Laurabelle's Blog

A few weeks ago I got a thing called an Uncalendar, which is a sort of calendar with no dates printed in (so you can start it at any time) and lots of space for scribbling. I didn't start using it right away, because I was still using my academic calendar, but last week was the last of my classes. Over the weekend I pulled out the new calendar and moved into it, and this week I used it to direct my tasks: Debian, job applications, food, party, parents, graduation, phone company. I was surprised at how naturally I filled the space and how easy it was to have all my task-related notes in the same place.

Unfortunately, my own organizing power isn't always enough when dealing with phone companies. Jeff hated Qwest, but I'd had no problems when dealing with them over the past couple of years. Maybe he's just cursed, because now that we're trying to move to a shared plan, I'm having all sorts of troubles.

First I scouted out their website and found what I thought I wanted, for both mobile and DSL service. Then I called them and ordered the service. The cell phones were to arrive Friday; I'd get a call from Qwest within the next 24 hours (Wednesday) about the DSL. Fine.

Well, I didn't ever get a call back about the DSL. This is probably fine; I'll just talk to Blarg and let them tell me what needs to be done about hassling Qwest.

The new phones came on Thursday, yay! We charged them up and called to activate them, but I was told that Jeff's couldn't be activated until Monday and that I should wait until Monday to start being charged for the new combined plan, since we'd save a few dollars. Fine. I'd keep using my old phone until Monday. I was also told that the combined plan with the features we wanted would be $10 more expensive than we had been told. Unpleasant, but barely acceptable.

This morning I woke up and tried to call Jeff, and my old phone didn't work. Neither did my new one! I called Qwest customer service (on the old phone) and found out that my calling plan was changed, so basically I'd be charged for Jeff's phone service even while he couldn't use it! Since that was exactly what I was trying to avoid, I was a bit ticked. I had the guy transfer me to the billing department, who told me I could have a refund for the extra charges and then transferred me back to the wireless department to get one of my phones working. This took a significant amount of time, since the new phone had been activated but thought it was the wrong phone number.

Now my phone works, but we still have to get Jeff converted. Prepare for more war stories.