'sA-dE . com

Saedigh's Hit List: entry no. 1

Bell Canada

I have managed to avoid dealing with Ma Bell for over a year now, since getting rid of my landline last summer and moving to a strictly wireless existence. Unfortunately, now that I will be working from home in the P-broke, I have no choice but to sign up for residential service so that I can communicate with the office in Ottawa. I am okay with this, since I won't be paying the phone company, my employer will. But I still have to deal with the most annoying, poorly run corporation in Canada to get the service set up.

First, they give me a number already assigned to another customer. Fine, whatever, I hadn't given it out yet.

Now they are changing my installation appointment from Nov. 28th to Nov. 29th. Which would be fine, IF I WAS GOING TO BE HOME ON NOV. 29TH!!!! The reason I specifically ASKED for the 28th was because I have the 28th off work. On the 29th, I have to report back to Ottawa. The only one who would be home to let in a technician would be Dexter, and I have worked hard to train him not to talk to strangers.

Of course, they left this message for me at 5:59 PM last night, and their customer service desk closes at exactly 6 PM. So now I am sitting here, on hold, waiting for an explanation as to why their appointment-scheduling computer consistently hands out appointments that don't exist. Because, you see, this is not the first time it has happened to me. It has happened every time I have ever required any sort of service from Bell. It is one of the many, many, many reasons why I avoided dealing with them for so long, and why I will be signing up for an alternative as soon as one is available in the Pembroke area.