Customer Service Hell: AT&T, MetroPOS, The thieving credit union

I cannot fscking believe just how rotten wireless phone company "customer service"can be.

I though AT&T was the absolute nadir of customer service. Their phone tree only seems to work when you need to pay them. Other than that, you have to creatively break the IVR's rules to get a Real Live Human Being™ on the line. But you could.

Boy was I wrong!

I switched to MetroPCS because they had unlimited calling and texting plans at a far better price than AT&T. Since Meece and I talk every night, sometimes for hours, something had to give. Meece's cell is on Sprint, but Sprint's calling plans make AT&T look downright cheap. I burned through a $50 AT&T phone card in less than two weeks even after changing to a $3 / day-of-use unlimited plan ($90 / month without text or data) when I was paying $10-$12 per call!

I went to Metro's store to see if my phone would work on their network -- it doesn't. Their version of the Motorola RAZR was too much, so I got their Kyocera almost work-alike phone for $50 less. My number port took extra time because of some confusion on my part over my AT&T account number, but I was able to keep my phone number.

All I can say about MetroPCS's phone tree is that it is terrible. The IVR is overly sensitive to ambient noise, forces you to confirm every single step, sometimes more than once. Once I managed to break the tree and get a human being, you get a typical don't-give-a-fsck rep with the empathy of a small gamey little ball of belly button lint. Five minutes of explanation to change my plan -- and he wanted to charge me $3 for making the change with a phone call!

I told this cretin to get stuffed and tried to do so online -- no joy. Back to automation hell to "fix it" -- and they still charged me the $3. Fsckers.

Thank Loki I do not have a 2 year contract with these morons. Since I just bought a phone, I'm in no position (other than "bend over and apply a generous dollop of lube") to change carriers again.

On the good side, Metro's wireless signal, data service and coverage have been better than AT&T's. Then again, diseased carrier pigeons and beat up tin cans on a grimy short string are better than AT&T's near worthless "EDGE" data network.

Finally, I fart in the general direction of the so-called "credit union" that maintains the ATM at work. This machine actually vended me a $10, not a twenty. I did not discover that fact till I tried to spend the bill, thinking it was a twenty. That was a dirty goddam trick.

Daily Bloggery 2009-05-28: " . . . there is Another."

Yes. Why yes there is.

And you know what? The terrain on this side of the Rubicon is even better.

ON TO ROME!

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Now playing: Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose - Too Late to Turn Back Now

No Surprise . . .

Your result for The LONG Scientific Personality Test...

INFP - the Healer

You scored 9% I to E, 11% N to S, 10% F to T, and 74% J to P!

You are more introverted than extroverted. You are more intuitive than observant, you are more feeling based than thinking based, and you prefer to go with the flow rather than having a plan. Your type can best be summarized by the word "Healer", which belongs to the larger group of idealists. You have a capacity for caring that is deeper than most. You strive for unity, are fascinated by the battles between good and evil, and can be something of an idealist. Only 1% of the population shares your type.

As a romantic partner, you are usually supprtive and nuturing, however, you have a high need for individuality. Harmony is extremely important to you as you are very affected by conflict and tension, which also makes you resist confronting your partner directly about problems. When you get angry, you usually blame yourself, rather than your partner. You can also be stubborn and unyielding when you feel you are being criticized or mistreated. You feel the most appreciated when your partner listens to you carefully. You need to be understood. You need to hear your partner express their feelings, the more often, the better.
Your group summary: idealists (NF)

Your type summary: INFP

Take The LONG Scientific Personality Test at HelloQuizzy

Okay....

Your result for The Social Persona Test (What kind of man/woman are you?)...

The Snowball's Chance in Hell (QTBM)

Quirky Traditional Beta Male

Welcome, friend, to this lonley little club of mine. You are doomed to wander the earth alone and unloved. Okay, not really. But you are kind of a dork. However, your combination of interests, values, and personality is so rare, that it will draw females to you if you just put yourself out there. Work on the confidence a bit too.

You are more QUIRKY than NORMAL.

You are more TRADITIONAL than LIBERAL.

You are more PASSIVE than DOMINANT.

When picking a date, consider: The Rarity (QTAF), The Renaissance Faire Wench (QLAF), The Librarian (QTBF), or The Emo Girl (QLBF).

Avoid: The Man-Eater (NTAF) and The FemiNazi (NLAF)

(Image from movingpicturemagazine.com)

Take The Social Persona Test (What kind of man/woman are you?) at HelloQuizzy

Daily Bloggery 2009-05-24: In Stockton . . .

Geeking out on assorted movies and playing WoW with Dakatirr on Draka. Kaj, HIB and Flick went out -- I was not interested in going anywhere. I am alone at the moment -- but not lonely.

My state of mind at the moment can be best described as calm. I'm focusing on the future, and yes, getting help for the identified issues I need to work. I have not broken down since Friday night, and with that I'm going to call it good.

Some of the lessons I am starting to grasp from this is a refinement of my search criteria for Ms. Right Enough. 1: I am going to be very very very careful with any lady who says she suffered abuse. If she admits to me that she has suffered abuse I will probe her relentlessly for triggering situations -- and avoid them. 2. Pagan-friendly and gaming-friendly is fine, no longer *has* to be Pagan and / or a gamer. 3. I'm going to look a lot more closely to how well we match emotionally.

Coda

What is now ended has been ended amicably and well.

There is sadness. . . and hope.

I look forward to the day when I can meet her again as "just" a friend.

Today was not "goodbye forever" -- it was "see you later." Too many good memories for anything else.

Thank you one and all.

When it's time to let go, move on . . .

. . . you do so.
I'm grieving a change that had to happen. There is pain, but no malice.
If I were home alone now . . . well, thank Goddess I'm not home. Or alone.
So mote it be!


Goddess bless you, Gwenny.