The grumpy thread

[strangeangel]

I see some of the behaviour at the childrens' school which appears to make no sense whatsoever - and is inconvenient to both kids and parents - until you realise it's all about making life easy for the head and staff.

 

Thing is, given the regime they're forced to work under - new dictats every week from the council, new central govt ideas every few months, parents who believe they know far more about teaching than the professionals and who will hold them to scrutiny at every opportunity - I can understand where they're coming from.

 

They've spent their energies ticking boxes to justify themselves left, right and center and have little left for the things which really matter, but which those who impose all the minute rules and analysis haven't realised matter.

 

Teaching is a monumentally shit deal on so many levels. I got out after nine years, and I'm still trying - unsuccessfully so far - to persuade my OH to fuck it off too.

[LostnotFound]

Minimum wage paid, minimum effort made.

 

I can't speak for the self employed, but in terms of customer service I'm convinced it due to the disconnect between management and staff. Because of the chance of moving on with the company or ever getting a pay rise is non existent for most people on the end of the phone, they have no reason to buy into the well being of the company or care what anyone thinks of it. 

 

I've worked in a call centre in the past, no end of motivational posters makes fuck all difference if you are stuck dealing with complaints the management have no intention of ever fixing.

 

Edited to add,

 

That comes across quite callous, but if you want decent staff you've got to pay for them imo. Relying on them fearing for their jobs only works for so long.

Edited October 31, 2017 by LostnotFound

[Timewaster]

At the risk of becoming the curmudgeon that Keymaster of this parish tells me I have already become, customer service has been identified, defined and implemented progressively over the last 15 years like it never existed before. I know this, because I've been told about it: in presentations, slideshows and webinars and on conference calls.

But it's current incarnation seems to be called 'Customer service', it employs 'Customer service managers' who stick to their carefully written 'Customer service scripts' and it has clearly defined 'Service level agreements'. Not one of which ACTUALLY DOES ANYTHING TOWARDS SATISFYING ME, THE CUSTOMER'. I don't want another opportunity to feedback how positive my customer journey was. I want to get to the end of the journey first. THEN I will likely tell you that it was satisfactory, or better. To achieve this, I need the services of people who DO REAL WORK. Not some made-up nancy, box ticking, compliance satisfying mumbo jumbo. Real work. Making things, repairing things, moving things. That's what made this country great. Who's with me? etc. etc.

Sorry, I've had a cider. And I'll be having another.

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AMEN!

 

Customer service departments only exist because of the piss poor efforts of the other departments.

 

This piss poor effort is probably down to unmeetable targets, under funding, under staffing and incompetence from above.

 

And no, I do not want to answer your questions about my journey and customer experience. If you don't know how your own business performs, don't expect me to tell you where you went wrong.

[forddeliveryboy]

Teaching is a monumentally shit deal on so many levels. I got out after nine years, and I'm still trying - unsuccessfully so far - to persuade my OH to fuck it off too.

From what I know, all the inspired, intelligent, natural and effective teachers are either long gone or very nearly so. Someone I know who used to train them was forced to pass useless students she says wouldn't have come close to getting on a course not so long ago.

 

Little wonder this country's struggling on so many levels.

[Louise2cv]

Louise did Valspar not pay for it to be redone by a professional decorator? They have done round here if you had a can left with the effected number

Initially they offered us paint vouchers. We declined, and they phoned up to offer £200. Again we said no, they said get quotes for decorators. And there we are back again at my favourite moan. I was a bit annoyed that they could offer £200 without know how much it would cost to paint the rooms.

 

I wanted them to clarify if the gas posed a risk to health, if sealing it would work, what sealer to use and all questions were dodged.

 

So in the end I lost my rag (politely) and said, look it's your fault and now you say you can't do anything with quotes. I haven't got all day to phone these people, wait in for these people, (if they even turn up) and chase up paper quotes. This is your fault, so you choose: either you arrange for the decorators to visit, or we continue to negotiate in the way you initiated, and asked money to cover taking the plaster off the walls seeing as they couldn't give me a straight answer on the suggested remedy. Got a sizable pay out.

 

But it makes me so angry that they just did seem arsed about making their mistake. That I only got a fair deal because I kicked up a fuss. And some people have just come away with vouchers for more paint. They still haven't apologized.

 

I haven't got a problem with mistakes, but put your hand up and apologize. B&Q and valspar knew this had happened, they still haven't issued a recall, they lied about which products were affected, what the time frame was etc etc.

 

Same with the builder. I called another out to quote for the repair, he asked who did the work and when I told him who it was he said "really? He's a personal friend, we used to work together". Since then we have spoken and he told me the builder has pretty much told him that mistakes were made. But with us they just will not back down.

 

Oh I have just been reminded of another one.

 

CCTV camera, outside. I was an electrician, should be fairly straightforward but no no, I tend to be a bit shit at things, we will pay a professional.

 

Turns out he forgot to gland the cable before terminating it. So, we later discover, he lobs the gland in the bushes and gobs silicone sealant on instead. Naturally that's failed now and the camera doesn't work.

 

Thats what's getting to me. I can be shit for free. I am paying these people to be shit.

[chodweaver]

I'm playing this game with the council over a fly tipped wheelie bin. Fucks, they give none.

 

Back in August a broken recycling bin appears full of shit. Oi council, sort it will you? Fill out this form and we will deal with it. I get a reference number. Nothing happens.

 

September: What's going on council? You've done nothing? Oh, have another reference number.

 

It's October, you've done nothing, and I don't want another another reference number. Ok we'll do nothing then....

 

So I emailed ward councillor #1. No reply in a week.

 

Emailed councillor #2 today, who promises she will look into it. Not holding my breath. Only way this is going to get sorted is if I fit a replacement wheel n push it into the town hall.

Someone close* to me was having their bin regularly 'topped up' by their landlord, who owns and runs the commercial premises beneath the flat my acquaintance occupies. Bear in mind this landlord is minted, due in some small part to her refusal to enter into and pay for a contract for the removal of her COMMERCIAL waste. When this topping up resulted in repeated 'refusal to empty' by the bin men because the bin was overflowing, I had a conversation with said bin men. This was not an argument. I asked if they would object to my fitting a padlock to said bin, to prevent this 'bin stuffing'. They welcomed the idea and even suggested where the padlock should be fitted. A padlock was fitted. And a key provided to my acquaintance but not their landlord. Strangely no comment has as yet been made by the landlord.

Bin stuffing has now been prevented, at least in a bin that I have to put out and bring back in. Apparently, bin stuffing is now so rife, I'm thinking of selling my bin lock to other put-upon citizens...

 

Shiters can of course, be supplied with my technical* design* at no cost.

 

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[chaseracer]

If only we had a thread for this sort of thing... 

 

 

EDIT:  Oh look!  We DO!!

[clayts450]

I deliberately stayed at work until 7.30 so that by the time I got home all the little fuckers had already banged pointlessly at the front door of my well-lit home (Gawd bless you electric timer switches). Only real zombies roam the streets of Bulwell at this hour and I don't open the door to no-one after 8pm (unless it's a rogue Just Eat delivery which someone has paid for and the takeaway had brought to my house in error).

[flat4alfa]

Anywhere that employs nonchalant low-paid school leavers to do an experienced adults job.  CBA in abundance as to them the job is no more than a leaping post.  Management are upstairs on Facebook all day*

[richardmorris]

It was back then that my dad's old car was egged. One of them hit it in the front wing which actually permanently damaged the paint. I don't understand why doing it and generally making a right mess in someone's street could possibly sound like fun!? I didn't do it when I was young and wouldn't have dreamed of it.

I think my c5 had been done whilst it was at the dealer - there was a very odd circular concentric pattern of about 1mm sections eaten into the wing about 3cm across,

 

Now 9pm and no sign of demanding sweets with menaces. Perhaps I'm the grumpy neighbour they're told to avoid?

[DodgeRover]

Can't you just put each other on ignore?

[Split_Pin]

Funny you should mention about your tradesman being an older chap. Ive found that its the older boys who will agree to do the smaller jobs, turn up when agreed and charge a reasonable price. Had that last week with a plumber I'd not used before.

 

All I would say is that Im a great believer in karma. What goes around comes around couldnt be more true in my experience. Takes a while but it definitely fucking catches up with those who have it coming in the end.

[DodgeRover]

Initially they offered us paint vouchers. We declined, and they phoned up to offer £200. Again we said no, they said get quotes for decorators. And there we are back again at my favourite moan. I was a bit annoyed that they could offer £200 without know how much it would cost to paint the rooms.

 

I wanted them to clarify if the gas posed a risk to health, if sealing it would work, what sealer to use and all questions were dodged.

 

So in the end I lost my rag (politely) and said, look it's your fault and now you say you can't do anything with quotes. I haven't got all day to phone these people, wait in for these people, (if they even turn up) and chase up paper quotes. This is your fault, so you choose: either you arrange for the decorators to visit, or we continue to negotiate in the way you initiated, and asked money to cover taking the plaster off the walls seeing as they couldn't give me a straight answer on the suggested remedy. Got a sizable pay out.

 

But it makes me so angry that they just did seem arsed about making their mistake. That I only got a fair deal because I kicked up a fuss. And some people have just come away with vouchers for more paint. They still haven't apologized.

 

I haven't got a problem with mistakes, but put your hand up and apologize. B&Q and valspar knew this had happened, they still haven't issued a recall, they lied about which products were affected, what the time frame was etc etc.

 

Same with the builder. I called another out to quote for the repair, he asked who did the work and when I told him who it was he said "really? He's a personal friend, we used to work together". Since then we have spoken and he told me the builder has pretty much told him that mistakes were made. But with us they just will not back down.

Sorry forgot about your problems getting people to turn up.

Will ask the decorator what sealer he was told to use when he has been redoing stuff. He was telling me he had gone to quote for one job where the person sleeping in the room began suffering from persistent worsening headaches quite some time after the initial painting - it was the decorator who asked what paint had been used and told the family to contact Valspar.

[The Moog]

Merged with Grumpy Old Man thread

[Louise2cv]

Thanks Dodge

[D Spares & Tyres]

Five weeks since my 306 was hit and despite some assurances, no cash has come my way yet.

 

Calling his insurance in the morning, I've waited long enough. Probably been too long now though.

 

Looks like I shall be going down the small claims route...

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Teaching is a monumentally shit deal on so many levels. I got out after nine years, and I'm still trying - unsuccessfully so far - to persuade my OH to fuck it off too.

Can I be nosey and asked what you escaped into?

[chodweaver]

After Mrs CW's relatively recent experience of the modern 'classroom assistant'/qualified teacher architecture and her sister's long career in teaching, which basically ruined her health for the rest of her (most likely shortened as a result) life and has made any form of work impossible for her in the meantime, I can only regard teaching as currently being the most toxic of career choices. I remember feeling that my teachers in the 70s and 80s had a shit deal, never thinking that it would get worse for those that would follow them.

 

I've done a little training in my career, and even though it was on subject matter at which I was more than competent, and my delegates were motivated people, keen to learn and with (mostly) no learning difficulties or behavioural issues... it still scared the crap out of me. Rewarding as it was when it went well, I would have to be assured of brilliant support and generous wages to consider teaching as a career. I know neither is on offer.

 

That the administrations of the last 40 years could have wrought such damage on both this institution AND the health service and has yet to recognise it, let alone address it... beggars belief.

 

There is a positive note to this. I am encouraged weekly by the eloquence, politeness and general good manners shown by kids in the 5-12 year age bracket around here. Perhaps there is something in the boasts of the highly-ofsted-rated schools when they crow 'the behaviour of our students is outstanding'.

 

Alas many of their older siblings seem to have either utterly failed at, or been failed by the same education system, exiting it short on social skills and seemingly any other talents. If education has turned a corner, I fear it is too late for them.

 

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[danthecapriman]

I think my c5 had been done whilst it was at the dealer - there was a very odd circular concentric pattern of about 1mm sections eaten into the wing about 3cm across,

Now 9pm and no sign of demanding sweets with menaces. Perhaps I'm the grumpy neighbour they're told to avoid?

Yep, sounds the same as what my dad's car had on it. I was surprised an egg could do that sort of damage tbh.

[beko1987]

The gooner has some historic egg damage on it, has bubbled the lacquer.

 

When the pikeys egged cars in our street in the summer I washed it off within the hour, and the chap up the road who had 3 direct hits. No damage luckily.

[Timewaster]

Yep, sounds the same as what my dad's car had on it. I was surprised an egg could do that sort of damage tbh.

Kids sun cream makes a right mess of lacquered paint too.

[DodgeRover]

Sun cream is a nightmare on paint...still at least it doesn't fade anymore!

 

In other news nobody dressed as Elvira came trick or treating:(

[wuvvum]

Ebay has decided to sort my watch list by "most relevant".  Who the fuck are you to tell me what is most relevant to me?  God I hate being dictated to by computers.

 

I am also short on sleep.

[PhilA]

Sun cream is a nightmare on paint...still at least it doesn't fade anymore!

In other news nobody dressed as Elvira came trick or treating:(

To keep you happy, our neighbor dressed up as Elvira.

 

Round here, trick or treat is a fun family endeavor for the young ones up to about the age of 12. One thing from the bowl and that's it. My grump is tonight the mosquitoes decided to come out.

 

Phil

[Parky]

Can't sleep. Had a tough interview yesterday for a job I really want but think I blew it. Was supposed to see five people in one hit but two were unable to attend so if I have made it past yesterday's panel I still have two more to see.

 

Received a call after the event from another recruiter to let me know another good role has turned me down. Despite getting on well with HR and very well with the potential team, I failed their psychometric test in bizarre fashion. According to results, I scored well in all areas but actually scored 94% in opening up dialogue with brand new customers and winning people over. As the role is a sales job, that's a good thing and apparently it's the highest score they have ever seen.

 

However, for sales I scored only 25%. That's bizarre as there is normally a close correlation between the two criteria. It's the equivalent of a goalkeeper dribbling the ball the length of the field, avoiding every challenge and tackle, wrong footing the opposition goalie and then refusing to take the shot.

 

It appears saying that I wanted to be remembered as a good person rather than a successful one was the killer. I mean for gods sake, when I snuff it I would prefer my kids to be offered condolences with the comment of "he was a good man your Dad" rather than "your Dad was a superb salesman".

 

Anyway the upshot is that "Computer says no" and that's the end of that. The sales head there called me separately to apologise and grumbled that another person came in with less experience and less enthusiasm but they scraped the tests so they are going with them. Ridiculous situation. Maybe a company so hung up on decisions being made by software is worth avoiding.

 

So back to square one...

[Snipes]

Fuck what were you applying to sell? Entire planets? Sounds like they’re having way too much fun with their recruitment process.

[Guest Hooli]

I'm playing this game with the council over a fly tipped wheelie bin. Fucks, they give none.

 

Back in August a broken recycling bin appears full of shit. Oi council, sort it will you? Fill out this form and we will deal with it. I get a reference number. Nothing happens.

 

September: What's going on council? You've done nothing? Oh, have another reference number.

 

It's October, you've done nothing, and I don't want another another reference number. Ok we'll do nothing then....

 

So I emailed ward councillor #1. No reply in a week.

 

Emailed councillor #2 today, who promises she will look into it. Not holding my breath. Only way this is going to get sorted is if I fit a replacement wheel n push it into the town hall.

 

At least you've got a bin!

 

The black bin was missing when I moved in here & so far nothing from the council -

 

Hello council chap I'd like a bin please

Of course, it'll be with you in two days..

 

Two days later, oi council chap where's my bin?

What bin? we've no record of that. Oh it's £22 for a replacement.

You expect me to pay for a bin that was stolen before I owned the house?

We'll look into that and get back to you

 

Yesterday oi where's my bin?

What bin?

 

I might drag all the rubbish to the council offices & dump it in their lobby, it's the only way to get their attention. The only way I ever got them to get the council tax bill correct was to complain direct to the mayor the other year. Bunch of workshy brainless fucknuggets.

[Guest Hooli]

Oh & I bit my tongue last night while eating crisps, it still hurts

[Parky]

Fuck what were you applying to sell? Entire planets? Sounds like they’re having way too much fun with their recruitment process.

Workplace pensions! Basically I rock up and convince the staff that pensions are a good idea before telling their HR department why they should use the company I (could have) been representing.

 

Basically if you can take something boring and riddled with acronyms (we Finance types like our tla's - three letter acronyms) and make it understandable, you'll be fine. Like most things in life they are pretty straightforward once you explain what the terminology means.

 

Whilst I can see the benefits of testing, some businesses are people businesses and sales is one of them. Know the product? Enthusiastic about promoting it? Know lots of key contacts and potential buyers? Personable and nice to work with? In sales that stuff really matters. Maybe I just screwed it up and they are too piss weak to admit it to me preferring to blame the computer.

 

Ironically I am also in the running for a role in one of their other departments which don't use the testing. It would be quite funny if I ended up working there in another area!

 

Could be worse. In Japan blood type used to be a major factor in determining suitability for a role. Whilst they are no longer allowed to use it, staff are still curious. When I worked at a Japanese Bank, our team PA was horrified to learn I was a B+ as in Japan that makes you a dangerously unreliable maverick and basically unemployable in financial circles.

 

I saw a Japanese minister once apologising for some misdemeanour (massive fraud I think) and as part of his apology he actually stated that his B+ blood type was an influence. Can you imagine some celeb over here getting done as part of Operation Yewtree and using blood type as a defence?

 

WANTED - Piscean O Type required for part time driving. Must have clean chakras. Apply within

 

No more ridiculous than a psychometric I suppose

[oldcars]

Some little lowlife looser as stolen a little stone my Mum and Son painted with out door number and a little picture on it. Sits at the front door. Or did. F****ing C***.