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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think being stressed is no reason to make a receptionist cry?

29 replies

JackBauer · 22/03/2010 18:23

So if you were the mother in the doctors who was already 5 minutes late when you walked in the door, and then snapped at the receptionist when she couldn't find your details fast enough and asked a perfectly reasonable question about how your dd's name was spelt I hope you're fucking happy.

I actually found the need to apologise for not sticking up for her after you had snotted off as you had your dd with you and I would not have been able to be pleasant about it.

But good job, I hope your dd learns manners from someone else. And fair enough you may have been worried about your DD, but that's still no excuse for your behaviour.

OP posts:
JaneS · 22/03/2010 18:32

Good for you for apologizing to her afterwards!

mummee09v · 22/03/2010 18:32

i used to be a doctors receptionist and the amount of shit i had to take from people was awful.

sadly when you work facing the general public you find out most of them are pretty horrible to people that serve the public.

that poor receptionist, i have been her on more than one occasion!!

mummee09v · 22/03/2010 18:35

(ie had people be horrible to me for no reason and upset me!!)

i also worked in a bookies when i was at uni and that was awful too, horrible (often drunk) men both leering and shouting at us. one customer called me a "stupid slag" just because he lost a bet. so i called him a cunt and threw a load of leaflets at him that was the end of that job!!

Original poster
JackBauer · 22/03/2010 18:36

She was being so patient though, the people before me were insisting on having a private sick note stamped and then I was waving poo at her (in non threatening manner, but still, it was poo) and then this woman barrels in, she was welling up and had a full queue to deal with.
She really did speak to her as if she was shit, was so out of order.
I have been a receptionist numerous times while temping and I know how rude somepeople can be. I worked for the public sector for years, which is why I felt so awful for not telling her to catch herself on as the receptionist obviously couldn't.

I did say something LOUDLY while she was in earshot though

OP posts:
jenduff · 22/03/2010 18:37

lol mummee what a fab way to hand in your notice

groundhogs · 22/03/2010 20:54

Jeez OP,dunno where your Dr surgery is, but may I suggest your lovely receptionist pop into the Woodfield Road Surgery in London W10, and have a look at how things are there.

I used to quake at the very thought of being late, if you are even 1 minute before your alloted time, the receptionist would look at her watch then over the top of her glasses and say, Hmm, cutting it fine...

Made me feel about 9 years old, I'm sorry miss, got held up on Harrow Road miss.

Seriously the receptionist was scary there, took no shite at all.

Your lovely lady needs to just say, you are late, you have missed your appointment, these people are in front of you, stay at the back of the queue and I will see to you when they have been dealt with.

Any peep out of Mrs Shitty, she can refuse to deal with her.

I hate those that bully others who are just doing a job.

thehillsarealive · 22/03/2010 21:07

poor receptionist. When I was in the Vets a couple of weeks ago a person was there (neearly typed lady, but she so wasnt) - being horrendously rude to my lovely receptionist and I physically had to hold onto my chair because I wanted to punch her in the mouth. She was absolutely bonkers off her head - and I dont mean a bit gaga, the receptionist asked her for her name to check details and this nutcase wouldnt give her name, just kept saying I am upset and I dont know - my family have been coming here for years, cant you fucking find my details???

Anyway, in the end the recept said if you are rude to me again I am going to walk away and you will have to wait for someone else to serve you. Needless to say she was extremely rude and the recept went away. She was also rude to my dog - when we came in she said "oh for GAWDS sake" to which she got the face from me!

sorry for the hijack - but this makes me not want to go back to the world of public facing work for all the tea in China!

ThatVikRinA22 · 22/03/2010 21:26

have i stepped into a parallel universe in which doctors receptionists are being stuck up for?

i need a lie down!

i am one at the moment. i hate it. cant wait to join the police full time where when someone gives me shite i can tell them sweenie style to "shut it"

i am always polite and smiley. i still get shite. in fact the week i started i thought a man was literally going to hit me because the nurse was running late.

he got a letter stating if he abused us again he would be removed from the gp's list - and i should bloody cocoa.

we really do put up with such a lot of unwarranted abuse. and we sometimes help save lives. and go the extra mile to help someone. but mostly you hear about the archetypal dragon stereotype. which is a shame. its a shit job. cant wait to leave!

Quattrocento · 22/03/2010 21:29

A doctor's receptionist cried?

What, real tears? Are you sure it wasn't saliva from slavering at the prospect of savaging someone?

macdoodle · 22/03/2010 21:30

Patients treat our receptionists like shit, I have stood in the back and heard it, its not nice at all!!
When you have 16 patients all with 10 minute appointments, and someone is late but still expects/demands to be seen it puts the whole surgery out!

Hell my hairdresser wont see you if youre 10 mins late!

Mermaidspam · 22/03/2010 22:26

Pah! Next you'll be telling me that school receptionists are human

Original poster
JackBauer · 22/03/2010 22:39

Well I don't know about school receptionists...mine still looks at me funny after they asked for empty wine bottles for a gaame stall at the PTA thingy and I took in 20

OP posts:
Mermaidspam · 22/03/2010 22:48

I like it!

jenduff · 23/03/2010 18:15

lol JackBauer - there will be talk in the staff room you know

Ripeberry · 23/03/2010 18:22

I've worked in the public sector, but all my customers were on the end of a phone. At least I could make faces without them seing me
No way could I do face to face stuff though

Original poster
JackBauer · 23/03/2010 18:57

Oh yes Ripeberry, nothign ,lie flicking the V's at a phone whiel saying sweetly 'Of course Sir, no trouble at all'

OP posts:
Jamieandhismagictorch · 23/03/2010 19:05

I used to be a Hospital Receptionist, and sadly, it made me understand why some Receptionists are Hard as Nails. People can be stressed and ill and in pain, and I would understand this, but some of the nastiest were those who seemed to have a superiority complex. Others would seem to see smiling and politeness as a weakness.

Still, at least 90% were lovely. Just the few who weren't could bring you down. The receptionist will have appreciated your support Jack.

emsyj · 23/03/2010 22:14

One of the partners at work was once so disgustingly rude to my secretary that he made her cry - and I mean, really really cry. She was very upset. And she is a grown-up, perfectly balanced middle aged woman! So I told him he had upset her and he wasn't very bothered. So then I told HR and they told him to apologise, which he did.

jenduff · 23/03/2010 22:19
Limara · 23/03/2010 22:37

emsyj- that'll learn em!

LittleWhiteWolf · 23/03/2010 22:44

Poor woman. Most of the receptionists at my surgery are cows, but I would never speak to them in a rude manner. Theres no need.

I have worked on the phones at Vodafone and the way I was spoken too and yelled at sometimes was just horrible. I know pretty much everyone has a "nightmare customer service advisor" story (I myself have a few) but it was a weird experience to be on the other end of that. I only worked there for 9 months.

Original poster
JackBauer · 24/03/2010 07:55

If it's receptionist revenge stories you want.....
I used to work for the Environment Agency and there was a big protest outside our office once. We had to have police escorts to go to the car park or even the shop for milk or we got threatened + followed, was lovely
This one pillock got into reception by shoving a member of staff + handcuffed himself to the (metal) radiator right next tothe reception desk + proceeded to be extremely rude and abusive.
So we turned the heating on.

OP posts:
AddictedtoCrunchies · 24/03/2010 08:02

Jack that's made my day. Brilliant.

muddlinleigh · 24/03/2010 09:56

I'm delighted to hear I'm not the only person that flicks Vs to unpleasant callers.

HanBanan · 24/03/2010 10:13

I worked in a supermarket at the checkouts....
Loads of stories about crazed customers...

Once a woman had a rage about not being allowed to queue at the fag kiosk with 2 full baskets, and when I offered to serve her at an empty till she put her shopping baskets down and threw 2 french baguettes at me, ran out of the shop, came back in screaming about her tablets, and ran out again.

A man called me a 'f-ing lying b--ch' when my till broke down and he had to join another queue.

Actually almost on a daily basis at least one of the checkout staff was abused in some way. And the worst culprits....middle aged women believe it or not.

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