Stupid Customer Tricks: Don't Invite me to the Meeting

It's been a while since I've posted about Stupid Customer Tricks. One happened just today. ...Or yesterday, technically.

I'm managing a technical project with a major customer. They spend over $1 million annually with us. I'm working with my counterpart on the customer side to bring the right subject matter experts (SMEs) from both sides together to review how they're using the product & recommend ways to do it better (get better functionality, performance, and reliability). I asked him on Monday afternoon to schedule a meeting for Wednesday afternoon (the time was already agreed to) and "invite everyone from [my company] on the cc list" from my company to the meeting.

I expected to see a response Tuesday morning. Nothing. I know this person starts early in the day but I figured maybe he was busy. I was sure he'd do it by the afternoon. Nope! This morning I followed up and asked if we were still meeting today. He sends me the "original" meeting invitation... that was sent to everyone else yesterday.

The dude took my request to "invite everyone from [my company] on the cc list" literally. I wasn't on the cc list— I was the sender on the From: line— so he didn't invite me. 🤦

What a clown.

Fuck Geico, Too

A few weeks ago I complained about how my insurance company, Allstate, was dragging its feet on processing a claim I filed. It wasn't even that they were slow in paying the money; they actually did that fast once they started. The problem was that they didn't even start for 10 days. I spent those 10 days without a car getting a runaround from everyone I spoke to at Allstate... and I communicated with several people over multiple calls in those 10 days. "Fuck my insurance company!" I declared.

So, what are the alternatives? Well, there are lots of insurance companies out there. Geico was recommended by a few friends. "Fifteen minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance," is the slogan their spokes-gecko keeps repeating.

I filled out an application with Geico online (the only choice; they don't do phone anymore) and was given a tentative cost. For coverage comparable to what I have with Allstate it was a smidge less than 10% cheaper. And for condo insurance— which I'd want to bundle with it to save cost— the cost was actually 50% higher. So much for "save 15% or more".

And that was just the tentative estimate. They'd have to get underwriting approval, Geico's website told me. That could take "up to 15 business days".

I checked back yesterday, after not hearing from them since starting my app Aug 3. Still in review for "up to 15 business days", the website said. Note that on Aug 22 it was already 19 days since I started the app. Of course, those are 19 calendar days. Subtract the weekends and there's only 13 business days. 🙄

Then yesterday afternoon I got a letter in the mail from Geico. Yes, a letter in snail-mail. From a company that styles itself as so modern you have to use the website for everything, there's no customer service number to call. The dead-tree letter demanded a raft of paperwork from me to complete my application— by snail mail. There was no number to call for guidance, no website to upload electronic docs to, just a PO box in Virginia (2,500 miles away). And even more absurdly, this letter which arrived on Aug 22 said the paperwork had to be received by Aug 18.

One might look at this absurd process and say it's broken. But one can also look at it and conclude it's working as intended. I've now concluded this bullshit and runaround from Geico is the design. They don't actually want more business in California (it's been in the news that insurers are pulling out due to inflation and consumer-friendly regulation) so they're creating runarounds for anyone trying to do business with them.

I trust Geico considers my decision to ditch them a win.

And I'm still not happy with Allstate but at least they have a phone number I can call.