Thursday, February 10, 2011

What fresh hell?

The above chat ate up 20 minutes and answered nothing. I took more screen shots, but you get the message. Though Chauncey was quick to answer initially, she (or he), needed much prompting to do so after an initial greeting and appears very tight lipped, so to speak.

Sometime last night, I lost my Verizon cell phone somewhere in Detroit. Another human found that phone and used it at 11:36 PM. They're not using it today though, as the number is shut off and a replacement phone is on its way to my house.

But, oh, the hassle to get even this far with Verizon was excruciatingly painful. I don't know when it happened, but sometime over the past two years, Verizon has gone completely automated. If you want to speak to a human, it must be done over the internet utilizing live chat. While I've done this with a Mac Genius without an issue, my experience with Verizon was awful. Either their chatters are multitasking and therefore inattentive, or they don't give a rat's ass how much time they're costing me. In 40 minutes, Chauncey and I exchanged less than 100 words, with me asking every 5 minutes, "hello? are you still there?" At which point Chauncey would answer, "yes," and only that, apparently having already forgotten the question I originally posed. I would have logged into my online Verizon account to handle all of my problems more readily, but I had forgotten my password. Verizon prompted they could text my password to my phone, but, hellllllllllo??????, my phone is LOST!!!

What I was avoiding was going to the Verizon store on the day of their iphone launch. Can I pick a good day to go? So, after 40 excruciating minutes with Chauncey, I packed up and headed to the Verizon store. I was in and out in 5 minutes, having learned I have replacement insurance. I got home and called the phone insurance company and promptly entered...you guessed it....automation hell.

Again.

I've spent 2 hours trying to order a new phone--two hours I had slated for a manicure.

Tell me, how is this technology supposed to make our lives easier, and in which country do you think Chauncey resides?


13 comments:

The Bug said...

Oh no! We just got new Verizon phones (switched from T-Mobile which did not have service at Dr. M's school). But we use the phones so infrequently that we got the $20 "starter" flip phones from walmart & are doing the pay as you go plan.

I'm going to guess India.

SkippyMom said...

Cellphones are more of a pain then they are worth - sorry people, my opinion.

When Comca*st screwed us so bad Pooldad attempted to get me a cellphone - yeah - well - it took days to activate and the clerk in the store was outsourced, as in he didn't speak English. I thought I would lose my mind.

I still have the damn thing, but I hate it.

Celia said...

Ugh! Tell me it aint so. I've had to suspend service and order a phone before, and it wasn't bad. Not a good move considering there's a lot of competition out there.

Darci said...

I am guessing the Middle East. We used to have to chat with tech support when I worked for Ccast and thankfully they normally would tell you if they were really busy and would be away.

Hopefully you can go for your pedicure soon.

I see your ticker is at two days!

Darci said...

Whoops, That would be manicure.

Stephanie V said...

They all do it...I can change my phone plan online but I can't access it because my account is 'temporarily unavailable'. been that way for two weeks now.
If I go to a store, they tell me that it'll be $35 to do what I could do online por nada.
So, sighs all around. I feel your misery. The world is often crazy-making.

Gail said...

I really dislike cell phones...phones of any kind.

I look forward to retirement when all the ringers will be turned off and my phone only works one way.

We are lucky, we do have a local office and when we have a problem, we go there.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

oh i KNOW! i hate that too! buggers...

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoox

Public Confessions said...

i love muh cell

-anonymous public confessions

Rositta said...

One word...INDIA...ciao

Jane said...

I hate automated phones, fine for routine things, but no good for sorting out problems.
Glad you got there in the end

unmitigated me said...

I feel like the lone voice here, but...Verizon has always given us awesome customer service. If you just repeatedly say, "representative" during the phone prompts, you'll get a person. I learned that trick awhile ago. Also, Chauncey? Lives inside a server at Verizon. It's an automated chat, searching for keywords in your text. I don't even bother with those anymore.

debra said...

We also have Verizon. I deal with a rep at a Verizon store. I call, text or email him directly. I have never waited, because I make appointments with him. I have also always had wonderful service with this guy. When I had problems with my 1st 3 HTC Droids, he helped until it was resolved ( I know have a Motorola). And when my daughter's phone was stolen in NYC, we called their 611 # and they deactivated it immediately.
I have, however, also "talked" to Chauncey---once. Never again.