(no subject)

[semperfiona]

Today's scariness was calling the gas company to return their call about my complaint. Once I got through, the call itself was a piece of cake (and they often are, though the call which prompted my complaint was hellish). What made it horribly difficult was that I had to keep trying about six times before I got through to the customer service person. Screw up my courage once, make the call, be disappointed. And again. And again. Lather rinse repeat.

Telephone phobia. Eep.

Comments

[wldrose.livejournal.com]

If I might give you a pair of hints. I spend lots of time on the phone, and friends tease that I was born with a silver phone in my hand.

The first one is to have a script. It can be as simple as a list of points to make, or as complex as "Hello my name is....". But the most important thing is that it is written down. Seeing the black on white can be very calming, as can knowing you wont forget anything. I just have a form on my comp that I fill in before I need to make the call. I put in the time I tried to make the call, what I want to say, and any relavent info like acount number.
I can keep this cheat sheet for my records, or just update it as I have to make the calls again.

The other thing that I do is make up a Back story and become some one else. Some times its just a diffent person so I am not bored, other times its Whoppers, if I get pissed off.
I got my phone account slammed about 9 months ago by MCI and the little chippy on the phone dared to ask "how do you know you didnt switch phone companys" So what I told her was. "Well when you say I did this I was in Kenya on a job, would you like me to send you a copy of my visa, and the only ones at the house were my poodle and the dog sitter." Such a wopper. but I felt if they were not going to play fair with me. I didnt need to be with them, and it kept me ammused, and less worried.

I hope this can help
Ash

[curgoth]

Ack. I hate that, a lot.

That's the sort of thing that leaves me shaking and wild-eyed with panic.

phone phobia

[dragongirl79.livejournal.com]

I'm the same way. And it's so much harder now with e-mail. I work with people all over the country, and I know that if I want to advance my career I need to actually TALK to these people and make some kind of connection with them, but most of the time I find myself just sending an e-mail to ask a simple question. It's faster, easier, and no fear of interaction. Guess that comes from being shy. I also hate leaving messages, so that may be part of it as well.