Wednesday 29 February 2012

Sorted.

Extremely pleased with myself.
Odious little man (Steve from Accounts) rang again from VISION PUBLICATION GROUP (see last post) and asked me again for the money I so called 'owed'. I had, in the time since our last dear little phone call, contacted Trading Standards, and a very kind solicitor from the Federation of Small Businesses. Between the two of these phone calls, I managed to get a letter together to send to Vision. This letter was unsent but ready to go, when Steve (see above) called.
I hit him with it.
Gave him What For.
Told him about the business forums I had found on the internet, where at least 30 other people had experienced the same thing FROM THE SAME COMPANY!
Told him about contacting Trading Standards and the FSB legal department.
Told him that unless he provided concrete evidence that I HAD confirmed the invoice, that I would be contacting the police for harassment.
I was on a roll, my voice no longer quiet and uncertain, but booming and confident and DETERMINED that the bullying should stop.
Steve from Accounts told me that I should talk to Andy from Accounts.
And rang off. Fast.
Next day we got a call from Vision saying that the invoice had been cancelled.
Ridiculous, eh? Like a bully in the playground who just needs someone to stand up to him.
Anyway, I did.
And will NOT be getting into the same situation ever again.
Do you know what? I actually asked to listen to the recording of the so called confirmation phone call. I sounded so damned NICE and NORMAL, if a little bewildered by the assumption that I had agreed to an advert. I could hear my voice saying, 'Actually I need to talk to my colleague,' and 'This sounds good in theory but in practice...' etc. All interrupted. All ignored. And all to the background of the children at my pre-school playing...
Makes me steam with rage that people take advantage like that.
And so, while I will always remain polite, I will never again fall into that trap.
It just goes to show how the very worst of mankind use the nice people out there for their gain.
But not this time.

17 comments:

Irene said...

I'm very proud of you that you reached inside yourself and got the indignant part of you to stand up for justice. You certainly got that straightened out. It's a shame you had to go through it, but never again. Hurray!

Expat mum said...

Oooh, job well done but next time don't be so bloody polite. Just say NO.

Vicus Scurra said...

If I send you my number will you call and tell me off? Just asking.

Humdrum Mum said...

I'm afraid I'm very rude on the phone in those circumstances. Poor show on me eh? -HMx

Joolz said...

Well done you!

Gone Back South said...

That's quite some rant Ms Ladybird, but I must say if I were being harassed for money I didn't owe I would be pretty livid too. Lovely blog you have here, I'm off now to add you to my list of places to come back too.

Anonymous said...

Well done, standing up to the bullying!

Clippy Mat said...

I'm in awe of your politeness. I'd have been a screaming mess because that kind of thing annoys me more than anything. Dignity would have flown right out the window!
:D

Ladybird World Mother said...

Oh, bless all your hearts. How lovely to read all these comments. And yes, VS, of COURSE I'll ring you up and tell you off. I am, after all, FRIGHTFULLY good at it, it seems. xx

Denise said...

Hooray for you - well done

Anonymous said...

Oh, well done! I think you could hire yourself out with that track record!

trash said...

Well done you.

I just tell them that I am the burglar and the homewoner is tied up at present. Police haven't been called so far.

Catharine Withenay said...

Phew! Still, irritated for you that it took a further 24 hours after Steve's phone call for the cancellation... but the right result at least. At least you are prepared to stand up to these people: think of all the people who are bullied into paying such money when they don't have it, or don't want the service, or are just not quick enough to say no.

cheshire wife said...

Well done! You have more patience than I would have had in that situation.

Leilani Schuck Weatherington said...

As well you should be. So may mentally feeble elderly people are victimized by these types, one wonders how they can live with themselves.

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

Glad you got the better of that pushy little man LWM. So fed up with the sales and charity appeal calls that we get we now let the answer phone take most calls and they just ring off! A x

About Last Weekend said...

Thanks for stopping by today so I could find your blog again...Good on you! I'm polite at first and then start ramping it up.