GMAC Mortgage customer service is a farce

Another item from the tilting-at-windmills department. Below is an email I submitted to GMAC Mortgage after a particularly annoying customer service call. I'm sure it will achieve nothing for me. But venting feels good. And if anyone else sees this and it swings a coin-flip decision re: who they finance a loan with, all the better.

** email copy begins here **

I am extremely disappointed in your customer service. After faxing on January 31, 2007 [as instructed] information regarding a mishandled tax payment, I had not heard back from GMAC today. 28 days later.

So I just called your customer service line where my inquiry was routed to someone whose mastery of the english language leaves something to be desired, which is frustrating. I am not placing a $19.95 order for a Quik-Chop, I am trying to sort through issues regarding my mortgage account. Clear communication is kind of a priority here, no?

But what's worse was her brusque/robotic manner. I am not confident that she truly understood either the importance of the issue I was inquiring about or the details of my situation. And I definitely don't believe she cared about my anxiety whatsoever. When I asked her to fax confirmation of what she was communicating to me regarding my situation being 'all cleared up', she indicated it would be another 3 days before I would receive anything because there are 'work orders' involved. So after waiting 28 days without hearing anything, then having to call myself for a status, I am told matter of factly that there is nothing I can do but wait another 3 days by someone who I am not confident really understands the situation I am facing here.

Net: this has been anything but a positive experience with GMAC and my confidence in GMAC as a whole has taken a big hit as a result of your less than impressive front line personnel. If after waiting another 3 days on this I receive information that does not fully resolve my issue, I will be beside myself with aggravation. Life presents enough inherent aggravations. I am not looking for aggravation amplification from my freaking mortgage company. Please - get your act together regarding customer service. I am begging you.

Help me understand ...

Who goes to watch Deal or No Deal in person? Seriously. Who does that? Is that the best thing you could be doing with your time? Wow.

Aviso, Canguros

Helsinki Complaints Choir

Saw a pod on Current a couple of weeks ago, then was prompted to check YouTube for it when I saw the repeat. You can learn more about the project here. Haven't seen them all yet, but there is something oddly catchy about the Helsinki version. Love the line about idiots on the escalator. Feels like some kindred Finnish soul represented my personal griefs for me.

SB XLI Photos Are Up

sbxli-nfltailgate-fishcakes-with-dude, originally uploaded by sindlinger.

Just posted our SBXLI pictures on Flickr. This one, for example, is from the NFL Tailgate prior to the game. I was just trying to get a picture of the "Fish Cake Sandwich" sign, [provided by the Hot Dog Cart, of course], when this cat jumped into the frame. Kind of like how it turned out anyway.

Trip was great overall. Rain was a bit of a buzzkill, since we had tremendous seats [14 rows back on the 35 yd line, behind the Bears bench]. But stil, the folks at SI.com put on a first class weekend.

The Oil Equation - Something to Think About

I heard a reporter from The Economist lay out pretty succinctly the big challenge the US faces re: oil/energy independence. Full interview can be found in the Jan 24, 2007 episode of the NPR Technology podcast. But, if I recall correctly, here is the reality of it:

Consumption:
The US consumes 25% of the world's oil and 50% of the world's gasoline.

Resources:
The US sits on 3% of the world's known oil reserves.

That kind of sums it up right there. If we don't wish to be reliant upon foreign oil sources, we have a lot of work to do and we need to seriously modify our behavior as a nation. I won't be holding my breath. It's far too important for people to be seen driving their 4mpg SUVs on the 3 mile round trip to the grocery store.