Catch-all thread

[chicowalker]

For those of you, like me, who don't think every "thought" (I'm being charitable there) that pops into somebody's head merits a thread, I've created this thread.

Any miscellaneous news items, experiences, etc. that you find interesting and wish to comment on, can go here.

I do ask that the usual couple characters not insert their inane ramblings here, though. Keep creating threads for them, if you must, but I'd like this thread to stick to reality, not your garbage.

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What spurred this today was my most recent experience with a government agency in my business. Just though I'd share to give some of the folks who haven't run businesses an idea of the kind of things I look at as a business owner and see as too much government, and/or government run poorly.

This AM I get a voicemail from a state office of employment services. (This is a borderline state re red v blue, btw) The woman gives me her first name, tells me she's calling about a former employee, and refers to some deadlines for paperwork. She doesn't give a phone number, extension, email address, employee # or last name. She does provide a fax # for us to send any information by today's "deadline."

The kicker: I have no idea what she's talking about. We haven't received any paperwork from the agency about this employee. As a result, I have no idea what paperwork the woman is referring to or any deadlines or what we're being asked to provide.

I go online to try to track down a phone #. The only # listed doesn't give options for what I'm calling about or any way to reach a live person. I eventually track down a # that has her same prefix, but I repeatedly receive a message saying they are experiencing call volumes and should call back later. No option to hold or transfer, it just disconnects you.

After wasting 45 minutes of my day, I'm done (I don't use faxes anymore, and in any case, they're hardly well suited to actual communication b/t 2 parties) -- though I now have a nagging thought in my head re what this might be about, all thanks to an inept bureaucracy and a bureaucracy's inept employee.

Thanks, state government!

[DarrylS]

As innefficient as State Government can be, do not generalize...

I am very concerned today as I see Bolton's name being thrown out as a Secretary of State, if so can Wolfowitz be far behind?? In either case if true, we will at war again within the next 24 months... and we will be involved for another ten years.

Is Cheney the puppetmaster??

The economy will stay in the ****ter and we will blame Barney Frank or whoever succeeds him...

[chicowalker]

Originally Posted by DarrylS

As innefficient as State Government can be, do not generalize......

well, this isn't exactly my first experience dealing with this, or other, state agencies (same goes for local goverenments)

It's not a good sign when any positive experience is viewed as a pleasant surprise, and that absolutely has been my experience w/various government agencies at various levels.

(btw, that's certainly not limited to government. There are plenty of companies I detest dealing with. The critical differences are that dealing with those companies is generally my choice, and those companies have no authority over anything I do. for all I know this agency will try to fine me for not meeting their "deadline" -- on whatever it is they want from me.)

[The Brandon Five]

Originally Posted by DarrylS

Not defending state gov't, that would be ludicrous.. they are a model of inneficiency, but in every system there are some idiots, in this case you got one..

Next time ask if you can speak to a supervisor...

Hard to ask for a supervisor from a voicemail.

[PatriotsReign]

Too bad you don't send faxes....I'd send one stating "To the idiot who called me, please call me back!"

I think that would not only be appropriate, it would be the right thing to do.

[DarrylS]

Originally Posted by The Brandon Five

Hard to ask for a supervisor from a voicemail.

I missed that.. good find.

Deleted post..

[PatriotsReign]

Since this is a catch-all thread about thoughts that pop into our heads....

ever wonder where people get their driving habits? My peeves are Massachusetts-based, but prolly apply elsewhere.

Why do people thinks it's ok to
- not to stop at a STOP sign?
- Drive in the passing lane and not drive faster than the other lanes?
- Think it's ok NOT to turn right on red when the sign says "Right on Red"?
- Speed up when you try to pass them?
- Pull out of a side street and make you hit the brakes hard when there are no cars behind you?

Then there is my favorite driver...THE REGULATOR. These people drive in the passing lane at the speed limit only to slow down other drivers.

I feel much better!

[Mrs.PatsFanInVa]

It's not just governments - here's an excerpt from a recent phone call with our local cable provider - the one who switched to a new cable box system and "forgot" to notify roughly half of their customers. After waiting 6 days for the new boxes to come I was trying to install them and it needed a phone call to a computer to complete.

"Are you having trouble getting your cable television to work?"

"Yes."

"Please disconnect the cable connection from the back of the television, wait 60 seconds and reconnect it. We will then be able to run a test right here in the office to determine if your cable connection has been successful. Do not hang up. It is important for you to complete Step 2 before terminating this phone call."

"Ok. Done."

"Thank you. We are now going to run a check on your connection. This may take a few minutes to complete. Do not hang up. Please be advised that if Comcast also supplies your phone service there is a high likelihood that this call will automatically disconnect. We apologize for this inconvienence."

Dial tone.

The best part is - if you call back and manage to figure out how to bypass the automated system and get a live person that person will, very apologetically, tell you that a live person cannot complete a connection, only the computer can complete a connection - and if you have Comcast as your phone provider, the computer glitches and disconnects you.

But they're working on it.......

[Gainzo]

Good thread chico and I agree with you that State government leaves a lot to be desired.

My thought today was how many GOP candidates are going to attend The Donald's debate. At last count I think only Santorum and Newt are going to show up.

[Harry Boy]

Originally Posted by chicowalker

For those of you, like me, who don't think every "thought" (I'm being charitable there) that pops into somebody's head merits a thread, I've created this thread.

Any miscellaneous news items, experiences, etc. that you find interesting and wish to comment on, can go here.

I do ask that the usual couple characters not insert their inane ramblings here, though. Keep creating threads for them, if you must, but I'd like this thread to stick to reality, not your garbage.

-----------

What spurred this today was my most recent experience with a government agency in my business. Just though I'd share to give some of the folks who haven't run businesses an idea of the kind of things I look at as a business owner and see as too much government, and/or government run poorly.

This AM I get a voicemail from a state office of employment services. (This is a borderline state re red v blue, btw) The woman gives me her first name, tells me she's calling about a former employee, and refers to some deadlines for paperwork. She doesn't give a phone number, extension, email address, employee # or last name. She does provide a fax # for us to send any information by today's "deadline."

The kicker: I have no idea what she's talking about. We haven't received any paperwork from the agency about this employee. As a result, I have no idea what paperwork the woman is referring to or any deadlines or what we're being asked to provide.

I go online to try to track down a phone #. The only # listed doesn't give options for what I'm calling about or any way to reach a live person. I eventually track down a # that has her same prefix, but I repeatedly receive a message saying they are experiencing call volumes and should call back later. No option to hold or transfer, it just disconnects you.

After wasting 45 minutes of my day, I'm done (I don't use faxes anymore, and in any case, they're hardly well suited to actual communication b/t 2 parties) -- though I now have a nagging thought in my head re what this might be about, all thanks to an inept bureaucracy and a bureaucracy's inept employee.

Thanks, state government!

Copy this and Fax it back to her.

"Hi, go f-ck yourself"
Merry Christmas