Today is Sunday. I ranted about being sick of my job a couple of months ago, seen that the thread was bumped yesterday. I usually work 2 or 3 days of the weekend (Fri-Sun) because that is when I make the most money (being commission and all). Sometimes I take a day off, usually Sunday. Money being tight and work light starting tomorrow through Thursday, thought I should work a few hours. Made good money.
It was a weird weird weird day. The strangest door was a door I had been by the previous Friday. The customer's family asked me to come back later....often a stall tactic. I waited until the last possible day, today, to go back before final shut off of cable tomorrow. They sent a little girl to the door. I asked for the customer or another adult. She said her parents (the customer) was asleep but her grandma was home. I asked her to go get granny. Granny sent her back to the door saying come back later. I sent her to go get her parents. They sent her back downstairs with instructions to shut and lock the door. She did.
I wasn't letting this one go. I knew they wouldn't pay but I could sure make some money on their four pieces of cable equipment. I started banging on their door like a cop. They ignored me. Soooo...since I drive a Civic and not a truck or van, I do not carry an extension ladder around I could not shut their connection off at the tap (utility pole). (That and the vertigo I get on the top rung of a 28 foot extension ladder extended all the way out hanging on the steel line was a problem in the company's futile attempt to train me). What I could do was take my trusty little wrench around to the side of the house and unhook the other end of the connection in their house box. I knew this might get a reaction.....ooooh little did I know the reaction. Next thing I see is a teenage boy outside pointing at me and someone say "where is he?!" Next thing I know this dude is running at me full bore like a bull charging....ahhhhh shit. I start running the opposite direction, around the rear of the house to the alley....unfortunately my car is at the front on the street but I wasn't going to be cornered.
The customer is ranting and raving about me owing him $300. What he really means is the cable company. I started yelling at him..."HEY!!!, you didn't pay me $300. GD it, quit chasing me! I don't make enough money to be chased by you." He slowed down a little and started insisting I reconnect the cable. I said: "You give me your equipment and I will hook it back up" (which reestablishes the basic only connection). He made sure I went to the box and did it. He then had the teen get the equipment. (One thing I have learned in the last 5+ years on this job, if a customer is talking, he is not going to fight. It is the quiet ones that worry me.)
I told him..."Dude, why would you risk arrest for cable, and a company you can't stand? I dont think it was right you sending your kid to the door instead of dealing with me yourself. I dont talk to kids about adults business." "Furthermore, had you actually assaulted me, I would have had you arrested. And, although officially we are not supposed to carry weapons to defend ourselves, I will tell you that some of us do, in fact, carry pepper spray among other things." {although officially banned by our company and our client, I went right out and bought 2 canisters as soon as the memo was issued...this time mine happened to be in the car...first time I use it on a person I lose my job...I usually use it on dogs}.
By the time the conversation ended, I had 4 cable equipment boxes, and a handshake and an apology from the customer. He is supposedly getting satellite this week, but someone else will be doing the pole shut off by Wednesday, so either way the cable is off. Too damn much effort for not enough money. It has been too long since I ran that fast outside of a gym treadmill.
My comment about not making enough money for being chased threw him off enough to start thinking and diffuse his anger. Humor gets me out of a lot of tight spots on this job. I bash the cable company all the time. They suck. However, the comment is true.....it is time to find something else. I have been submitting resumes and cover letters. Maybe I should include the following in a cover letter: "Reason I want to work for you: The safety of a cube farm versus being chased by irate customers has a certain sense of security."
Anyway.... that was just part of a weird 5 hour day today...there was other weird things...but that is enough for now. Paperwork is done, trip to the office tomorrow, then no work until Wednesday. It is bed time.
Snakes (Rich )
