Very Bad Reception, Part 24
I am trying to get Disability currently, as I’m epileptic and can’t work. I decided to go online to apply on the Social Security Administration website. I went through h*** trying to make a SSA account so that I can check the application status and appeal when necessary. The website said that making the account was quick and easy. They lied.
My phone is prepaid, and my second is a VoIP, neither of which can be used to verify my identity. Since I can’t verify my identity, I can’t access my account. Since I can’t access my account, I can’t check my application. So, I called my local SSA office and asked for an appointment to verify my identity in person, as stated on the website. I was told that they could definitely help with that, that I didn’t need an appointment, and to just walk in. I went in the next day with my grandfather.
It was horrible, solely due to the receptionist.
Receptionist #1: *Over intercom.* “[Unintelligible] A-thirty-two [unintelligible] four.”
Grandfather: “Window four.”
We get to window four, but no one is there.
Receptionist #1: *Over intercom.* “[Unintelligible] A-thirty-two [unintelligible] four.”
Me: “Oh, twenty-four, not four.”
[Receptionist #1] starts calling the next person, but stops when she sees me and my grandfather.
Receptionist #1: *Very rude.* “I called you three times.”
Me: *Annoyed, but I stay polite and apologize.* “I’m sorry, we thought you said four, not twenty-four.”
Receptionist #1: *Ignoring my apologies.* “Give me your ticket. What can I do for you today?
Me: *Gives ticket and stays polite.* “Yes, I need to verify my identity for my account, and check my application status, or appeal, since I believe I’ve already been denied by now. My phone is a prepaid phone, and my other number is a VoIP number, so I can’t verify my identity using either. I was told that I can verify my identity face-to-face?”
Receptionist #1: *Still rude.* “Who told you that?”
Me: *Thinking.* “Your website and the woman I talked to on the phone yesterday.”
Me: *Out loud.* “That’s what I was told. I can’t sign into my account without verifying my identity, and I can’t verify my identity without a phone number that’s attached to my identity. I just need to verify my identity, and I also wanted to ask about my application status and changing my address on it.”
I learned later that you can’t once it’s been sent.
Receptionist #1: *Ignores last two.* “Can I see your valid ID and what’s your social security number?”
I slide both cards through the slot.
Receptionist #1: *Looks at ID.* “Is your address on this correct?”
Me: “No, it’s—”
Receptionist #1: *Interrupts me.* “—then what is it?!”
Grandfather: “The address is [Address].”
Receptionist #2: *Walks over as [Receptionist #1] is typing.* “Hey, am I supposed to be dealing with A33? You called them already.”
Receptionist #1: “You can take them. I called A33 when I called them—” *Jerks head to myself and my grandfather.* “—three times, and they only showed up after I called the next one.”
[Receptionist #2] walks away. [Receptionist #1] types for a minute.
Receptionist #1: “You don’t have an account.”
Me: *Confused.* “I do. At first, I didn’t know if it went through, because my computer died in the middle of making it, but I tried to create one again, and it said there already was an account attached to my social.”
Receptionist #1: “Well, it says you tried to sign in yesterday at [time].”
Me: *Thinking.* “So, do I not have an account, or did I try to access my account?”
Receptionist #1: *Huffy.* “What’s your social?”
Me: *Trying not to bang my head on the desk.* “You still have my Social Security card.”
[Receptionist #1] calls over the manager. There is inaudible muttering, and she looks directly at me, but addressing the manager in that whisper tone that’s really not a whisper.
Receptionist #1: “I called them three times.”
More whispering. The manager finds my account in moments.
Receptionist #1: *To me, still in a rude voice.* “It says you never finished making the account.”
I am exasperated, because she’s not listening to a single word I’ve said, and is continuing to treat me like I’m five instead of twenty-four.
Me: “Yes, because my numbers are prepaid and VoIP, and I can’t verify my identity. So, I can’t finish the account or log in. That’s why I’m here.”
Receptionist #1: *Mutters under breath, then speaks up.* “I can give you a one-time code to verify your identity online. Do you want it by email or print?”
Me: *Done with this and wishing it was over.* “Either is fine.”
Receptionist #1: *Snaps.* “Do you want it by email or print?”
Me: *Just wanting to go home at this point.* “Print.”
[Receptionist #1] hands me a page with instructions and a code and talks to me like I’m a child.
Receptionist #1: “Just follow the introductions on the paper, okay? Anything else?”
I have a few more questions, but I’m thinking it’s not worth my blood pressure.
Me: “No, that’s all.”
Receptionist #1: *Rudely.* “Then you can go. Have a good day.” *Turns and completely ignores me.*
Quite possibly one of the rudest people I’ve met. I didn’t get half the information I went to ask for, but at least the one-time activation code worked, and I finally finished the account, so, yay?
Related:
Very Bad Reception, Part 23
Very Bad Reception, Part 22
Very Bad Reception, Part 21
Very Bad Reception, Part 20
Very Bad Reception, Part 19
