Selling the house, and other comedy scenarios
First, we have had a major triumph. Our appeal has been won: Little Nutter’s disability category has been upgraded. The department has finally accepted that they didn’t read the information they were given correctly.
His care allowance has been increased by 65 pence per week, to cover our expenses in being woken up between five and twelve times every night.
Second, we have formally instructed an estate agent to sell the house. This involved booking appointments with half a dozen local companies to value the house on the understanding that we would go with the average valuation and the best combination of agency services/price. Only three agencies turned up, and one of them sent a teenager who thought we wanted the house let, and not sold. That agency has since phoned us six times, desperate for our business – but I think their competitors are slightly more professional…
The other two gave exactly the same valuation, but one charges twice as much as the other.
Finally, the Child Development Centre have got wind of our intended move – and have withdrawn therapy…
What??? They withdrew therapy based on the fact you are going to move sometime in the future, but not next week? That is insane! And discriminatory, or .. well it’s insane!! surely they could continue therapy until the actual move, and then do a formal handover to the new providers?
And it’s so nice to hear you are a whole 65 pence better off. Sheesh, they sure are free with their money, eh?
Comment by Allie — April 26, 2003 @ 11:02 am
Phone up the manager of the Centre and let them know that you’ll be delighted to hear that service will resume immediately for Little Nutter or you’ll be equally delighted in informing the local newspaper about this . . . interesting policy decision.
Bloody bureaucrats!
Comment by ancarett — April 26, 2003 @ 9:22 pm
Don’t go to the press. You’ll just make further enemieis further up the chain. Instead, fight bureaucracy WITH bureaucracy. With the biggest. most sincere smile you can muster, phone up the center, explain the situation, say you don’t understand why, and make them explain it to you. Play really stupid. Ask very clarifying questions in a yes or no fashion. Take written notes (time, person spoken to, etc.) and when they can’t help you any further, smile, be sincere and ask for their supervisor. Repeat ad nauseum until you get what you want. Smile even if you’re on the phone, as I swear it comes across. Yes, Gareth, this means you. The higher you have to go, the louder the shouting will be when something finally happens, and since you’ve been SO nice about it the whole way, no one will take it out on Little Nutter.
Comment by Anne — April 27, 2003 @ 4:39 am
Hey Anne, you been reading my notes or something? Our policy is “give us what we want or you will have to waste your time explaining why not.” It works.
Comment by Gareth — April 27, 2003 @ 9:26 am
Hehe, that sounds positively evil, Anne and Gareth. Must try that the next time we have problems!
Comment by ancarett — April 27, 2003 @ 11:35 pm