Summer 2014 July 6 Sunday (Incompetence and the Modern Organization)

Summer 2014 July 6 Sunday (Incompetence and and the Modern Organization)

75 degrees this morning.

The move-in continues.  We are working at “downsizing” by tossing, giving away or donating anything we think we don’t need.  So far, it has somewhat been “low hanging fruit” with some difficult decisions to make.

I think part of the problem is that possessions play some role in your life, and the recent loss of routine, interactions with friends we truly treasured and our wonderful house and especially the patio and trees etc. (including job loss) make it much more difficult to get rid of long term possessions.  It may not make any sense but I think that that is part of the reason.  As the days go by and we realize the losses, it makes it even more difficult.  It is easier to give our possessions to people we know will use them.

I tried a different walk this morning, I walked a “long mile” through my neighborhood and then took major streets (all with sidewalks, at least on one side) back to the other side of my neighborhood (I walk from the north entrance around to the south entrance).  The distance appears to be roughly the same and a little faster. 

At the risk of sounding like (or worse, being) a chronic complainer, I have to note that my experience with Cox Cable gives a firm indication that all telecommunications companies (ATT, Cox, Comcast) must be inherently incompetent but are saved by a few outstanding, very dedicated, employees.

The Cox Cable installers who came out obviously couldn’t wait to finish and go to their coffee break or whatever.  They brushed off new connections saying “it couldn’t be done” (obviously they didn’t want to do it) and they hurriedly installed some boxes and got out.  

We found they had not hooked up most of the channels we had asked for and hadn’t finished the job.  We found this out from the second person who came out after we called to complain to Cox about the lack of channels and features we had paid to get.  (This was 3 days later also, so it seems we should get a refund for the 3 days.)

THEN, I  try to set up voice mail and find “my plan doesn’t include voice mail”???  I didn’t know there ever WAS such a plan.  Why would I want a phone line without voice mail.  Then I was advised that “long distance was available but at a per unit charge”.  Of course, all of their ads trumpet voice mail, free long distance etc., and then I find out I have a phone line with no more features than the party line phone I had when I was a child.  It I had wanted that, I’d have saved my money and just used cell phones!  

A Cox representative got voice mail set up, but told me to call Monday about the other questions..  Fair enough, but why was I sold a plan like this in the first place.  (This all took about an hour and 1/2, I deeply resent the time it takes to undo the incompetence of Cox, ATT etc.)

Then to add insult, I check my bill on-line (they were very quick about sending the bill) and find I have been billed for HBO and Cimenax (spell), $32 per month! when I had specifically said I had no interest in any movie channels.  In fact, the installers and even repeated I didn’t have these channels!  We also found several more channels we were supposed to get, but weren’t.

On top of that, I had been promised ‘free installation”, and found that they found a way to add a $75 charge to the installation through some devious means.

I think the entire Cox process was gross incompetence with almost criminal misrepresentation.  After this, i am going to go in person and demand to see exactly what I will be charged and what I am getting.

Enough of that.  At least all of the companies have some good people who want to do a good job.  

While walking, the iPod (actually former iPhone) I am listening to “The Bully Pulpit” on was out of battery, so I started listening to Dwain Schenck “Reset:  How to Beat the Job-Loss Blues and get Ready for your Next Act”.  More on the content later, but he goes into a history of he modern corporation and modern management system, it is probably amazing anything gets done.  The modern system was started by the railroads and anyone who has dealt with railroads knows what that is like.  I am looking forward to listening to the rest of the book.

That’s it for now, Sunday, July 6, 2014.