Receptionist told me to go away!

[purpleee]

My dd has just moved schools. I had some paperwork to hand to the office.

When I got there the receptionist smiled and ushered me forward. Then the phone rang and she told me to hold on.

I assumed it was an important call so didn't mind waiting.

A minute or two later a postman arrived. There is a little gold bell you can ring for assistance.
He pressed it. No reply.
So he left the post on the counter.

More time passed and a parent turned up with her child. They pressed the bell. No reply.

The mother and child waited by the entrance door out of view.

The receptionist then came back scowling and said ' you knew I was on the phone, go away!'

She obviously assumed I was pressing the bell when I hadn't touched it once.

I didn't bother handing in the paperwork and just left.

She probably had a go at the parent waiting too.

What would you do?
We've only been here a week so don't want to make complaints already.

Should I just leave it and hope she's in a better mood when I go there today?

[VariantL1130]

I would have just said something at the time. Why didn't you?

[BumBurnerBum]

I would have told her exactly what had happened at the time. I would still complain though, why does she get to dismiss you like an errant child?

[DartmoorDoughnut]

Huh? Why on earth did you just walk away?! You should’ve just asked her what she meant, pointed out that the postman had pressed the bell and the other parent to indicate they were waiting and if she’s a receptionist she should be able to handle more than one thing happening at once!

[Whinginadeville]

I'd have said it was the postman why didn't you?

[thenewduchessofhastings]

How unbelievable rude and unprofessional.

You were there and about to be "served" so to speak and she ignored you and answered the phone instead.

The fact the postie just left the Mail would suggest this is probably normal as well.

But to come out and have a go at you like that is disgusting.She doesn't know if it was an urgent/important matter why you were there.

[FindingMeno]

I would try again, and if she's equally as abrupt I would have a snark at her ( but not officially complain unless it happened yet again)
Otherwise I'd shrug and put it down to a bad day and being human.

[PracticingPerson]

What??! I would factually email the head with something along the lines of: 'I tried to drop off some paperwork but the receptionist told me to go away, what am I supposed to do' and see what you get back.

What a strange course of events!

[Sometimesfraught82]

What did you actually say in response?
Literally nothing and walked out?

[ReceptionTA]

I'd be so shocked I would have said "I've come to leave paperwork" shoved it at her and walked off.

It sounds like a scene from Motherland.

[purpleee]

I didn't say anything at the time because she literally said that then walked away again. I was a bit shocked and didn't want to start shouting ( so she could hear me) in front of the child and Mum waiting by the door.

[purpleee]

@PracticingPerson

What??! I would factually email the head with something along the lines of: 'I tried to drop off some paperwork but the receptionist told me to go away, what am I supposed to do' and see what you get back.

What a strange course of events!

I think I will do this exactly.

[Sometimesfraught82]

@purpleee

I didn't say anything at the time because she literally said that then walked away again. I was a bit shocked and didn't want to start shouting ( so she could hear me) in front of the child and Mum waiting by the door.

So she said this, and you turned around and left without a word? And she didn’t say anything either?

[PracticingPerson]

I'm not surprised you were shocked. I try to be tolerant but some people don't deserve their jobs, you can't tell people to go away if you are a receptionist!

[HotToddyColdSauvignon]

Why would you have started shouting?

Just go back and hand in the paperwork and be firm but civil

[purpleee]

Also, I didn't want to get off on such a bad start by being horrible back. I know my dd will be spending years here and I don't want things to be awkward from the start.

[purpleee]

@HotToddyColdSauvignon

Why would you have started shouting?

Just go back and hand in the paperwork and be firm but civil

So she could hear me. She left the office room and was round a corner. There is also a glass screen up.

[Shehasadiamondinthesky]

How bloody rude. I'd be having words with her about this.
It's like the time I went to psychiatry reception and three women were gassing about their weekend totally ignoring me standing there.
I said excuse me can you help me please and keep your social life for your lunch break like everybody else.

[PixieDust28]

Well I would've rung the golden bell if she walked away just to piss her off that little bit more.

I also would've said something.

[Sometimesfraught82]

@purpleee

Also, I didn't want to get off on such a bad start by being horrible back. I know my dd will be spending years here and I don't want things to be awkward from the start.

You didn’t have to be horrible back fgs

Hand in the paper. Thank her. Say good bye. Leave.
If it happens again, you say that you appreciate she’s very busy but please do not be rude to you

[purpleee]

@Sometimesfraught82 I didn't mean I would be personally horrible to her.

I didn't want to cause a fuss and be known as a problem parent.

[Polkadots2021]

Email the Head! I'm guessing you're not going to be the only one who does...

[purpleee]

I will email them today.
My dd is quite shy. I wouldn't want her to be spoken to like that.

[ObviousNameChage]

This is not normal, regardless of stress or workload. I've never known a school receptionist to just tell someone "go away" be that staff,children or parents.

[Imnothereforthedrama]

Nah I wouldn’t email anyone she was rude but you should of told her so it could of been sorted there and then . I can’t be doing with people that are to meek to open their mouth but then want to go off and complain. You had opportunity to speak up you didn’t move on next time speak up , you don’t need to shout just explain .
She was rude but I suspect a email to the head when she won’t even remember the moment is pointless .

[purpleee]

@Imnothereforthedrama are you the receptionist ?

I will email them. I can't just leave it.