We have to transfer the electricity in the new house from the vendors to us. The task of ringing customer service in the electricity company fell to me.
Them: Ring, ring, ring. Thank you for calling Airtricity customer service. Please input your account number. Please dial 1 etc etc. Eventually a human being comes on the line.
Me: Hello I’m ringing about moving an electricity account.
Him: You must be Anne.
Me: Sorry.
Him: Aren’t you Anne?
Me: Yes.
Him: I was talking to [the vendor] this morning and she said that you would be calling.
Me [faintly]: Oh right.
Him: Do you want it in your name or Mr. Waffle’s?
Me: How do you know my husband’s name?
Him: Did I get it wrong?
Me: No, no, you’re right, I’m just a bit surprised. Eh, my name please.
Him: Do you want to pay by direct debit?
Me: Yup.
Him: Give me your bank account and sort code details there.
Me [Give numbers]: But don’t you need me to sign something?
Him: No that’s grand. You’re all set up now from December 18th. That’s the day you closed, isn’t it?
Me [by now unsurprised]: Yup that’s right.
Him: I have the readings from the vendor; do you want to double check them or are you happy enough?
Me: That’s fine. I really hope that they are recording this conversation for quality purposes.
Him: Ah you’re very good Anne.
Utterly painless: Airtricity, I salute you. Although, if I ever acquire a stalker you will be the first people I will put on my list of suspects.
They’d clean up in Belgium. Can you tell them they’ve opened the market to competition here now? Please.
I think I’d sacrifice all my privacy requirements if someone like that would take over all my domestic accounts and just deal with them. TV (subscription and licence), electricity, gas, bins, mobile phone, ornery phone and wifi. Not to mention various types of insurance, car tax and now property tax. And all far worse when living in a foreign country. A business opportunity for someone.
I read your blog religiously (found it through the other Belgian Waffle blog) but first time response. You’ve officially made me nostalgic for the old sod. The day we get the same level of customer service from a Belgian company (indeed half the normal level of service as in Ireland) is the day I dance in the street in a tutu.
So your name is Anne?
I notice that it is those who live outside Ireland who react to this with most enthusiasm; two of them in Belgium. It may be of some comfort for the Belgian residents to know that to this day I carry two passport sized photos in my wallet in case they might be needed for some official purpose. A legacy from ten years living in Belgium. Come to think of it, this is no help at all. MT, I think Google may be trying to meet your needs…
Yes, J, my name is Anne, if not, it just wouldn’t have been as impressive, I feel…I suppose we can’t know that Airtricity has spelt it with an e until I get my first bill but I am cautiously optimistic.