Category: 
Comments: THE EXODUS
So, the move was a success, it actually didn’t take as long as I thought it would to get moved and unpacked. What did take time however was getting out internet up and running, we’ve used AT&T DSL since we moved here and I’ve had nothing but problems every time I’ve had to call them. This time however was something special. We officially moved on the 14th of of June, our DSL was not working until July 10th. I made repeated calls trying to deal with the situation, the last call however seemed to do the trick…
Thank you for calling AT&T Customer Service, this is Laura how can I help you?
Me: Good morning Laura, I need to speak to a supervisor please.
Laura: I’m sorry?
Me: So am I, don’t let it ruin your day.
Laura: One moment please sir.
Muzak version of “We’ve Only Just Begun” by the Carpenters begins to play (the irony is not lost on me)…
Thank you for calling AT&T, this is the Area Supervisor, I’m Betty, what seems to be the problem?
Me: Hello Betty, I don’t have a problem – I have problems, plural. First, on the 14th my wife and I moved a grand total of two blocks, we wanted to transfer our DSL service from our apartment to our new house. We tried to set up the transfer from the AT&T store where we got our phones and regularly pay our bill, after an hour and a half and 7 transfers I was told to hold for another 45 minutes and hung up. From home, I faired slightly better. This time it only took an hour to find out that I just couldn’t be helped. When I did finally get someone to help me I learned that the tech would be working the install while my wife and I were at the doctors for an ultrasound. We returned and found no notice from the installer, no evidence at all that he had been there. When I hooked everything up, there was no service. So, the following day I called and spent several hours trying to fix the problem. I was told that I would need a shorter phone cord and a variety of other small changes I could make that should fix the problem. The next day I received an eMail alerting me that my Home Phone service bill was available, and that it was due immediately. It was Saturday Night, well past the point where I could call and resolve the issue. Because see, I have no home phone service…
Betty: I’m sorry sir…
Me: No Betty, I’m sorry – see, I wasn’t finished. I’ve had to sit through hours of calls with people who didn’t care what the problem was, people who transfered me repeatedly rather than fixing it themselves. I’ve even had people shrug off my issues because it was almost time to go home. So, I think you can listen to the entirety of my problem now. Where was I, ah yes – home phone service. As I said, we haven’t had home phone service in years. We don’t intend to have home phone service, and as you might have guessed we don’t want home phone service. So, I called yet again to resolve this issue. However, the rep entered the wrong address resulting in my DSL service being activated across town, in the house of a woman whom I have never met. I tried to resolve this issue once I learned of it, in fact on the 3rd I called several times trying to fix the problem before the tech was scheduled to arrive on the 4th. I was assured it would be no problem, that the tech would call me. He could set up service, then we could call back on the 5th and get our address cleared up. The tech called me on the morning of the 4th, and as soon as I told him the problem with the address he told me he just couldn’t set me up until the address was corrected on the work order. He suggested that I call today and speak to a supervisor, which brings us to you Betty. Before you say another word, I want you to know I’m not happy. I’m a long time customer and you’re a communications company that appears to be bad at communicating. So Betty, what’s to be done?
So, that’s that. We’re now running on a faster line than previously and I’ve paid for a month of XBox Live, Netflix, and Hulu+ that I really didn’t get to use. As well as about $20 extra on my phone’s digital package waiting for the internet. The good news is though, I’ve got the office in pretty decent order. With my new workspace I should be back at full speed in no time, in fact with the way things are now organized I think I’ll have an easier time in general.
Anyhow, the wife’s gone to Kansas City for the week and I have an old friend staying with me. A bit of work is being done on the models, but as I have company I wouldn’t expect too much to get done just yet. Either way, things should be back to normal starting next week.
IN OTHER NEWS
With SRS Business back in action, it’s time to say hello to our newest member: Frostvein. You may recognize the name from my World of Warcraft days: he’s still around, he still likes hockey, and everyone else is still baddies. Frost has been working on some stuff that will be showing up from time to time, like his recent review of the Star Wars: the Old Republic. It’s likely you’ll see some back and forth from us on occasion as well. So, please join me in welcoming the frigid bitch to the team.
Thanks for reading guys, and check back next week for more…
