My woes with a service provider

I write here after so many months only to rant! Sorry …but I have had it till here (wherever that is ) with a certain network that says one needs every kind of friend. Seriously to deal with them, one does need every friend!!!

I must say I have been battling with a few issues for quite some time now…say almost since I stopped posting here. Currently have 2 issues running.

Let me start with the older one. I have my broadband service from this network. Till sometime now, I have been living in the city :Chennai. Suddenly the network decides that I live in Kanchipuram. According to them, my pin code(zip) falls into Kanchipuram. Been hitting my head against brick walls saying the city is Chennai, may be the district is Kanchipuram. I guess all this struggle started around September?! Anyways, long story cut short – I have been getting etiquette lessons about how I must speak even if I  am the frustrated paying customer who gets no resolution to the issue (though after every phone call, get a text message saying issue resolved!!!)

Point to note: One phone call I received enquiring about this from the network. The guy asks me to explain everything!! I asked if they every maintained any logs of calls!!! Frustration mounts if you have to explain each time about the issue & the history! I asked him sarcastically if Kanchipuram was Chennai. He goes I don’t know I am from Gurgaon. Told him don’t care if he were from Timbuctoo but I needed the correction done on my bill (which can be produced as proof of address for any official purpose). He does not even bother to cover up he tells his colleague in Hindi that I speak too much! I responded back in Hindi saying anyone would if they went through what I do to get my address right! He continues to his colleague “yeh madrasi hindi janti hai!”. Limits! And these people teach us phone etiquette!!!!

After calling, mailing, tweeting; I have given up. So according to my broadband provider the city on my address should read “Kanchipuram” -  a  town I probably have visited twice in my lifetime so far!!

My second issue. I got a gift of an iPhone4S (yay!!). Well not so fast to celebrate. To use it, I need a microSIM card. I call the relationship manager of the network that I deal with at work and ask him. He said he would get it to me that day… which went on for more than a week. I gave up, went to a private mobile store; got my old (one I used since 2008) SIM card laser cut. I call the network to make changes to start using 3G.

10 December: I get a call congratulating me on my phone. Tell me about plans for my usage. Then when I said the network drops, am told the issue is with the card and I would receive a brand new one by Tuesday that week. She would also call me on Wednesday to follow up and find out if it worked fine?!

14 December: Evening after waiting, not receiving card nor call, I call them. They say they tried to reach me and I was unreachable. They tried once. I had given them an alternate mobile number which also uses the same network!!

15/16 December: They call me once each day while I was entering a meeting or was in one. I tell them a time to call, I never get the call.

Fast-forward to 20th: Still no microSIM from the network. I call. They had closed the previous call and start a new one.

No calls from them… 21st I try cust care from my iPhone. I cannot reach them at all.I use my other mobile, tell them this…they assure me I will get a call back in 15 minutes around 4:20 PM.

22 December: 10:30AM no calls. I call using my other line, to be assured I will get a call back in a few minutes (I must have asked what their few minutes was specifically!) Around 4- 4:30Pm, lo behold I can call from my iPhone4S. I ask what happened. There are no records of calls made on 21st & 22nd!! The whole process of issue/history starts! I lost it. Told them I have lost hope that I would ever receive a microSIM from them, not now, not in this century or even next!

Supposedly I was told that my network drops because of faulty old SIM card but I cannot get it replaced. So, do I suffer with the faulty network stuck with “amazing” customer service (btw, I am told by the mechanical voice when I call customer service that I am welcome to their Platinum service!!!).

I am sure that they would have “resolved” the issue according to them. I am stuck with lousy network services which will be blamed on my SIM card making me wonder why I ever got a phone like this (which by the way is a pleasure to use!!)

In conversation with a friend, we were saying may be we must stop paying our bills and then may be they will call us!?!?! If we as prompt paying customers get this service, GOK what others are provided with?!?!

I must say one thing these people have made me do is get back to writing on the blog! Wish it were on a happier note and not such a rant!

Irresponsibility!!!!

Rant alert!!!!

This morning as I was getting ready for work, the TV was tuned into a regional news telecast. The news item was about a road accident. A truck (lorry here) had struck a family on a two-wheeler. The father and infant (4 months old) were in serious condition. The mother and the other kid (2.5 years old) died.

I felt sorry for the family…yes. Though what went through my mind and what made me write about this is “who really was responsible for this accident?” I don’t generally swear, but trust me when one drives in the roads of Chennai; even the most gentle person would be swearing! Driving, the roads, utter lack of acknowledgement to rules is pathetic to say the least. This is not about all that though. What hits one in the face is the lack of value for human life. No one bothers!

Two-wheelers – they are easy to buy, easy to use and in the city traffic – weaving in & out gives a fast means to travel. No doubt! Wearing a helmet is (or is my usage of tense wrong here and should it be “was”) mandatory. Very few actually wear one! It is weird to actually see people amused when I used to make A wear his the last 2.5 years that I have been riding on a bike here and taking him along. It supposedly is quite a sight to see a kid wear a helmet!!! Doesn’t that alone show how pathetic the value of human life is?! Or are we all born with hard heads?!!

Why do I feel so strongly that the truck driver alone is not to blame?! He might be speeding and that is wrong. Deaths occured. Why did a family of 4 travel on a two-wheeler? I am very sure that the woman on the pillion, the toddler nor the infant sported helmets. The man might have (a very slim possibility) worn one. The woman would have sat with both legs to one side (supposedly lady- like) holding the infant. The 2.5 year old must have been in front of the father who was riding. Why am I so sure this would have been the case? This is quite a common site all across the city! So, say the truck is travelling at a permissible speed, the father with 3 others precariously perched on the bike comes in front… what happens? Of course an accident! The guy cannot manoeuver his bike with all. The truck driver, even if he had applied the brakes, cannot make his vehicle stop in an instant! Is it right that the truck driver takes the blame cos he drives a bigger vehicle? cos truck drivers are stereo-typed to be rash in their driving?

I do not say that truck drivers here are saints. Their driving would take a whole new post or many!! I just want to say that people must take their safety into consideration. Wear helmets. I know all cannot afford a car or hire an auto (tuk-tuk). Why not use the public transport? The buses are subsidised, safer (to an extent, certainly more than loading on to a two-wheeler). It might be an inconvenience to start early to take into account the unreliability of the timings of buses but it definitely scores over losing one’s life!

Hope this incident is a wake up call to the police officials here to enforce stricter rules especially when it comes to the safety of children. Child seats in cars are not mandatory. They can sit in the front seat in a car. None of them wear helmets (those that are made to wear one are looked upon as exhibit pieces!!) Child safety on the roads of Chennai again would be another long rant post….

Enough of blaming the truck driver alone for irresponsible driving , blame the family for being irresponsible. I sympathise for their losses; but I cannot for once say they are not at fault!!!

Summer, Cyclone, Traffic & more…

A month after my morbid post, I thought I would revive this blog – well, a wee bit at least. I guess this is a way to tell those who care out there that I am still alive, still existing!

What have I been up to? Nothing much and definitely nothing great! I am enjoying the work I do. I never ever thought I would be called to that interview, least of all did I think I would get selected! It has been close to 3 months now in this job. I still have no idea what I am up to in life. I still am going with the flow – carpe diem, Nike in life… whatever  one would like to call it! So far the job is good – has its pros & cons. Learning to live with the cons and appreciating the pros. I realise that I love working with kids, especially those who are enthusiastic & well behaved/ communicative. The smaller ones are really cute! This is part of my job profile  - to organise workshops for children – the part I love most! . I heaved a sigh of relief when the summer camp was over with! It was well appreciated (Alright am grinning with all my ugly teeth showing!!!)

Yesterday was a day I would not forget so easily. Laila, the cyclone hit Madras! Closed early at work, but had an amazing, unforgettable evening!!!  I had left my bike at work thinking I would pick it up today…. my luck followed! I can’t be too happy!! I reach work only to realise I had not taken my bike keys! I had not packed lunch, there was none at the cafe! Now I guess this kind of proves that when I have a good day, it must be followed by one that is horrid! Is this proof enough to say that the one up there does not like me to be happy?! Was struck in traffic today on the way back home, had an interesting conversation with the cab driver ( could be a post by itself!!! ) about traffic, rules & people in Chennai!! One costly ride home and one pending back to work tomorrow!

I absolutely have no idea what is in store for me in life?! It is getting hard to live life one day at a time! A couple of them actually commented to me saying they can see my smile/grin but supposedly see sadness in my eyes! I don’t know if that is even remotely true…but these were total strangers who have no idea of what my life is about! Here I was thinking, hey I am smiling now, laughing even!!! Am I fooling myself?! I must stop wondering!! More than anything else, I must stop expecting anything at all from anyone!!

We won!!!

Rather the team A was routing for won It was an amazing evening. Last minute plans, A, Aaarti & I ended up having tickets to the Chennai Super Kings Vs Rajasthan Royals match in DLF IPL T20.

This is the first ever cricket match I watched in the stadium. I used to vacillate between wanting to watch it live there and on TV. Never got the opportunity to do the former; so ended up saying…hey!  it would be way better to watch it on TV with all the angles etc.., Lets just say that it was the case of sour grapes!

The experience watching the match live in the stadium was amazing!! The adrenalin rush. It was so clear who the audience was supporting. We are from Chennai Though I must say, there was polite applause for achievements by the other team (ok…may be few RR supporters were there! )

We won!!! though there was a point where it was possible for Rajasthan Royals to make it. We were wondering what is wrong with Chennai super kings who could not defend the highest total made in DLF IPL effectively. As in taking it to the last over!!

Having said all this, I must add, the “security” was not that effective. We were not to take cameras, water bottles, outside supporting merchandise….but saw all of it all over the place. I had upset A by not getting flags! Pacified him by begging for one from a neighbour!

Next the tickets! Must have been first…well… anyways… Paid double the cost. Then a bloke comes and says hey let me in, you can take A in without a ticket. Thinking he would pay up…he gets inside, pays less than half of the actual ticket price!!! I think he must have seen me coming right from when I started from home!!!!! The rest room facilities – stinker worth not mentioning (I guess public sanitation in India would be a separate post – rather…let’s just leave it there!)

A did enjoy himself. His star Dhoni (who by the way scored a duck) won according to him! Had to teach him that CSK won not Dhoni!! On mentioning my offspring, I must say that it was coincidence that whenever he asked us to get him something and either Aaarti or I stepped out, RR lost a wicket. It was noticed so much, that the lady in front of us actually turned around and asked him to demand for something from us to make us leave at the fag end of the game!!! LOL!!

This is one memory I will cherish. Have quite a list I have to check off on. As of now, one down – Watch cricket match live sitting in the stadium

Hope to plan going to the stadium next time around, get good seats with no hassles and of course not getting ripped off and re-ripped off!!!

PS: I texted Vishesh asking for scores for the Barclays EPL as Man U were playing Chelsea and Arsenal against the Wolves. He did not respond Just got home and checked the scores. Wanted ManU- Chelsea draw! Chelsea won!!

Urban Turban – an amateur’s review

This evening was spent watching Urban Turban , an Evam’s production. We (a couple of friends -Aaarti, Nik & I) caught the act at 3:30pm Museum Theatre, Egmore. It has been quite a while since I saw a play. The last one was by Rebelz (happy Nautankey, Praddy & Prasad ? did a wee bit of plugging )

Urban Turban is as the tag line says tall tales from the top of our heads. It was in stand-up comedy style. 3 people, 3 acts. TMK started his act first. It was about arranged marriage especially in the south Indian Brahmin society. The second part was by Shannon McDonnell giving a view of a westerner’s perspective of settling in Chennai comparing & contrasting life there & here. KK came in last. He went on about ovens, baking and endangered species .

One common thing I felt was that all their acts needed some pruning. Many of the jokes were repeated or stretched a bit too much. Exaggerations I totally understand can be a part of the show,  but truly felt that Shannon’s sometimes tended to get a bit to that side. She could have done away with the clichéd pictures of Chennai.

I must mention that I was impressed that they started the show on dot at 3:30! I like the way KK brought his pug on stage at the end (ok…I am dog lover! & she was soooo cute )

Overall, I must just say that it was ok. It did not quite live up to expectations. I did have a few laughs. They did this for a good cause – Blue Cross.

This is the first ever time I have ever written a review. So please excuse me if I have made any mistakes!

Proud of Madras!

Bloghopping, I came across this post on Madras. Krish Ashok – Thank you for voicing out about Madras!

Lonely Planet… Bias gets you nowhere. Chennai or Madras as I like to call it and where I have grown up in is a lot bigger than the 70 sq km that you quote. I think Krish Ashok has responded to your “amazing” overview of my home city!! This is the post that Lonely Planet has written

All for an ID

 

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Warning : rant alert!!!

Friday was a day that had me tired, desperate and fuming!! The last time I was in in India and I voted, was the first time I became eligible to vote. It was also the time when voter’s ID was not there! Later on, when it was enforced, I did apply. Even went to get the photo taken – just that the ID never came to me!! 

I left for the US, 8 years passed with me never here during elections and was here for very short durations wherein voter’s ID was not my priority in the list of things to get done. Fast forward to the present… I was told that I must apply for it from scratch (kinda now like how I am starting life from scratch ) 

I registered in Jaagore. Filled in all the necessary details. Got to know I had to go to the Election Commission office at Ayanavaram (for those who don’t know where this place is – Join the club – I didn’t either ). I go there with filled in forms, mighty pleased with myself thinking “wow! I will be in and out within minutes!!” Yeah right!! Government business and within minutes – I must have been doped! I was told I had the wrong form! So, the officer there gave me a new set of forms. I had to have photos too to stick on the forms. I had everything – or so I thought. Boy! was I wrong!! The officer looked through the papers and says “You need 2 proofs of address!” and rattles out a list of accepted documents. I had none of those (correction – have) Then secondary list rattled out -bingo! bank statement or passbook. Alas! I had to get back home and get the photocopy. 

So, last friday…I set out yet again. Same feeling. Now I have everything – The right forms duly filled in, photos stuck, 2 proofs of address. I even learnt the ward number (cos the officer kept asking that the other day!) I walk in with all confidence thinking job is done, may be I will throw in some shopping that day! She politely asked me which division was I in! Flabbergasted – I had no idea!! The photocopy of my parents’ ID also did not have the information she wanted. She directed me to another officer on another floor. I went, waited and asked. The lady was downright rude and said that was not even the office I had to be in. She was the deputy Taluk officer. She said I had to go to Ambattur (I had only heard of the place!). She gave me a number to call which was not working! I told her, she said that was the only number and that was that.

Wonderful weekend!

Had a wonderful weekend. To start with, I have kept to my “resolution” to keep healthy – as in keep to my work out schedule of walking at least 2 miles every day. This weekend makes it almost 10 days   Back to weekend doings; we – A, fellow bloggers (some of them…one was studying or should I say “studying”, one ditched us after asking literally a detailed map to get to a well-known place!, one was working, one said she would come and then dropped out…but quite a number of us did turn up!)   went to learn & enjoy French folk dancing. It was a 2 hour workshop that was held at Alliance Français de Madras. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Met some interesting people, learnt the dances, had a pseudo work out, had fun and a few laughs! Finished it off with a dinner at Pizza hut. Came home really late to freak my mum out! Thus went Saturday.

Sunday- woke up late. Made A do his homework. Had a yummy lunch at home. Headed to the Chennai book fair. Again company was a group of bloggers (ok…now no one jinx us…touchwood!! ) The place was packed. We almost felt claustrophobic. A wanted to get out asap. We all piled out after some meagre purchases (probably A’s way of tightening my purse strings!) and headed to Aaarti’s place. Hung out there for a while chatting & pulling each other’s legs (more Bedazzled & her hubby this time ) ditching plans to hit the Chennai Sangamam that is happening because we all were pretty tired. Will hit that event some time soon.

So my facebook now says “ had a wonderful weekend! looking forward to saying that about life in general ” as my status message   Thanks to fellow bloggers, am being a bit sane. Hope they don’t run a mile or more away from me the next time they hear from me

Revelation of the weekend: my son A is way better than me and has proven it many a times – there were a few moments where one had to wonder who the adult was!

Horoscopes

I had a really pleasant evening yesterday with fellow Chennai bloggers on the beach -  which involved a variety of topics, pulling each others’  legs (well, some were more the victims than others ) etc.., . The major topic though happened to be astrology – Moon signs, sun signs, stars, behaviour, compatibility and the likes. This is a topic that I like and find intriguing though am not so knowledgeable. Do I believe in the whole thing? The Libra mind wavers from one end to another. There are times I do, and those I don’t. Nevertheless, do find the subject interesting.

So, to people who are piqued like me; you can get your charts and astrological info here. That is one of the many sites which offer the birth charts free based on the information provided.

The information required:

Name
Date of birth(D/M/Y)
Time of birth
Time zone
Place of birth (actually the latitude and longitude – used good old Google to get that info )

You could get either a south Indian chart or the north Indian version as per your choice.

Now, that the chart is done, I will try figure out the mystery behind those planets If readers out there know of sites that can set the ignorant me on an enlightening path – please show the way

Parting note…thanks to all my blog friends A & I had a wonderful evening yesterday. Hopefully more to come this year

I am all for….but….

News coverage of breaking news. I am all for it. Especially now as an Indian, I am one of the many glued to the television for every bit of news on the attacks & counter attacks in Mumbai. I am amazed at reporters like Barkha Dutt who has been reporting right through the whole event. Does she ever even take some rest I wonder?! Kudos to all the reporters along with the commandos in the operation. My heart goes out to all those who lost their lives or are injured. This is an event which will never ever disappear from our minds. As a friend put it, nothing of this scale has happened in recent history in India. Yes! I need news. I gobble it all up. React to it with fear, apprehension, empathy, anger and all the gamut of emotions.

So, what is this post all about. Many bloggers have written about how we must be united, have hope. About how the leaders must act etc..,  My crib this time is actually about the “excellent” coverage of news. Some points.  I kept flipping across the various channels. I expect a trained journalist to be coherent, not stammer and search for words – this though was not the case in many of those covering the collossal event. No wonder everyone thinks they can be a journalist.

Next thing I was thinking was (ok…I have a particular channel that I watched more than others…) the non-coverage of other events. My special crib, staying in Chennai which is almost drowning due to the effects of cyclone Nisha… there is absolutely no mention about this. A fellow blogger Vishesh has this post to depict what is happening here. I do not even expect visuals but the news scrolls below can at least cover other news. Is it too much to ask for? After all it is a news channel and this is also news!

Another blogger Hawkeye has this post. I do not exactly agree to his view points though one cannot deny the repetitiveness in each telecast of the news item.

My best wishes goes out to all the bereaved in the Mumbai incident. A few weeks from now, all this hungamma will die down; but for those who have lost someone…it will be there forever – the trauma. I wish all those injured a speedy recovery from their physical & mental wounds. These terrorists are retards like how Nikhil has written in his post here. As he has written we are a country that has undergone a lot of turmoil through the centuries. A good friend sent this interesting link & this one here. Food for thought.

I am not really hopeful when it comes to my life; but am an absolute optimist when it comes to my country. I am proud to be Indian. We will survive and be resilient.