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?

[onanislandfaraway]

@MythsandSparkles

Could you be anymore patronising? I've been verbally and physically attacked more times than I can recall in my job as a mental health nurse, doesn't justify me being rude to others.

And I like to think I cope pretty well with things like this considering how many incidents I've been involved with at work, but I would still be taking aback by this because it's unexpected. Doesn't mean I can't cope at life, I just think being rude for no reason is a disgusting trait to have.

[mam0918]

Your school only has 1 receptionist?

Even back when I was in school infants and primary had 2 and secondry had 5 (I attended 2 secondaries).

My kids schools all have had 4 receptions, usually doing various jobs (like one sorting out newsletters/photocopying, one on email corrospondance, one entering the attendence logs, one answering in person equiries at the window etc...) so only 1 seems greatly understaffed.

[PPCD]

Well done for getting it sorted.

[Maggiesfarm]

@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?

Quite agree. I expect you were gobsmacked. She is a megalomaniac jobsworth and rude with it.

[princessandthedragon]

You should have said something at the time. I think I would have to email the head. She’s obviously got a bit of a bad attitude and thinks she can get away with speaking to people like crap.

[princessandthedragon]

Just saw the update. Well done for speaking up

[me4real]

Well done @purpleee . I would've acted the same, as I don't often know how to handle confrontation, it's like I'm struck dumb. Especially as she walked away so you couldn't easily reply in a way you would've felt was ok.

So now I tend to try and follow it up later like you did, with the person's superior probably, otherwise moments of unjust treatment can prey on my mind for years.

For instance once I moved to a new city, getting to where I was going to travel in a taxi. The next day I was travelling back from the city centre on the bus. How to tell when was the right stop to get off was genuinely very difficult due to how the road was, and I'd never taken the trip before. I walked forward to what I thought was my stop and then had to step away realising it wasn't the right one, it was the next one. The bus driver hissed 'Batty,' at me in a really nasty way. There wasn't time for me to explain to him that this was the very first time I'd make the journey. Nowadays I would try and complain to someone. I still remember the incident sometimes, twenty years later.

Responding in some way, after the event if you need to, and/or to someone else, is so much healthier. I had to have EMDR because there were so many incidents that would replay in my mind and effect my life in various ways.

[calvados]

Thats not a receptionist!! The receptionists I k ow can usher visitors in whilst on the phone with one hand and making cups of tea for those that have been waiting a long time…. Oh and spin plates with their left toe! Ridiculous person who will be gone soon if she does not get some training!

[LittleMimi]

Glad you got it sorted.

I think it’s always easy to judge a situation you’ve not been in. I’m sure if someone was unexpectedly rude to me I wouldn’t be able to come back straight away with something and likely would be taken aback and take a moment to take in what was said. And then if they’ve marched out it becomes more confrontational to explain the situation as I’m sure they wouldn’t answer the bell being rung again lol.

[Bushgirl]

I would have explained that several people had arrived and pressed the bell while she was on the phone, and perhaps she could consider prioritising people who are there in person. That's what answer phones are for.. Give her a second chance if you want. Is be ready for her though. Can't be arsed with people like that.

[c9590]

Formal complaint to the head. Detailing the whole incident and noting how it made you feel.

It was wholly unprofessional. As a new family you should be made to feel even more welcome. If she's happy to speak to a parent like this how is she with children?

Time to complain.

[VaizyCrazyDaizy]

Always get in straight away with a quick quip as the staff room is where your name will come up as ‘that parent kept pushing the bell!’ You may have gotten an apology then!

[bigmumsymcgraw]

I dont understand. Why didnt you tell her what happened and wait for apology?

[Solo]

It seems Mrs. Lamb is a contender...along with Mrs. Turner.

[Bertiebiscuit]

Yes - email the head - as politely as you like. But the Head needs to know how poorly this front line worker is performing - very bad for the reputation of the school

[Nocutenamesleft]

You didn’t have to do much. When she said that I would of said. Eh? It wasn’t me who rang the bell

You need to show your daughter how to handle things like this. So she will learn from you. That’s how I like to think things through. I wouldn’t want her to speak to my child like that. But also if she did speak to my child like that. My child would know exactly how to speak up for herself.

[JediGnot]

@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 .

I can't be doing with people who judge others handling of a situation like you have.

Especiallt as OP could have done any number of things (with something quite verbally aggressive being morally justified IMO - plenty of people would lose their tempter in that situation) but she didn't, she controlled her temper, stepped away and is considering the best course of action. Very responsible and not at all worthy of criticism, IMO.

[JudgeJ]

@Whinginadeville

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

Tell her the Postman rang twice! Why on earth can people not deal with simple misunderstandings like this by speaking up at the time rather than running away to brood?

[SongSilkTrainspot]

Just go back, and say-

"I tried to hand these in the other day, I think you thought it was me ringing the bell while you were on the phone. It wasn't me, it was two other people who came in behind me." Honestly, it's that simple.

If you'd said it at the time she would possibly have laughed then apologised and no one would be feeling awkward.

Don't send manipulative emails to the head, missing out important points that the lady though you were impatient. It's unnecessary.

[CheesyWeez]

I'm glad you've sorted it OP. I would have done exactly the same as you!

The postman rang the bell and scarpered, and
the other parent rang the bell and hid.

They already knew what she was like

[Ttbhappy]

Give her a break. Some people get flustered or just speachless when confronted. Life's not a movie where there is a quick comeback smart answer.

[sugarrosepetal]

This sounds like my child's school, even down to the description of the office. If the receptionist is an older lady, let me just say prepare yourself as this is her mannerism. She has been admin in the school for many years and is to my knowledge, the longest serving member of staff. The rest of the staff are lovely so don't worry.

[InTheDrunkTank]

@purpleee

I managed to talk to the head teacher this morning. Told her exactly what happened and handed her the paperwork. She apologised and assured me she would speak to the receptionist about how this was not acceptable.

Thank you for all your comments.

I'm glad you sorted it OP. I would have been too surprised to react in time too in your situation. What a strange receptionist.

[NameyNameyNameChangey]

She was rude to answer the phone. You always deal with the person in front of you first! (or so I was taught).

[Clydesider]

She was helping you when the phone rang and went off to answer that instead of finishing up with you? Then, to make things worse, she talked to you like a naughty five year old? I don't care how bad a day she might have had, there is no excuse for behaviour like that in a work setting. You have every right to complain.