Of shoes and ships and sealing wax
Sep. 14th, 2005 11:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yinshubackupThis has been a crazy week, and it's not even over yet.
Day Hall has, once again, screwed me over, even though I made EXTRA sure this time to try and get all my ducks in a row, and dot every "i" and cross every "t", and not leave one jot or tittle out.
My adventure this afternoon was basically:
Sallie Mae: Hi, how can we help you?
Me: Yeah, you say the loan's waiting on my school to send info to you, and it may take several days. But it's been several weeks. Can I do anything on my end to speed this along?
SM: Uhm, nope, you can't, and we can't. We're just waiting on your school to give us the go ahead.
Me: So I need to talk to them, eh?
SM: Uh, no. That's not your job. I mean, we can't reccommend that.
Me: So I should go talk to them anyway.
SM: We didn't say that.
Me: Okay, thanks.
Bursar Desk Lackey: Hi, can I help you?'
Me: Yeah, can I sign up on the list to meet with a walk-in counselor?
BDL: Well, uh, what's your problem? Maybe I can help you?
Me: *trying not to say, look, don't get offended, but you're a desk lackey. Ain't no way you can handle this.* O-kay. *I explain my problem, which takes a good 10 minutes, while she stares at me blankly*
BDL: *tries futilely to solve problem that is beyond her scope of responsibility* Uhh... maybe you better sign up on the list to see a walk-in counselor.
Me: Thank you.
Me: *waits an hour watching stupid "Virtual Tour of Cornell" rotating veiwscreen in waiting room, feels properly propagandized*
Walk-In Counselor: Sharon?
Me: yes? *goes back to her office*
WIC: So, I don't know what the problem is. I'll be right back. *goes to talk to Random Colleague*
Me: uhm, ok.
WIC: *returns* My Random Colleague says you're registered for a completely different school here, and on top of that, it's Sallie Mae who told us this.
Me: But I just talked to Sallie Mae this morning and they said I was corre--
WIC: Look, you're just going to have to call them again and confirm your registration status. And when you're done, email Random Colleague and let her know to change your status in our system. We can't do anything until you've talked to Sallie Mae.
Me: Well, why hasn't my loan been certified for disbursement, anyway?
WIC: Oh, that. Well, we're still waiting on your parent's tax return.
Me: What? They got an extension this year. I filed all the alternate required paperwork. You should have that on file. Don't you?
WIC: Well, yes, you did. We do.
Me: So, did I get anything wrong? Did I misfile any of it?
WIC: No, oh no, you didn't do anything wrong. We just still need this information, though.
Me: But I followed your instructions, so you shouldn't need anything else-- and furthermore, if my dad has an extension, he has an extension- I can't force him to file faster-- I have no control over this. We've done all we can do.
WIC: Yes, well, I'm really sorry, but we can't finish putting together your financial aid package without his return.
Me: but you have the numbers-- a copy of the extension and a signed estimate of earnings-- I filed all the correct paperwork.
WIC: Yes, but we exist to make your life difficult. We need that peice of paper you are powerless to provide, or we won't take our money. And we'll punish you for our failure.
Me: So, in your online system, all this time, it's been telling me my application is complete, and all my forms are complete, and yet there's another peice of paper that no one told me, or even was going to tell me, that you needed? And I was supposed to pick up this info by... osmosis?
WIC: yup, that's about the size of it.
Me: So, are you still going to charge me the $200 late registration fee, since this doesn't seem like it's going to be resolved by friday (the deadline)?
WIC: Yeah, probably.
Me: What the f***?! Can I get that waived?
WIC: Uhm, I don't know. You'd have to talk to your counselor.
Me: *stares blankly* You're not my counselor?
WIC: Oh, no. I'm just a walk-in counselor. All students are assigned by last name to a specific counselor. You'd have to talk to her, and see if she can get that waived for you.
Me: Well, where is she? Can I go talk to her now, or do I need to make an appointment for tomorrow?
WIC: Oh, she's out of the office for the rest of the week. She won't be back till monday.
Me: MONDAY?? But-- the deadline is-- friday- how am I supposed to....
WIC: Here, fill out this form, detailing your problem and why you think your fee should be waived, and I'll leave it on her desk.
Me: O....kay. So then, do I need to follow up with her on it?
WIC: Oh, no. She'll take care of it. You don't really have to come talk to her about anything.
Me: Okay. *makes a mental note to DEFINITELY come talk to her about it on Monday*
Me: *leaves office with absolutely NOTHING resolved*
Me: Hello, Sallie Mae? I'm calling to check my registration status?
Sallie Mae: Sure. You are [completely correct registration info].
Me: Are you SURE? because I just talked to my school, and they said you said I was [incorrect info].
SM: uhm.... nope. I have you as [correct info, yet again.]
Me: *weakly* uhm... okay.... thanks.
Me: *goes and writes immediate email to Random Colleague, so hopefully at least my registration status will be fixed-- although one can't be too sure. I should probably follow up with her on monday as well.*
This is a very condensed version of how the conversation went in my head, anyway.
In real life, of course, I was much more polite and well-mannered, because you can't exactly finesse bureaucrats with irate shouting-- although I desperately wanted to, believe you me. But this was pretty much the naked gist of it.
And this was only 2 of the frustrating hours in my day. I just find myself all out of steam to write anything more right now.
Day Hall has, once again, screwed me over, even though I made EXTRA sure this time to try and get all my ducks in a row, and dot every "i" and cross every "t", and not leave one jot or tittle out.
My adventure this afternoon was basically:
Sallie Mae: Hi, how can we help you?
Me: Yeah, you say the loan's waiting on my school to send info to you, and it may take several days. But it's been several weeks. Can I do anything on my end to speed this along?
SM: Uhm, nope, you can't, and we can't. We're just waiting on your school to give us the go ahead.
Me: So I need to talk to them, eh?
SM: Uh, no. That's not your job. I mean, we can't reccommend that.
Me: So I should go talk to them anyway.
SM: We didn't say that.
Me: Okay, thanks.
Bursar Desk Lackey: Hi, can I help you?'
Me: Yeah, can I sign up on the list to meet with a walk-in counselor?
BDL: Well, uh, what's your problem? Maybe I can help you?
Me: *trying not to say, look, don't get offended, but you're a desk lackey. Ain't no way you can handle this.* O-kay. *I explain my problem, which takes a good 10 minutes, while she stares at me blankly*
BDL: *tries futilely to solve problem that is beyond her scope of responsibility* Uhh... maybe you better sign up on the list to see a walk-in counselor.
Me: Thank you.
Me: *waits an hour watching stupid "Virtual Tour of Cornell" rotating veiwscreen in waiting room, feels properly propagandized*
Walk-In Counselor: Sharon?
Me: yes? *goes back to her office*
WIC: So, I don't know what the problem is. I'll be right back. *goes to talk to Random Colleague*
Me: uhm, ok.
WIC: *returns* My Random Colleague says you're registered for a completely different school here, and on top of that, it's Sallie Mae who told us this.
Me: But I just talked to Sallie Mae this morning and they said I was corre--
WIC: Look, you're just going to have to call them again and confirm your registration status. And when you're done, email Random Colleague and let her know to change your status in our system. We can't do anything until you've talked to Sallie Mae.
Me: Well, why hasn't my loan been certified for disbursement, anyway?
WIC: Oh, that. Well, we're still waiting on your parent's tax return.
Me: What? They got an extension this year. I filed all the alternate required paperwork. You should have that on file. Don't you?
WIC: Well, yes, you did. We do.
Me: So, did I get anything wrong? Did I misfile any of it?
WIC: No, oh no, you didn't do anything wrong. We just still need this information, though.
Me: But I followed your instructions, so you shouldn't need anything else-- and furthermore, if my dad has an extension, he has an extension- I can't force him to file faster-- I have no control over this. We've done all we can do.
WIC: Yes, well, I'm really sorry, but we can't finish putting together your financial aid package without his return.
Me: but you have the numbers-- a copy of the extension and a signed estimate of earnings-- I filed all the correct paperwork.
WIC: Yes, but we exist to make your life difficult. We need that peice of paper you are powerless to provide, or we won't take our money. And we'll punish you for our failure.
Me: So, in your online system, all this time, it's been telling me my application is complete, and all my forms are complete, and yet there's another peice of paper that no one told me, or even was going to tell me, that you needed? And I was supposed to pick up this info by... osmosis?
WIC: yup, that's about the size of it.
Me: So, are you still going to charge me the $200 late registration fee, since this doesn't seem like it's going to be resolved by friday (the deadline)?
WIC: Yeah, probably.
Me: What the f***?! Can I get that waived?
WIC: Uhm, I don't know. You'd have to talk to your counselor.
Me: *stares blankly* You're not my counselor?
WIC: Oh, no. I'm just a walk-in counselor. All students are assigned by last name to a specific counselor. You'd have to talk to her, and see if she can get that waived for you.
Me: Well, where is she? Can I go talk to her now, or do I need to make an appointment for tomorrow?
WIC: Oh, she's out of the office for the rest of the week. She won't be back till monday.
Me: MONDAY?? But-- the deadline is-- friday- how am I supposed to....
WIC: Here, fill out this form, detailing your problem and why you think your fee should be waived, and I'll leave it on her desk.
Me: O....kay. So then, do I need to follow up with her on it?
WIC: Oh, no. She'll take care of it. You don't really have to come talk to her about anything.
Me: Okay. *makes a mental note to DEFINITELY come talk to her about it on Monday*
Me: *leaves office with absolutely NOTHING resolved*
Me: Hello, Sallie Mae? I'm calling to check my registration status?
Sallie Mae: Sure. You are [completely correct registration info].
Me: Are you SURE? because I just talked to my school, and they said you said I was [incorrect info].
SM: uhm.... nope. I have you as [correct info, yet again.]
Me: *weakly* uhm... okay.... thanks.
Me: *goes and writes immediate email to Random Colleague, so hopefully at least my registration status will be fixed-- although one can't be too sure. I should probably follow up with her on monday as well.*
This is a very condensed version of how the conversation went in my head, anyway.
In real life, of course, I was much more polite and well-mannered, because you can't exactly finesse bureaucrats with irate shouting-- although I desperately wanted to, believe you me. But this was pretty much the naked gist of it.
And this was only 2 of the frustrating hours in my day. I just find myself all out of steam to write anything more right now.
