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?

[TreeLeaf4]

This is a difficult one as school receptionists have a very difficult job and she was clearly very busy in this situation. Would it really have hurt to just come back later?

In any event I don’t expect you’ll get far with any complaints. DH is head at a crew school and he simply isn’t interested in trivial complaints from parents. He will always defend his staff and is quite happy to tell parents to take their custom elsewhere if they wish.

[TreeLeaf4]

*free school

[Nicolastuffedone]

Is she Mrs Lamb?

[Nicolastuffedone]

I’m not a loud talker well, ring the bell…..

[ClarisseMcClellan]

@TreeLeaf4

This is a difficult one as school receptionists have a very difficult job and she was clearly very busy in this situation. Would it really have hurt to just come back later?

In any event I don’t expect you’ll get far with any complaints. DH is head at a crew school and he simply isn’t interested in trivial complaints from parents. He will always defend his staff and is quite happy to tell parents to take their custom elsewhere if they wish.

Well isn't he a shining example of keeping an open mind and listening to both sides of the story.

I suppose though it's to be expected that his staff might have a rude and arrogant attitude with his leadership example.

[Heyha]

Crikey, I'm normally quite tolerant of short receptionists and retail staff having done both jobs in the past but you can't actively tell a customer (as in effect, that's what you are!) to go away 😂

That said I can sadly think of two school receptionists I've worked with in the last that would have done similar. I think PP suggestion about innocently dropping it in when you ask what to do with the paperwork is the ideal solution here

[Imnothereforthedrama]

@SmallPrawnEnergy

Urgh, people like this in jobs that provide them a little bit of power inevitably turn into jumped up little hitlers. I personally would have stood with my hand continuously on the bell until she returned and pointedly gave her some feedback on her lacking customer service skills and general ability to do her job (in a calm manner obviously).

People also need to realise that others have different levels of confidence when it comes to approaching situations like this so possibly OP did “have a chance” to sort it out there, but not everyone has the ability to do so (and despite being and adult may also have processing issues, disabilities etc. to take into consideration), and for people like *@Imnothereforthedrama* to mock “people that are too meek to open their mouth” is just showing their ignorance and lack of awareness.

Oh yes just because someone has a different opinion lacks understanding and awareness ok .

[Tal45]

Well done, you did the right thing.

[ObviousNameChage]

@purpleee

I understand that something should have been said there and then but by the time I had registered what she had said, she was out of earshot. I would have had to say it very loudly. Im not a loud talker so this doesn't come naturally to me.

Sorry if some of you don't understand that.

Anyway, it's sorted now.

Indeed it is. You said your piece, sorted the paperwork and the head apologised.

Not everyone is good at reacting (and in an appropriate way) when put on the spot. "Go away" is beyond a cranky,stressed receptionist. Hell I work with them(school staff) and if one told me to go away like that I'd probably be like WTF and need a minute to regroup.

[Itstheprinciple]

My DD's school office staff are rude to the pupils (secondary). My DD has told me about it but I just thought that was her over exaggerating until my mum was there to pick DD up for an appointment. The receptionist was nice as pie to my mum and then, quick as a flash, started shouting at this boy for wanting the her to buzz him through the doors. The boy had just appeared and said 'Can I go through please, Miss?' and she started shouting that he should have come through with the rest of his class before. He was trying to explain that he was late coming out of his lesson but she wasn't having any of it. My mum just couldn't believe how this receptionist could just change her demeanour in a flash between dealing with her and then this boy.

[looptheloopinahulahoop]

[quote Blueeyedgirl21]@originalUnicorn sorry I’m re reading your post and chuckling at ‘stress levels’ - what bloody stress levels?!![/quote]
No doubt "due to covid".

[MythsandSparkles]

[quote Blueeyedgirl21]@Bluntness100 I’ve temped in about 100 offices from schools to corporations until I finished my MA. It can be a busy job but it’s hardly life or death. Try having a father threatening to come to your house and ‘fuck you up’ because you have to tell them their kids on a child protection plan. That is stressful![/quote]
And you’ve obviously never had to gatekeep a school to prevent a NRP gain access to children when they’re not supposed to, prevent a drunk parent wondering round school or have to initiate a school wide lockdown because of the abusive parent waving a knife in reception at you…shockingly other people’s jobs can be stressful in ways you might not imagine

Honestly though OP how do you cope at life if an interaction like this causes so much angst? Literally all you had to do was smile and point out you hadn’t rung the bell.

[BingBangBong1]

I wouldn't care about being there a week, she was grossly unprofessional and I would be speaking to the schools business manager if they have one, otherwise the Head.
Not the best of first impressions is it?

[ilovechocolate07]

Sorry to the lovely receptionists out there but I have known and still know school receptionists who behave like this.

[frambly]

@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.

i've done similar before, except I joined in with the conversation! Gave my opinion on the colour dress i thought one of them should wear to the wedding!

not much they could say really, they stopped and the receptionist paid attention to me after all.

[frambly]

I would contact the Head and just explain what had happened. The receptionist is the front face of the school and if they are rude it puts a bad light on the school. If that had been an official from Ofsted, the Head would have heard about it immediatly! Next time it could be so you are just saving them from themselves by raising it.

[Harls1969]

I think I might know this school. Although maybe there are lots of rude receptionists

[AbsolutelyPatsy]

can you email the head?
doesnt the email go to The Office?

i am surprised you accepted her instruction to go away.

[DrSK2]

Jobsworth, insignificant prick! Call her out. Make a complaint to the management so she knows her place.

[AbsolutelyPatsy]

oh, that'll teach me

ooh, you've done it now op!
now you are in trouble with the receptionist :)

[AbsolutelyPatsy]

;)

[AbsolutelyPatsy]

school receptionists are VERY important People !

[WorraLiberty]

@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.

Unless she sped away on a motorbike, you would've had time to say, "That wasn't me pressing the bell".

[keeptheaspidistra]

I am glad you have raised this in person to the head, but please also consider putting this in writing so it's not swept aside.

[SofiaMichelle]

I'd have had a go at her about answering the phone when I was stood there waiting to speak to her?

That really boils my piss.

The CF!