[788] in Central_America
New quotes for Fri Jun 17
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Fri Jun 17 01:23:48 1988
From: Don't reply to root! <root@ATHENA.MIT.EDU>
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 88 01:24:13 EDT
To: ca-mtg@bloom-beacon.mit.edu
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elsj (John E Elsbree):
Paraphrased summary of my nth call to NE Tel in the past two weeks:
NE Tel: New England Telephone, can I help you?
Me: Hello, I'd like to complain that my phone still isn't working.
NE Tel: What's your name and phone number?
Me: John Elsbree, 661-5807.
NE Tel: OK, please hold...
<muzak for 2 minutes>
NE Tel: I've got your file now. What seems to be the problem?
Me: My phone still isn't working. I plugged my phone directly
into the "network interface" your guy installed, and I heard
nothing but dead silence. You told me it would be working by
noon today, and it isn't.
NE Tel: Our records show that the installer showed up and you weren't
home.
Me: That's a lie. I was there when he showed up. I was told he
would show up between 8 and noon. I waited all day, and he
finally arrived at 4:30, so don't give me a hard time about
not showing. By the way, do you realize that was TWO WEEKS
AGO, and that I've been checking my phone and calling you
nearly every day since then?
NE Tel: Oh, there must be a mistake here. Hold on while I check
something.
<muzak for 5 minutes>
NE Tel: Hello? Here's the situation. We need to send someone out
there again to check the wiring of the interface. Can you be
there on Friday to let them in?
Me: What time?
NE Tel: We can't give you a definite time, but we can "try" to make it
in either the morning or the afternoon, by your request.
Me: I've heard that one before. You mean you're going to make me
waste an entire day AGAIN?
NE Tel: Yes, sorry.
Me: Well, try to make it in the morning then.
NE Tel: OK, sorry for all the trouble.
Me: (hanging up) Yeah, I'll bet.
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The Massachusetts Public Utilities Consumer Affairs office tells me
there's absolutely nothing I can do but wait.
I wonder if I can deduct the amount of money I'll lose (while waiting
around Friday instead of being at work) from my phone bill...
--- End of Central America ---
