The grumpy thread

[Bren]

Ref. the doctor's surgery, staff might not look busy but doesn't mean they aren't. The benefits (office worker) wouldn't have survived a minute in the early 1980's, I reckon one in every two visits to sign on and someone would get pulled across the counter by an irate doley who hadn't had their giro.

I'd also venture that in an age of shit wages, minimum hours/zero contracts and (what seems like) the rapid rise of bosses who are complete arseholes, it's no wonder people are less interested in their job.

 

(Not me, I'm just a lazy bastard whose reciprocated hatred of their boss is just a better excuse to do even less)

 

I agree with you Billy - staff probably are busy. But you would think lack of job security would make people at least look bothered. But it does'nt.

[Cavcraft]

The NHS is bollocksed, Bren. My missus works for them and to be perfectly frank, the fact they have any staff at all is an absolute credit to those who work for them.

 

I do know what you mean in general though, apathy seems to rule now and people are mostly just not arsed. 

[Bren]

As somebody who works in Public services I concur that they are all bolloxed. The public are interested enough - they will be in fifteen years time when a trip to A&E / doctor / or a visit from the police will cost you - and that's on top of what you pay in tax.

[Louise2cv]

I feel like this.

 

Our paint smells of cat pee and B&Q/Valspar couldn't give a shit or even apologize. I had to spend hours emailing them to get money back and pay for redecorating.

 

The bathroom has been a disaster. Taking builder to court. Along with the bathroom there is the outside stuff: they have painted a wall and covered the downpipes, windows and path with paint. The slates they quoted for fixing but then said looked fine on closer inspection blew off during storm Ophelia. Federation of Master builders response was "well we could investigate your complaint, but that won't fix your bathroom will it, dodo you really want us to?"

 

The people who supplied the bathroom: toilet seat broke in a week, sink plug broke after 2 weeks, shower screen lets water through the hinge, bath plug broke after 10months.

 

This parking ticket: we paid for the time we were there but put the wrong reg letters in. Told the attendant that we had put the wrong registration number on, he said keep the ticket and appeal. Parking company said that because we didn't call their helpline we can get to f*** and pay them £100.

 

Surveyor said survey would be ready in 5 days, chased it day 7, secretary said it's 7-10days. arrived after 12.

 

Someone drove into my car while I was stood next to it. I shouted, another guy tapped his window, and he just drove off.

 

The number of bathroom fitters and decorators who said they would come and quote and never showed.

 

Etc etc.

 

I feel like being nice, being reasonable and accomodating is a waste of time and goes unnoticed and is not repaid.

[mercrocker]

I can understand how pissed off people are in their work.    What I find less easy to comprehend is the same attitude prevailing in folk who run their own business (and by definition, their pay-packet).    I have a couple of really great contacts for work on the house, etc and I strive to keep hold of them, they are not in the full bloom of youth though unfortunately and I dread going back to the days before I finally found them.    

 

As my headmaster used to say "there is a distinct lack of moral fibre running through society these days"   God knows what he would think now.   

 

If people really are too busy or don't need the money why not just say so?   I won't be offended, certainly no more than by constant body-swerving, lack of response and infinitely postponed calls..... 

 

I work with customers daily, not in a public sphere, but I do still remember that the bloke on the phone is going to be a bit pissed off if I don't give him the answer he needs - even if its not the one he wanted.   Pisses me off when so few people reciprocate when I'm the customer.

[danthecapriman]

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.

[richardmorris]

This^^^^^^ although the number of eggs used around us significantly reduced the year after ‘someone’ decided to egg the corner shop and car of the shop owner who used to sell all the eggs to the kids. Dickhead used to have a big pile of them bought in ready for Halloween.

When I was in lidl on Saturday morning there was a poster up saying no eggs nor flour to under 18s. I did buy a multi bag of mini cadburys in case the neighbour's children were out, but none so far.

[chodweaver]

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.

 

Sent from my BV6000 using Tapatalk

[mercrocker]

Before history gets completely re-written I beg to differ ref Pumpkins. 

 

My old man (a devout old bugger who would not have had the Scriptures reviled for entertainment sake) always used to get a pumpkin for Hallowe'en, test his Christian patience scooping the inedible bastard hollow and then set a Price's night candle in it for me to watch it flickering on top of the coal bunker outside my bedroom window.    

 

He did it because his dad it which would have included during the War when they should really have been making mock Spam with it or something.  

 

We are from Lincolnshire, though.

[Pillock]

Wanted to get a pumpkin (not the Range Rover sort) today but the fuckers have all disappeared.

I've just had to go to six different places, ending up at Lidl where they still had a few.

[Tamworthbay]

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.

This is what pisses me off, I was far from an angel as a kid but the stupidity we got up to never did any damage to anyone or their property. I just can’t see the mentality, part of me thinks it’s their money fuck em but they nearly drove the old man opposite into an asylum, sadly cancer got him instead.

[martc]

Things were much better in the good old days.

 

[captain_70s]

Why fireworks? All last week, fireworks. What's being celebrated? The fact that fireworks are now up for sale?

[Cavcraft]

I feel like this.

 

Our paint smells of cat pee and B&Q/Valspar couldn't give a shit or even apologize. I had to spend hours emailing them to get money back and pay for redecorating.

 

The bathroom has been a disaster. Taking builder to court. Along with the bathroom there is the outside stuff: they have painted a wall and covered the downpipes, windows and path with paint. The slates they quoted for fixing but then said looked fine on closer inspection blew off during storm Ophelia. Federation of Master builders response was "well we could investigate your complaint, but that won't fix your bathroom will it, dodo you really want us to?"

 

The people who supplied the bathroom: toilet seat broke in a week, sink plug broke after 2 weeks, shower screen lets water through the hinge, bath plug broke after 10months.

 

This parking ticket: we paid for the time we were there but put the wrong reg letters in. Told the attendant that we had put the wrong registration number on, he said keep the ticket and appeal. Parking company said that because we didn't call their helpline we can get to f*** and pay them £100.

 

Surveyor said survey would be ready in 5 days, chased it day 7, secretary said it's 7-10days. arrived after 12.

 

Someone drove into my car while I was stood next to it. I shouted, another guy tapped his window, and he just drove off.

 

The number of bathroom fitters and decorators who said they would come and quote and never showed.

 

Etc etc.

 

I feel like being nice, being reasonable and accomodating is a waste of time and goes unnoticed and is not repaid.

 

Genuinely know what you mean. You try and keep on being nice ('be the better person' they say) but sometimes it doesn't work. I'm afraid if someone is a **** then after a chance or two the only way to deal with them is to be the same in return. Horrible way to live mind you. 

[chodweaver]

^^^^^

This is boiling my piss too atm. But only cos I have one dog that shits himself at every bang, so I can't do anything of an evening as I have to keep him from going insane.

 

Thinking about it though, I do recall a certain house party from my 20s, where the 'straight' guests we invited showed up with fireworks and proceeded to loose them off horizontally at our neighbour's houses (well, the neighbour in question did have a rather precious porch on his semidetached with two miniature cannon on top, so he was asking for it).

 

We thought these invited guests would behave. We'd done food, an' everything...

 

Sent from my BV6000 using Tapatalk

[DodgeRover]

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

[forddeliveryboy]

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.

[Louise2cv]

The FMB don't even acknowledge my emails. Isn't that just basic manners?

 

Just so I don't sound like a serial complainer, I do and always have, make a point of praising good service. And I try not to get angry with the call handler.

 

But I did end up having a frustrated cry at the CAB lady who wouldn't talk to me because of "data protection" (my data that I had just given her by answering all of the security questions.).

[jakebullet]

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.

[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.

Sent from my BV6000 using Tapatalk

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.

 

Sent from my BV6000 using Tapatalk

[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?