Today, after trying for several days to change some details on the social security website, I got fed up and called them. I waited nearly two hours on hold, and when I finally got through, the guy on the other end just told me to reboot my computer and try again, then hung up on me. FML
Collection
Halloween
A failed costume, stolen candy and a very real scare: Halloween, the one night when fear is allowed.
Today, I waited on hold with an undisclosed government office for nearly two and a half hours, sitting through 45 minutes of Terms and Conditions, only for the clerk to finally answer, say “Hello” once, and then hang up on me before I could even respond. FML
Today, I was calling my cable company to tell me how to fix my internet. I stayed on hold for almost half an hour, and then when someone finally picked up, my phone died. FML
Today, I called Tech Support because the computer program wouldn't let me open files for my online classes. After an hour, and being walked through the downloading process multiple times. There was a pause and he said, "You're a fucking idiot." and hung up. It still won't work. FML
Today, I called the crisis helpline, and because my connection was cutting in and out for a moment, they hung up on me. When I called back, it was shift change, so they hung up again. FML
Today, due to technical problems, I had to call the company's IT-support as my computer went totally haywire. I explained via phone that I couldn't access anything. The support then tried contacting me by e-mail and got upset with me when I didn't answer. FML
Today, I phoned up my bank's customer service department. I waited eleven minutes on hold with the lovely music, and when a woman finally picked up, I ran out of phone credit. FML
Today, I called the suicide hotline after two months of recurring thoughts. I got put on hold by their machine, then was on call with someone who barely spoke English, got transferred to another building, so I was put on hold again, and finally got hung up on. I was already feeling pretty worthless, so thanks guys. FML
Today, and for the umpteenth time, my cellphone customer service told me that I have to talk to the FCC due to a screwup on both sides in my cellphone plan. The thing is, I can't get around their stupid automated system, 0 is disabled and I don't want to brute force the 20 other numbers to find a living, breathing human. FML
Today, I spent half an hour on the phone with four departments at my college due to a mistake on my tuition bill. The last guy I talked to told me to call the financial aid office and hung up before I could respond. That was the first office I called. FML
Today, I called the DMV. The automated voice said, “Your expected wait time is… 7 hours.” I waited. When I finally got through, the human redirected me to a chatbot. The chatbot crashed. FML
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Top comments
Kyuzomi 12
Thats the first thing people tell you when something is wrong with technology. "Have you tried turning it on or off?"
Bulldozer36 21
Ahh, gotta love the well oiled machine that is the US government.
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Comments (73)
Kyuzomi 12
Thats the first thing people tell you when something is wrong with technology. "Have you tried turning it on or off?"
EverestMelting 23
Yeah because that's always the problem... Oh wait.
Toast7 6
Pretty certain that 90% of the time the reason a website is functioning badly is not because of your system, so in this case, giving almost anything else for advice probably would have been more useful. Therefore, you're reasoning that it was a reasonable response isn't really justifiable. With that said, the guy on the other end could have just reacted automatically if he tends to give that as a staple first answer all day long, and they quickly hung up in embarassment after he realized his error. I think he was probably was probably just dicking around though.
Alchemist_21 26
First, not last.
Infinity1337 11
But the thing is.. Alot of the time people haven't and it ends up being as simple as that to fix something.
Bulldozer36 21
Ahh, gotta love the well oiled machine that is the US government.
AnOriginalName 19
Yeah, well oiled so that it can collectively **** the American people. Oh wait, did I just say that out loud?
skipper2009 18
#17 no you didn't you wrote it.
coried91 28
I hate dealing with government offices. No matter how nice you are to them they're always rude. It makes me what to rip their tongues out and beat them with it.
Sports_guy3 28
#19- Writing is speaking on paper. Or, electrical devices, in this case.
AnOriginalName 19
#19, I did indeed speak that out loud as I was typing the comment. You don't know my life! Only the NSA does.
Gingerette 8
Fight the power!
girlrome 19
Well, so reboot and try again :) Isn't that an absolutely original, never heard of before, piece of advice?
Sports_guy3 28
Why, yes, yes it is!
ccdude14 4
I work in it. Do you know how often they DON'T?
imyy 20
You should always try rebooting first before calling. Or if you KNOW it won't help, just say you did or better yet - ask him to wait while you do.
That_Ginger 18
I think the problem is that the guy just hung up on him, which is a pretty rude thing to do, instead of waiting on the phone until the problem was solved.
junkman6 22
#4 I take it you have never spoken with anyone at a government office in your life. Those people don't give a rats ass about fixing the problem they just want to get you off the line ASAP.
tomwantssnow 14
31, for all you know you could be ruining their new record time for solitaire
JMichael 26
People are so helpful these days, it does my heart good. :)
cjlerch 29
Call and complain. After all, tech SUPPORT is supposed to be supportive...
BoltTheSuperdog 22
Listen to the smart husky The husky knows...
Erati 3
You got someone who speaks english? I always get someone from india.
ComoEsJuan 24
They speak English too. Please, hang up and try your call again later.
girlrome 19
Though with a different accent people from India do speak English very well.
1947Chevy 17
Theis eees madam oochi from schemel tech support how maey I help you. Ahh Foamy the Squirrel where would I be without you
smokecloud_ 37
Torn by your comment, 7. I would like to say it's mildly racist, then I recall the major issues I had with a satellite company years ago where I felt horribly racist because I could barely understand their heavy accents over the phone. And I deal with people whose first language isnt english every day. :/ It can suck.
badluckross 21
Never ask the customer support. Call and be persistent asking about what you need help with, the same situation happened to me with my Mac, so after multiple line transfers I spoke to a high up employee who ended up giving me a free laptop instead of me having to pay the $500 to fix it.
amulya 14
Same deal with Google customer service. It's crazy. Well hope you find a way to fix it soon OP. I'm crossing my fingers for you
bugfroggy 16
On a website? I'm pretty sure that rebooting your computer wouldn't solve something on their website.