Moving: My Phone (part 2)

Wednesday morning was wonderful. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. The apartment was basically organized. We had stripped the remaining wall paper in the bathroom, and managed to paint everything except the 2^nd bedroom. I must say, it was looking pretty dang good. The fact that I just used “dang” as an adjective, and kept a straight face, is proof that I still have not converted to a “city person”. I just live in a “city person” apartment!

Leaving out the phone (or lack there of) element, things were going well. Mom and I organized everything into piles, sorted by location within the apartment, function, and finally urgency.

**side note**

Remember now, I work with excel spreadsheets A LOT in my job, and my mothers is a librarian. Phrases such as “sorted by” are bound to work their way into our personal lives. Even my medicine cabinet has its contents “sorted” in several ways.

** end side note**

Wednesday would be the day Mom and I finish up with this apartment. Thursday we would go shopping, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday would be spent lounging at my parent’s house. I could not wait to get this moving experience over with. First thing was first, though. I had to make my daily call to Sprint.

I trudged down to the pay phone and placed the call. By this time I had become very familiar with that phone - I had read every single graffiti marking while waiting on hold, and knew the entire musical score of that Muzak Sprint plays. A customer service representative answers and I proceed with my tale. I suggest that he read the comments associated with my account.

I wait for 17 minutes.

Buddy comes back, and just like every other Sprint representative he apologizes for the poor service. I inquire to the status and if my phone will be hooked up that day, and Buddy says he didn’t think so. I asked to speak to his manager.

I waited 8 minutes.

Buddy’s manager came on the line, and asked what the problem was. I was tired of repeating myself, so suggested he read the comments.

I waited 23 minutes, and it started to rain.

The manager came back on the line and asked if I would continue to hold, while he discusses the matter with Buddy.

I waited 12 minutes.

When Buddy and the manager both came on to the line, I was hopeful. Manager Guy promised I would have my phone by Friday. He said I would not have to pay any fees whatsoever for two months. The Scottish part of me kicked in, and I agreed. Saving money and being cheap is in my blood.

I sloshed through the downpour back to my apartment, excited that I would save some money and have a phone by Friday. I figured there was no way Sprint could screw up anymore. Heck, Manager Guy said he would correct everything. He HAS to fix it, or else he would not be a manager, right? They wouldn’t promote a total idiot, would they?

Well, they did.

Friday came and went, and no phone. Mom and I delayed our plans to leave Toronto, and by Friday night it was clear nothing was going to happen with the phone. We planned on leaving the next morning, and dealing with Sprint from her house. I was sick of Toronto, Mom was sick of Toronto, and we were both sick of having no phone.

We occupied ourselves Friday night by scrubbing the floors. At about 11:30pm we flopped on the couch and planned our next move in the phone battle.

“You know what, Les?” Mom asked. “If you don’t have a phone by Monday, I would push for three months free”. Typical response from any member of my family. I agreed fully.

Over the weekend I placed yet another call to Sprint. They assured me Monday. I then called Bell, and inquired how long it would take for them to hook up my phone. They told me 48 hours. I decided that Monday was the cut off. No phone on Monday, I take my business to Bell. Monday I would be starting my new job, and worst case scenario I have to make a couple calls from the office.

Monday came and went, and you guessed it, no phone. Sprint begged me to wait until Thursday, when they would send someone out. Amy, the new contact I had at Sprint, informed me that I had to wait for a “new port” to be installed, whatever the heck that was. Apparently they only do “new port” instillations once every few weeks, and I should be lucky that this problem was discovered in time to make the Thursday “new port” instillation guy’s list. Right, I thought, like I should be thrilled to wait even longer.

My first week was rough as it was, but the phone situation just added another layer of crap-icing to the crap-cake. The TTC was crap, the city was crap, and the elevators at my building were crap. Ok, ok, I’m exaggerating (and using ‘crap’ way too much). But it wasn’t the best week – I was homesick for Waterloo like you wouldn’t believe.

Thursday I was excited. I brought some Country CD’s to work, packed a really awesome lunch, AND I was getting my phone. Every 20 minutes I called my apartment to see if it was hooked up.

After 3pm and still no dial tone, I was worried.

After 5pm and still no dial tone, I was borderline upset

When I called Sprint and asked what was going on, and they told me, “huh? No one was scheduled to do any work on your ports”, I was furious.

I think I banged the receiver on my desk a few times. I think I even let out a little yell. My coworkers thought I was insane. Great, not the best first impression. (They soon realized that I am always slightly crazy... muuuuaaaaahhahahahaha)

Amy at Sprint apologized, saying she got the day wrong, and it was Friday the “new port” dude would come. She said she would give me three free months if I waited until Friday. Cheapie me agreed.

Saturday morning and still no phone caused yet another walk to the pay phone to place yet another call to Sprint. Amy said “Oh, the 18^th we can FOR SURE hook up your phone”. I hung up.

I called Bell, something I should have done MUCH sooner. That night I had a phone.

The next day Bell mailed out my internet package.

A few days later Bell called and offered me a very good deal for long distance. They were so sweet and nice and ON TIME, I sang praises to Jessica, the Bell Customer Service Representative. Now, I know some people have had horrible experiences with Bell. I know for a fact that NO company is perfect. But after my dealings with Sprint, Bell is heaven on earth.

I called Sprint as soon as my Bell phone was installed to cancel the order. I told them that I had a phone through Bell that took less than 24 hours to connect. I told them a few other things too, but I can’t repeat them here.

After three weeks of headache, I sat back in my beautiful ‘city apartment’ and talked on the phone the entire night.