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Receptionist told me to go away!

146 replies

purpleee · 16/06/2021 06:51

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?

OP posts:
orphananniesmum · 17/06/2021 21:10

OP do you have issues with assertive communication in all aspects of your life?

She was in the wrong. You were not. You should Ishe spoken up. Now you're inconvenienced and going back there again to see the rude woman

InTheDrunkTank · 17/06/2021 21:13

@JudgeJ Why on earth don't people read the thread!

Gwenhwyfar · 17/06/2021 21:13

@blacksax

She's missed her vocation - she should have been a doctor's receptionist.
I was convinced this thread was going to be about a doctor's receptionist.
TheTuesdayPringle · 17/06/2021 21:13

@orphananniesmum

OP do you have issues with assertive communication in all aspects of your life?

She was in the wrong. You were not. You should Ishe spoken up. Now you're inconvenienced and going back there again to see the rude woman

OP updated pages ago 🙄
Gwenhwyfar · 17/06/2021 21:42

"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."

Then only the one at the window is doing reception work at that time, the others are doing general admin just that their office happens to be by the window.

Gwenhwyfar · 17/06/2021 21:44

@NameyNameyNameChangey

She was rude to answer the phone. You always deal with the person in front of you first! (or so I was taught).
By whom? And this is not what I see in real life.
Gilly12345 · 17/06/2021 22:07

On this occasion I would let this go as you didn’t say anything at the time, however if she is rude to you again then report her.

NameyNameyNameChangey · 17/06/2021 23:11

Gwenhwyfar in my first job, I worked front desk at a business. It was considered incredibly rude to answer the phone before dealing with the people who were standing in front of you.

Bbub · 17/06/2021 23:30

What a load of fuss over not much at all.

Grin at the poster who suggested OP make a "formal complaint", I hope they were just being sarcy, but you never can tell.

YWBU to speak to the head rather than trying at reception again 1 more time, I'm sure you could have got it resolved.

MrsPumpkinPie · 18/06/2021 00:33

And to think, school reception jobs are like gold dust and highly sought by parents of school age children. She should be fired for that.

MzHz · 18/06/2021 07:33

I hope the responses here have helped you see that being a wet lettuce ISNT going to help you OR your child

You say she’s shy, or is she copying you?

Be brave, don’t take this kind of shit!

lovedoris · 18/06/2021 07:44

I’d go back today and say
“Yesterday I was waiting to hand in this paper work. You took a call. Whilst you were on the call, two people came and rang the bell. I didn’t ring the bell. when you returned you shouted at me and told me to go away. I can only assume it was because you thought I had called the bell. You should’ve checked. I didn’t and I didn’t appreciate you being so incredibly rude to me.” Then just stand there and look at her.
I’m quite confrontational and this would come easily to me, but I bet you it works. Stay really neutral and firm in tone!

Imissmoominmama · 18/06/2021 07:53

@blacksax- the receptionists at our surgery are wonderful!

SofiaMichelle · 18/06/2021 08:20

@Gwenhwyfar

By whom? And this is not what I see in real life.

It might not be what you see, but of course you shouldn't answer the phone before you've dealt with the person stood in front of you, and indeed anyone else already waiting before the phone started ringing.

blacksax · 18/06/2021 10:04

[quote Imissmoominmama]@blacksax- the receptionists at our surgery are wonderful![/quote]
At ours, it's a bit of a lottery!

Sometimesfraught82 · 18/06/2021 10:29

[quote Imissmoominmama]@blacksax- the receptionists at our surgery are wonderful![/quote]
Mine too

I find the adage “treat others as you wish to be treated” is the way to go. Be impatient and rude with people, and you’re unlikely to get the best side of them

jillybeanclevertips · 18/06/2021 10:47

Wow, difficult position, but Yes you should've made your pointb then and there. Let it go, now, you'll feel better., and complaining will only make it worse. Next time, speak up at the time.

TreeLeaf4 · 18/06/2021 13:03

@mam0918

1 receptionist is not unusual now. A lot of schools are really trying to minimise spending on auxiliary staff so that more can be spent on teaching and learning.

The free school where DH is head has substantially reduced office, catering and cleaning staff. Teachers now carry out most of these roles during the day and before and after school.

Buffs · 18/06/2021 14:04

You did exactly the right thing, don’t feel bad. The receptionist was utterly unpleasant and you did a very good job in not losing your temper. You could explain you hadn’t rung the bell a second time when you next see her and she’s calmed down. You may need her good will while your child is at that school. Revenge is a dish best served cold.

IrishCharm · 18/06/2021 14:30

You didn’t need to shout - all you needed to do was say “excuse me” and wait for her to come back!!

Perky1 · 18/06/2021 19:30

Your situation reminds me of when I was a relatively new Uni lecturer. I was delivering some exam scripts I had marked to the exams office when an admin person screamed at me to get out of the office. I asked why and she said students were not allowed in. I told her I was Dr X lecturer, handed her the pile of scripts and said that she had given me insight into how students are treated here. She looked horrified-what a cow!!

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