FUCK ROGERS!!!!

OH! MY! GAWD!

I have NEVER had to deal with such a phenomenally badly run company in ALL MY LIFE. Rogers is the absolute worst! And yes, I plan on doing something about it. In a couple of weeks I will be cancelling all of my cable services with them and finding another internet service provider because even dial-up would be better than dealing with this company. (a couple of weeks because we're hooked on Rome and have to see it finish, yes...it makes my rant less of a punch in the mouth to Rogers)

So, we purchase a new big HD TV and we get free HD service with Rogers, since I'm already hooked up, I figure why not (even though we'd already been contemplating getting rid of cable) and we're moving too...might as well do it all at the same time.

So I call Rogers...and from the get-go I get shoddy customer service. It takes the girl a while to figure out what it is exactly that I want. She then works through explaining to me that it's cheaper to keep my current service and to continue to get the VIP package, because you can't get the free HD deal with the VIP package deal...okay, sure, whatever. THEN she informs me that they'll be charging me for 2 MONTHS!!!! of my service plan, because they went and made a change...WTF??!?!?!?! But I've been a client with you for 3 f*cking years! Seriously... Whatever, I'm in a bad mood after that and I let it slide. I don't want to deal with this moron anymore.

So, I call back the very next day, because you know what...no...I won't pay for two months. I talk to another guy...he says there's nothing he can do for me, that this is the way it works, yada yada yada. I tell him that this sucks, and I want to cancel all my services with them because they suck and they treat their clients badly. So he transfers me to a new guy to "cancel my service"...and I have to give the whole story ALL OVER AGAIN to the new guy. And tell him I'm cancelling my service. The new guy puts me on hold...and then comes back a good 5 minutes later and asks again what my problem is...I tell him about the two month billing, he tells me that the other people must have got it wrong because my next bill will only be for 1 month and not two. WHAT?!?! So you're admitting that not one, but two customer service reps in two days messed up...?!? Or do you mean, you normally bill for two months after an old customer makes a change and then change the billing when they bitch and complain.?!?! WHATEVER!

So I take down his customer service number (they're not allowed to give out their last names...I wouldn't want to), and tell him, it had better only be a one month bill...*sigh*...

Now...the FIRST girl I had spoken with about the free HD and the move for the cable...said she would send a technician (booked for this past Wednesday), and since he was coming in person, he could bring the new HD box with him for me, instead of couriering it. Since he would be the one hooking it up. I confirmed this with her twice. All was good.

On Tuesday I get an automated machine call me in the middle of the day to confirm with me that my appointment is scheduled from 5pm to 8pm the following day. I confirm and hang up.

Wednesday, I get a phone call at 1pm, from the technician. Am I home? No...you're scheduled at 5pm, I've already confirmed that. If I wanted you at 1pm I would have scheduled that. Well he was in my neighbourhood, yada yada yada. THEN at 3pm I get ANOTHER phone call, this one from the dispatcher...they have a technician in my neighbourhood, am I at home? NO!!! Your technician just called me and I told him the same thing. Don't yell at me I'm just the dispatcher, the technician went home sick and this is a different one...I don't care, whatever...I scheduled the appointment for 5...don't call me until 5pm!

At 5:10 I get a call from another technician...he'll be at my place in about 10 or 15 minutes. This sounds promising...he's on time, he called to check in ahead of time. All is good. The technician shows up a little while later, and he's a great guy...no worries...Except that...Yup, that's right!!! He doesn't have the FUCKING HD BOX!!!! I mean COME ON!!!! Seriously. So I don't yell at this guy, it's not his fault, no one told him. He says he'll come by the next night, Thursday, with a box for me. I said I'd call Rogers, he said not to bother, they'd just screw it up and take too long and I'd never get through (hmmmm...probably not someone you want representing your company...I already hate you guys). So I relax, the internet and regular cable is set up and my box will be there tomorrow.

Thursday comes and Thursday goes...Yup...that's right...no technician...no box...still no HD. I'm tired here guys...seriously.

SO...I've just gotten off the phone with Rogers. I got through to the first customer service guy, after struggling through their LOUSY automated system...NO...I don't want wireless...and then say customer service 15 times, and they transfer me to wireless...so she has to transfer me BACK to the queue. So I'm talking to the proper customer service guy...and explaining the problem. He says they can courier one out to me immediately and they'll assume the charge (duh! They were going to assume the charge in the first place)...whatever...so I said, I can expect it tomorrow? He says no...3 business days...unexceptable...send me a courier tonight or tomorrow...or a technician again...but seriously...2 days already...let's get our asses in gear here guys! Yeah, he won't/can't/whatever do that for me. But he says I can pick one up myself at a Rogers location, there's one downtown that's open until 11pm on Fridays. Good...great...I'll go...and I won't have to pay anything right...just go pick it up.

SO...the guy checks my file and notes that there IS NOTHING ABOUT A FREE HD TERMINAL ON MY ACCOUNT!?!?!?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!?!?! So he'll have to transfer me to retail...and they'll correct the problem...so I get put BACK in line AGAIN...

And another customer service rep answers, so I give her ALL OF MY FUCKING DETAILS AGAIN...and explain the WHOLE STUPID SITUATION AGAIN...and she puts me on hold on and off for about 10 minutes while she gathers my information, like my original Activation Number, which I gave out on the first phone call to set this bloody thing up! Anywho...she informs me after a painful experience that the account is now set up for me to walk into a Rogers Store and walk out with a new free HD box. And then she puts me on hold again. When she comes back she informs me that as this was a Rogers error (no kidding!)...Would I like something for 2 months free...yes, please that would make EVERYTHING all better...whaddya got? 2 months of the extended movie package (I already have the base movie pack). Sure, yeah, I'll take it...whatever...

And just like every call she ends it with...Have I been able to fix the problem that you called Rogers about today? Sure, yeah, whatever...because no...you haven't fixed my problem. My problem is the lousy service this company provides...the horrible system I have to use to finally reach a human being, who more often than not isn't the right person...the mistakes that are made...the inconsistencies, and the lies I feel like you're telling me. So, no...when you fix the company, then and only then will you have fixed my problem.

Yes, this is a rant...yes, there's a lot of anger here...but I dare you to either a) question 10 Rogers users, because I'll put money on it that at least half of them have either been unhappy with the company or outright hate the company...or b) sign up for yourself and call that horrible conglomerate of a business and see what you think for yourself.

That being said...the minute I have watched the last episode of Rome, I will be calling Rogers and cancelling all my services even all the free shit...and I'm in the mind to send them a letter outlining why they're shit, why even when it's free that I don't want to have ANYTHING to do with them and why people hate them.

Gosh it's nice to hate a business...much less guilt than hating a person! ;)

Moving

So...we're FINALLY out of my old place. My advice is never to move last minute, not even if you're carrying two places for the duration...and ALWAYS be completely packed before the moving day. This "over a period of two weeks" thing is a very difficult process. But *big sigh* it's done. Well the moving out process...now we have the moving in process to deal with.

I have a LOT of junk, and even though I threw out a ton (seriously)...bags and bags and bags worth, and sold and threw out furniture...I still have a gazillion things. So dealing with all this "stuff" and where to put it and what to do with it, well this is still left to be done.

Then we've got the kitchen...the tinted primer and the first two coats weren't enough. So all evening tonight I'll be anal-retentively doing a thick third coat of paint until there are no streaks or unevenly shaded areas.

And still more painting, there are a ton of baseboards and door frames that I'm looking forward to touching up. I do love the little details so this doesn't bug so much. I can wait to see nice clean lines everywhere.

All the technical stuff is Ian's department, so I'm not even going to fuss with any of that. Face plates, outlets & switches, hooks, shelves, lights. All stuff we need to be functional in our new place...oh and of course the entertainment centre and wiring. It look mahvellous...and I'm glad he likes doing this stuff. (I'm already looking forward to the at home version of Dance Revolution!) :)

And of course, more unpacking...lots of it to do. But we're getting there...we really are. I can't wait until everyone can come and see it.

Oh...and the bathroom...well we're going to try something...material on the walls. I'm not sure how well it will work out, but at least it's a place to start. However, after using the new bathroom for almost a week now...well, unbelievably, I've kind of gotten used to it. But lets see how our wall coverings do.

Needless to say, with the time change and the amount of work we've both been doing...I'm pooped...! No rest until Sunday...but it's definitely worth it. :) It's a lot of work and a bit stressful (yes, I've been irritable) ;) But it's already looking marvellous, and through it all, I've never been happier.

Now I'm looking forward to lying around and watching tv (on the BIG screen), helping with meals, baking...did someone say chocolate chip cookies ;) and entertaining anyone who's available. :) FUN!

FaceBook

Well, I finally got myself all set up on MySpace, and what happens? I get a bombardment of email from people about FaceBook. Then every time I'm out socially for a 2 week period, all I hear about is FaceBook. So this morning I check my email and there's another FaceBook update. *sigh* So here I am, set up on FaceBook. And yes it's user friendly, and yes I'll add everyone I currently know in my life that has their FaceBook set up and wow...how much of our lives is going to be lived on-line? *gack* Seriously! I've got what...5 email address I use and check. Why 5...well I like my online name so I've got it at Yahoo, Hotmail and Gmail. Then I've got my paid for personal address, and also my work address. Then there's Blogger for my blog...MySpace, well because a friend does it and it's a great way to keep updated on his wild life, and now FaceBook. Is that it? Is that everything I'm checking these days. By the time I've checked everything and written a little it's time to go home.

Thank GOODNESS we bought a big screen LCD tv that's going to hook up to the computer, that way I can just sit on the couch and continue to live my life. Hmmmm...now all we have to figure out is how to get exercise like that.