LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Why is it so hard for people or business's to "Do the "Right Thing" with Customer Service? I think it's because we, as customers or our generational Society, allow it!

Well, I also think WE CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! Case in Point;

A man's wife and children go to a local gas station, on a regular basis, for gas and other things …. I bet your's have too. Your wife comes home complaining about how sluggish the car is running, you even say suggestive things to the attendants at the gas station, time after time. Then one night they get a full tank of gas, and only travel about 1 mile down the road, and the thing dies GRAVEYARD DEAD!

She calls you; you leave your job to go help her, and your children get off the side of the road. You end up having to get a wrecker tow your 2006 Model vehicle to the Dealership that night. (Thank goodness for that towing service from State Farm, and good ol' Chuck).

The next day you and your wife take off work, get the children to school, and go to the New Car Dealership to discuss the Warranty work you think they are going to do to your NEW CAR … WRONG … the problem with the vehicle is not poor workmanship from the car manufacturer; you have a TANK FULL OF WATER, and it IS NOT covered by the everlasting new car warranty! By the Way Jack-O - Diamond Honda has exceptionally good Customer Service.

You and your wife go back to the Gas Station in TROUP and not the one on the corner either, to talk to the people who sold you the gas. And just who is the largest Gasoline Refining/ Distributing Company in the State of Texas; think about it doesn't it start with a "V", or is it still sham-rock?

The person whom you think owns the station, has a hard time with the English Language, and will not assume any liability for your troubles. He finally gives you the phone number to his boss whom he thinks is the owner, who lives in VIRGINIA. Then as you even further demand satisfaction he finally gives you the phone number to their Insurance Company, bet you can tell where this is going right? Well, The Insurance phone number is a non working number somewhere in the 972 Area Code. And the "owners" number is also non working in the 703 Area Code. As you begin to get even more frustrated with the level of Customer Dissatisfaction, you just ask for your $58.00 back, you paid for the gas (or should I say WATER), he tells you he can't do that without talking to the "owner"!!

Then, later in the day you find out that this water problem has caused some "other" problems with your new car, and it will take about $1500 to get you back on the road!

Then you call the Corporate Office for the big gas distributor/ retailer starting with that "V" mentioned above. They tell you to call the so-called American fuel distributor, who delivered the gas/water. As you talk to their Customer Ser vice Agents, who have not mastered the English language either, you finally begin to loose your patience! Do we have to talk to

OSAMA himself to get Customer Satisfaction from this gas station? By now you realize you're on the "WRONG TRACK" instead of the rite track!

I bet by now you've called every 1411 number you can get for a nationwide insurance company that carries their Liability Insurance, and after you've run up a $100 phone bill you finally get to a Claims Adjuster familiar with your situation, but he don't know if he can pay to get your car fixed, much less arrange for a loaner or rental so your wife can do her motherly duties for the next 4 days while your car is being fixed. All this time Jack-O-Diamonds is truly attempting to ser vice your needs.

So now you're really mad, and the Texas Department of Agriculture, who is charged with "managing" the accuracy of those wonderful pumps, along with the other State Agency TECQ, who is responsible for "managing the integrity" of those underground petroleum storage tanks, says "they can't help with these type of issues". So why do we pay all those State Taxes, again? Have you ever tried to file a complaint with the BBB, what happens if the gas station is not a member of the BBB?

So the only recourse you can seem to find is "warning all the other consumers out there about the water and the high level of Customer DISSatisfaction, you'll find at this particular local gas station. They need to put up a sign that says "BUYER BEWARE".

One note of commendation however, those clerical ladies behind the counter are trying there best to feed their family and be understanding to your problem, you can't get mad at them. CUSTOMER SERVICE STARTS AT THE TOP …….. But where / who is the TOP … ?

Shop local, make sure you know who's at the Top, and stop allowing unacceptable Customer Service …………

OR JUST STOP GIVING THEM YOUR MONEY ….. EVER AGAIN!

That's what I'm going to do, Keith Lindsey

Troup Texas

PS: Remember to take full advantage of your right to vote, even if it is just a local City, County or even School Board election ….. it matters. Especially to those who BLED to give you that right.

Keith Lindsey