It's just good manners!

This week I have had three phone calls from potential new clients, for all of whom I have arranged appointments this week and of whom, one has actually kept the appointment.
This means that on Wednesday morning and this morning, I made sure I was up early, had taken Paddy for his usual long walk and got myself ready and settled in my counselling room ...
to wait..... and wait.... for inconsiderate people who didn't turn up.
Not that I mind them changing their minds. Maybe they got a better offer elsewhere or something cropped up that meant they had to be somewhere else at the time of the appointment.
What I do mind - and I accept that maybe I need counselling for this! - is that they consider my time of so little importance that they can't even be bothered to pick up the phone and tell me they are not coming, for whatever reason. To me it shows a lack of respect for me as a professional and a lamentable lack of good manners and thoughtfulness, which, sadly, is all too common these days.
Oh, and this afternoon, I raced back from my lunch with friends in Chester to wait in for a tradesman who - guess what? - didn't turn up!




12 comments:

Yorkshire Pudding said...

You're right. There's too much self-centredness these days. It's Thatcher's legacy.

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Foul manners. I would be hunting all three down by now! It's like being under house arrest - you can't go into the garden for fear you wont hear the doorbell. I even put off going to the loo as they always ring just as I have started! Ingrates.

Daphne said...

It's just rude not to let you know they're not coming. Mind you, perhaps being rude without knowing it is one of the things they need to think about - - -

Flighty said...

I totally agree with you! What's worse is that they should know better and almost certainly wouldn't like it if others did the same to them. xx

cheshire wife said...

Sadly, manners seem to be a thing ofthe past.

Silverback said...

See you on Sunday....maybe !

Kidding. I'll be there.

Jennytc said...

No, YP, it's a legacy of the sixties, when everyone was told they could do as they liked and were rebelling against the strictures of the post war years.
(I was there!);)
MOB, you sound even more annoyed than I was! ;)
Daphne - er yes....I think. :)
Flighty, I'm not sure that they would necessarily make the connection between their treatment of others and being on the receiving end. :(

Jennytc said...

Cheshire Wife, it's a shame, but you are right.
Ian, let us down at your peril!! ;)
Looking forward to seeing you.

jay said...

When it comes to tradesmen, I think you can claim compensation from them if you have told them you'll wait in specially.

But the people who simply don't turn up are just plain rude and selfish. Maybe they think you're booked solid all day and would be there anyway, but it's no excuse.

Jennytc said...

The tradesman was just an odd job man who, fortunately, came yesterday, Jay, but I agree about the bad manners.

Anonymous said...

Oh Jenny, that brings back so many memories ! I am fuming for you - and you have added to my confidence that I did the right thing when I gave up counselling ! These 'clients' obviously have many issues if they can't even turn up to meet the person who may be able to help them - perhaps deep down they don't really want 'fixing' (better the devil you know than the devil you don't ?) Nowt as queer as folk, eh ?

We must meet up soon - it's been way too long. CraigyBaby x

Jennytc said...

Hi Craig, nice to hear from you again. I wondered where you'd got to. ;) Meeting up sounds great. Let's do it.

Plaster board and dust

So, we're still no further forward on the British Gas smart meter front and I've given up making non-existent appointments with them...