Warning! Reaching Maximum Limits

The below are just some of the scenarios I face everyday, coupled with being shouted at, nagged at, scolded at, taken for granted, and pushed to the limits.

The worst is when you have to encounter wierdos, whackos, lunatics, the mentally ill, and also, when the internal customers does not understand what you are doing and starts taking it out on you as well.. for things that are beyond your control but they assume that it has to do with you... which I have encountered, even outside of working hours mind you...

My blood pressure is seriously going up. I keep feeling my temples are about to burst, and my chest about to explode. I don't know how much longer I can take all these; I've been doing so for the past few years. I've broken down twice in the past 2 months, everyone I'v come across is surprised that I've managed to endure this long! I can definitely count patience and endurance as one of my stengths.

Now is a bad time though coz I'm still studying part time and I intend to go overseas for 2 weeks in October. I sigh everyday. And, in a few days time, it's my birthday! Rhymes haha. Somehow, this year it doesn't feel like a birthday, or an occasion for celebration. I have an exam the following day.. and I'm so old already lah.. so sad...

Looking back, always lotsa things seem to happen especially just before my birthday. Hmm.. I wonder whether it has any significant meaning...

Scenario 1:

A: I’m a bodybuilder and want to know the nutritional value of your Indonesian Fresh Patatoes and Lean Pork, I need to know details such as complex carbo, fats….
Me: Sorry we don’t provide such information; maybe you could check the internet?
A: It’s not accurate
Me: Ok I will check for you.

10 minutes later A calls back, not even allowing us any time to check.

A is informed that we do not provide such information and to please check with AVA. A still asks us for AVA’s number!!!

Scenario 2:

B calls in wanting to know why the price of certain items have increased.

B is given the reason but then B goes on to tell me other things, that price has increased for everything nowadays except for her husband’s salary, hospital bills, so expensive, food, so expensive. She cannot work coz she is not well. She has no hope of living. “Oh my god”, she keeps on saying and then adds, “the god also have no power, cannot help”.

Poor B. I tell her not to say things like that. B eventually ends the conversation by thanking me in a sad tone. I feel sad for her but I too am feeling the effects of the high cost of living nowadays. Sigh. And I am not a trained counselor!

Scenario 3:

C: He –lo is so so blah bla (C is immediately rude and practically shouts in a congested sounding background)
Me: Good afternoon, I can’t really hear you sir
C: What is your name
Me: Marie
C: Marie only?
Me: Marie Therese, and what about you sir
C: You don’t have to know my name, I want to know about the ---- you are giving out!
Me: Oh, you have to call ---- for that
C: What the hell! &8^% blah blah blah!
Me: Please talk to me properly sir
C: What properly!? Blah blee bloh Bleh

Me mutes the phone and lets my colleague listen in and C suddenly has a second line and I hang up.

A minute later C calls in and speaks to my colleague:

C tries the same technique and asks for my colleague’s name, my colleague refuses to answer and asks for his name, C starts shouting again and my colleague hangs up the phone on him.

Scenario 4:

Regular customer D calls in, and says that we have to issue staff A with a warning letter as she is very rude on the phone. D says that we are ‘coolies and labourers’ working for our company, and when ‘such characters appear, the disease will spread’. You better go and do something about it, D demands and hangs up the phone in his usual fashion.