H2-OMG!, Part 9
Caller: “I have a problem.”
Pause.
Me: “…What is your problem?”
Caller: “The water.”
Me: “What is wrong with your water?”
Caller: “There’s a problem?”
Me: “What is the problem?”
Caller: “The water.”
Me: “Okay, we have identified that your problem is with some part of your water. What is the problem?”
Caller: “The water.”
Me: *Going for the most common issues.* “Is there no water coming out of your faucet?”
Caller: “No, we’re getting the water; there’s just a problem with it.”
Me: “Okay, is it dirty? Is it leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t be?”
Caller: “Yes.”
Okay, I’ll stick to just suggesting one problem at a time.
Me: “Which one? Dirty water or a leak?”
Caller: “Yes.”
Me: “Dirty water?”
Caller: “No.”
Me: “So it’s a leak?”
Caller: “No.”
Head desk.
Me: “…how about I just come out there and identify the problem?”
Caller: “But I already told you. I have a problem with the water.”
I ended up going out there myself. The problem wasn’t with the water; it was an old faucet that had rusted to the point where it was very difficult to turn. I loosened it for them and told them to buy a new one. As far as I could tell, they were locals with no language or developmental barriers; they just didn’t know how to communicate.
Related:
H2-OMG!, Part 8
H2-OMG!, Part 7
H2-OMG!, Part 6
H2-OMG Shut Up!
H2-OMG!, Part 5
