It was a dark and stormy night
and I was working for the largest electricity distributor in England in the call centre that took incoming fault reports from customers with loss of supply.
Our area covered more than five million homes and tonight the network was taking a hammering with gale force winds, flooding and general biblical style chaos.
At 2 in the morning we had nearly 3 million homes without power and nearly 200 calls in the call queue from irate members of the public wanting the know just what the fuck we were doing about it.
I finish with my call, count the standard five seconds we are allowed to collect our thoughts between call before the earpiect bleeps indicating the next call in coming though.
BEEP
"Welcome to the 24/7 supply fault line, please start by giving me your postcode."

"Never mind that, I just need to know where I can buy a pen"

"A.. a pen?"

"What are you? Simple? A pen, a biro, le stilo a bloody pen! Call this customer service? I need a damned pen"

"Madam, it's two in the morning and you've called the electric board fault line on possibly our busiest night this year"

"I know that! I'm not stupid, I just want to do my crossword, are you going to tell me where I can buy a pen or not?"

"I'm sorry Madam, I have callers waiting to report faults waiting to get through, I suggest you go to a shop in the morning. Goodnight"

Bizarre. Just bizarre.
( NobbyNobody 21 years a b3tan, Thu 4 Sep 2008, 19:08, 2 replies)

Must've been a doddery old cunt
Good job she didn't ring back the following night asking for where she could buy a crossword!
( DavyBoyInGravyJoy Grey Goose Vodka on Ice, nothing finer, Thu 4 Sep 2008, 19:24, closed)

um yeah
I used to work for the old eastern electricity so i can sympothise. If a fuese upstairs blows its suddenly the boards fault . They dont understand when you say we are only responsible up to the meter............ at 3am !! have a click
(welgar, Sat 6 Sep 2008, 12:47, closed)