Caller: “Hi, I am looking for pricing quotes for my dog.”

Me: “All right, no problem. What is going on with your dog?”

Caller: “My dog can’t walk and I want [dangerous medication], and my current vet will not sell it to me without checking her blood work first, because it is potentially hazardous to her health. So I am switching vets!”

Me: “Well, our exam cost is [amount] but that only includes the exam, no diagnostics or medications. Once the doctor does her initial exam, we can get you a more accurate estimate based on what the DOCTOR recommends for your pet in order to get her the help she needs safely.”

Caller: “No, I am the paying customer. I tell the doctor what I want and they do it. That is how this works.”

Me: *speechless*

Caller: “I want an appointment. When can I be seen?”

Me: “Our earliest appointment would be tomorrow morning. Would you like me to schedule you in for that?”

Caller: “No, I want to be seen right now. Thank you for wasting my time!” *click*

(I`m a veterinary nurse, and answering phones on a Tuesday.)

Me: ¨Hello, [Clinic].

Caller: ¨Hello, I have an appointment at four on Thursday to remove stitches on my dog, and I want to change it to tomorrow at the same time.¨

Me: “Sure, let me just check if we have an appointment available at four tomorrow.¨

(I check and see that we don’t have any available at four, but that we may squeeze him in with another appointment about 30 minutes later, if he insists.)

Me: “I’m sorry, but it seems we don’t have any available at that time.¨

Caller: ¨No, I have to do it tomorrow! The operation cost me 10000kr -” *about $1206* “- and I demand to get an appointment at four! I’m a doctor and this is unacceptable! I’m going out of town and I’m a doctor so I know this can’t wait!¨

Me: ¨I`m really sorry, but we don’t have any appointment available at that time. If you want, I can check with the vet if it’s okay to squeeze you in with another appointment about 30 minutes later.¨

Caller: ¨NO! I demand an appointment at four! I paid so much for this operation that i should get an appointment when it fits ME!”

Me: ¨As I said, I can check with the vet if it’s okay for her that we try to fit you in. Let me just put you on hold for a sec.¨

Caller: *Interrupts me as I’m about to ask the vet* ¨NO! I demand to get an appointment at four tomorrow, and I will be there at that time! Goodbye!¨ *click*

(He shows up at four the next day, and after waiting for about five minutes, getting more and more annoyed for every minute passing, he then walks up to the reception, where I’m sitting.)

Customer/Caller: ¨Why is it taking so long! I had an appointment at four!”

Me: ¨No, you actually don’t. I tried telling you on the phone yesterday that we didn’t have an appointment available at four, but you insisted on coming anyway. I have notified the vet that you are here, but you will have to wait until she has a free moment between patients who actually have an appointment. Please take a seat over at the tables and wait.¨

(He walked over to the tables and sat there shooting angry looks at me until it was his turn. He ended up waiting for about 30 minutes. I was really tempted to tell him that since he is a doctor, he could just remove the stitches himself.)

(I work for a veterinary clinic that also offers pet boarding. To board, pets must be current on vaccinations; if they are not, a staff member reviews a consent form with them and then a vet will update the required services.)

Client: “I have a complaint.”

Me: “I’m sorry. How can I help you?”

Client: “No one called me to tell me my dog was started on ear medications while boarding.”

Me: “Let me review your file… According to the paperwork you signed at check-in, you selected the ‘Okay to treat minor issues’ box, rather than the ‘Call to approve’ box.”

Client: “Why would you not call people?”

Me: “Some people prefer not to receive calls when gone on vacation or business—”

Client: “You don’t know me. How do you know what I want?”

Me: “Yes, that’s why we asked you, on this form you signed, what your preference was — to be contacted or not.”

Client: “You don’t know me!”

Me: “Perhaps in the future, you should check the other box…”

This story is part of our Take Your Dog To The Vet roundup!

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(My vet calls me with the results of some tests he’s done on one of my cats.)

Me: “Hello?”

Vet: “This is [Vet] from [Clinic]. Is this [Cat]?”

Me: “…Meow?”

Vet: “It’s been a very long day.”

This story is part of our Take Your Cat To The Vet roundup!

Read the next Take Your Cat To The Vet roundup story!

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(The computers at work are very slow, and while on the phone with a customer, this happens:)

Caller: *asking for information about her dog*

Me: “I can look it up for you on the computer, but it will take a little while, because our system is a bit slow.”

Me: *humming on a song while typing*

Caller: “Wow, you make your own hold music.”