tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post3693658794746558171..comments2023-07-19T04:05:34.796-04:00Comments on Of Cabbages and Kings: Classical GasAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10883854503294092142noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-74236682133820619622009-01-21T15:33:00.000-05:002009-01-21T15:33:00.000-05:00TimeThief- Yes, I was flabbergasted too, the first...TimeThief- Yes, I was flabbergasted too, the first time I found out their rules and hours. And it seems every time I deal with them it's a little bit different...<BR/><BR/>And a little bit more frustrating.<BR/><BR/>At least when I finally got through the service rep was nice. They had that going for them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10883854503294092142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-4753260954934282922009-01-21T14:51:00.000-05:002009-01-21T14:51:00.000-05:00OMG! What a horror story. What you have gone throu...OMG! What a horror story. What you have gone through is next to unbelievable. I'm flabbergasted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-82101068749305775042009-01-21T10:33:00.000-05:002009-01-21T10:33:00.000-05:00Chyna- Lately with the negative temps, that's not ...Chyna- Lately with the negative temps, that's not so much been a risk I want to take. :) You'll find me like Jack Nicholson at the end of the Shining, all frozen in place. <BR/><BR/>LunaticG- Possibly so. I just wish the robots had a bit more user-testing! :)<BR/><BR/>EttaRose- Yes, I agree with the butterbeans-suckishness. :) Unless people-- REAL PEOPLE-- genuinely test to see how humans think and use it.<BR/><BR/>Drowsey- Emily?! You mean they tell you your Robo-Operator's name? Ours are always anonymous-- so I guess we don't find out what CPU they live in and get 'em.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10883854503294092142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-4838736851612407362009-01-21T10:26:00.000-05:002009-01-21T10:26:00.000-05:00robo-operators are the worst! We have "Emily" at B...robo-operators are the worst! We have "Emily" at Bell Canada. If you ever hear a Canadian saying "Emily is a Bitch" you know they've just been stuck in telephone hell with the phone company. I even bet Emily as a name for kids has gone way down.MYMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17679094659957098225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-18163239649880624772009-01-21T06:49:00.000-05:002009-01-21T06:49:00.000-05:00Jen, any automated service sucks butter beans. All...Jen, any automated service sucks butter beans. All of them. What happened to the days of speaking with a human being. We pay enough to hire a couple.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13178737973585191754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-60850507782768816462009-01-20T19:32:00.000-05:002009-01-20T19:32:00.000-05:00Kakakakaka....Sorry but it sound funny to me. In t...Kakakakaka....<BR/>Sorry but it sound funny to me. In this world nowadays, we will stumble with more and more robot then human.<BR/>*sigh*Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-27645617582298980382009-01-20T18:58:00.000-05:002009-01-20T18:58:00.000-05:00I don't know about your state but here it is illeg...I don't know about your state but here it is illegal to turn off the heat in the winter months. I always wanted to test that out just to see. ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-20813223904671367742009-01-20T15:54:00.000-05:002009-01-20T15:54:00.000-05:00Jay- Well, whether or not they really do cut the g...Jay- Well, whether or not they really do cut the gas off, I don't necessarily want to test out. The reconnecting would be a pain, plus cost fees.<BR/><BR/>Tiffany- Oh, isn't that just so nice of Google... Sorry 'bout that! Your busy schedule might have just gotten even fuller. :) <BR/><BR/>I've got an appointment with them for Friday afternoon now-- so a semi-long weekend for me, which is nice. I'm trying to make lemonade out of the situation. And then I'll be back in the same situation with them in another six months...<BR/><BR/>Feh.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10883854503294092142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-37560490336477106652009-01-20T15:43:00.000-05:002009-01-20T15:43:00.000-05:00When I opened this post in my email, Google helpfu...When I opened this post in my email, Google helpfully offered me the opportunity to "add appointments in 4-hour blocks, Monday January 26" to my calendar. Automation at it's best yet again...<BR/><BR/>But don't let them push you around. It's probably too cold for them to legally turn off your gas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-77692344973357351022009-01-20T14:45:00.000-05:002009-01-20T14:45:00.000-05:00Oh, how I hate those automated phone answering opt...Oh, how I hate those automated phone answering options menus - especially the ones who tell you helpfully that you didn't respond. <BR/><BR/>They really cut you off if they can't read your meter? Over here, they just guess, which is a good incentive to be in when they call, because they overestimate enormously and charge you the earth, just to be on the safe side.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-8677513834279627682009-01-20T08:00:00.000-05:002009-01-20T08:00:00.000-05:00Marvel- Actually, my gas company has a facility on...Marvel- Actually, my gas company has a facility online where you can move the dial hands to where they are on your dials, and then it tells you the reading. So you can't really screw anything up. <BR/><BR/>(Otherwise, it is seriously confusing!)<BR/><BR/>THIS I give them huge credit for. It was a great idea. But they really need to user-test how their phone system is set up, and the information they give to their customers which always seems to contradict itself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-1758665096071154992009-01-20T00:34:00.000-05:002009-01-20T00:34:00.000-05:00oh, and did their website tell you that you read m...oh, and did their website tell you that you read meters from right to left instead of left to right? This can be major. Here is why...<BR/><BR/>Let's say the right most dial is at a 7 and the next dial is halfway between 2 and 3. In that case, the second number would be three because the digit below is a 7 (on a scale of 10). Move up the dials in this manner remembering that you always round up if the last digit was above five and below if it was under 5. Exactly five means you go up.<BR/><BR/>Figuring out where the dial is when it is not exactly on a number becomes critical on the 3rd and fourth dial because being off by 1 will be expressed in being off by a hundred or a thousand cubic feet.<BR/><BR/>Re-read it and see if your reading changes!<BR/><BR/>Well, I made it through 6 blogs before I started rattling off again...Marvel Goosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02394584380271162466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-37699243102857268022009-01-20T00:21:00.000-05:002009-01-20T00:21:00.000-05:00All natural gas monopolies are regulated by a stat...All natural gas monopolies are regulated by a state government agency. In your case, that would be the Pennslyvannia Utility Commission.<BR/><BR/>Natural Gas Utilites live in fear that a customer will call and complain about then to the PUC. <BR/><BR/>http://www.puc.state.pa.us/<BR/><BR/>Make a good case to the PUC and you'll have a Natural Gas VP of something or the other offering to shovel your walk.<BR/><BR/>Unless your utility is a municipal owned natural gas provider -- they you are screwed.<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I work for a NatGas Utility.<BR/><BR/>Loved the line about the catsMarvel Goosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02394584380271162466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-51427865698901076452009-01-19T18:39:00.000-05:002009-01-19T18:39:00.000-05:00Da Old Man- Yes, customer service is a bit like th...Da Old Man- Yes, customer service is a bit like the Abominable Snowman. Rumours abound, but no solid evidence. <BR/><BR/>Nanny- As long as there's some laughter somewhere about it, it helps. :)<BR/><BR/>Matt- I'll reek, all right! I mean... er... wait... let me rephrase...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10883854503294092142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-68770650063126625602009-01-19T18:24:00.000-05:002009-01-19T18:24:00.000-05:00They should give a few hours off from work paid so...They should give a few hours off from work paid so that you can take care of this situation.<BR/><BR/>If you can't, who knows the terror you will reek in the workplace??Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06353879913720923051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-34182842796028306622009-01-19T17:33:00.000-05:002009-01-19T17:33:00.000-05:00Good Lord. You just can't win for losing with thes...Good Lord. You just can't win for losing with these people. It's laughable. Well, for us, anyway.Nanny Goats In Pantieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019800312349427823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-70035041097733205382009-01-19T15:56:00.000-05:002009-01-19T15:56:00.000-05:00Customer service.*snicker*I have not witnessed it,...Customer service.<BR/>*snicker*<BR/><BR/>I have not witnessed it, though I have heard tales of it.<BR/>Utility company doesn't upgrade and come into 2009 because your choice is to take it, go to the other utility company, or simply build your own generating station.Da Old Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02529514518271981093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-18652046866098755022009-01-19T15:29:00.000-05:002009-01-19T15:29:00.000-05:00JD- There is always that. The gasman at least does...JD- There is always that. The gasman at least doesn't typically get all in your face and retaliatory. :)<BR/><BR/>Bobbie- Rio... Reno-- oh, only a SMALL difference, right? :) I hear their Carnivale is a lot of fun. Probably beats Reno's. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10883854503294092142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-36548354384488046282009-01-19T15:25:00.000-05:002009-01-19T15:25:00.000-05:00Oh, I sympathize entirely -- with the absurd situ...Oh, I sympathize entirely -- with the absurd situation, with the four-hour appointment windows, ans with the Robo-Operator. I've had a few turns with each.<BR/><BR/>One of my favorite Robo-Operator ones, though, was an automated airline booking thingie. I phoned to book a quick shuttle flight from San Francisco to Reno, carefully responding to the prompts for date, departure city, and destination. After the last bit, R-O comes back on and says, "I think you said Rio. Is that correct?" Maybe I should've said yes. Never been to Brazil...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-27846096334245728382009-01-19T15:21:00.000-05:002009-01-19T15:21:00.000-05:00i guess in the end you can be thankful you're not ...i guess in the end you can be thankful you're not dealing with insane postal workers ....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-85807940549627176452009-01-19T15:14:00.000-05:002009-01-19T15:14:00.000-05:00Adullamite- Some of our utilities are just really ...Adullamite- Some of our utilities are just really behind the times. These and some delivery agencies still seem to think there's always someone at home during the week. And it just doesn't work that way anymore. It's like they got stuck in the 1950s and haven't seen their way clear yet. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10883854503294092142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-86240020184885893672009-01-19T15:05:00.000-05:002009-01-19T15:05:00.000-05:00We keep hearing that in the US everybody gives 'se...We keep hearing that in the US everybody gives 'service!' However all I hear are complaints! The only folk I deal with that do not work at weekends are this ISP company! <BR/>Gas, in between raising the prices to keep Putin in vodka, do have good cust serv ops on Sats, if you get past Robo cop.Adullamitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15537659871829290071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-36308712814551928312009-01-19T14:16:00.000-05:002009-01-19T14:16:00.000-05:00Tony- I KNOW! I know the technology is available t...Tony- I KNOW! I know the technology is available to install on the meter inside the house, so the meters can actually be read outside of it. But they haven't installed this system. No, instead they want me to spend $3,000 to put the meter outside for them.... nuh-uh. Nothin' doing.<BR/><BR/>Vic- I rather wondered whether they weren't taping me, during that silence, listening to me ask rhetorical questions like, "Am I still connected? Hello, is anyone there?" And then cursing like a long-shoreman. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10883854503294092142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-1001584158425684692009-01-19T14:02:00.001-05:002009-01-19T14:02:00.001-05:00What, they kept you on hold all that time and no "...What, they kept you on hold all that time and no "Wildfire" or "Muskrat Love" to soothe the nerves?<BR/><BR/>I'm suspicious of this "automation" stuff.<BR/>I think they all are secretly huddled around the phone, waiting for you to lose your mind, and then they giggle like little girls.Vichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714719295648072474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173487087895437639.post-22832346545178977652009-01-19T14:02:00.000-05:002009-01-19T14:02:00.000-05:00Seriously though, how does this company manage to ...Seriously though, how does this company manage to keep going if it refuses to keep up with the times? This is the kind of thing that would make me magically reach my arm down the phone line and throttle the morons who almost WILFULLY seem to be making it impossible for you to give them their stupid, precious meter reading! "We want it but not really because tormenting you is much more fun, and we thrive on torment rather than cold, hard moolah, which incidentally we'll take too just while we're at it!" Grrr...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com