Spare me the sob stories

[MoonChild2007]

Are there any employees here who just can't stand customers who pull the "sob story" mess? Frankly, I have heard it all, My boyfriend and I broke up, I am in the hospital, I have a crappy life, blah, blah.

I have heard so many excuses that it doesn't phase me anymore. In fact, one customer was literally crying over the phone because of her crappy life and she goes off telling me information that is none of my business to begin with. What sane person would tell me their personal life? It doesn't help that the bill is overdue, too. As an employee, I think she is pulling the sob story just so she can get what she wanted.

It may sound as though I am heartless but come on, this is CABLE. This would work with electric, gas, credit card companies but not with a freaking cable company. If the problem is that bad, cable should be the least of their worries.

[freeatlast]

I'm right there with you on that! I work for a company that rents portable storage units. Of course, these are way more expensive than the mine-warehouse type storage because they are brought right to you. You load them and then we pick them up. It amazes me how many people who are being evicted will order one of our containers that they can't afford. Then, when they are in danger of their container being auctioned off, they give you all the gory details of their life and expect that we will feel so sorry for them that we will erase their debt. I am the last person who will feel sorry for them, because there were lots of less expensive alternatives. I let them tell their sad, sad story and then ask them when we can expect payment for their delinquent debt.

[Miss Fatale]

I thought it was just me! I'm an instructor, and students have no compunction about telling me the juiciest, darkest secrets. I care in that I'm sorry fellow human beings are hurting, but. . . I don't really care. Either you turn your homework in on time or don't. If things are really that bad, just ask for an extension. The amount of time it took you to type everything up, you could have finished your work!

[MsCrankypants]

I get it a lot, too, because I work in social services. While I do feel genuinely sorry for those who've lost a loved one or have gone through a traumatic experience, it's not necessary to convey every detail, and in fact, the more juicy detail you give me, the more I'm inclined to think you just want me to tell you it's OK, you don't have to do this or that (which is required) in order to have your benefits.

It's a waste of my time and theirs. Just take care of business, on all counts, and spare me the sob story already!

[taxguykarl]

I get my share of the financial pain: bankruptcy, divorce, and baby mama/daddy dramas. I have a nagging feeling that this will get worse this season.

[Iris Kojiro]

It happens in the pharmacy world too. This post might even belong in the MIM section.

I once had a lady who wanted her (controlled substance) refilled because her (relative) died in a car wreck. The pharmacist approved it. I suggested that we should call the doctor and let him know the situation, but the pharmacist said not to, supplying the patient's reason for it.

In retrospect, I should have called the doctor anyway, but oh well.

[fireheart]

We don't get it at work, thankfully.

But still,

Some people are just heartless.

[Aethian]

Oh I hear it all the time...Again can we bring up the "Your lack in planning does not constitue an emergeny on my part?"

Blah, when Mom went into the hospitol she had me e-mail her professors and request an extension, only one didn't give it to her, unless she provided proof. Said professor came to the hospitol, took one look at her and told her to let him know when she was out. He then turned and walked away...made me laugh. He got his proof.

[SG15Z]

Yeah I hate sob stories. We're a grocery store not a food bank. Either you pay for the food or go to the places that will give you the food for free.

[trailerparkmedic]

This would work with electric, gas, credit card companies

Not always. I worked at a credit card call center, and one lady ruined it for everyone else I worked with. She calls in over a late fee; she was a good customer, so it could have been removed if she'd just asked nicely. No, instead she starts sobbing about how her husband was just killed in a car wreck a few weeks ago and their kids were seriously hurt, blah blah blah. I felt terrible, and started looking for other things I could do to help her. I offered a temporary interest rate reduction as part of a hardship program, and she says "Can you explain that to my husband? He's better at the numbers than I am."



Then, when I worked retention, most customers who called about their interest rates started crying about how they just couldn't afford even the minimum payments. Did they really not realize I could see their charges at Whole Foods, restaurants or the mall?

[Mr Hero]

I just got a sob story not 10 minutes ago. I'm about to post it on the SC forum.