Comments on: cooperate this

By: Mad Hatter

Mad Hatter — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:31:48 +0000

OK, I so love the way you write when you are grouchy that I kinda selfishly want you to be grouchy more often.

As for the Co-operaters? Shame on them and their small farming town marketing exploitative ways!

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:02:29 +0000

I’m pretty sure in a few hundred years, when someone writes a book about our ancient civilation, they’re going to have whole chapters devoted to the corrupt organized crime ring that was the insurance companies.

You have gotten some really sound advice. Clever readers you have. If all else fails, lose your mind. Go nuts, Mrs. Chicken style. Scare the pants off the sniveling, low level, mail room clerk that answers the phones. It might not get you anywhere with the whole insurance situation, but it’ll surely be therapeutic to release all of that unhealthy frustration.

By: Christy

Christy — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 02:11:28 +0000

I would be super pissed off. I used to remain calm in these tyoes of situations, but I have started becoming a beast on the phone.

By: Damselfly

Damselfly — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 01:33:32 +0000

I get riled up by injustices like this too. Gah! Maybe you can go with another company that’s nicer.

By: Hannah

Hannah — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:54:25 +0000

I’m annoyed enough after reading your post that I will call Guelph, pretending to be you, just for the satisfaction of peeling a strip off someone.

I’ve had many such issues recently – all related to the new house purchase – and sadly I have to say that the only thing you do is be mean, and persistent. I will give you one piece of advice – I worked in a call centre doing internet tech support for two years and we were allowed to end the call (i.e. hang up) as soon as the customer swore. So don’t swear, even though judging from this post you are very good at it.

And I echo everyone’s very good advice – write down everything, who you talked to, when, what they said, etc. The more facts you can throw at them, the quicker they’ll back off.

Good luck!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:11:40 +0000

Kick ass Bon; Call Guelph. I’ve gone up against student loan, insurance and phone companies before, and as long as you have dates and such under your belt, you’re normally good. Apologize to the poor rookie who had the misfortune to answer your call and explain that you’re PO’d and would appreciate a supervisor IMMEDIATELY. The poor schmucks are usually more than happy to oblige. I know this because of my call center experience.

Best of Luck!!!

By: LawyerMama

LawyerMama — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:11:42 +0000

I’m with Mrs. Chicken. I’d be kicking asses and taking names. Of course, you need to be polite, but sometimes vinegar gets the job done better than honey.

(I’m assuming they haven’t cashed your check. If so, I’d say you’re still covered no matter what they say.)

By: mimi

mimi — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:05:50 +0000

Well, everyone has, as Gwen notes, given you good advice already. Let me add that: rules notwithstanding, and ‘there’s nothing we can do’ notwithstanding, if you keep your head but remain firm, you can almost always get your way. Particularly if you threaten to leave the company. (Pynchon resolved a major cell phone carrier dispute this way right after Xmas, and I was ASTONISHED at the concessions he wrung out of those bastards at Telus.)

Pynchon says, if they won’t put you through to a manager, be a total total dick on the phone. They’ll put you through. Then turn it to sweetness and light when the manager gets on the line. It’s effective because it’s disconcerting.

By: Gwen

Gwen — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:57:13 +0000

Everyone has already given you all the advice you need, but I will say that I got angry and oh so frustrated just reading your post. What’s more infuriating than a disembodied voice on the phone that you can’t convince to do your bidding no matter how hard you try? (okay, lots of things are worse, but still).

I’d go with the flies to honey approach to begin with, and save the biting (sounds …. germy) for subsequent failures.

By: Mrs. Chicken

Mrs. Chicken — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:56:22 +0000

Insurance CAN be a matter of life or death. I was hit by someone with no insurance, who could not pay me for my injury, which is lifelong and debilitating.

OR, it could bankrupt you, should you kill or injure someone severely, you could go to jail.

So it is not a small matter that this company left you hanging in the wind without even telling you.

Me? Personally, I would tear them a new one locally, then run it allllllll the way up the food chain to whoever is in charge.

This is plain wrong, when you followed all their rules.

Disclaimer: I am a hothead, from a long line of hotheads.