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mtbcA couple of examples of where I wish service providers could do better:
Broadband
First, my existing provider, Comcast. They are charging me a termination fee because my contract is not yet up for my broadband service here in Oak Ridge. This is fair enough, though it feels a bit mean under the circumstances. What annoyed me was the customer service representative's framing of this: they kept phrasing it in terms of my choosing not to be with them any more. I made it very clear that the problem was that I am moving to Europe where they don't offer service so the change of broadband provider is forced on me, I would have completed the contract had they been able to provide service at my new residence. At least I'll be leaving them behind. I don't think it helped that I don't think the representative understood well, possibly through a lack of fluency in English, or an inability to depart from the standard script, so maybe best I need not deal with them any more.
In the UK, I planned to use Zen. Admittedly, they had screwed up the move to Dundee by becoming incommunicado partway through the process; as I mentioned previously, it turned out that they had managed to assign the case to somebody who was on vacation. This time, again, partway through interaction of setting up the service request, radio silence, despite their already knowing I want service as fast as they can provide it. I wonder if they somehow managed to make the same mistake? So, I'll opt for Andrews & Arnold instead, who appear not to be able to do much without knowing the number of the current line to the flat, though Zen could figure enough simply from the address (before they stopped responding). The letting agent can't provide that number. So, I figure, I borrow somebody's telephone, hope that dialling 17070 still works for discovering the number, then place the order, and get broadband a couple of weeks later than I'd have liked.
Car Insurance
Proof of previous coverage is good in setting up new coverage. Some time ago, I asked State Farm, my current insurer, for such a letter. It's taken so long that, a while ago, they reached out to say that, yes, it's in process, they'll provide it when they can. Still, nothing.
In the meantime, more than a fortnight ago now, I reached out to the NFU branch in Cupar, with whom I'd previously dealt, to check basic things like that it's no great problem for them that my recent driving history and coverage has been in the US. Again, no answer. Eventually I poked them and got as far as their saying that they'd talk to me once I was back in Scotland. Apparently, it's too much to ask for me to want to get my options figured out before I actually need the insurance.
I reached out to NFU in Aberdeen, who seemed responsive but didn't want to take me on while I have a policy with another branch. Not realizing I had such a policy, further enquiry turns out that (I'm fairly sure, contrary to previous instructions) I am still a holder on my Dundee family's policy so that needs fixing. Except, it turns out, Cupar can't take me off the policy without then charging outrageously much for my eldest because the rules for under-25s have changed, so that's still being sorted out. And the Aberdeen branch, having now learned more and become willing to take me on, still haven't answered my few generic questions, are short-staffed, and suggest that I call their main centre for a quote, though the movers took my
Broadband
First, my existing provider, Comcast. They are charging me a termination fee because my contract is not yet up for my broadband service here in Oak Ridge. This is fair enough, though it feels a bit mean under the circumstances. What annoyed me was the customer service representative's framing of this: they kept phrasing it in terms of my choosing not to be with them any more. I made it very clear that the problem was that I am moving to Europe where they don't offer service so the change of broadband provider is forced on me, I would have completed the contract had they been able to provide service at my new residence. At least I'll be leaving them behind. I don't think it helped that I don't think the representative understood well, possibly through a lack of fluency in English, or an inability to depart from the standard script, so maybe best I need not deal with them any more.
In the UK, I planned to use Zen. Admittedly, they had screwed up the move to Dundee by becoming incommunicado partway through the process; as I mentioned previously, it turned out that they had managed to assign the case to somebody who was on vacation. This time, again, partway through interaction of setting up the service request, radio silence, despite their already knowing I want service as fast as they can provide it. I wonder if they somehow managed to make the same mistake? So, I'll opt for Andrews & Arnold instead, who appear not to be able to do much without knowing the number of the current line to the flat, though Zen could figure enough simply from the address (before they stopped responding). The letting agent can't provide that number. So, I figure, I borrow somebody's telephone, hope that dialling 17070 still works for discovering the number, then place the order, and get broadband a couple of weeks later than I'd have liked.
Car Insurance
Proof of previous coverage is good in setting up new coverage. Some time ago, I asked State Farm, my current insurer, for such a letter. It's taken so long that, a while ago, they reached out to say that, yes, it's in process, they'll provide it when they can. Still, nothing.
In the meantime, more than a fortnight ago now, I reached out to the NFU branch in Cupar, with whom I'd previously dealt, to check basic things like that it's no great problem for them that my recent driving history and coverage has been in the US. Again, no answer. Eventually I poked them and got as far as their saying that they'd talk to me once I was back in Scotland. Apparently, it's too much to ask for me to want to get my options figured out before I actually need the insurance.
I reached out to NFU in Aberdeen, who seemed responsive but didn't want to take me on while I have a policy with another branch. Not realizing I had such a policy, further enquiry turns out that (I'm fairly sure, contrary to previous instructions) I am still a holder on my Dundee family's policy so that needs fixing. Except, it turns out, Cupar can't take me off the policy without then charging outrageously much for my eldest because the rules for under-25s have changed, so that's still being sorted out. And the Aberdeen branch, having now learned more and become willing to take me on, still haven't answered my few generic questions, are short-staffed, and suggest that I call their main centre for a quote, though the movers took my
call the UK cheaplyequipment. In short, does anyone want to suggest alternatives to NFU? Probably, I end up just dropping into a branch in person once there next week.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-17 03:31 pm (UTC)Re: Statefarm, if you take a copy of your policy showing it to be in force, that might be enough? Dunno.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-18 05:51 am (UTC)