Is it just me or do other people get irritated about people answering phones when they are attending to you in shops etc? I have just been to the vets to get a couple of dogs microchipped. The receptionist was trying to fill in the forms but was continually having to break off to answer the phone. The whole process must have taken at least 10 minutes longer than it should have. To be fair she did apologise but I still find it very rude to be continually interrupted by the phone. It wouldn't be tolerated if someone arrived at the surgery and tried to push in, so why do I have to put up with the phone taking precedence over my transaction. I know they are busy but there should be a way to have people answering the phones who aren't dealing with customers face to face.

Grumpy in Cheshire :(

Oddly enough there are shops where it would bother me but I genuinely don't mind at the vets.  I don't want them to have to get extra staff in as it might put my prices up, and on the flip side I do value being able to call them with questions whenever it suits me.

It's often down to the way in which it's handled - my vet nurse/reception will ask permission to answer the phone, or apologise, and they'll often often to call the person back if it isn't urgent. 

Considering it might be an emergency at the other end of the phone, I can't blame them for always answering -if it was me phoning I wouldn't want to wait just because forms had to be filled in..... I'm surprised they didn't ask you to fill the forms in yourself to save time, that's what my vets do.

>The receptionist was trying to fill in the forms but was continually having to break off to answer the phone.

We have to do that - it might be an emergency. And yes, if an emergency turned up in reception then it would be seen straight away and 'routine' appointments would have to wait.

>so why do I have to put up with the phone taking precedence over my transaction.

Our crystal balls are often faulty! ;-) In my job I'm the sole person on the premises most of the time, so have to deal with clients and answer the phone at the same time. We only have the one phone line so if the phone rings I can't deal with card payments anyway because the phone line is busy ... and leaving the phone to just ring and ring would be a disciplinary offence!

>To be fair she did apologise

What else could she do? She's being hassled enough anyway, and doesn't want to have to juggle everything at once any more than you would!

I find people and their mobile phones far more annoying :( If it is a business call, fair enough (although they still should just apologise before taking the call). People who look at text messages/answer calls etc while having a conversation/havng a drink with you/eating a meal are just downright rude IMO :(

How on earth did we manage years ago when some of us didn't even have a phone at home ?? :) :) It just meant that we talked face-to-face with our friends/family rather than living in a mobile phone bubble that some people prefer these days :(

I have no objection to people, in shops/offices, asking me (politely) to wait while they take a phonecall if it is important.

If I remember rightly vets are legally obliged to answer the phone whilst open, and provide out ofhours suregry etc but been a while since I worked in practice.

The vets is one of those grey areas where I think we just have to bear with it, annoying at times I know. But lets face it how often do doctors receptionsists just answer and expect you to wait? Just life.

I have my mobile with me usually all the time and hate answering when I'm stood at tills etc but money is money the mortgage needs paying. I do try to be polite and if with OH walk away leaving him to pay! So double bonus! But phones do have silent mode for family meals etc and for after 8 at night and 6 on weekends!

I worked part-time as a receptionist in a Sports' Centre when my children were little and we were trained to give the telephone priority over the people waiting at the desk.  The reasoning behind it, it seems, is that the people at the desk can see that you are busy whereas the people at the other end of the phone cannot see what you are doing! :)  :)

I would rather have the 'inconvenience' of the vets receptionist/vet nurse answering the phones while dealing with something totally menial that I am in there for, then ignore the phone when I am ringing up in a blind panic because something has happened to my pets!!!!

Its on the same vein of people complaining about having to move out of the way/stop for ambulances, but would be the first to create merry hell if an ambulance was held up to go to one of their family.

Lea

> I find people and their mobile phones far more annoying :-( If it is a business call, fair enough (although they still should just apologise before taking the call). People who look at text messages/answer calls etc while having a conversation/havng a drink with you/eating a meal are just downright rude IMO :-(
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> How on earth did we manage years ago when some of us didn't even have a phone at home ?? :-) :-) It just meant that we talked face-to-face with our friends/family rather than living in a mobile phone bubble that some people prefer these days :-(
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> I have no objection to people, in shops/offices, asking me (politely) to wait while they take a phonecall if it is important.

Agree with everything you have said, especially answering/carrying on conversions on mobiles when your at a counter in a shop/bank..most rude & what cant wait for seconds is beyond me & I have a mobile phone.

Of course the phone should take priority over your microchip forms. Any of those calls could have been a life or death situation for someone's pet. I can imagine the tone of your post on here if it was you trying to get through to your vet in a crisis situation and getting no answer.

I'm quite aghast at your sense of entitlement to the receptionist's undivided attention. There are more customers than just you, you know? Some of whom may (shock! Horror!) have more pressing matters than some forms to be completed.

Yes, I do get annoyed if answering the phone takes priority over a conversation that I am having with someone...BUT in a doctor's surgery, or a vet's surgery any phone call could be an emergency phone call - so I can accept that.

How would YOU feel, dear Grumpy in Cheshire, if you were on the other end of the phone at the vet's, trying to get assistance for a bitch having a problem whelping, or needing urgent advice about an injury?   I know that I would really get the a***e-ache if I knew that instead of answering the phone, the receptionist was filling in a microchip form!

Quite often, when I call, the receptionist will say "is it an emergency as I am just dealing with someone at the desk". I am more than happy to wait if I'm not calling with anything urgent as the receptionists are always willing to squeeze me in an appointment if needed :) I do know the vet staff very well so am not sure if this is standard procedure or just procedure they use with people they know are accommodating and understanding of the ever changing priorities in a vet surgery.

Its on the same vein of people complaining about having to move out of the way/stop for ambulances

There are people who complain about that???????!!!!!! My only thought is "please let the person needing this ambulance be okay". Some people really need to take a good look at their attitudes!