Why the obnoxious title u ask? Well, I am steaming at the moment. Wanna know why? Here's the story:
My Dad and I visited the Vodafone store nearby my place. We had some tinkering to do with my mobile plan. We enter with a atmosphere we Mumbaikars are so used to- an afternoon crowd at the store.
I take my token and I am called at a particular counter within minutes of my arrival. I think to myself, this ain't gonna take long. Good. Or so I think!
A gal in her 20s greets us at her counter; all decked up with her make up and "HAPPY TO HELP" name-tag nicely pinned to her Vodafone t-shirt. Besides her sits a female Trainee, clearly not attentive and stifling a yawn every other minute.
My Dad is seated and I find no chair for me to sit. Been through that before many a times, not a problem standing for a couple of minutes, I think. After we explain our query to her, I feel the need to sit, for which I grab an empty chair from the next counter after asking for it. And the guy who's manning the counter gives me scornful looks as if I was going to steal the chair. OK, that's weird!
Nevertheless, ignoring that OCD counter-guy I ask the 20s something gal to process my request. She does, asking me to fill up and sign few documents, which I oblige. Then asks me for my ID proof. I hand over my Passport. To which she says she needs a photocopy, I nod and let her. She takes it to the photocopier-located 3 counters away and is positioned near a desk full of drawers-and returns with the photocopies and gives me back my passport.
Then she looks at the photocopies and says, my photograph in the copy has come unclear. She asks for my passport again to take fresh copies, which I oblige, again. She returns with the copies and starts explaining some stuff to my dad.
I now ask for my Passport, to which she replies "I gave it back to you naa?!".
I say "No. You didn't" And I promptly empty the contents of my bag searching for it, my dad looks for it on the counter table, underneath the keyboard, the desk... nowhere... ITS GONE!!!
5 minutes pass.
She goes back and check the photocopier. It ain't there.
She goes to the storeroom. Comes back empty handed. (OK, mini heart attack!)
Through all this, the trainee is still seated and not doing anything.
Now, I am FURIOUS!
This time in pure synchronicity, my Dad and I get up and start heading towards the photocopier- It ought to be there.
Disastrous thoughts run through my mind: 'What a fool this female is!'; 'What if someone has stolen it to make fake passports?'; 'What if they have completely LOST my passport!!!'; 'What do I do??'; 'Should I wring her neck first or call the cops?'
No sooner than we get to the copier wearing enraged expressions, than the trainee get up and asks us to be seated. We don't move. Instead we yell at both of them for being so careless. I am fuming.
15 minutes have pass.
The trainee has an expression on her face as if she has hit the jackpot- I see my passport in her hand. (She found it while rummaging through the drawers) I grab it before she offers to me. She didn't do me no favour!
Bigger shocker?
We were expecting some apologies, explanations... and NOTHING! I mean WTF!!!
No morose on their faces. B***h!
To that I reprimanded them for being so careless and irresponsible.
I mean, I was considering legal action had they lost my passport.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
That's not all. I ask for a feedback form, so I could give them a piece of my mind to which they reply:
"We don't have feedback forms, but if you want we can give you a blank form-*pause*-actually its just a blank sheet, where you could write to the concerned department...."
-I just walked off with my dad.
I know what they mean by a "blank sheet". They would it throw in the bin the minute I turn my back or make pinwheels out of it!
Jeez!
Humble request to you all, beware of these Customer Servicers!