Bad Customer Service

I requested a change of counselors for IG. I hated having to go over someone’s head and to their boss but when you don’t do your job what do you expect people to do? My kid is barely making it through his classes by the hair on his chinny chin chin. A relationship with his counselor that includes an open and constant dialogue is crucial and it seemed to me that she did not find this important.

The last straw was when I called the Tuesday before the Christmas break to ask her to please provide me with all grades submitted by IG’s teachers before the break because I did not want to wait for the report card to come on December 27^th. I explained that I knew the teachers had until 4 p.m. that Friday to submit but if she could give me whatever she had before she left for the day I would appreciate it.

She calls me around 11 a.m. and the conversation goes a little something like this.

Ring, ring.

Me:  Hello.

Counselor:  Um. Hi. Mrs. G?

Me:  Yes.

Counselor:  This is SS, IG’s counselor. [Smack of gum.] You had asked me to give you IG’s grades. [Smack of gum.] And um [pause] well they [I assume she is referring to her bosses] said that we could leave early. [Smack of gum.] So I am um leaving at 1 p.m. today. Yea… So um you’re probably not going to get what you asked for. No, not probably umm you’re not.

Me:  [Picking jaw up from the floor. Is this bitch for real? I am totally thrown of guard.] Let me talk to your administrator.

Counselor:  She’s not here today.

Me:  Then let me talk with whoever is there today, right now, and in charge.

Counselor:  [Smack of lips and sigh.] Ugh. Okay.

She puts me on hold and I decide to hang up. It’s the eve of break and working at an elementary school I understand the chaos. Not only that but the administrator I prefer is not there as she just explained. So I decide to wait until after the break because it was obvious nothing was going to get resolved.

I gave no reason as to why I wanted the change when I sent my written request via email to the administrator. She called me back immediately and asked if there was something specific I could tell her. I explained that the customer service was just not there and where my son is concerned my relationship with the counselor is critical. I let her know that I would never go on break and leave a parent hanging without exhausting every effort for that parent even if it meant I called them from home. I just didn’t feel she wanted to be bothered, was more concerned with starting her break, and was very unprofessional. I threw in the fact that when my son first met with her she was playing rap music in her office, Biggie Smalls to be exact, and the dirty version to boot. As a gal who likes her fair share of rap music I know there is a time and a place for it. How will my son take you seriously when you’re acting like you’re in the club?

Within the day an apology was given, my son’s counselor was changed, and all was well with the world.

Now on to conquer world peace bitches.