June 12, 2009

The Complaint


Being a long time veteran of the service/hospitality industry I am familiar with complaints. I see them often, and have gained the ability to predict when situations will almost certainly end in one.

The Steakhouse provides comment cards at every table, with the incentive of a free appetizer to get people's participation. Throughout the night I will receive at least a dozen, and at the end of the shift I'll read through them just before I turn them in.
Being on the receiving end of my fair share of complaints from guests, I know it is both annoying and ridiculous, and though I do not claim total innocence, I must say in my defense that often times there is little I can do when the kitchen overcooks a steak, or forgets to send an appetizer out first.
There is nothing I hate more then being berated by management, accused of God knows what and being forced to defend myself.This being said, I know what it is like to receive a complaint. And I don't like it. I dislike it so much in fact, that I have tried to not become the type of person who makes such complaints.

A few days ago I shared a story with you about a fat old hag called Ida. Well, I had another run in with Ida on Friday. She called me to tell me that the loan offer had come back and that I needed to come into the Bank with several pay stubs for income verification. Due to my overall annoyance, and lack of desire to give the old bag anymore airtime then she deserves, I will spare you all the gruesome details, but will say this: Never have I been so publicly mocked, berated, and alienated. She spoke to me as if she were royalty and I was no better then a maid. Couple that with the snarky attitude, unacceptable comments, glares and the complimentary eye rolls, and I will go on record as having officially had The Worst experience with someone working in Customer Service.
After the first experience, I though maybe Ida had a rough day. Maybe she was frustrated and took out her aggression on me. After the second experience, I realized that either she hates skinny blond girls, or she is just a self righteous, and self serving sack of horse shit that has no place working with the general public. My guess is the latter.
So after some serious reflection, I have decided to file a complaint. Now, unlike the douche tanks that complain at the steakhouse, I do not hope to gain anything by doing this and I do not have an agenda. I simply hope to accomplish one of two things. The first is to send Ida a message.
You cannot treat people like they are garbage. Sure I am in my early twenties, and working as a waitress but I deserve the same amount of respect as the lawyer in her forties pulling in 100 large a year.
And second, to inform management that one woman's actions may be costing them much in terms of business, because if anyone else received the same treatment that I did, then they would be wise to react the same way I did, and that would be to take my money, and my business elsewhere.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good for you! Waiters are not looked upon the same as others by banks and other lending institutions. You have a right to complain and who knows maybe something will be done about it.

Anonymous said...

Please keep us posted on whatever communication the bank sends back. Especially in light of your Insufficient Income entry. She's in the service industry and regardless of her own personal opinions about your employment situation, it's her job to provide the same customer service to you as she would give someone who is pulling six figures. Her loss for ruining it for herself.

Anonymous said...

I wholeheartedly agree. When someone's a jerk and rude and treats you like trash, that's definitely grounds for filing a complaint. How you earn your income is irrelevant as long as it's legal. Crap like that really brasses me off and if I were in your situation, I'd definitely be making myself heard.

I've worked in retail and customer service on and off (mostly on) since I was fifteen (thirty now) so I'll cut fellow wage slaves slack and go out of my way to make their jobs easier when I can and always try to make sure the managers hear when I've gotten particularly good service. I'll also let the managers know when there's a problem. Heck, if someone is doing their job the way it should be done I'll leave a glowing report on a comment card.

Garlicpbo said...

I am a hairdresser. I have been married twice. I have always made more money than both. I was told at the local ford dealership to come back when my hubby could sign the paperwork to buy a new car! Guess who didn't get my business? I don't know if it was female or hairdresser discrimination. When I financed my first house, the loan officer said she could offer me a better APR if I left my hubby off the loan. What a difference an attitude makes. I am pretty sure the ford dealership didn't bother to even check my credit!