Called the electric company today…….
I called the electric company today. I was not protesting my bill but was asking that I get a one week extension so I could work to wards getting the money they were asking for. Every step of the way, the person I was talking to just kept saying, Sorry, if you do not have the $50.00 in our office by today at 4pm we will be shutting you electricity off tomorrow at 12am. I had brain surgery, and a lot of complications and the doctor did not clear me to go back to work until 3 weeks ago and I am looking for work I told her. Sorry, not our problem was the response. Now by this time I was so angry I was coming unglued. Finally after my blood pressure going up to the point I was starting to get a headache, I asked to speak to a supervisor. I was placed on hold for a couple of minutes. No problem. The customer service rep came back on the line to tell me the supervisor granted my request this one time but, I would have stay current with the bill in the future. I had no problem with being told I would have to stay current with the bill. The problem I had was with the in your face we do not care attitude of the Customer service rep. I have taken training to learn how to deal with stressed customers. Had the person on the other end of the phone just acknowledged my positron and then told me she could not help me that would have been different. Instead it came across like a fuck you, just give us our money.
I did take a customer service survey and when asked for my verbal input I said,” In these times when many people are out of worked and stressed out at to how they are going to pay their electric bill, you may want to train your workers on how to speak to them when they contact your company to make payment plans. A in your face attitude on the part of your consumer service reps will not help your company’s public relations.”
I am still calming down. Speaking up has gone far to help.
Life is good, even if the phone call to the electric company left a lot to be desired.
Sarah
