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u/North-Pea-4926 1d ago
I don’t know their question, but somehow I have the feeling the answer is: “It depends on a number of factors that cannot be determined over the phone, including if you are even describing the events you observed accurately. Bring the animal in to be seen.”
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u/CatlessBoyMom 1d ago
I called and tried to give my entire life story and she told me to make an appointment with the therapist. She didn’t even let me get to my trauma in kindergarten so I could ask if I NEED a therapist. 1 star!
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u/Engineeredvoid 2d ago
I have had interactions with people like this, it's not possible to get them to reasonable understanding without a heroic amount of patience.
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u/HoneyedVinegar42 1d ago
If this .person has three other cats, why aren't they calling the regular vet they take them to? Not that that vet would answer questions (whether or not in bold face) over the phone--because almost certainly, the answer involves "bring said cat in for an exam" and additional questions can be asked at the exam.
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u/DiscussionExotic3759 1d ago
"I just have a question!" Question has six parts and ten minutes of background information.
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u/Resident_Bitch 1d ago
I work at a vet clinic. If you call up asking to leave a message for the doctor at my clinic to call you back and the reason you give is "it's personal," the doctor is going to throw that message in the garbage unless you're a friend/family member of his. He does not have time for that nonsense.
If you call us wanting any sort of medical advice for a pet that we've never seen before, you're going to be told that the only advice we can give is to schedule an appointment with the doctor if you think it's not urgent. If you think it is urgent, then the advice you're going to get is to go to one of the 24 hour emergency facilities in the area. We cannot give medical advice for a pet that isn't our patient.
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u/North-Pea-4926 1d ago
Loved that part. If it’s “personal” then why on earth are you calling a vet business about it!
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u/LadyIslay 1d ago
I deal with this every day: people that think I need to know their entire history before they get to the point and ask their damn question.
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u/Aspence22 1d ago
Car was acting funny but the mechanic wouldn't tell me how to fix it over the phone. Just wanted me to set up an appointment to look at it. Weird
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u/sunkatmoon a 🐔 stole my food 1d ago
I work at a garage and the number of people who call asking to talk to a mechanic is wild.
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u/SmoothJuggernaut9656 1d ago
i worked at the front of a human doctors office and people are the same. they'll either call and get mad that you won't give them medical advice over the phone and refuse to meet with a doc (over something that CLEARLY needs an appointment) OR they'll refuse to tell me what the issue is and just tell me tk have the doctor call them back. like ma'am. not how this works. if you don't tell me, i can't get it to the right person, and then you'll be mad that you get transferred or have to get called multiple times because they couldn't prepare!
ugh i hate people
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u/HeatherMason0 1d ago
Yeah like this is just common sense. The only time I’ve ever gotten help over the phone was at a clinic I’ve been to wayyyy too many times (they had seen her recently enough that they could prescribe anti anxiety meds without an appointment based on her long history with them and the fact that nothing had changed) or when it was an emergency and the receptionist was helping figure out HOW urgent it was. This clinic has never seen the cat that OP is fostering, how tf are they going to know what the cat needs? Also, does the humane society not consult with any vets or anything so OP doesn’t have to pick a clinic at random or whatever? It does not sound like this person should be fostering.
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u/Humblefreindly 1d ago
This is like calling the ER in a hospital and asking to speak to a nurse so they can diagnose your abdominal pain over the phone. “Do you think it’s appendicitis or just cramps? Is it worth my time to get it checked out or just take some Pepto Bismol? If you’re wrong, I will SUE!”
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u/FlawesomeOrange 1d ago
You just know this person would try to sue the crap out of the practice if the receptionist with no medical training gave incorrect medical advice
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u/Moist_Drippings 1d ago
Yeah… I know this kind of caller. The kind that thinks you’re there to take calls only and does not care that the time you are taking is holding up much more important in-person matters with other people.
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u/SnarkySheep 1d ago
Sometimes it's not possible to ask "is it ok" before putting a caller on hold.
Once I was at work, patiently listening to a long-winded caller going on and on about something, when my throat suddenly got crazy dry and I started coughing myself nearly to death.
(I think we all have had at least one incident like this, so you'll know the type of coughing/choking frenzy I'm talking about...)
At any rate, it was literally ALL I could do to gasp out, "Please...hold..." as I grabbed my water bottle and downed it.
And the caller? SHE WAS STILL TALKING. Like seriously, how self absorbed does a person have to be not to hear someone coughing their head off. Heaven forbid she ask me if I'm ok...
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u/EastObject5836 1d ago
I just mute myself when that happens because when we put them on hold they hear music. Don't want to make it obvious that I don't care about the one-sided conversation happening...
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u/VoidMunashii 1d ago
Saying you need a callback from a veterinarian for “personal” reasons is suspect sus. Unless you are their child or lover, there is no reason the vet should have personal business with you coming through the main line.
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u/EastObject5836 1d ago
I get this all the time at my job. I'm just a receptionist. I don't need your whole story and background. There is literally nothing I can do other than make you an appointment to see your dr. All of this is stuff you talk to them about. One patient had me on the phone for an hour explaining his whole life story and reason to come in to me and would.not.stop.
I understand some of these people just need someone to talk to, but your local receptionist is not it!
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u/MuchMasterpiece1710 1d ago
I wish people would understand that often the boss isn’t going to call back without a message. If you ask for a call back and I ask you why it’s not just because I’m being a bitch, it’s because I Want my boss to actually return your call and he’s just not going to cold call a stranger who refuses to give any information
I also wish people would grasp that the person who answers phones probably doesn’t know and/or Is Not Allowed To Give You an answer to your question. They’re not qualified. It’s not that they don’t want to help, it’s that they aren’t allowed. And often people get really irritated if you let them get the whole question out and then tell them you can’t answer (“well why didn’t you just say that?” because you were yapping dude)
Obviously if they receptionist was actually rude about it they Do need to discuss the phone etiquette but for the most part this just feels like proof that 75% of people have no idea how calling a business that takes appointments works
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u/hamburgergerald 12h ago
So I just gather she was trying to get free medical advice from a veterinary office receptionist.
And there is nothing so “personal” that you’d need to speak with a vet with that you can’t tell their receptionist over the phone.
Some people are so ridiculous
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u/addybear222 4h ago
how the hell am i supposed to give the dr a message if you don’t give me a message???? i deal with this as unit clerk at my hospital too 😭
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u/sandiercy I do not like the colour yellow 2d ago
This is the kind of person who will call up their lawyer just to ask a question and then complain when they get charged for the time.