Companies I’ll Never Do Business With Again
The other day I read an article that stunned me. How would you like to be kicked off an airplane for not making your kid behave properly? Well it happened to these folks.
Now, before we go ay further, I must confess I’m on both sides here.
First of all, my sick little head can’t stand non stop crying kids. I don’t even want to think about the times I’ll have my own. This part of parenting will most likely be a living hell for me. I do wish similar things happened more often. I, probably, would have been the happiest customer of this airline at that time. Told you I’m sick…
On the other hand, I can’t even think what my reaction would have been if something like that happened to me. Are ya kidding me??? Especially since it seems the folks were not even given enough time to calm down the girl.
These being said, needless to say that the airline appologized and gave them back their money and offered them free tickets to their desired destination. Of course the offer was turned down. Although, it might have been a good financial decision to accept it. I bet they would have never had such problems from this airline again. They would have had their behinds kissed.
The whole story just drove me crazy. Not necessarily on its own, but rather because it reminded me of my own problems and frustration with certain companies I’ll never do business with again.
Here’s the thing: God forbid, we as customers, make a mistake. They treat us like dirt. Like scum bags. And the list of “appelatives” could go on forever. Am I exagerating? Maybe. But that’s how I feel like. On the other hand, when “they” make one, they beg and beg and beg for forgivness and understanding. “It was a mistake.” “We’re sorry, but our system was down.” “We appologize for the inconvenience, it was a mistake on our behalf.” And so on. I’m pretty sure you can come up with your own.
So what should one do? At first, since I’m a (very) understanding person (no, for real) I was inclined to forgive them. NOT ANYMORE. Especially when it happens again and again. And especially after realizing I would not be treated the same way.
How many times have you missed a payment on something, or have been late with it? Simply because you completely forgot about it or you didn’t get your bill in the mail and just overlooked it (while there’s solutions to such problems, it’s not the place here to talk about them, and, common, we’re all humans and make mistakes). Has any of them cut you any slack? I doubt it. If in your agreement it says that in such cases you lose the 0% introductory APR, you can bet your behind that it’s going to happen with the precision of a swiss watch. Just an example.
In the very few cases when they do cut you some slack is because the law makes them to. Such as not reporting you to the credit bureaus right away.
I’m in no case advocating not paying your bills or your credit card or your mortgage etc. I’m just furious about the one way preferential treatment these businesses expect from us.
I am also aware of the fact that there might be no practical solution to the problem.
I am also aware of the fact that whenever there’s some mistakes on their behalf, they happen (in most cases) because of the human factor which is prone to mistakes.
And most likely the people to be blamed for such mistakes will get their share of problems. That’s not what I’m expecting from them. No. I just want to be cut some slack myself every once in a while. I just want to be treated with respect even if I call 100 times for a problem, especially when it doesn’t get solved (you’ll see what I’m talking about).
Since that’s not gonna happen, all I can do is decide to not do business with these companies (when that is possible - you’ll see there’s some situations when it’s not the best thing for me) and talk about them here. Will I get any change of attitude from them? Yeah, right! But at least I can let it out. I can tell others how certain folks understand to do business. And you’re more than welcome to bring your own contributions (especially by commenting). Please be civilized though.
These being said I will pretty soon start listing here the posts in which I’ll be writing about such situations. So make sure to check back and read about them.
