Revenge of the Irked Consumer
Nov. 7th, 2007 01:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bjarvisI recently made an appointment for an optical exam with the intent of ordering a new stock of contact lenses and, if there was still money to drain from my medical savings account in 2007, a new pair of glasses.
The person answering the telephone was rude, abrupt and clearly pissed off at something. She didn't inquire what services I was needing so much as demanded an explanation of why I was calling. When she mumbled a question about my insurance, she raised her voice and over-enunciated each syllable to telegraph her displeasure. When we completed the appointment booking and I said thank you, she simply hung up: no thanks, no have-a-nice-day platitude or even a good-bye.
To say I was pissed off was a bit of an understatement but I decided to sit on the issue for 24 hours to regain my composure; reacting precipitously in the emotion of the moment is rarely a good idea. Perhaps there was some rational explanation of which I wasn't aware. Perhaps when I came back to this issue, I'd see it in a different and not quite so serious light.
Then again, perhaps not.
Today, I telephoned another optometrist who participates in my vision insurance plan and made an appointment without difficulty or annoyance --as it should be. I then called the original optometrist and asked them courteously to cancel my appointment.
I couldn't tell if the person to whom I was speaking was the same person as when I made the original appointment so I didn't feel it appropriate to make any comment or mention of the earlier experience. I am, however, writing a letter to the doctor in question to explain my action. He can't fix a situation in his office unless he knows about it, and for all I know he doesn't have a clue. I will then update my address book with a note not to contact this office ever again.
The person answering the telephone was rude, abrupt and clearly pissed off at something. She didn't inquire what services I was needing so much as demanded an explanation of why I was calling. When she mumbled a question about my insurance, she raised her voice and over-enunciated each syllable to telegraph her displeasure. When we completed the appointment booking and I said thank you, she simply hung up: no thanks, no have-a-nice-day platitude or even a good-bye.
To say I was pissed off was a bit of an understatement but I decided to sit on the issue for 24 hours to regain my composure; reacting precipitously in the emotion of the moment is rarely a good idea. Perhaps there was some rational explanation of which I wasn't aware. Perhaps when I came back to this issue, I'd see it in a different and not quite so serious light.
Then again, perhaps not.
Today, I telephoned another optometrist who participates in my vision insurance plan and made an appointment without difficulty or annoyance --as it should be. I then called the original optometrist and asked them courteously to cancel my appointment.
I couldn't tell if the person to whom I was speaking was the same person as when I made the original appointment so I didn't feel it appropriate to make any comment or mention of the earlier experience. I am, however, writing a letter to the doctor in question to explain my action. He can't fix a situation in his office unless he knows about it, and for all I know he doesn't have a clue. I will then update my address book with a note not to contact this office ever again.
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no subject
Date: 2007-11-07 07:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-07 07:47 pm (UTC)She does NOT allow for kicks in the shins, tempting as those might be. I, on the other hand, would not report you were you to resort to such measures.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-07 08:00 pm (UTC)