So yesterday I picked up my phone and it auto dialed Bell.. I was a little surprised but had been getting a lot of phone messages in French at home. Turned out I had paid my satellite bill 2x and didn’t pay my cell bill…

The reason I have French messages is because my first name is Michel I have always gotten ‘Michelle’ from every teacher and job interview. I don’t mind because they are correct, although my first name is a family Last name pronounced Michael. Seems Bell has some new smart technology to help put their French customers (or at least customers with a French name) directly though to the French customer service desk..

So when my cell phone put me though to bell I got the French automated system, I don’t speak French so I had 2 options, 1 mash the keyboard and hope for the best, or wait for all of the options to go though until for English press #.. The English thing did come up so I avoided mashing the key pad.

I got a nice French guy who asked me how he could help.. I would think he would know that ‘He’ called me. So I told him what I think has happened and he asked for my phone number. Then my address including my postal code.. I answered and for the final security question.. what is your date of birth.




Me: September 15, 72.
French guy: sorry that’s incorrect.
Me: (thinking he didn’t understand me.. language barrier) so I repeated a little slower September 15, 72
French guy: nope that’s not it (like guess again)
Me: Well.. that’s my birthday, what do we do now..
French guy: oh.. umm.. whats your credit card number?
Me: you have asked me a lot of questions already.. I don’t feel comfortable giving you that information.. but I will give you the last 4 digits on the card.
French guy: umm.. ok
So I tell him: ####
French guy: ok, and the expiry date
Me: 08/08
French guy: nope.. that’s not it
Me: umm.. I’m looking at the card in my hand? It has my name on it..
French guy: sorry, I can’t help you
Me: can I guess at the ex date?
French guy:?
Me: I’m guessing that the card you have on file is expired.. correct number wrong expiry date so even though I have destroyed that card I think the ex date is 07/06?
French guy: oh.. umm.. ya.. your correct.. how can I help you Michelle?
Me: I’m not sure you called me? But I’m guessing that I have not paid my bill
French guy: yes.. you owe us money
Me: how much?
French guy: $278
Me: (ready with my internet banking account open, and just made the payment for the full amount) ok.. I have made a payment though the internet.. the confirmation ## is
French guy: What do you mean you paid?
Me: internet.. I made the payment when you told me the amount
FG: how?
ME: Internet..
FG: oh.. umm can you hold..
ME: sure
---10 mins later---
FG: ok, can I get the confirmation number again?
Me: sure ###
FG: ok, I have put it into my computer – but I’ll tell you that if you did not make the payment we will no longer be your carrier!
Me: ok, well.. that’s why I gave you the confirmation number.. so you know that I paid..
FG: well its done.. is there anything else I can do for you today Michelle?
Me: yes, can you change my date of birth so next time I call I can get past your crack security questions?
FG: yes, can I put you on hold?
Me: sure
--- about 5 mins into my wait I got a call, so I took it and went back to the call on hold ---
FG: have a conversation with someone in his office
ME: Hi, sorry about that I’m back
FG: you wanted me to do something for you?
ME: yes, my date of birthday can you change it?
FG: umm.. sure, what is it
ME: I repeat it
FG: ok, Michelle is their anything else I can help you with?
Me: can you change my name, as you can tell I’m not very French. My name is Michael.. or Mike.. can you make that change on my account so I no longer get sent to the French customer service?
FG: umm.. can you hold?
Me: sure
---- only 5 mins in this time –
FG: I have changed it
Me: that’s all.. Thank you for your help..

A few things happened there that the text will not show.. when I told the guy I didn’t want to go to the French Coustomer Service, I really pissed the guy off..

We had very bad report right from the start, he thought I was a lyer… and didn’t believe me when I told him I paid because it was too fast, I think..

I was told that they didn’t want me as a customer if I lied about my payment.. although when I broke my phone last month I was told that Bell would replace it early because I am a ‘Loyal Customer’ and they appreciate my business.. hmmm?
Anyways.. that’s my latest Bell experience..

I don’t know if any other carrier is much better.. and I understand that I didn’t pay my bill on time.. (you never get credit for over paying another bill at the same company).. Although I have not have many good customer experiences with Bell and don’t think I would recommend them to anyone.. I would say my average bill has been $150/month since I started with them. Its been less in the last few months but I’m not running a business or ‘abusing my time’ I think that’s crazy…

Anyways.. that’s all.. good day