Your Worst Customer Service Experience

[dbogen]

Oh wait...I have another one that happened yesterday. I took my son and his friend to McDonalds for lunch. Son wanted chicken selects...OK, no problem there. I wanted a salad...OK, no problem there. Friend wants a Mighty Kids Hamburger meal. OK...PROBLEM there! The woman says to me, we don't make Mighty Kids Hamburger meals...just Mighty Kids Cheeseburger meals. I said OK...then I'd like a Mighty Kids Cheeseburger meal without the cheese. She stands there and looks at me and says...we don't serve hamburgers here lady...we only serve cheeseburgers! I told her that was very interesting since it's the sign clearly states McDonalds Hamburgers!

She looks at me like I've got 2 heads...and I then ask for a manager...yep, just to get a hamburger. The manager comes over and asks what the problem is and I told her the story. She looks at me and says (to the cashier) OK, here's how you do it...just ring it up without the cheese, just like you would if someone doesn't want pickles or ketchup.

We laughed the whole way home and talked about how important it is to be able to think outside the box and decided that in the future, we would order Mighty Kids Cheeseburgers (on the menu) without cheese!

My DS likes the double hamburger. I haven't had a problem ordering, but I laugh when I get the food and there is a special order slip attached to his that says "double cheeseburger NO cheese" So now we joke that he wants a double cheese, no cheese. I don't know why they just don't put the double ham on the menu?

 

[Pikester]

Oh my! I can't stop laughing!

 

[Barbossa]

One hyphenated word: U-Haul. I was moving out of a house I'd just sold. Had to move out that day, the next day the house was no longer mine. I rented a U-Haul truck that was overheating. I took it back and asked for another truck. No big deal, right? Not so fast. The manager, who we figured was a real tool after observing the way he treated his employees, refused to replace the truck. I pointed out that there were plenty of equivalent trucks on the lot, he told me that they were slated for other customers. WTH? I was a customer too and had a gimp truck. When I pointed this out, he literally tore up the rental contract and refused to rent a truck to me. The guy had a real evil aura about him. Great, I had to move in one day and had no truck. Never fear, I rented a truck from Penske, no problems at all, and did the job.

U-Haul: Bad! U-Haul: Bad!
Penske: Gooooood!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

So sad when a fun thread turns nasty.... ANYWAY.....
Walmart.... my most HATED place in the world!!! I swear everyone that works there shares one brain!!! DH and I went there to buy our DDs a Mustang just a few weeks ago. We go pick it out, and then have to wait for a worker with a cart thing to come help us get it to the register. I swear anyone we asked looked at us like we had 3 heads - like they had no idea what we were talking about, nor cared about what we needed. I went to the "customer service" area and asked them to call someone... 20 minutes later still no one came. I went back, asked again. There were two girls standing there chatting, and god forbid I disturb them - they looked at me like, "How dare this ***** interupt our conversation!" I ask they to call someone again, and they just roll their eyes at me, but did it. I go back again to wait, and DH has found a janitor who has actually gone and gotten someone for us. So the guy loads it... very poorly... he picks it up, and just drops it onto the cart!!! He looks at us and jokingly says, "I think its broke now!" I swear I thought I was gona lose it!!!! Not only had we been waiting about 30 minutes for this idiot to come over, he thinks its funny to mis-handle what we wanted to buy (and it was the only one they had). So we get it up to the cashier, and they can't scan it.... are you suprised... so the cart guy reads the scu to the cashier and it comes up at $279, not the $249 its priced as in the store. At this point I'm getting really steamed - DH, who is sitting in the car at the entrance waiting for us to come out calls me on the cell asking my why its taking ANOTHER 20 minutes to pay for it, and I tell him that its ringing up $30 more than its supposed to, and someone is supposidly on the case, but they have yet to come back. DH gets supper pissed, park the car, comes in the store, walks all the way back to where the cars are (really really far away) rips off the sticker stating the correct price, and slams it down on the register. In the mean time, I've asked another supervisor what is going on, she contacts the first supervisor who was suposted to be getting someone, and she says that she asked "Mike" to go look, but he never responded!!!! She tells supervisor #1 that he never responded because ITS HIS DAY OFF!!!! So she was just going to leave me waiting there!!! OMG both DH and I were ready to kill someone, and the worst part of it, is NO ONE in that store cares at all - all they care about is goofing off, and when one of the "annoying" customers bugs them with a question, wow are they put out!!!! I HATE WALMART!!!!

 

[mousey]

Our family of 4 went to TGI Fridays. It was about 5pm and there was no line and lots of empty tables and booths. The hostess seemed annoyed that we came for dinner. She seats us at a table baking in the sun. I immediately asked if we could sit somewhere else and she replies, only in this room. I said but all the tables are in the sun and I would prefer being out of it. She then seats us at a partial sun table--should of just walked out but we didn't. We ordered a couple appetizers, drinks, our meals and my husband goes to the bathroom. On the way back he stops in the bar area where they have free appetizers out like wings, celery, carrotts. He brings a plate with about 4 pieces of celery and some blue cheese. Next thing I see the hostess call our waitress over. Waitress comes to the table and says, the bar food is for bar patrons only--please don't eat it! Since we dined at Friday's frequently and never heard of that policy I asked to speak to the manager. He comes over, doesn't introduce himself, and wants to know what the problem is. I tell him about the celery and blue cheese and he says that foods for everyone. I said well you better tell your hostess that because she seems to have a problem with it. He then takes her outside and they are talking and talking. She comes in and looks at us and starts laughing hysterical and talking to the waiters, staring at us. I just wanted to get up and leave but we finished our meals. The next day I called the corporate office and told them my story they sent me a $50 gift card and apologized over and over. The next day the manager calls me and says I can't believe you called the corporate office, yadda, yadda, yadda! I told him, apparently you aren't capable of handling your staff (told him about her coming back in and laughing--after just being reprimanded!) so I felt this needed to be addressed. He sent me a $50 gift card, but we never went back to that location again and I never will.

 

[rcraw45425]

One of the worst McDonald's experiences ever was when we got home with our food and discovered DDs cheeseburger IN THE HAPPY MEAL BOX had a big bite out of it! I called and talked to the manager, who was sort of shrugged it off over the phone.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

HSBC Retail Services Bank

When we bought DS's mattress at a mattress store, we signed up for their credit card because we got a much better deal on the mattress that way.

DH was ONE DAY late on a payment recently and HSBC Retail Services bank called us many, many times. The first day, they called us FOUR TIMES in one day even though I told the person the phone that DH had already paid the bill. The second day, they called us twice and the second time I told the person on the other end of the phone not only had the bill been paid, but I had confirmation in my hand that it had been paid. I told him I could give him the confirmation # from the bank stating it had been paid. The man on the other end of the phone said to me it didn't matter if I had confirmation that the bill had been paid. They would continue to call us until they reached DH (who's name was first on the credit app).

 

[liamsaunt]

Mine is a restaurant one. I'm not going to name the restaurant because the whole incident was so bizarre and I am pretty sure others won't have the same experience. I also have to stress that we are both laid back people, we honestly did nothing to provoke him, that I was a waitress once, and still...

So, a couple of weeks ago my DH and I attended a sporting event. After the game, we headed to a nearby casual restaurant for dinner. It was crowded, but not overly so. The manager seated us at a nice table on the rail and gave us our menus. And then, our waiter came over. It was pretty obvious from the outset that he was having a bad night. He was sweating and jittery. Right off, we ordered an appetizer to share, some waters, and a drink each. He came back a while later with the adult drinks and the appetizers, but not the waters. We placed our entree order, and I reminded him that we would also like some water. He rolled his eyes and said: "Well, I have had 50 people ask me for water today, and I am just SOAKING WET!" Um....OK.

Eventually the waters were delivered. We told him that we were finished with the appetizer, figuring our food would be coming along, and he replied "Yeah, well, I am too busy to clear it." OK, no problem, we figured. He'll come back for it eventually, when the entrees come out. And so. We waited. And waited. And waited! An hour later, having not seen our dear waiter all this time, I finally got the attention of the manager (who was lounging at the table behind us with some lovely lady friends ). He sprang up and went to get our waiter.

The waiter came to our table and said: "WHAT! I was JUST here!!" (erm, I guess he lost all concept of time, but....OK). I said: "What about our food?" He yelled: "WHAT!!" I said, "our food, you know, the food we ordered from you? The _____ and the ____?" The waiter had an absolute, complete, horrific meltdown! He said: "OH. MY. GOD. I forgot your food!" At this point he started to cry! He said: "I have FAILED you. I am a FAILURE as a waiter!" Now, at this point, we were starting to wonder if he was having a nervous breakdown, so we said, "No, don't worry about it, really! We'll just have the check for what we ate, please." The waiter continued: "I know I failed you. But, if you want anything further from me... SPEAK NOW, OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE!!!"

DH and I were just

The manager came over, horrified, and asked us if everything was OK. We really thought something might be wrong with the waiter, so we didn't recount our experience to him. We figured he could see from the waiter's state of mind that he had a problem to deal with, and I did not want it to be in front of us. The manager gave us a card for 1/2 off our next visit. Erm, I don't think so!

Poor waiter. I hope he worked out his issues. Whatever they were.

 

[Master Mason]

HSBC Retail Services Bank

When we bought DS's mattress at a mattress store, we signed up for their credit card because we got a much better deal on the mattress that way.

DH was ONE DAY late on a payment recently and HSBC Retail Services bank called us many, many times. The first day, they called us FOUR TIMES in one day even though I told the person the phone that DH had already paid the bill. The second day, they called us twice and the second time I told the person on the other end of the phone not only had the bill been paid, but I had confirmation in my hand that it had been paid. I told him I could give him the confirmation # from the bank stating it had been paid. The man on the other end of the phone said to me it didn't matter if I had confirmation that the bill had been paid. They would continue to call us until they reached DH (who's name was first on the credit app).

I had a similar experience with a collector, they were calling for ex wife's daughter, I explained the first several times they called that she no longer lived at my number and they should take my number off their list. Last time the guy tells me, that they can't do that until they talk to the person named , who as I had said no longer lived here. And hung up on me.

Next time before they even asked, I informed them if they ever called my number again, I would be forced to take legal action. Haven't heard from them again luckily.

 

[CathrynRose]

Heck, why don't you just have a DIS-meet ? Something like...

DIS-Meet at 9PM on whatever Saturday at RickinNYC's Target​

,
agnes!

OMG!

"Gather up all the lime green you can find in the store, and head on back to the fitting rooms!! "

 

[Todd&Copper]

I've had some bad ones but among the worst happened at our old Safeway. First of all, there is a mentally challenged man who works there collecting carts and whanot. Kudos for hiring him, but I think they should have told him to not hover around people waiting in line and stand 2" from their rears, as he was doing to me. I hate others invading my persional space, so this was already getting me all edgy.
Then I put my stuff on the belt and hand the weird stock boy my basket and he says "Thanks" all up in my grill and runs off with it.
The cashier starts ringing stuff up and misenters the produce code for two of my vegetables. One was a type of lettuce that was $1 per pound cheaper than the variety she entered, and I cannot for the life of me rememebr the other one but she entered the higher priced item for that one as well. I pointed out to her she entered the wrong codes and said "so what, its all the same." And when I told her it wasn't she got really snotty and reluctantly called the manager over, who was also a real piece of work. She started to argue with me about what the variety of some produce was and I asked her if she even ate that particular vegetable and she tells me its not important. I told her, well, I do eat it and I know with absolute certainty what it is, while you are relying on a 1"x1" photo as a guide. She kept giving me lip and I took the rest of the stuff on the belt, pushed it all up at her and the cashier and told them to shove everything where the sun didn't shine [only I might have used more extrememwords, having been called a 5-letter one at least once by those witches], knocked over some stuff and stormed out of the store.
I despised that store and the staff there. Sorry you are only a cashier but don't take it out on me when you make mistakes. And don't hide behind the manager's skirt. I was so glad they turned that dump into a Gold's Gym.

 

[lemondog]

One of the worst McDonald's experiences ever was when we got home with our food and discovered DDs cheeseburger IN THE HAPPY MEAL BOX had a big bite out of it! I called and talked to the manager, who was sort of shrugged it off over the phone.

Reminds me of the time I ordered a McChicken and got a bun with mayo and lettuce...NO CHICKEN!!! Turned around in nasty rush hour traffic, finally get back to the McDonald's, take in my sandwich and show them the problem. The woman sighed and handed me another one...without ever speaking a word. Heck, a simple sorry would have sufficed!

 

[phragmipedium]

The waiter came to our table and said: "WHAT! I was JUST here!!" (erm, I guess he lost all concept of time, but....OK). I said: "What about our food?" He yelled: "WHAT!!" I said, "our food, you know, the food we ordered from you? The _____ and the ____?" The waiter had an absolute, complete, horrific meltdown! He said: "OH. MY. GOD. I forgot your food!" At this point he started to cry! He said: "I have FAILED you. I am a FAILURE as a waiter!" Now, at this point, we were starting to wonder if he was having a nervous breakdown, so we said, "No, don't worry about it, really! We'll just have the check for what we ate, please." The waiter continued: "I know I failed you. But, if you want anything further from me... SPEAK NOW, OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE!!!"

OMG! I'm one of those laughs-at-inappropriate-moments kind of people, and I think I would have broken out in nervous, hysterical laughter if I were in that situation. How truly bizarre!

My worst service wasn't that terribly bad, really, especially compared to this story. It made me really angry, though, and I'm a very laid-back diner and person in general.

We were at Olive Garden for lunch once and the whole restaurant was practically empty. Shortly after we were seated, a team came in with a bunch of kids and they were seated right next to us. These kids were obnoxious, racing around the table, bumping into my chair, and the parents/coaches were doing nothing. We only had water at this point, so I asked the waitress discreetly if we could please be moved to another area of the restaurant. She says, "Well, all my tables are in this section. I don't know." ! I reiterated that we wanted to be moved because we were not happy at our table, and she finally moved us to the other end of her section - far enough that no one was touching me or my chair, but the team was still just three tables away and quite loud, and it just blew my mind that the whole restaurant was open. We could have been moved to the opposite side of the restaurant, where there were some other people seated and a different waitress. I felt like telling her, "Listen. You might not want to move me out of your section because you'll lose a tip, but trust me - if you do nothing, you won't get one anyway."

 

[tomthebarncat]

By far has the worst customer service I have ever encountered. I went in last summer to buy my once in a lifetime purchase, a Chanel handbag. I had called and inquired if they would take the military VAT form, which allows me to not pay the 19% sales tax, they said yes, no problem. I go a few weeks later to pick out my bag, I had to ask for assistance, as the 3 sales ladies stood around glaring at me, but could not be bothered to provide any assistance. Fine, I can pick out my bag without your help. I got my bag, parade around the store with it, and I am on cloud nine. I go to pay for the bag and give the snobby sales lady my VAT form and Visa card. She rudely pushes the form back to me and says very loudly " The American Military is not our customer and I will not take this form". I politely stated that I had called and spoke to an associate who assured me that this was no problem. She once again, stated that this directive came from Paris and that Mr. Lagerfeld himself had signed the memo. She then says it again really loud for all to hear " The American Military is NOT CHANELS customer". I dropped the bag on the floor and told her to drop the attitude that she worked in a shop, I did this equally as loud as she was speaking. I then asked her how hard would it have been to simply say "I'm sorry that we cannot process this form". Had she not insulted the US military I would have still bought the bag and just sucked it up on the taxes. I walked out shaking my head and mutoring what a rude witch! DH was glad because this bag was 1,100 Euros and the tax alone was 209 euros. Anyway, that is my alltime favorite rude customer service story. No, I do not own a Chanel bag and probably never will as this incident spoiled what I had thought would be the ultimate shopping experience. Boy, was I wrong!

 

[jcsbama]

My worse experience was about 13 years ago. I was a freshman in college and it was the end of finals. I went to the store to fill my car up with gas. I had to prepay so went inside and bought a few items and prepaid for $15 in gas. The gas pump stopped at $10. When I buzzed the intercom and told the attendant what happened, she started yelling at me to come in that I didn't pay for that much gas. There were about 10 other people outside pumping gas as well and they all started looking at me trying to figure what was going on. I then go inside the store that is literally packed with college kids. The attendant starts yelling at me again that I only purchased $10 in gas. I proceed to tell her what I purchased and what the total was. So she very snooty says, well lets just look at the register tape. She starts reading back through the long tape and finds my transaction. Then she says "ok, you're good" as quietly as possible, after she has embarrassed me to no end in front of so many people and treating me like I was a thief. No apology at all! What a joy it was when I pulled the change out of my pocket to discover she had given me back $20 too much. Normally, I'm an honest person and would have returned the extra $, but since she treated me the way she did, I decided to let it be a lesson to her.

 

[daannzzz]

Canceling AOL over the phone. I am a very mellow person and did this at work...my desk being secluded from everyone elses. This event escelated into to me yelling a short obscene phrase that I had never said to anyone in anger! Coworkers came over and wanted to know if I was okay!

 

[TheDarkKnight]

Our family of 4 went to TGI Fridays. It was about 5pm and there was no line and lots of empty tables and booths. The hostess seemed annoyed that we came for dinner. She seats us at a table baking in the sun. I immediately asked if we could sit somewhere else and she replies, only in this room. I said but all the tables are in the sun and I would prefer being out of it. She then seats us at a partial sun table--should of just walked out but we didn't. We ordered a couple appetizers, drinks, our meals and my husband goes to the bathroom. On the way back he stops in the bar area where they have free appetizers out like wings, celery, carrotts. He brings a plate with about 4 pieces of celery and some blue cheese. Next thing I see the hostess call our waitress over. Waitress comes to the table and says, the bar food is for bar patrons only--please don't eat it! Since we dined at Friday's frequently and never heard of that policy I asked to speak to the manager. He comes over, doesn't introduce himself, and wants to know what the problem is. I tell him about the celery and blue cheese and he says that foods for everyone. I said well you better tell your hostess that because she seems to have a problem with it. He then takes her outside and they are talking and talking. She comes in and looks at us and starts laughing hysterical and talking to the waiters, staring at us. I just wanted to get up and leave but we finished our meals. The next day I called the corporate office and told them my story they sent me a $50 gift card and apologized over and over. The next day the manager calls me and says I can't believe you called the corporate office, yadda, yadda, yadda! I told him, apparently you aren't capable of handling your staff (told him about her coming back in and laughing--after just being reprimanded!) so I felt this needed to be addressed. He sent me a $50 gift card, but we never went back to that location again and I never will.

Oh man, you actually ate?! You need to watch the movie "Waiting..." http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348333/

 

[almburr]

Here is ours.
Last August we (DH,Me,DD,DD,DS,DD,DS) were in Colorado Springs on a little end of summer vacation. We were staying at the Comfort Suite we had stayed at that one before(for the kids they have a waterslide)they have suites that fit all seven of us with a roll away. Well we were the fine the first night, but the room smelled oddly of dog pee! We went out the next morning,They had forgetten to get the rollaway. and when we got back from seven falls our room still hadn't been cleaned (3pm) but the rollaway was in the hall We had no clean towels. Dh runs to front desk and gets some, so we could shower, they said they would get to our room right away. We go out for a bit come back still not done. DH goes to front desk. Mgr says they clean empty rooms first before occupied rooms Okay they already have our$$, so they shouldnt have to clean our room. DH is mad, he comes back to the room, asks me what we should do (leave and go to another hotel) 4:30 the maid knocks on the door to clean. I call another hotel they get us a large suite for same price. DH goes and checks us out the magr says he will not charge us for the 2nd night and he is waving his finger in DH's face saying that they clean empty rooms first And we shouldnt have a problem with it.

 

[GirTheGecko]

One hyphenated word: U-Haul. I was moving out of a house I'd just sold. Had to move out that day, the next day the house was no longer mine. I rented a U-Haul truck that was overheating. I took it back and asked for another truck. No big deal, right? Not so fast. The manager, who we figured was a real tool after observing the way he treated his employees, refused to replace the truck. I pointed out that there were plenty of equivalent trucks on the lot, he told me that they were slated for other customers. WTH? I was a customer too and had a gimp truck. When I pointed this out, he literally tore up the rental contract and refused to rent a truck to me. The guy had a real evil aura about him. Great, I had to move in one day and had no truck. Never fear, I rented a truck from Penske, no problems at all, and did the job.

U-Haul: Bad! U-Haul: Bad!
Penske: Gooooood!

I can add to your U-haul fun!

My dbf and I were 13 hours (yes, HOURS) late and received over $1,000 in late fees. The lot was full of trucks, the total for renting the truck for a week would've been less, and the guy was a jerk about it. So, instead of jumping over the counter and choking the guy, I calmly walked out. We emailed one of the local news consumer investigator teams, and while I do agree I should get a late fee, I don't think I deserved that. Needless to say, they straightened it out REAL FAST before the team did much. I will never use them again.

Penske did our PA to NH move, they were fabulous.

 

[goofinoff]

Mine happened in a Friday's as well. I ordered a salad that had chicken on it. I specifically said "dressing on the side". The salad comes out smothered in dressing. I told the waiter I wanted the dressing on the side. He looked at me and actually said "Well, what would you like me to do?" I told him I wanted another salad. He sighed and took the salad away. Second salad comes out. Dressing on it! Not quite as soaked but on it none the less! I said to him "Again, I wanted it on the side!" He looked at me like I had 3 heads. I said "Forget it. I'll just eat the chicken." I started to put the chicken on a seperate dish when he reaches down with his bare hand and does it for me!! I asked him why he did that. He said to help. I said you touched my food with your bare hand. I asked for a manager and she came over and was completely useless! She apologized and whatever. She was very meak and soft spoken. I don't know how she bacame a manager. Looked like the type that everyone would walk all over. Then they had the nerve to charge me for it! I told the manager I was not paying. She told me I had to. I told her to call the police if need be but I was not paying. She finally said ok and took it off the bill. I left there not eating a thing! I called coporate the next day and they sent me a gift card. I gave it away because I never ate there again. It has since closed. Gee I wonder why!