Customer Service? What's That?

I tried to pay my cell phone bill today. Please note the word 'try.' I may have been successful, but the customer service was a hindrance and the technology robbed me. Literally.

It started as I walked confidently into our local AT&T store to pay my phone bill. I smiled and looked around, noticing several employees lumped together. They stared back at me as though I had a cow on a leash at my side.

I walked up to what I perceived to be the friendliest face in the bunch.

"Who do I make my payment to," I asked.

"We don't take payments," the young girl said with obvious disdain in her voice. "Sir," she added after a brief hesitation. At least she was attempting courteousness. I think.

One of the gentleman in the group jumped to help me. He pointed out the payment kiosk, explained it and showed me how to get started and what to do.

The uncaring payment kiosk.

So I went through the motions. I input my account number. I hit electronic screen buttons. I verified my identity to the machine. It verified that I owed it money. And then... Problem.

Apparently, the payment machine takes credit cards, debit cards and exact cash, and perhaps checks. Of course, I had none of these with me. I had cash, but not the exact amount.

"Who do I get change from here in order to complete my payment," I asked that same 'friendly' face. I am a sucker for punishment.

"You have to bring yer own change," she said (another brief hesitation). "Sir."

I looked at her. I looked over at the kiosk. She made it clear she was finished with me. I figured the kiosk didn't care one way or the other.

So, as of today, I am a proud investor of AT&T. I now have an investment equaling the grand total of $3.98! Is that what they mean by pay it forward?

Thanks AT&T! Another happy customer (insert nasty grumble here)!

Another Laptop Shot to &*## !

Today's post has been created and brought to you through my iPod. But please don't be misled. I am NOT embracing the fleeting concept that is known as technology. In essence, I'm utilizing what I can in place of technology that no longer exists for me.

Why did I peck out this post one letter at a time on something so small that it borderlines on the tortuous and ridiculous? The answer lies upon my desk. Literally.

It's my door stop. A door stop sits upon my desk. It's a silver door stop. Nothing fancy. It has a standard QWERTY layout with a flip up 15 inch screen (I'm guessing). It has top mounted speakers and several other features which have all been rendered moot by the death of the screen, or hard drive or both!

My personal computer tech, alias my really awesome brother-in-law, originally told me that it might be the auxiliary battery from which the date and time stamp run off. Now that my Insipid, as I've renamed it, is in computer camp at his house, he said the hard drive crashed. Since I haven't been in any car accidents lately and I haven't dropped my computer, I'll just assume my son crashed the device into the wall or something.

Whatever! Regardless of the reason, my laptop has been rendered a lump of metal, plastic and wires. Like I said, a door stop.

Needless to say, I'm up that proverbial creek without a paddle. If I am lucky, my personal computer tech will be able to fix my "hand me down" laptop. Otherwise, I'll hope someone else will be getting a new computer and will throw their castoff in my direction.

Until then, the posts may be excruciatingly slow in coming since I'll be pecking them out one letter at a time on the iPod. Then I will have to retype them into my blog on a borrowed computer.