Local Agency rant

land butcher · Post by **land butcher** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 6:52 pm

A job comes up where I have to contact a local agency for info only they would have, to see if they even have it.
I call ~9am a male voice answers and I state what I want and the line goes dead. I call back a female answers says she will transfer me to the appropriate person - I get voice mail so I do as directed and leave a detailed message and my contact number twice slowly.
This is on a Thursday and since some agencies are closed all or part of Fridays I call back ~3pm to check their hours and a man answers and tells me that things are chaotic and to call back on Mon.
I call back on Mon and finally get to talk to someone. I explain what I need and am told it will take a week. I explain that I first called on Thur and the client has a time limit due to his permit. I am told to email my request.
Shortly after I send my email I get the following reply;

"We received your email Mr. XXXXX, don't worry we will manage your
request with high priority. By tomorrow no later than 5:00pm you will be
receiving some news from us."

Not having heard back the next day Tues) I send a follow up email ~20min before closing. This is now Wed night, a week has gone by and nothing. Do I have any recourse - NO, can I go somewhere else - NO.

And people wonder why I get upset at govt guaranteed employment and platinum parachute retirements.

RAM · Post by **RAM** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 7:37 pm

who oversees the dept? is their email listed on line? email every 15 min, Call the city concil member or board of supervisers, public agency's work for us the taxpayer and need to be held accountable for public service.

JoeC · Post by **JoeC** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 7:45 pm

Land Butcher - your frustration is defiantly justified.

My suggestion to you - resend the first email and Cc their Department Head, the City Manager, City Council Member or if it's the County then the appropriate personal.

Explain to them how you are trying to provide the best customer service to your client and their help would be greatly appreciated.

Another thought get to know someone in that department that you can go directly to. Create a relationship...

Ram - sort of has the right idea. A little harsh though....

Good Luck

RAM · Post by **RAM** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 8:20 pm

thats cause it is my bedtime.

land butcher · Post by **land butcher** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 1:53 pm

They have a interesting email system.
Call and get a agency employee email addy
Send them a email
You get a email back -
"Thank you for your e-mail. In order for your original message to be delivered, please join my e-mail network.

It's easy: just reply to this message.

By pressing REPLY and then SEND, you will be added to my list of trusted contacts and all your future e-mails will be delivered directly to my inbox. For more information on how this process works, please visit the link below."

Yea, I'm gonna do that a 4 or 5 times.

And I haven't had to contact this agency in 15 years. So much for the relationships.

BTW they are charging the contractor $75/hr for 12 hrs ($900) of traffic control but it's just a tax, the contractor still has to supply the traffic control. Nice hourly rate to do nothing.