AT&T: Our Middle Name Is "Customer Service"

Feeling a bit ragged around the edges today.  Flashbacks will do that. 

I answered a random direct line (that goes to someone's office, but I don't know whose) this morning and it was a recording from our good friends at AT&T.  They said a repair person would be here on Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to address our telephone problems.  The recording said I should stay on the line if that time wasn't convenient.

I stayed on the line.  God help me.  A woman answered and I recounted the message, as an explanation of why we were having the conversation.  She wanted to know the phone number.  It's a line that goes directly to someone's office; I have absolutely no idea what that number is and no way for me to find out--at least any time soon.  Now if she had an hour or so, I could probably figure it out. They called me.  Why should I have to know what the number is?

"Well, what's your name?" she asked.

I told her my name and spelled it for her.  I asked her if it wouldn't be more helpful to know the company's name.  She reluctantly took it down while I spelled  that to her.  Address?  Can do.  Gave that to her, then she asks me what I want!

I said," I'm responding to the repair call so they know that there won't be anyone here after 4:00 on Friday."  I thought maybe they wouldn't wish to waste their time coming if no one is going to be here.  God help me.

The clueless (and quite lovely, I'm sure) AT&T woman informed me that the number I gave her was a residential number.  I pointed out to her that I was having the conversation with her from an office.  I reminded her that they called me.  She said she'd have to transfer me to the commercial repair folks.  She wanted me to hang on and put me on hold.

Now I ask you, why in hell would I want to hold on just so I could go through the whole annoying conversation with some other clueless (but quite lovely, I'm sure) AT&T representative?  That's right; there is no reason whatsoever.  So I hung up.  

If they show up to repair the phones on Friday at 6:30 p.m., I guess someone else in the office will have to explain to them again on Monday that we're only here until 4:00.  I'm so glad to have AT&T in charge once again.  Their middle name is "Customer Service," you know.