Confidence Shaken

I had an experience at work this week that reminded me that I still have a lot to learn.  It had nothing to do with my job or even our business.  It was a phone call that cold have turned into something scary.

Late last week, I answered the phone and "Angie" was calling from the copier place.  She wanted to double check the model number of our machine.

I thought this was weird, but everyone who normally takes calls about the administration of the business were in a meeting, so I helped her.  Or so I thought.

This week "Angie" called back and apologized to me by name, but they had failed to get a written notice out to us in 30 days, as is their procedure, to let us know that there has been a dramatic increase in toner costs.  But her supervisor approved 6 more toner cartridges at the original price over the next two years to compensate fro their mistake in letting us know in a timely fashion.  Then she proceeds to tell me that Vicki from her supply warehouse will call me and set up a delivery date fro the first of the 6 toners.

"That was weird," I thought.

I tell her that I have no authority whatsoever to make that decision.  And she tells me that Mr A. has me listed as a secondary contact in regards to this copier.  "That is news to me," I told her. "I just answer his phone."

"Vicki" calls back in about 30 minutes and is excited to set us up with a new toner cartridge and begins to ask what day next week she can get it here.  "Wait," I told her.  "I have no authority to make that call.  You will have to call back and speak with Mr. A about the copier. (I did know there was a bit of conflicted accounting between Mr A and the service contract guys who sold us the copier.)  I didn't want her to send anything until after she speaks with him.

Well, she curtly tells me that she'll call back next week, if I can't help her set this up.

Come to find out, this is a business SCAM.  These jokers call and get the model number of your machine, then about a week later call and want to "right their mistake" and try to set up a scheduled delivery of the toner, etc. only so they can bill you for something --in this case, at least--is included in our service contract.

So, three weeks in to a job I am really enjoying, I have my confidence shaken as I realize that in my quest to do a good job and honestly help those callers who phone us, I nearly "agree" to a contract I didn't know I was even talking about.  Nice job!  That would have been awful.

I wish that folks like this, who have creativity and enthusiasm would use their powers for good rather than evil!  If they spent half the energy and time in helping out others--honestly--instead of figuring out how to scam people, the world might be a much nicer place to be.  Or at least, work.