Monday 7 April 2008

Customer Served

Out of the corner of one eye, she looks at me then back at the paper she was writing on. “Abeg I can’t, I’m busy” was the scornful reply I got from this narrow ass cheaply clad tramp meant to be the cash teller behind the counter at this grimy looking bank, after I had asked her if she could give me the account number for a customer into whose account I was to pay money.

“Look here, you sad bitch, if you’re tired of the job go home and frustrate your poor ass husband, that’s if you’re lucky enough to have one” I sharply retorted without thinking.

I have had it with these so called new generation bankers that don’t know jack about civility least of all customer services. I could have been anyone for all she cared. All I needed was for the cheeky lass to attend to my request as I had edgily waited for over twenty minutes for my turn. Thinking she was going to give me the same attitude I had watched her give all the others in front of me was the wrongest move she was going to be making in a very long time. The second time in two days from another crappy bank? No way! I was alive, well and was having a bad day enough to give it to her.

Frowning her ugly face, with small tribal marks on the sides of her face by her eyes she looked up agape. “Please sir, be careful oh, what is it?” she told me

“Are you mad? Tell your father to be careful” pointing my pen at her.

“Ah ah sir, don’t be angry. What is the matter?” the cashier beside her, in an attempt to cool me down, interjected as she overheard my rantings”

“Imagine this dirty little rat, telling me that she’s too busy to attend to me when it has come to my turn. Is she drunk?”

Luckily, I had just found the piece of paper I had written the account number on tucked in one pocket inside my wallet. I scribbled the number on the slip and instructed her in a callously authoritative manner. “Take this money and pay it in, if you like put it in your purse”

There’s something about banks that can get me to one of the highest heights of aggravation especially in Port Harcourt, and today was going to be one of the days I was going to have my voice heard.

At this time her assistant manager had walked up behind her in time to hear the end of that brief wrangle. Seeing fire oozing from my nostrils, he apologised on her behalf then took the cash and deposit slip from her and asked me to come over for him to do himself. She tried to explain to him but he instructed her to forget it and attend to the next customer.

He wasn’t only an old school mate but we had lived together in NYSC camp and then in one room for the rest of the year somewhere in Egbaland. In his office, we briefly went over the incident. I told him I was not as angry as he thought, it was just ripe so it had to be plucked.

Truth be told; I felt a little sorry for the bit of hell I let loose on the unsuspecting poor girl. She didn’t see it coming was a plus for me. The day wasn’t mine and I was not going to let it be hers either.

25 comments:

BlackRose said...

lol... poor girl!

cally-waffybabe said...

Ah my baroque, that ain't no way to talk to a lady. I can understand your irritation, but remember you're a gentleman. I think it's a naija thang though. Just imagine if that happened over here...the police would have been hard on your arse regardless of whose fault it was.

Good example: Naomi Campbell was recently handcuffed and put in a cell cos she lost her temper. Meanwhile they had highly irritated her. After waiting for hours at the airport, they finally managed to lose one of her suitcases and further cemented the insult by asking her to get off the flight. Imagine how annoying that was, coupled with the fact that she had a very important show to attend. Her rant was justified, but then she got into trouble. It just shows that you should always control your temper, whatever the circumstance.

Not having a go at you sweet; just pointing out the obvious.

Hugs

xxx

Hengish said...

I feel your outburst is justified.

The customer service in this country is rather appalling.

The other day I went to Nandos at Shoprite and the sales assistant that attended to me was so lazy and sluggish, I was so put off that I walked off and went to Mr Biggs not that they are any better.

I am so dissatisfied with the levels of services rendered in this country that I am thinking about creating my own Training Consultancy mainly educating fast food businesses and their staff about the importance of customer service.

After that incident I told myself that if any stupid and rude staff of any establishment gets on my nerves all hell will break loose, let them come and cuff me like Naomi then we will even have more to talk about.

While I was at camp the idiots that work for Intercontinental Bank just made the dumbest mistake of stepping on my toes. I nicely changed my branch.

bumight said...

I agree customer service is wack in naija, but you ur reply too was just as bad as hers.

We (naija) is just getting to a place where customer service is important and expected. I think we'll ge there soon enough.

last time i went home, i experienced a bit of both sides, I had horrid experiences and extremely nice ones too.

Unknown said...

no, u didn't !!!???!!

bArOquE said...

@blackrose, you can say that again

@callywaff, no be say i loose my temper sha, but even if, i think its ok to loose your temper once in a while...if Naomi Campbell was a naija chic all that rubbish for no do her...i no dey fear to shout when e reach oh, make i tell you..even for that side too...*wink*

@hengish, u feel me abi? funny thing, i was not that angry, i was just sane enough to voice my disgust at the scarecrow

@bumight, true, i feel you babe

@ibiluv, so sorry, i did *smiling naughtily*

desperate lady said...

*sighs* baroque ur a very lucky man i swear, u met a chic that is too damn quiet, der is no way in hell ull insult me like that n get away with it.....shiiiit i'd loose ma job that day...heaven knows!
yeh she was wrong i know but u went too far!

bArOquE said...

@desperate, last i heard, you were getting wet at my every word now you want to strike me & loose your job...no need for that, the girl was doling out verbal insults to almost every customer b4 me so i thought it was time to give her a larger dose of her own medicine...i bet she thought she was invincible until i came along ...nevamind, i'm still the same nice guy

Tyger said...

you did not!...
that is so rude!
yes i know that customer service is wack!...

but Baroque you shouldnt!

bArOquE said...

hey people, at least once in a while we should be allowed to let go, or shouldn't we...i said i felt sorry, common

cally-waffybabe said...

just don't do it next time. can't imagine my hunky baroque mouthing off like that lol. hope you took pics of you ranting. please send them to me pronto...lol lol lol.

just tryna make you feel better. you know da love is still 'ere...

kisses

xxx

desperate lady said...

O Baroque i still get wet at ur every word dont get me wrong, but this time u surprised me. But i guess every 1 has moments so it's ight.....dnt let ma comment piss u off, i was typin 4rm d girl's point of view.....i would never let anyone curse ma father or mention ma father n get away with it.....so here it goes, if ma comment annoyed u, i apologise! take care.

Afrobabe said...

Awww poor girl..

Thank God I got out of customer services...customers find it hard to see that we also might have had a long hard day...

oya update!!!

Anonymous said...

lol....at least next time she will do her job with diligence

cally-waffybabe said...

ah ah my baroque, why have you gone awol on me like this now? okay i get da message: i don't know what i gat until i lost it ei? aight then, pleeeze come back.

here's a present for you. check this blog out. some crazy shit. lol. should get you hot under da collar.

http://aliceinwondarland.blogspot.com/2008/04/act-1-scene-1.html

miss ya

xxxxxx

bArOquE said...

@desperate,we still have unfinished business w.r.t your getting wet. i no dey vex. Shey u say make I no read you blog again,no wahala

@afrobabe, I go update

@geisha, I know I was rude but it had to be

@pink satin, no mind the stupid girl. na she know

@callywaffy, nevamind, you haven’t lost me totally yet

guerreiranigeriana said...

na wa o...you really insulted that girl!!!...but i guess twas warranted...customer service around the world seems to really be lacking, naija is no exception...*makes mental note to self: this baroque dude is no joke!!!...*

bArOquE said...

@guerreiranigeriana again, my dear, i no hold joke that day oh, i'd been watching her & decided she was going to get it hot if she didnt hold her horses...she didnt & got it hot...customer services is total crap in naija...

bArOquE said...

yesterday, my office sent me to a hospital to do a test, woulda lasted 10mins max, i waited about 45mins bcuz the guy in charge was nowhere to be found...of course i got pissed & left...returned this morning only for the receptionist girl to give me attitude...something about the man being around, & at the time we had driven out...RUBBISH...i didnt say a word to her...the owner of the hostital's a family friend but i chose not to bother...wasnt sure he'd be of help anyway...he just might not understand...

Original Mgbeke said...

Baroque, you aint right! LMAOO..how you gon' curse the poor girl out like that. But on the real, no use the B word on ladies..not cute.

bArOquE said...

@theoriginalmggeks...i know, i know, but for that day, may i be pardoned!...thank you, GOD bless you :-)

dat 1 okrika babe said...

Chei you finished the girl proper.


Let me just pull out my favorite part.
"Frowning her ugly face, with small tribal marks on the sides of her face by her eyes she looked up agape. “Please sir, be careful oh, what is it?” she told me “Are you mad? Tell your father to be careful” pointing my pen" -HAHA

bArOquE said...

@okirikababe, no mind the girl...she caused it *wink*

rethots said...

"“Take this money and pay it in, if you like put it in your purse”" Whoa!!! this is simply a beautiful phrase.

Ha, unfortunately many of these bankers (or is it tellers) always think they do customers a favour.
One actually told me to go use another bank's atm after telling her their atm wasn't working (short of which, that was a branch of the bank i use), i was livid. But then, i realise she definitely had no depth (of thots).

theicequeen said...

you know..i started reading from your first post (yes, i am that kind of person that will read EVERYTHING..) and i thought i'd never been here..but i can swear tht i have! this attitide problem riddled chick cannot be easily forgotten! :P