The company receptionist is out today. I am one of several people whose phone is set up to take incoming calls when the receptionist is unavailable.

Me: “Good afternoon, [Company].”

Caller: “Uh… um… I think I have the wrong… Oh! Hey, it’s [Caller] from [Company #2]. How are you doing?”

I am totally thrown because it’s clear from his tone that he expects me to recognize him, but I have no idea who he is.

Me: “Uh… fine. Um… how are you?”

Caller: “I’m good, glad it’s Friday and almost the weekend.” 

There’s an awkward pause.

Caller: “So, can I speak to [Coworker]?”

Me: “Sure.”

I transfer him, thinking that will be the end of it. A few minutes later, the phone rings again.

Caller: “Hi, it’s [Caller] from [Company #2] again!”

I am once again thrown because it is still clear that he expects me to recognize him, and I still don’t.

Me: “…hello.”

Caller: “…”

Me: “…”

Caller: “…”

Me: “…how can I help you?”

Caller: “Uh, yeah, I was just talking to you at the counter yesterday?”

Me: “Uh, I’m a remote employee living in [State 2,000 miles away], so whoever you talked to, it wasn’t me.”

Caller: “OH! Oh, okay, that makes sense. I thought you were [Receptionist]! No wonder you didn’t recognize me! [Receptionist] and I talk all the time. I couldn’t understand how you didn’t remember me; it was like I was in the Twilight Zone! It was clear you didn’t have a clue who I was. It was so weird!”

He continues rambling in this vein for at least a full minute, to the point where it’s becoming more awkward than the original misunderstanding. Eventually, he winds down.

Me: “So, what can I help you with?”

Caller: “Oh, no, I don’t need anything. Thank you!” *Click*

I guess he just wanted to chat with his buddy [Receptionist]?

My gynecologist’s office is terrible at keeping track of appointments. Here’s how I found out about that.

It is one of those offices where, if you have an appointment at 10:00, you’ll be seen by 11:00 if you’re lucky. That alone is annoying, and I try to get the earliest appointments possible to avoid the backlog. I stick with the office because the doctor is very nice.

In an attempt to save paper, I started not taking the “Your next appointment” reminder cards with me but instead just wrote down the time I was told. (There is no reminder call on these frequent appointments.)

Once, I went there a few minutes past 10:00, as my appointment was at 10:15. 

Me: “I’m here for my appointment, for [Last Name].”

Receptionist #1: *Annoyed* “Well, you are quite late.”

I was confused because, yes, I only had a few minutes left, but normally, I had to wait for at least half an hour if not longer, anyway.

Me: “I have the appointment at 10:15.”

Receptionist #1: “No, your appointment was at 10:00. The 10:15 slot already has a different patient in it.”

Given the fact that a regular appointment here always took longer than fifteen minutes, I suddenly realised why everyone always has to wait so long.

Now, I was annoyed. 

Me: “I was told 10:15.”

Receptionist #1: “No, the appointment was at 10:00.”

Had the actual time been 11:00, I might have blamed myself for mixing it up, but I am pretty certain I would not randomly add an odd fifteen minutes to such an easy time as 10:00. However, the receptionist didn’t even consider that it could have been a misunderstanding or a mistake on their side. She was absolutely certain that it was my fault. Luckily, I still got to be seen that day; however, I was told it might take longer. I even heard her tell the doctor they had to move slots because I “didn’t keep my appointment”.

From that day on, I ALWAYS took the little “Your next appointment” reminder card with me.

Fast forward a while. I had another one of my semi-annual appointments. In a sudden moment of caution, I packed the card with my appointment time and headed there. This time, there was a different (much nicer) receptionist.

Me: “I have an appointment at [time] for [Last Name].”

The receptionist checked the computer.

Receptionist #2: “I don’t see that here.”

Me: “Oh, but it is definitely now, look!”

I handed over the reminder card.

Receptionist #2: “Huh, now that’s odd!”

Me: “Well, I don’t know what to say. That’s the time I was given.”

Receptionist #2: “No, absolutely, the card proves it! Go on into the waiting room. I’ll settle this.”

I was also seen that day, but it would probably have been much less pleasant if I hadn’t had proof. I don’t know if their computer system sucks or if someone is just rubbish at entering appointments. Keep your cards, kids!

Related:
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 19
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 18
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 17
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 16
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 15

My sister, brother-in-law, and I were driving from Texas to Colorado and decided to start our trip a little early to shave off some driving time from the final day. It was low-pressure; we left the evening before we planned to with the understanding that once we got tired we would stop, find a hotel, and start again in the morning. This all went pretty well. We got at least five hours of extra drive time in and were able to find a hotel and check in after midnight without issue.

The problem became apparent to my sister and me after we were all settled in and my brother-in-law had fallen asleep.

The problem? The air conditioning was not working in the room. It wasn’t unbearable, just uncomfortable, and we decided that since [Brother-In-Law] was doing the lion’s share of the driving and he was completely out, it wasn’t worth it to go and complain.

The next morning, we told the hotel receptionist about the issue with the room. We weren’t trying to get a discount (especially since we hadn’t given them the opportunity to have us move rooms); we just wanted to let them know so they could fix it before they assigned the room to another guest. 

The receptionist was utterly flabbergasted at this and offered us free ice cream cups as an apology. If it had been some time after 7:00 am, I probably would have said yes!

I have just arrived at the dentist’s office a bit before my appointment. After a few moments, the receptionist calls me over.

Receptionist: “We need to take care of your balance before your appointment.”

Me: “What balance?”

Receptionist: “From your last visit; you had a remaining balance.”

My last visit was six months ago, but I never received a bill.

Me: “That should have been covered. What’s the balance?”

Receptionist: “I need to look it up. Give me a moment.”

She starts going through the software, talking to the woman next to her. They go back and forth complaining about the new accounting software and complaining that they can’t find my balance. By now, it’s five minutes after my appointment was supposed to start, and the hygienist has already waved at me from behind the desk.

Me: “Can I do my appointment now while you two are working on this?”

Receptionist: “No, you have to settle the bill for your last cleaning before we do another one.”

Me: “Well… okay, but why are you waiting until right now to do this? I never got a bill, and the balance was never mentioned when I made this appointment or when you called me to confirm it.”

Receptionist: “We use a third party to send out the bills, so we have no control over that. And the system doesn’t tell us if you have a balance or not when we’re making appointments. Sorry about this. Just sit down and we’ll pull up the information.”

I sit down and wait. And wait. And wait. I can’t hear everything they say, but they seem to still be struggling to pull up my balance from their software. By now, my appointment slot is almost passed, and I have to get back to work.

Receptionist: “Sorry about this. Can you stay a bit longer? We had an opening after yours that you can take.”

Me: “No, I can’t. I have to get back to work.”

Receptionist: “Ah… okay. We’ll call you this afternoon with the balance, and you can make an appointment then. Sound good?”

Me: “Sure.”

I’m not happy with the situation, but I figure I’ll wait and see what the balance is and why I have it. I don’t get a call that afternoon, but I do get a call the next week… telling me I have a $50 fee for missing my appointment. I call them back up.

Me: “So, I have a fee for missing my last appointment on [date]?”

Receptionist: “Oh, yes, thank you for returning our call. What’s the card number?”

Me: “Um, no, I’m not paying this. I was at the appointment. You guys said I had a balance, which you couldn’t find, so I wasted my whole appointment in the waiting room waiting for you to figure out what I owed.”

Receptionist: “Yes, I remember. You left after that instead of taking the next appointment slot you were offered, which is why you’re getting that fee.”

Me: “I had to get back to work. I didn’t have time to stay for another hour.”

Receptionist: “I understand that. But when we book an appointment, we need to have some billable activity in that appointment, or we’re losing money, which is why we charge fees for missed appointments.”

Me: “But it’s not my fault you guys wouldn’t let me keep the appointment.”

Receptionist: “I understand that, but you were offered the next appointment and still chose to leave.”

Me: “Look. I’m not paying a fee for sitting around in the waiting room for an hour.”

Receptionist: *Sighing* “Let me talk to the office supervisor. We’ll call you back.”

They didn’t call me back. I figured the matter was resolved, so I never called back, but instead, I switched dentists so I could get my cleaning. Apparently, I should have followed up, because today I got a notice that a $50 bill had been sent to collections from my dentist, despite (again) no bills being sent to me. Still no word on that original balance, though.

Related:
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 18
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 17
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 16
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 15
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 14

I am pregnant and have noticed reduced movements with my baby, so I call my doctor’s office as they told me to do if I experience any problems. After going through the prompts and requesting to speak with a nurse, this is the conversation I have with the receptionist. 

Receptionist: “Thank you for calling [Doctor]’s office. How can I help you?”

Me: “Hi, my name is [My Full Name]. I’m a patient of [Doctor]. I’m about thirty-two weeks pregnant and have noticed that my baby isn’t moving as much as she normally does. Can I please be transferred to a nurse?”

Receptionist: “Uh, I don’t know. Are you a patient?”

Me: “Yes, I’m a patient of [Doctor].”

Receptionist: “What’s the name and birthdate?”

Me: “[My Full Name], [birthdate].”

Receptionist: “And are you pregnant?”

Me: “Yes, I’m about thirty-two weeks.”

Receptionist: “How far along are you?”

Me: “Thirty-two weeks.”

Receptionist: “And you said you’re pregnant?”

There’s a long pause.

Me: “Yes.”

Receptionist: “And why do you want to speak to a nurse?”

Me: “Reduced fetal movements. I was told to call if I noticed any and want to know what the next steps are.”

Receptionist: “I mean, I guess I can leave a message for a nurse, but I’m not really sure what you want us to do.”

After hanging up, I decided I was just going to go into the ER and make sure everything was okay. Thankfully, a nurse called me immediately after and told me to come in for monitoring. The baby was fine, but I had a very similar conversation with the receptionist when I called after going into labor.