My Dad picked me up early from work yesterday and took me up to the dealership to pick up my car. It was waiting for me when I got there, all fixed up, and No, I didn't have to pay a cent to have the faulty part replaced. I guess in some cases it pays to have a big mouth...in this case, if I didn't call them up and rag on them about the problem with the car and tell them that I found information about the problem on the internet, then they wouldn't have offered to fix it. Let me rephrase that, because they didn't actually offer to fix it "they wouldn't have agreed to fix it".
For the six hours that I was at work yesterday, it was so hard to be here. My mouth was sore and feeling raw (I think I may have come back to work too early from my fall, because of all the talking I do in the run of a shift here) and the customers were complete idiots yesterday. Here are a couple of examples of two calls I handled yesterday:
Me: "and the date of expiration of your Visa"
SC (stupid customer): "tomorrow"
Me: "I'm sorry"?
SC: "tomorrow"
Me: "Sir...your Visa expires tomorrow"?
SC (sounding like I'm some kind of moron): "Ah....no"!
Me: "Oh, well Sir, after you had finished giving me your Visa #, I had asked what the date of expiration was"
SC (in a somewhat annoyed & yelling voice: "06...XX"
Me: "Would you like an email confirmation"?
SC (in a very surprised voice): "You can do that"?
-Ah no, I'm just saying that to taunt you!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Early Start, Short Day
I rose earlier than usual this morning, because I had to take my car into the dealership to fix the problem from yesterday. I found some info on the internet about the problem I was having and called the dealership up yesterday and told them that I wanted the thing fixed and I was not paying anything to have it repaired. Here's what I found on the net:
The grease in the ignition switch is freezing and/or hardening so that the ignition switch can not engage. The dealer must recall all of these vehicles and replace the ignition switch and grease. They apparently have a redesigned switch, which certainly can be construed as an admission to the faulty design. Of course, this type of remedial measure cannot be used in court, but is certainly helpful to those of us consumers who are the victims of the faulty design.
So basically, they know about the problem, as they've redesigned this switch, but the won't recall the vehicles and will only fix it for you, if the problem so happens to you before your car hits the 50,000 km warranty cap AND if you bitch at them long and hard enough to fix it.
I've loved my car from the minute that I bought it, but this experience has left a very sour taste in my mouth. My Dad tells me "It's not your make of car...any car make does things like this, to save a buck" (meaning not recalling the problem and taking the "wait and see if it happens to customers" attitude) and I know he's right. It just pisses me off! You work your ass off to spend your hard earned money on a car that you believe is reliable, it's just frustrating.
So I have to leave work early today to go pick up my dang car. My Dad is picking me up after he's off work at 4:30 and we're going up to get it. I'm glad he's going to be there for back up incase they try and tell me that I owe them money for an oil change or some other BS that I did not ask them to do to my car. I made it very clear on the phone yesterday that I was not paying them a cent today.
The grease in the ignition switch is freezing and/or hardening so that the ignition switch can not engage. The dealer must recall all of these vehicles and replace the ignition switch and grease. They apparently have a redesigned switch, which certainly can be construed as an admission to the faulty design. Of course, this type of remedial measure cannot be used in court, but is certainly helpful to those of us consumers who are the victims of the faulty design.
So basically, they know about the problem, as they've redesigned this switch, but the won't recall the vehicles and will only fix it for you, if the problem so happens to you before your car hits the 50,000 km warranty cap AND if you bitch at them long and hard enough to fix it.
I've loved my car from the minute that I bought it, but this experience has left a very sour taste in my mouth. My Dad tells me "It's not your make of car...any car make does things like this, to save a buck" (meaning not recalling the problem and taking the "wait and see if it happens to customers" attitude) and I know he's right. It just pisses me off! You work your ass off to spend your hard earned money on a car that you believe is reliable, it's just frustrating.
So I have to leave work early today to go pick up my dang car. My Dad is picking me up after he's off work at 4:30 and we're going up to get it. I'm glad he's going to be there for back up incase they try and tell me that I owe them money for an oil change or some other BS that I did not ask them to do to my car. I made it very clear on the phone yesterday that I was not paying them a cent today.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Begrudgingly Back
I'm back at work today, but not wanting to be here. I've been on the phone here at work for 15 minutes and already my mouth is getting sore where my swollen lump is on the inside. I came to work with the attitude of "I'll give it a try and if I start to get uncomfortable, I'll go home sick".
Well, I went out to start my car to come to work this morning and nothing. I was getting the lights on the dash, but no clicking sound and certainly no grumbling noise of the engine trying to turn over.
At first I thought to myself "Great, I left the lights on and drained the battery". Then I realized that my car buzzes when I turn it off and leave the lights on, so that wasn't the case. Next I thought "Well, it's cold outside, so it won't start". Then I realized "It was WAY colder than this two weeks ago and it started no problem, so that's not it".
I called my Dad at work and told him what happened, and asked him if he could come and get me and drive me to work. He came about 10-15 minutes later and looked at my car and just like I, thought it was very peculiar that it wouldn't start, because I was getting lights on my dash, but no sound of the car trying to start.
When I got to work, I had about 20 minutes before I had to start, so I called the dealership where I bought my car and explained to them that I had an '06 model and that this shouldn't be happening to my car. The guy on the phone said "Oh, well this happens a lot, just go out and try it 10 minutes after you initially tried". I said "Well, I had to arrange for alternate transportation to work this morning, so I when my ride showed up, we tried it and again, nothing". The guy on the phone goes "Oh, well I've never heard of it not starting after 10 minutes". I said "Well, it wouldn't start when my ride came and that was atleast 10 minutes". He said "Well, I've never heard of it not starting after 10 minutes". I said "Well, I'll see if I can get my Dad to stop by at lunch to try and start it". He goes "Yah, you do that, if it doesn't start, we'll have to tow it". I said "Yah, OK" and hung up frustrated.
I called my Dad and told him what the dealership guy said. My Dad said "I'll stop by and try and start it and email you and let you know how I made out. If it doesn't start, then you call your salesman and tell him what happened and that you had to arrange alternate transportation and tell him to remedy this situation".
I hope everything works out for me. What a great way to start the week!
Well, I went out to start my car to come to work this morning and nothing. I was getting the lights on the dash, but no clicking sound and certainly no grumbling noise of the engine trying to turn over.
At first I thought to myself "Great, I left the lights on and drained the battery". Then I realized that my car buzzes when I turn it off and leave the lights on, so that wasn't the case. Next I thought "Well, it's cold outside, so it won't start". Then I realized "It was WAY colder than this two weeks ago and it started no problem, so that's not it".
I called my Dad at work and told him what happened, and asked him if he could come and get me and drive me to work. He came about 10-15 minutes later and looked at my car and just like I, thought it was very peculiar that it wouldn't start, because I was getting lights on my dash, but no sound of the car trying to start.
When I got to work, I had about 20 minutes before I had to start, so I called the dealership where I bought my car and explained to them that I had an '06 model and that this shouldn't be happening to my car. The guy on the phone said "Oh, well this happens a lot, just go out and try it 10 minutes after you initially tried". I said "Well, I had to arrange for alternate transportation to work this morning, so I when my ride showed up, we tried it and again, nothing". The guy on the phone goes "Oh, well I've never heard of it not starting after 10 minutes". I said "Well, it wouldn't start when my ride came and that was atleast 10 minutes". He said "Well, I've never heard of it not starting after 10 minutes". I said "Well, I'll see if I can get my Dad to stop by at lunch to try and start it". He goes "Yah, you do that, if it doesn't start, we'll have to tow it". I said "Yah, OK" and hung up frustrated.
I called my Dad and told him what the dealership guy said. My Dad said "I'll stop by and try and start it and email you and let you know how I made out. If it doesn't start, then you call your salesman and tell him what happened and that you had to arrange alternate transportation and tell him to remedy this situation".
I hope everything works out for me. What a great way to start the week!
Monday, January 22, 2007
LOA
Hello friends in Blog-land,
I'm writing this to let you know that I'll be taking a temporary leave of absence from blogging for about a week or so, as I'm not able to work this whole week, and therefore will not have daily internet access.
Last Saturday night, I was out at Ryan's parent's place and decided to take advantage of their jacuzzi. After being in it for about 10 minutes or so, I started feeling really strange and my chest was getting very tight. I got out and went out into the kitchen, in search of my asthma inhaler, which was in my purse...which was in the kitchen. I took it and got no relief. I went to get a drink of water and colapsed. I then walked to Ryan (something I don't remember doing) and said to him (with apparantly and really strange look on my face) "Ryan...I don't feel so well" and then I fainted and fell face first into the hardwood floor.
I was only out for about a minute or so, but I managed to push a tooth all the way through my lower lip when I fell...it was a bloody mess. My face was a little swollen on the left side (which, when I came to, I was lying on that side of my body) and my knees are all bruised and sore, as are my shoulders.
I'm writing this to let you know that I'll be taking a temporary leave of absence from blogging for about a week or so, as I'm not able to work this whole week, and therefore will not have daily internet access.
Last Saturday night, I was out at Ryan's parent's place and decided to take advantage of their jacuzzi. After being in it for about 10 minutes or so, I started feeling really strange and my chest was getting very tight. I got out and went out into the kitchen, in search of my asthma inhaler, which was in my purse...which was in the kitchen. I took it and got no relief. I went to get a drink of water and colapsed. I then walked to Ryan (something I don't remember doing) and said to him (with apparantly and really strange look on my face) "Ryan...I don't feel so well" and then I fainted and fell face first into the hardwood floor.
I was only out for about a minute or so, but I managed to push a tooth all the way through my lower lip when I fell...it was a bloody mess. My face was a little swollen on the left side (which, when I came to, I was lying on that side of my body) and my knees are all bruised and sore, as are my shoulders.
I went to the doctor today, because I obviously can't work with my mouth
being all messed up like it is (it really hurts to talk because my tooth
aggravates the huge swollen lump on the inside, with each word I say).
She checked it out and checked my face out and says that I've possibly
cracked my cheek, but it's not broken (I was super lucky that the worst
of it was the tooth thing and not breaking my jaw, nose, cheek, etc.).
She took my blood pressure and it's very low as she thinks my body is
still in a little shock.
The culprit was the jacuzzi - it was too hot apparently and changed my
core body temperature too rapidly. My blood vessels were contracting to
try and let off heat and it messed up the blood and oxygen flow to the
brain.
I'll be off work for the rest of the week...which really sucks, because
that means a week of no pay. You don't get leave of absence pay unless
you're out for 3 weeks or longer :(. My sick day today that I called in
won't even count as a paid day now, because something about them
re-coding today with my doctor's note.
Anyway, I'm doing much better today than I was yesterday. It's still a little
difficult to eat and drink.I've been having stuff like yogurt, scrambled eggs,
etc. I've been advised by my doctor to just take it easy the next few days,
where as my blood pressure is still low, doing minor things like a little
housework, etc., could be bad for me. I guess I'll be all caught up with
what's happening on tv this week!
Friday, January 19, 2007
Nombre, Neve, Neige...SNOW!!!
Wow, are we ever getting dumped with snow today. There was a good few centimeters already on the ground when I left for work this morning. The last I've heard is that we can expect roughly between 15-20 centimeters, but possibily as high as 30 centimeters before it's done! Craziness! Also around supper time it's supposed to freezing rain, so that will add a nice lovely icy sheath to all the snow that fell...making removal of the snow quite a chore.
So, my evening will be spent trying to cautiously manouver my way home from work, then digging out my yard and steps. If you must be on the roads tonight, be very cautious...driving conditions will not be good!
So, my evening will be spent trying to cautiously manouver my way home from work, then digging out my yard and steps. If you must be on the roads tonight, be very cautious...driving conditions will not be good!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
BRRRR!!!
Man, I'll be glad when this cold snap is overwith! It's amazing how warm it was a couple of weeks ago and then to change to these frigid temperatures! Not that the outcome of our weather warming up (supposidly tonight) is much favorable...it's supposed to snow atleast 15 cm's between overnight tonight and tomorrow night!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Rant...
OK, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Fredericton has THE worst drivers! OMG!!!
No, I'm not perfect, but I'm cautious! Holy crap people...slow the fack down and drive according to your surroundings! GEEZ! I spent the evening and the night with Ryan last night at his parent's place (they're away til March). This morning I got into my car (Holy crap-ola it's cold out there!) and drove home to my place to get ready for work, since Ryan had to leave early for Saint John. I basically just got up and drove home. Anyway here starts the examples of the extremely bad driving I witnessed...just this morning!
1) There was an accident on the bridge in the southbound lane. I couldn't really tell what had happened, all I noticed was a blue car turned sideways. Anyway, I was in the left hand northbound lane, as I was merging onto the bridge from Riverside drive (the only lane I could be in at this point). This a$$hole coming southbound decides that he's had enough of co-operating with the police, ambulance attendants and other traffic, and decides to pull out INTO MY LANE and keep on truckin'...forcing me to slam on the brakes. I nearly $hit my pants, while my car started to swerve, I was still in control however...thank God for driver's ed way back when, but holy crap, can you say almost a double accident scene! There was nothing the cops could do either because they were tied up at the accident scene and Idiot driver # 1 was already gone.
2) There is a separate turning lane to get onto my street off of the main road. After dealing with Idiot driver # 1, I was like "OK, you're almost home...you made it through that...you're almost home". I go to pull into the turning lane to get onto my street and Idiot driver #2 (taxi driver at that...'nuff said) decides that he's had enough of waiting in traffic (which was extremely backed up, due to the bridge accident) and pulls out into my turning lane (he was in the opposite direction, so the pulling-into-the-turning lane-move was not even an option for him!) and starts driving down the main road that way. I'm like "OK, WTF!!!" This same thing just happened to me like two minutes earlier!!!
3) I was at home for about an hour or so before I had to leave for work. The time comes to leave for work and the traffic is still backed up heavily from the bridge accident. I plan an alternate route to work, allowing me to use a couple of traffic lights and sail through traffic (supposidly), in the opposite direction that it was backed up in. While I'm stopped at a traffic light, waiting for it to turn green, a big transport truck hauling logs decides to enter the intersection on the yellow...and yup you guessed it...isn't able to really move anywhere because yes...the traffic is backed up because of the accident! So I sit there stewing over my run in with Idiot driver #3 this morning.
4) I make it past Idiot driver #3 eventually and am stopped at another traffic light. I see the light turns yellow for the opposing traffic, so it's soon going to be my turn to drive away. That's when Idiot driver #4 is followed by Idiot driver #5 and they decide to park side-by-side in the middle of the intersection. Love-a-lee.
So I've finally made it to work...alive. Here's to 8 hours of not having to drive anyway and deal with anymore idiots...well that's not entirely true...I know I'll deal with a lot of idiot customers today.
No, I'm not perfect, but I'm cautious! Holy crap people...slow the fack down and drive according to your surroundings! GEEZ! I spent the evening and the night with Ryan last night at his parent's place (they're away til March). This morning I got into my car (Holy crap-ola it's cold out there!) and drove home to my place to get ready for work, since Ryan had to leave early for Saint John. I basically just got up and drove home. Anyway here starts the examples of the extremely bad driving I witnessed...just this morning!
1) There was an accident on the bridge in the southbound lane. I couldn't really tell what had happened, all I noticed was a blue car turned sideways. Anyway, I was in the left hand northbound lane, as I was merging onto the bridge from Riverside drive (the only lane I could be in at this point). This a$$hole coming southbound decides that he's had enough of co-operating with the police, ambulance attendants and other traffic, and decides to pull out INTO MY LANE and keep on truckin'...forcing me to slam on the brakes. I nearly $hit my pants, while my car started to swerve, I was still in control however...thank God for driver's ed way back when, but holy crap, can you say almost a double accident scene! There was nothing the cops could do either because they were tied up at the accident scene and Idiot driver # 1 was already gone.
2) There is a separate turning lane to get onto my street off of the main road. After dealing with Idiot driver # 1, I was like "OK, you're almost home...you made it through that...you're almost home". I go to pull into the turning lane to get onto my street and Idiot driver #2 (taxi driver at that...'nuff said) decides that he's had enough of waiting in traffic (which was extremely backed up, due to the bridge accident) and pulls out into my turning lane (he was in the opposite direction, so the pulling-into-the-turning lane-move was not even an option for him!) and starts driving down the main road that way. I'm like "OK, WTF!!!" This same thing just happened to me like two minutes earlier!!!
3) I was at home for about an hour or so before I had to leave for work. The time comes to leave for work and the traffic is still backed up heavily from the bridge accident. I plan an alternate route to work, allowing me to use a couple of traffic lights and sail through traffic (supposidly), in the opposite direction that it was backed up in. While I'm stopped at a traffic light, waiting for it to turn green, a big transport truck hauling logs decides to enter the intersection on the yellow...and yup you guessed it...isn't able to really move anywhere because yes...the traffic is backed up because of the accident! So I sit there stewing over my run in with Idiot driver #3 this morning.
4) I make it past Idiot driver #3 eventually and am stopped at another traffic light. I see the light turns yellow for the opposing traffic, so it's soon going to be my turn to drive away. That's when Idiot driver #4 is followed by Idiot driver #5 and they decide to park side-by-side in the middle of the intersection. Love-a-lee.
So I've finally made it to work...alive. Here's to 8 hours of not having to drive anyway and deal with anymore idiots...well that's not entirely true...I know I'll deal with a lot of idiot customers today.
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