I lost it!

I am a patient man. I try not to let little things upset me but sometimes they get the best of me. Take yesterday for example. I am interested in getting my son’s phone added to my family plan. He wants to keep the same phone number because he uses it in his plant business and has business cards and signs made with that number on it.

So I called my cell phone company with only one question. The conversation went like this:

Me: Hi, my name is Greg. I want to add my son to our family plan……(she cut me off)
Her: What is the primary phone number on the account?

I gave her the number and waited while she looked up the account.

Her: Yes you can add a phone on that account.
Me: I knew that. My question is can he keep the same number. He already has a phone with another company.
Her: You will have to speak with “new accounts”. They can look up the number and see if it is transferable.
Me: That sounds great, can you connect me?
Her: Yes sir. Is there anything else I can do for you today?

I said no but I am thinking; She hasn’t done ANYTHING for me yet.
She connects me with “new accounts”. Enter new customer service rep.

Her: Elloow, cun eai hav eur full nam an phon number?
Me: Excuse me.
Her: eur nam?
Me: Greg C.
Her: an eur number?
Me: Wait, I just have a simple question. I want to know if my son’s phone number can be used if I add him to my plan?
Her: I will ned eur phon number.

I gave her the number, knowing full well I was headed for a dead end.

Her: Can I have eur secret code?
Me: Maam I don’t know my secret code.
Her: I can have a new code sent to you.
Me: (getting angry now) Please I just want to ask about this new phone number
Her: Sir I will need your code.
Me: (raising my voice) Look I just want to ask about this new number. I don’t want to add it now, I just want to know if it is possible. Do you understand?
Her: Sir I will need your code.
Me: You mean to tell me that you can’t look up this other phone number and tell me if it is compatible?
Her: Not without your code.
Me: I really don’t think you understand what I am asking for.

There is silence then she says:

Her: Would you like me to have a new code sent to you?
Me: ( this is where I lost it) No, what I want is to speak with someone that can understand English. Do you understand what I am saying? (no answer) DO YOU SPEAKA ANY ENGLISH! (no answer) Are you English? (no answer) Where are you? Where do you live? Very quietly she said “Argentina.”

At this point I am steaming. So I just said. I am sorry you can’t help me and I hung up.
I don’t know why these American companies have to use foreign people as customer service representatives. Does it really save that much money? Everyone I have talked with doesn’t like it. I know I don’t. Not that I have anything at all against foreigners in fact I usually like most of them I meet. It is just that speaking English and understanding it are two different things.

I felt bad after getting angry with her but I wasted all that time and left without getting my question answered. I am over it now though.

Have a great day,
Greg