Yes Sir! No Sir! Right away Sir!

The other day I went to work and about 10 minutes after 8 my phone starts ringing. I don't get many calls in my job and when I do they are usually doozies.

This was no exception.

As I reached for the phone I see that the cal display says: L Schnieder. The only L Schnieder that I know is a former Mayor of Regina. He is also a board member of Queen City College and so I have talked to him a few times when I worked at the Bible College.

This is how the conversation went:

S-Good morning, STC, Scott here.
L-Hi. I was calling to see if you have ever arranged to have a sign put on Highway 5 going into Muenster from the East.
S-Uh...
L-I put the request in a few months ago when I was travelling for the Saskatchewan Economic Development committee after I noticed that there was no sign from that direction.
S-(pause)What kind of sign are you needing?
L-The town name sign. Have you arranged for it to be replaced?
S-I can honestly say that I have not.
L-Can you check to see when the request was actually logged and what the status is?
S-Uhh....I don't think I can, you see I am an accountant for STC which is the Saskatchewan Transportation Company. The Bus company.
L-I wondered when you answered but I had asked for the transportation department and when you answered I thought that maybe you guys looked after that as well.
S- Uhhh.....
L-(laughing) Based on your reaction I am going to assume that you don't know anything about getting road signs put up.
S-Well, I am an accountant so if you send me the bill I can probably figure out a way to pay it but otherwise no Sir, I do not.
L-Well Scott it was good talking to you and I will try to call the right department next time. Have a good day.
S-Yes sir, you too.

All in all it was the start of another fun day.

Yesterday I sent a credit to an agency for $315 because they had not reported a MasterCard transaction. Today I spent all day on the phone with them trying to explain that all we knew was that they rang in a $315 MC purchase, We had the money in the bank and that if they didn't want to take the credit it didn't matter to me. They were upset by this.

To those of you who are reading this...I promise that if you give me $315 I will not complain. I take cheques, money orders and cash. I look forward to hearing form you.