NationStates Jolt Archive

I've just spent 20 minutes trying to get in touch with someone at my internet provider.
Earlier this month, I left my wallet on the bus. Fortunately, some honest person found it and handed it in to the police. Not before they (or the person before them) took the cash and my octopus card*. But at least I got my versace wallet and ID cards back.
Before it was handed in, I did the usual thing of cancelling all my cards.

So of course, what happens is that I get a letter yesterday from my internet provider telling me they couldn't debit my visa for this month's bill and if I don't pay up by tonight, I'll be cut off.
Me being me, I totally forgot about it until just now, 30 minutes before their phone people leave for the night.

I hurriedly call up to give them my new card details and, after:
Dialing the 7 digit number
pressing 1 for english
Inputing my 10 digit account code
Being forced to listen to the robotic-sounding voice read it back to me
Pressing 1 to accept
Being forced to listen to the 8 possible options I can press (which I can't bypass by pressing the one I want automatically)
Pressing 1 for bill enquiries
Being forced to listen to the 5 possible options I can press (which I can't bypass by pressing the one I want automatically)\
Press 3 for changing my billing details
Being told that this can now be done on-line.

So I go on-line and find the right page, and lo-and-behold! It's closed 'for maintenance'.

So I go throught the whole frigging painful rigmarole as described above again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And again.

As I desperately try to find the sub-menu that will connect me to an actual person and not just tell me how I can do everything on-line at their wonderful new 'closed for maintenance' site.
Oh, did I mention that their phone menu system is set up that once you reach one sub-menu, you can't return up? That's right, you have to hang up and go through it all again.
And again.
And again.
And again.


I finally got hold of someone by going through, not the 'customer (dis)service' menu, but the 'technical faults' menu and pressing the sub-menu that allows me to reset my password.



I'm now the proud owner of a a broken phone. No prizes for guessing how and why it got broken.
I now have to go next door and apologise for the loud, voracious and colourful language emanating from my household just a few minutes prior.


Anyone else have happy phone-(dis)service tales?



(*fyi, the Octopus card here is a fantastic invention. It's sorta like an ATM card. You put money on it for use on the public transport here. You use it to unlock the turnstiles onto the subway and again when you leave. It automatically deducts your fare. You can use it on the buses and mini-buses as well and at the 7-11, chemists and supermarkets amongst others for buying anything. The parking meters even use them. I had mine set up that once it reached zero balance, it would automatically deduct $250 [~$30US] from my visa and fill the card up again. It's bloody awesome. I use it for all my day-today needs. You don't even need the card either. You can get a cheap watch that holds the chip or have in installed on your phone. Every city needs one of these. )

I feel your pain. I went round and round with Penney's customer no service about two weeks ago. Frustrating.:(

Oh, sometimes pressing the 0 gets you around the menues to a live person. Key word; sometimes. :(

I HATE f***king phone services!
Maybe you shouldn't 'f***k' them then...;)

That does sound rather painful though. Hope you get it sorted out.

That Octupus card thing sounds amazing - London should definitely think about introducing that. It's already got the Oyster card, which is used for public transport, but extending it to shops etc. would be great.

Tip for dealing with automated answering machines. Mash the buttons repeatedly. Eventually it will get confused and just hand you over to an operator.

Maybe you shouldn't 'f***k' them then...;)

That does sound rather painful though. Hope you get it sorted out.

That Octupus card thing sounds amazing - London should definitely think about introducing that. It's already got the Oyster card, which is used for public transport, but extending it to shops etc. would be great.Um... debit card? You need a minimum purchase of £5, but in London things are so expensive that it is not likely to happen. When I was living in London I don't think I saw anything above a £10 note for a whole year.

Automated phone services ... companies are just want to save $$$ by not employing people to answer phones for crappy products.

Um... debit card? You need a minimum purchase of £5, but in London things are so expensive that it is not likely to happen. When I was living in London I don't think I saw anything above a £10 note for a whole year.
But the cool thing about an octopus card is that you don't need to punch in any pin number and wait for it to clear. Just wave it over a scanner next to the till and it's automatic. It can even read it through your wallet (or purse if you're a girl). So if everyone uses one, it cuts down the pissing about at the till bit significantly. And cause it's 10% cheaper to use one on the subway than buying a ticket, everyone does have one.

Um... debit card? You need a minimum purchase of £5, but in London things are so expensive that it is not likely to happen. When I was living in London I don't think I saw anything above a £10 note for a whole year.
Apart from what DH has already said, the Oyster card is far simpler to use on the Tube because you don't have to go buy a ticket beforehand. Besides, most purchases I make are under £5, and I imagine they would be even in London (packet of chewing gum, the Guardian, and a bottle of Coke would never come to £5). So it would be more convenient.

Actually, if I were to change one thing about the Tube it would be to make the ticket gates open quicker - I walk into the bloody things every time.