Oh, yeah. The Stupidest Person On The Planet.
I am now convinced that Florida City Gas Co. has outsourced the first level of its Customer Service department to either Pakistan or India. I swear to you that I am not being prejudiced, but everytime I call their Customer Service department, male or female, the representative has a Near East accent. They must not have to tent their homes for termites, wherever they are, and are unfamiliar with the concept.
Without boring you to tears with all the details, I will say this much: About a week before the infamous tenting, I called the gas company to turn off the gas on Thursday and turn it back on again on Monday. The exterminator insisted on it. Suffice it to say that, after 32 minutes, much of which was spent on hold, the nice, but slightly dense, man on the telephone said, “Thank you for your patience. Your gas service will be disconnected on Thursday. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
(In an abundance of caution) “Why yes. I want to make sure that it is turned back on again on Monday.”
“Please hold.” Huh? “Thank you for holding. May I please have your Social Security number so we can run a credit check? Also, you will have to pay a deposit to have the gas turned on.”
“Are you insane?!?!? Don’t say another word and transfer me to your supervisor!”
The supervisor, who thankfully is in Atlanta, verified that there was indeed a failure to communicate. “Are you having your house tented, Mrs. J.? Oh dear. Let me delete this order he just did.”
Yes, after 32 minutes of repeating myself about having the house tented and shutting the gas off so the house doesn’t blow up, the Stupidest Person On The Planet was about to terminate my account and open a new one. I’m still thinking about the prize.
