Wednesday 15 December 2010

EXTREME FRUSTRATION

This is mad.

At the end of November I received a reminder that the TV Licence was due for renewal and that the payment would be taken by Direct Debit. OK. Problem. The TV Licence was in Davy's name and the bank they would be trying to take the Direct Debit from had been closed.

You would think that this would easy to recitify. One 'phone call links me to an automated system with 6 selections all with 6 additional lists option. Several minutes later I finally get me through to "an adviser" who "advised" me that it was too difficult to change this. The best plan was to apply for a new licence in my name when the licence expires.

1st December, exiry day, I go through the same routine. Name changed, OK, new direct debit form will be sent out. Brilliant.

Yesterday (14th December) I realise that I haven't had the new direct debit form. Coincidentally I also receive a voice mail advising me that the direct debit had been cancelled, asking if I wanted to set it up again?

So..onto the 'phone again, through the same routine to be eventually connected to "an adviser" who would not listen to my sad tale of woe and insisted that the licence WAS in my name and HAD been paid. I tried to explain that this was not possible and I had even received a voice mail tell me this. He said that it wasn't him that had 'phoned and that his computer told him a payment had been taken. I again explained that this was not possible because the account that the direct debit had been set up in was now closed.

We then went into a vortex, me saying my script, him endlessly repeating his. I ended up so stressed out that I shouted down the 'phone "the least you could do would be to say "sorry you have been troubled by this at this traumatic time in your life, I'll look into it and 'phone you back"". But this tough cookie told me that he had worked in this job for 15 years and he knew how things went. The licence, in my name, had been paid. So be it. Watch this space.

Where do they get these characters from and how can they hide for 15 years without getting the sack?

Oh! and I should mention that I have just written an update on my travel blog http://www.travelpod.com/z/retiredandcrazy/1/1292398080.

15 comments:

DogLover said...

Just wait another 20 or so years and you'll be 75 and entitled to a free licence. But make sure you cancel that monthly direct debit!

Maggie May said...

I cannot understand why it should be such a big problem but I have had lots of stupid things happen to me involving endless phone calls and frustration.
All we need is to speak to a real person who communicates with the rest of the staff and who is not so reliant on computers.
You could do without all this hassle.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Anonymous said...

It seems to me that everything we ask for in this country is a big problem. Nothing is straight forward anymore, mountains are continuously made out of molehills. Too much paper work and not enough action in my opinion.

CJ xx

Unknown said...

Crazy sometimes, trying to straighten such things out!

RNSANE said...

No wonder we get wrinkles!

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

You are so kind DogLover.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Maggie, my next "challenge" is that for some obscure reason E-On want to change my electric meter. This fills me with total terror. I just know they will f..k it up and try to charge me vast sums of money due to their incredible incompetence. But I think that challenge on one to be tackled after Christmas.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

If only we were in charge CJ!

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

You can say that again Eva.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Wrinkles Carmen? Whatever can you mean?

Sueann said...

Not only wrinkles but gray hairs as well!! Why do people have to be so ornery!!!
Sigh!
Good luck
Hugs
SueAnn

Nick said...

You have to pay for a TV licence? Shhhh, not so loud, you might give the feds here in the US some idea.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Now that is a mystery I can't solve SueAnn

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Our TV Licence is to fund the BBC so that we can continue to have unbiased, impartial journalism and programmes without advertising. Huh! The BBC is extremely left wing and adversiting is creeping in in the form of public service information. Watch this space - I suspect that commercial advertising will not be far behind. It will be interesting to see how they rationalise that!

Eddie Bluelights said...

Does your local radio station run a programme sorting out this sort of thing. If so you could threaten them to let the staion have all the details 'on air'. This usually puts the fear of God into them and they do something positive to fix things.
It is a sad state of things and typical of these nonsensical and uncaring times in which we live. Good customer service has gone for ever ot seems. Dreadful state of affairs and all these automated telephone menus drive everyone mad. Dial 00 and you usually get a human being.
Hugs ~ Eddie