Bena Mae’s Kitchen: What has happened to customer service?

It has become a nightmare for consumers. Especially if you have to deal with a call center that is located somewhere in India or Indonesia where they speak to you in broken English. It’s a common complaint. I know they don’t give two cents about your problem, but they could at least pretend they do.

I’m sure just about every one of you has a horror story when it comes to dealing with the phone company, or the cable company or whatever. If you do, cuss words are allowed.

I’m always nice to these repair guys whenever they come around. Partly because I’m a nice person and partly because I want them to remember me as a nice person. I know they are overworked and underpaid but that’s not their fault. Company profit is the bottom line

I had an incident that happened last week that really ticked me off. My phone went out–again. I called the phone company on my cell phone and asked that they send out a repairman. They told me it would take seven days. Seven days! I explained that I lived alone and was on life alert and because of my illness, I needed my phone at all times. (Cell phones don’t work with life alert.) I couldn’t sway them no matter how hard I tried. Seven days, that was it.

In desperation, I called my son. “Steve, you’ve got to help me out,” I said. I told him my problem and he said he would call the company for me. I figured a male voice might make them listen–it usually does because I’ve had to do this before. When he uses his lawyer voice it usually gets attention.

First thing the next morning, two telephone repairmen were at my door. Which leaves me to ponder, do companies have one rule for females and a different rule for males? Think about it.This brings to mind a story about a woman who had fought for a week with a phone company that promised to fix her phone. Day after day she waited for them as they promised to show up but never did.

Finally, in exasperation, she grabbed a hammer and drove her truck to the office.

After being made to wait in the waiting room a long period of time, she had had enough. She stormed into the receptionists office and started swinging the hammer. Bam! She said as she broke the receptionists phone into a thousand pieces.. “I don’t have a phone, now YOU don’t have a phone!”

Now where did I put my hammer?

SHIPWRECK DINNER

In a hurry? This meal is quick and filling.
 
Ingredients
1 lb. – extra-lean ground beef
1 pkg. – KRAFT Macaroni
       & Cheese Dinner
1 can – stewed tomatoes
1 cup – frozen peas
1 cup – milk
1 cup – KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture
       Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
 
Instructions:
Brown meat in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat; drain. Return to skillet.
Stir in Macaroni, Cheese Sauce Mix, tomatoes, peas and milk. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on medium-low heat 12 min. or until macaroni is tender, stirring occasionally.
Top with mozzarella. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, 5 min. or until mozzarella melts.