I get how every business is looking for ways to cut overhead and if they can do that and make MY LIFE more easy and efficient too, I am all for it. When they switch the overhead (time or otherwise) to ME, I say NO whenever possible. One of my specialty medical providers recently stopped answering calls to make appointments. They had an automated voice mail and they would call you back at their convenience. Played this game, always had my hands in the garden dirt or an engine or some such and couldn't answer and they just left a message and had to repeat this twice and still no appointment. Endlessly PO'd, I was in the neighborhood of their office in my travels and just stopped by. The receptionist tried to have me call AGAIN as they were not supposed to set up appointments any longer (3 people at the desk doing nothing by the way). So, I politely asked for the office manager. She and I had a very direct and short conversation where she admitted they are getting a lot of complaints and may go back to a system more efficient for patients again. She also personally set up my next appointment and I got her direct line number for the future. So STUPID!
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