Tuesday, May 20, 2008

How Can I Put This Nicely?

Have you ever been given a task that was very doable, but the time frame in which you're given to do it is not?

Do you ever find yourself wanting to say more than just no?

HELL NO?

NO WAY?

I'll even give you a NO EFFING WAY?

Well, Grandy is all about customer service. Not only for my customers, but my customers' customers. Confused yet?? Me too.

It's somewhere in that connection that I start to lose my cool. I get that my clients are important, and their clients are important to them. But does Grandy really have to cater to their inane requests too? A girl's got to have her limits.

Here's a couple scenarios:

Company A (my client) received a letter from attorney representing Company B (their client) saying they want the carrier for Company A to agree to pay all defense costs by FRIDAY. Nevermind that this is our first notice of the freakin' lawsuit. Seriously? Really? You think I'm going to get the carrier to do flips all in an effort to avoid you suing my client?

Another favorite of mine is the all important letter of, "We think this is all your fault and want you to re-pay us $800,000 within 1o days." Wow!! What a steal!! Really? How should I make the check?

But alas... *sigh*... I will do what I need to do to make sure the clients are protected, while trying to help them save their relationship with their clients, but I instantly become David taking on Goliath.

I'm going to have to call in some favors for some of these things...and get some sleep. I'm wiped.

Better put your waders on folks...It's about to get thick around here real quick.

20 comments:

Momisodes said...

Oy. No effing way would be putting it nicely.

Hang in there. Hope it all ends well.

BipolarLawyerCook said...

I once told someone making a similar demand to put it in writing, so I could tell him to bite me in writing in response. I believe I used the phrase "your violation of the notice clause does not constitute an emergency on my client's part." Same thing.

Good luck.

Anonymous said...

I completely understand! I am a biostatistician and I honestly believe that people think I have an 'easy' button on my desk. They have no conception of the time it takes to respond to their requests properly, so everytime I hear, "I need this tomorrow", I just want to laugh in their faces.

XUP said...

This is where some public service experience would come in handy - oh yeah!

Mike Golch said...

Grandy,hang in there kiddo.

Mrs. F said...

biostatistician is a really difficult word to say, Gargantua.

Anyways Grandy, I hope you are not overworking yourself again!

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

I like BipolarLawyerCooks's response. I'd totally steal it if I were you.

Tina Coruth said...

Grandy,

Sometimes people are just unbelievable!! What color is the sky in their worlds?!?!

Hang in there. Don't let the jerks get you down.

Tina

Anonymous said...

I am ALL about being a Yes Man..My customers are MINE..and I do whatever I can to make sure that they..and their customers have a good experience when dealing with me..cause I care what they think.

PS..you won the iTunes giveaway..I'll email to you either later tonight or tomorrow when I get home from work...lucky dog.

Dirty Laundry Diva said...

Ah, and I am reminded of why I effing hate working in customer service!

People are so damn self centered and annoying!

Grandy said...

Sandy~ Thanks girl. Can I do what you just did?

BLC~ I was HOPING you would be able to stop by and offer some words of wisdom! You're AWESOME!!

Gargantua~ Why don't you laugh in their faces? THAT I have done.

xup~ I knew I liked you lady!!

Mike~ Thanks.

Mrs. F~ I had to read that biostatician 3 times to get it right in my head. But then...I'm not right in my head.

jenn~ I'm SO stealing it!! :)

Tina~ No way will they get me down (not permanently anyway) it's against my new healthy religion.

MP~ SHUT.UP!!! What happened to Amy T??

Dirty Laundry~ I'm so with you AND loving your name. Gotta come check you out. :)

Bugz said...

Good thing I don't do customer service, I'm a shoot from the hip kinda gal and I would tell them to bite me side ways. I like your blog!

jess said...

oh i'm wearing the chest waders. and a hat. i'ma need a rope, too.

xoxo

Grandy said...

Spicy Bug~ Glad you like. Thanks for stoppin' by!!

Jess~ Oh yea, you're going to need all those. :)

Mrs. G. said...

Just don't pick your nose while your driving fast!

Jennifer S said...

Hip waders? Yay! They'll look super-cute with my capris.

I agree that you should use BipolarLawyerCooks's response.

Travis Cody said...

I guess they think that the deadline will scare you into paying up.

I deal with sales guys who think that they can give me a 3000 case order at 3pm, and oh by the way I need it to ship right now today.

Grandy said...

Mrs. G~ Methinks you commented about my nose picking for the meme on the other post?

Jennifer~ Ooh the wader and capri idea sounds good.

Travis~ DON'T EVEN get me started on the sales guys. UGH!! They're the ones that make the stupid promises.

Anonymous said...

I'm a school administrator and I have to find a lot of creative ways to tell some parents that the reason why their children are failing is because there's no parental supervision at home and that sending them to school without breakfast and lunch money is unacceptable or that the reason why their child is late all the time is because they are allowed to stay up way late at night...*sigh*

Sorry if I wrote to much here.

Grandy said...

Chris~ Are you kidding? You didn't say too much at all! I have a friend who is a principal and DON'T envy her.