annual household income; apply anyway

Go ahead and apply. It's based on annual income, and could really help out during those lean months. There's no investigation or anything once you apply; they send a form, you sign it and your utility bills go down. I bet having your electric/gas bill being less would help with the other bills, and maybe get you closer to getting your car fixed.

[lildreamer316]

6. See, it

isn't true here that our home phone service was cheaper..if it was, I would have let my cell phone go and we would have shared the husband's cell phone.
I think the idea that a cell phone is completely classified as a luxury item should be up for a bit more debate. There are many people who gave up their home phone for cell service, mainly because of the competitive rates.

[grace0418]

10. Lots of things could be classified as luxury items, but if I had to choose

I would keep my cell phone over my landline. Clients can reach me, family can reach me, I can even reach the internet no matter where I am (unless it's in the middle of the wilderness or something). Those things are invaluable, especially to someone who is looking for work (someone calls to arrange an interview while you're at another interview), who is working odd jobs to make ends meet (someone calls with full-time work for you), who can't afford full-time daycare for their kids and has to shuttle them around to various willing friends and family (emergency arises while you're out doing odd jobs or interviewing, or traffic backs up while you're trying to pick the kid up). If anything, I think the programs should actually help people get cell phones over landlines. And I too remember a time when there were no cell phones.

[Robeson]

2. "Error: You can't recommend threads from this forum"...

...well, isn't that special. I'm sorry lildreamer316, at least I tried.

[Kali]

3. what - you aren't too big to fail?

you didn't get a CEO bonus from the taxpayers?:sarcasm:


You'll make it, and I know EXACTLY how you feel and what you are going through. Crack open that last bottle of wine!

[snailly]

8. Oh for goodness sake, my dear

Maybe it's time to grow up and get an actual job.

[lildreamer316]

9. Because of husband's job,

I am not allowed to do my job at the three places I could do so in this city.

They are afraid I am going to 'steal' employees and send them to husband's place of employment, so they have banned me from the property at two of the three places. The third place is husband's actual job, and he signed a contract that has a non-fraternization clause.Therefore, I cannot work there either.

I would have to travel either one or two hours to get to another place that would use my expertise. WHEN we get the second car fixed (MONEY); I will do so, having already talked to both places and secured an audition next month.

Sometimes, dear; it's actually more cost-effective for me to stay at home. We don't have money for daycare or babysitter either. Hello. My son is autistic and just turned five years old.

[cwydro]

11. I hate, hate, hate talking to phone companies,

of any type!