I Write Letters A Lot

Dear (Future) Electric Provider,

No, I can't come into your office today to sign paperwork. I told you, I'm in South Carolina and won't be back in North Carolina until Saturday...when your office is closed. So basically I'm stuck waiting until next Monday before I can have the power turned on in my name. This is the first time I've experienced a situation where I can't simply pay my deposit and start service over the phone (after providing some pertinent personal information, of course).

Really, you need a better system for people moving from out of state or even out of town.

Yours Truly,

Jade


Dear AT&T,

If I can pull my new address up on Google maps and have it be accurate, I'm pretty sure that means it exists. If someone has been living there for a few years prior to my renting the place, I'm also equally sure that means the address exists in the US Postal system directory too.

This is not a new residence, and I'm positive I've got the numbers right. Thanks for keeping me on the phone for 20 minutes -- 15 of which I was on hold -- only to tell me I have to call back when I've verified that my address is correct even though I've told you AT&T, while it services part of North Carolina, does not service this portion of North Carolina. I asked residents there and was told my options for phone service, and not one of them included AT&T. Not that I was planning on keeping your service anyway because it looks like I can get a better deal with the cable company.

My only comfort is that when I call you back, when I finally get to talk to a real person, the note will be in there about me needing to disconnect my service after verifying the correct address. Seriously, you guys have been great to me in all my years using your service (even back when it was Bellsouth), but this experience is really souring me because I know it's only because you want to keep my money.

Really Freaking Aggravated,

Jade

Dear Financial Person,

Oh thank you for letting me know the money is going to be there today. That's a huge load off my mind.

Love,

Jade

Dear New Landlord,

Um, yeah. I don't understand why they say the address doesn't exist either. Sorry this is such a hassle!

Sincerely,

Jade

Anatomy of a phone call to AT&T.

From my previous post, you can tell that I've been having "fun" with utility companies today. I finally scheduled a disconnect for AT&T for this weekend after, get this, thirty-three minutes and forty-five seconds on the phone. That's not including the twenty-two minutes I spent getting nowhere this morning. (Turns out I was adding an extra number to the address, but even Sam said he saw the same address written down on my lease as I did. Must have been the landlord's handwriting.)

To amuse myself while being forced to listen to Mozart and various AT&T advertisements during my hold times, I wrote out little notes on Post-It Notes marking the passage of time provided by my phone's timer. I'll share those notes with you now:

( Read more... )

So overall, I've been up since 11:30 this morning and all I've really managed to accomplish is getting to the bank as planned.

Tonight I'm cleaning and vacuuming and possibly boxing up my books and the kiddo's books.

I Write (More) Letters

Dear Neighbors,

Thank you for taking the time tonight to illustrate one of the many reasons I won't miss you when I move this weekend. I hope the target shooting with your rifle in a residential area* continues to go well. Please note that my dog also thanks you for making her scared enough to go and hide in my bedroom. She really appreciates the loud booming noises that come out of nowhere.

Not Going to Miss You,

Jade

* = Yes, this is a residential area. However, due to the technicality that we are outside of the city limits and thus fall under the jurisdiction of the county sheriff's office, it is not illegal for them to fire their gun. It's incredibly stupid, irresponsible, and rude, but not illegal. A bullet can travel a very long distance, and seeing as each house around here is on a two to two-and-a-half acre lot, there's not much space between their backyard and their neighbors. Not to mention I can see them shooting their gun from my front yard.

I'm so posty today, but I am getting some things taken care of. I've already boxed up my pictures. Next I'm boxing up the kiddo's books and going through some of his toys to determine which are going to be given away and which are going with us.