Ooooh ANGRY (rant rant)

Some people are so RUDE

I got to work this morning and there was a message on my answering machine asking to make a booking for a colonoscopy. I wasn't sure if he'd called last night or this morning, and he was quite elderly, so I thought I'd leave it until after 10 to phone him back in case he was sleeping.

At about 9.30 (15 minutes after I started work) he called back and said, `What's going on? I rang and left a message? What are you doing?' I said that I thought I would leave it until a bit later because I didn't want to ring him too early, and he replied with `Jeesh. I rang at 8.00, what do you think you're up to?'

At this point I replied with my usual answer in these situations - complete silence. Usually they shut themselves up at that point and we can get on with things. But he kept going. `Tsk tsk. I don't believe it' and THEN, `Well, thanks for :censor::censor::censor::censor::censor::censor::censor:' me around. I want to make an appointment'.

So I decided I wasn't going to put up with this and said, `Mr ***. I'll just let you know that I arrive at work at 9.15. I have been here 16 minutes. I am here by myself and you will appreciate that I can't always get to my return calls within 16 minutes of arriving at work. I will thank you for a little more understanding, and a little less rudeness'. All delivered in a VERY firm tone of voice. He did shut himself up after that and was quite nice in the end, although I continued to sound angry and firm.

How DARE he speak to me like that??? I cannot abide rudeness in people and I would never speak that way to someone I was asking a favour from, or anyone, for that matter. It has wrecked my whole morning, even though I know I should get over it and move on.

Oh the joys of being a receptionist and answering phones!

I am a receptionist as well and I have delt with my fair share of VERY rude people! I always get the brunt of it all, only because I am the first person they talk to. I've leared to kill them with kindness, yet talking in a firm voice so they know that they can't just push me around - cuz I'm 'just the lady who answers the phone' (which makes me even madder cuz I know that all receptionists just dont answer the phones - there's a lot more to it than just that!)

I'm really sorry about the rude man, some people have NO respect for anybody!

Hugs to you!

Awww thanks! My boss is looking to expand his practice at the moment, and if the three other doctors come on board I will be the practice manager ONLY, and not the practice manager, secretary, receptionist and everything else around here too!

I just can't understand people who are so rude and impatient. I would like to kick him! I mean, even if I had've waited two hours to call him back that's still pretty quick around here...lol

Originally Posted by KitEKats4Eva!

Awww thanks! My boss is looking to expand his practice at the moment, and if the three other doctors come on board I will be the practice manager ONLY, and not the practice manager, secretary, receptionist and everything else around here too!

I just can't understand people who are so rude and impatient. I would like to kick him!

I mean, even if I had've waited two hours to call him back that's still pretty quick around here...lol

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Oh I hope that those 3 doctors come on board so you don't have to deal with those people and have all those other jobs! That way you can focus on being only the Practice Manager!

I can't understand impatient people either - I love what I do, but sometimes dealing with people just sucks!

Usually I'm the only one in the shop office answering the phones and taking messages for my boss.

Some people don't understand 'Would you like to leave a message on his voice mail?' They just get all rude and demand to talk to him right away! Ok sure Mr. - I'll pull him away from the Frame job that he's doing right now so he can answer your qustion that obviously can wait a 1/2 hr!

The joys of working!

I can understand why you would be annoyed. There are some people that haven't learned that the world does not revolve around them.

LOL! At one point my recorded message said `We endeavour to return all calls within three working days'. But I only left it on for about a week because I thought it was a bit cheeky

But seriously, that's how busy it gets around here and people just think they are the only person in the world who's sick, and that you're just waiting around all day so that you can serve them!!

OK. Rant over...I'd better get back to work

Good on you for sticking up for yourself!

You don't get paid to have people abuse you!!

I have often told customers that yes, they are always right, but they have absolutely NO RIGHTS to abuse me or be rude to me.

I hope the rest of your day gets better!

Good for you for sticking up for yourself.

You know it doesn't just end with receptionist jobs either! I think anytime you work in a customer-service setup you WILL have those people.

I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but once you reach a limit (or in his case age), you just don't care anymore. Maybe he was worried about getting a colonsoscopy and wanted to make the appt right away so he doesn't chicken out. It doesn't excuse his rudeness, but it might help see his side of the story.

Oh I can certainly see his side of the story. I had a patient who was incredibly rude to me once, but I knew he was dying of cancer, and there was a particular reason for his rudeness. I perservered with him and we ended up being quite good buddies. I do choose my moments - if this was a patient I didn't know already I would have bitten my tongue. But this man is a long-standing patient, who is rude every time he speaks to me. I'd had enough!!