Tech Support Can Often Make You Cry — But Sometimes, That’s Okay
I work in tech support for an ISP in the UK, and this story always sticks to me as a time I made a difference.
It is late toward the end of a late-evening shift when I get a call from a woman who is distressed and about to cry down the phone. She asks if I can help with the voicemail on her copper landlines; her husband passed away a few months ago and had recorded a message on it.
This has already been going on for a few months; the provisioning department somehow ceased the woman’s services a couple of months ago when changing the account to her name. They somehow struggled to reorder the service, and then they told her everything was lost without confirming with tech support.
Sensing her distress, I slow down.
Me: “Would you please describe as best you can what you mean by ‘message’ and when this was recorded?”
Woman: “It was done years ago. It’s a message meant to play when someone calls the line.”
This narrows it down to one of two things: either the voicemail service built into the line at the exchange level or her handset. The built-in one would mean everything is indeed lost. The other gives hope, so hope we will.
Me: “Give me five minutes. I’m going to ring your line; let it ring to voicemail.”
We hang up, and I go into the systems to remove the built-in voicemail message. Then, I take a deep breath and ring her number.
Thirty seconds in, a gruff older gentleman starts speaking, saying to leave a message. Before I know what is happening, the tears start streaming, and the lady picks up. I try my best to keep a clear voice.
Me: “I think I may have sorted it. Try ringing your landline from a mobile. I’ll call back in two minutes.”
I ring back as promised and am met with happy crying and profuse thank-yous.
Woman: “You’ve given me the first moment of joy I’ve had in months!”
Me: “It’s just my job to try and help, ma’am. I wish you well.”
In the aftermath, I just sat there in disbelief that she’d had four months of misery all because no one in the other department thought to confirm an issue with us, the ones who actually know how it works.
This isn’t a complex story, but I thought it was worth sharing that there are times when we can genuinely provide joy for others.