Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Hartford, I'm coming for you!

Yes, Hartford Insurance, I'm coming for you! No, not because of any health care issue, but a customer service issue. And, not even MY customer service issue. It's an issue with literally hundreds of your customers and your customer's customers.

Confusing, you say? Explain, you say? Here goes...

I moved to Hampton Roads, the 757 area code, in May 2007. I did not want to give up my one and only mobile number of many years from the 540 area code. However, some people still tied to landlines are hesitant to call a "long distance" number. So, in order to accommodate my new found friends, neighbors and colleagues in the 757, I obtained my own personal toll-free number.

Little did I know that the toll-free number I now "own" belonged to the elusive (and evidently non-existent) "Deb Johnson" of Hartford Insurance Workers Comp Claims. How do I know this?

Because, I have received literally hundreds of calls from doctors' offices, patients, and who-knows-else looking for help from this person.

And, yet another one...today! Nearly 30 months later.

I've tried polite; I've tried to be proactive. I've called Hartford. I've asked everyone that called to please tell whomever gave them my number that I was NOT "Deb Johnson."

I've called back the many people who've left desperate voicemails searching for "Deb Johnson" despite my mailbox message clearly NOT by "Deb Johnson" including one from a Latino family that didn't speak English.

I've explained to people that despite NOT being "Deb Johnson," I also do NOT work for Hartford and am really sorry they have a problem that I cannot fix.

So what to do? Send Hartford a bill for services rendered? Give up on providing a toll-free, land-line way to reach me? Suggestions?

4 comments:

tracy freeman said...

Toll free numbers are only good when you own them not rent them they cost you a arm and a leg. I choose http://www.tollfreenumber.org and they help with finding you a number. Or you can search on your own at http://www.chooseanumber.com they are awesome..

A to Z Photography said...

That has to be rough receiving all those calls.

http://atozphotography.wordpress.com/

Hampton Roads said...

update! I finally gave up and cancelled my toll-free service. I could think of better ways to spend our hard-earned dollars. :-)

Anonymous said...

Throw the phone in the ocean by Virginia Beach - you won't get any more calls and life will be much simpler!
Signed,
An anonymous '78 classmate :-)