I would have thought that after three and a half years, all the companies that Christopher dealt with would have got the message that he is dead. But apparently not. I waded into battle with unfeeling and impersonal “Customer Services” once more yesterday afternoon.
This time it was Orange, who sent Christopher a letter about price changes to his mobile phone account. I went back to my Probate records, and found that I’d spoken to Orange in September 2010, and sent them a copy of the Death Certificate. I found a phone number to call, and then had a rather bizarre conversation with someone I suspect was in India, trying to get him to understand that Christopher doesn’t have much need for a mobile phone these days, and I’d be very surprised if he made any calls because he is dead! Moreover, I’d told them that rather pertinent fact years ago, so what did they think they were doing writing to him? They had my details and at the very least they should have written to me!
By the time I had hammered home the point several times, I think the customer service flunky finally got the message that I was seriously annoyed and rather upset. He promised that they would completely close the account – which they should have done at the first time of asking in 2010.
It continues to surprise me just how incompetent and insensitive “Customer Services” are in almost all of the companies I’ve had to deal with (with the honourable exception of the Life Assurance company, but after all death is their core business). It’s not so bad for me – I can be assertive and make a fuss. But it must be really upsetting and painful for widows who aren’t such a stroppy cow as I am!
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Orange are dreadful, they have one of the worst customer services on the planet, if not the entire universe !!!!
In fact Orange customer services are absolutely, utterly, totally CRAP, i only stay with them as their network coverage is good in areas i need, otherwise Orange are garbage !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So sorry you’re having to go through all that – even if you are a’stroppy cow’ (which I take leave to doubt!) it’s still very hurtful to have the wounds re-opened so callously. Our sympathies (and hugs if appropriate). If they continue, complain to Ofcom or whichever the relevant organization is – or the TV equivalent to shame them in public.