Badgered into oblivion

Badger photo courtesty of National GeographicGood grief.

Would you like to be badgered day and night with calls, emails and texts?

Just make an appointment with a dentist or doctor.

That is, providing you are able to actually reach a real person at said office in order to make an appointment in the first place.

For example.

Recently I needed to set a date with my dentist for a routine cleaning.

It was nighttime when this was on my mind, so I clicked into his Web site and filled out a handy form requesting an appointment.

Which request was ignored.

????

Three days later I called the office. A very saccharine (on her end) exchange ensued between me and the lady who answers the phone.

I mentioned being ignored on the Web site but she offered no explanation or apology.

I made an appointment for this coming Thursday.

And that's when it started. The texts!

People. I do not text. I despise texting.

But when texted, I usually respond ... albeit even more cryptically than necessary.

The first text came last Friday.

Jennifer! Please call or text "YES" to confirm your appt. at 12:00PM on 8/25/11 (Thu.)

I texted back:

Y

But that wasn't good enough.

This morning I received yet another text, to wit:

Jennifer, Your appt. is at 12:00PM on 8/25/11 (Thu). See you then! Pls affirm receipt of this msg.

So I responded:

K

Another rountine doctor visit in recent days prompted not only a hard-copy confirmation letter but two phone calls to make sure I "remembered" the date and time of said appointment.

People. I know when I make an appointment. I have a datebook and I use it. In fact I live by it.

It's because I'm well acquainted with a concept known as personal responsibility.

Do you really encounter it so seldom that you must spend all day reminding people of self-inflicted commitments to show up and be quasi-tortured?

On second thought don't answer that. But do stop badgering me.

Comments

[irene]

Sorry you're confused by my "fashion" statement. It's a menopause thing. I too have had the web page appointment ignored. Annoying at best. I live by a calender as well, I missed a very expensive class once and from then on write things down more clearly. Good luck with your appointments.

[Donna (Texas)]

Riiiight!!!!!
And EMAILS, Text AND phone calls! What program are they using?? Talk about Irritating!
Hope Your visit goes well girl!
hughugs

[Donna M.]

Heavens to Betsy, I think I would fire a service staff that would text me. I usually get one courtesy call and that's it. That's all that is necessary. And web appointments? I hope that isn

[Donna M.]

Silly me hit the return too fast. I was going to say that I hope that web appointments were the way of the future. I'd rather talk to a person and dicker about a time/date.