Addressing The Addressing Issue
(In order to donate at the plasma center where I work, you have to have a permanent address within a certain number of miles of our center. Every donor that comes in is required to provide proof of address. The most common way to do this is with a piece of mail addressed to the donor. In order for a piece of mail to be acceptable, all of the information on the mail has to EXACTLY match the information provided by the donor, and it HAS TO be postmarked in the last thirty days. A donor can’t donate plasma until we get acceptable mail, NO MATTER WHAT. Since I work the front desk most of the time, it usually falls to me to approve people’s mail. It’s not uncommon for people to have a hard time bringing in acceptable mail, but this lady takes the cake. Monday:)
Me: *handing the donor her payment card after her first donation* “Okay, [Donor], here’s your card. Your payment should be on there within about twenty minutes. You can come back as soon as Wednesday. Don’t forget, you’ll need your proof of address next time. Do you need me to go over the requirements again?
(The donor ignores me, puts in headphones, and leaves. Wednesday:)
Me: “Hey, [Donor], welcome back. Do you have your proof of address?”
Donor: “Oh, I forgot.”
Me: “Oh, dang. I’m really sorry, but we need that before you can donate.”
(The donor stares at me for a while and then leaves. On Thursday, the donor comes in, walks up to counter, and hands me a dirty letter.)
Me: “Sorry, [Donor], we can’t take this. This is from January.”
(It’s June.)
Donor: “I thought it just had to be mail. That’s my address.”
(I go over the requirements again, and the donor says she understands. On Friday, the donor comes in and gives me another letter.)
Me: “No can do. Your name and the street name are spelled wrong in this one.”
(On Saturday, the donor comes back with yet another letter.)
Me: “Ma’am, this has a man’s name on it. I don’t see your name anywhere.”
Donor: “That’s my ex-boyfriend; he lives with me.”
Me: *getting annoyed at this point* “That won’t work. The requirements are…”
(On Monday, according to my manager, she comes in again with another unacceptable letter. My manager makes triple sure she knows the requirements. She says she understands. She also goes on a rant about how, “It’s so stupid that we’re making this so hard,” and, “I live really far away,” and, “I have KIDS,” before she finally leaves. Tuesday, the donor comes in with an older man.)
Me: “Morning, [Donor], did you bring your mail?”
Donor: “No, I brought my dad.”
Me: “Cool. Does he want to donate with us, as well?”
Dad: “No, but she lives with me.”
Me: *confused* “Okay.”
Donor: “There. I live with him and he verified it. Can I donate now?”
Me: “What?”
Donor: “He said I live with him. That counts, right?”
Me: *beyond done with this lady at this point* “No, ma’am, it doesn’t. My manager and I have both been over the requirements with you, and bringing in a witness doesn’t count.”
Dad: “But she lives with me! I don’t understand this! WHY NOT?!”
Me: “Hey, [Nearest Coworker]!”
Coworker: “Yeah?”
Me: “Do I live at the White House?”
Coworker: “Yeah, of course.”
Me: “That’s why.”
(The donor and her dad just stared at me for a solid thirty seconds. Then, they walked away, never to be seen or heard from again.)
This story is part of our Blood Donation roundup!
Question of the Week
Have you ever served a bad customer who got what they deserved?
