I think someone got out of the wrong side of the bed

Unfortunately there are a lot of people devoid of self awareness, something I used to encourage student nurses to develop. I often find with some receptionists you are lucky to get eye contact. Where has the empathy, dignity and respect gone?

Dentist receptionists are all really nice at my dental surgery, wish I could say the same for the doctor's surgery. If one receptionist in particular answers the phone I now put the phone down and try again later, do not want to put up with the abrasive manner or downright rudeness.

The receptionist at my dentist is brusque and unsmiling.
Yesterday I had to see the hygienist and she treated me like a naughty 5 year old. She more or less told me I didn't know how to clean my teeth, strange how I have managed to keep most of them for 79 years.

Some years back, I went into a cafe after driving through an area I'd never been to before.

Literally as soon as I opened the door, and before I'd even walked over the threshold, the snotty cow behind the counter shouted ''What drinks and food do you want?''

I replied that I don't know, as I wasn't even through the door yet and didn't have a chance to look at the menu!

She rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically.

I was desperate for the loo, so I shot in there, then when I came out, she literally basically threw the menu at me and barked ''What do you want?'' before I'd even had a chance to plonk my eyes on it!

I snapped ''What I REALLY want is to drown you in the nearest river for being a psychotic motormouth egomaniac witch'' then I threw the menu back at her, it crashed to the floor, and I walked out, never to return to that cafe or the area again!

I absolutely HATED that awful woman!

Forgot the closing bracket - sorry!

Cabbie21

I must be lucky as I can’t say I have encountered rudeness or abruptness from staff at my local dental, medical or other services. Bus drivers are particularly friendly.

Same here. Can I also add a thumbs up for the staff at our local M & S? They are very friendly, offer help with packing bags (obviously I look as if I need it.

Our dentist’s reception staff are very anodyne and don’t react to either conversation or a light witticism. Sometimes you wonder whether there is anything behind the eyes. However, I went in for a check up appointment and they had given my appointment to the next in line. I was seven minutes late and was told I would have to make another appointment. I asked why I couldn’t take the appointment of the person who had mine. I was told very pointedly that “It doesn’t work like that!” And that “If you’re late again, you’ll be removed from the list!” I had never ever been late. I felt demeaned. I have no choice but to stay with them. Thank goodness it’s only twice a year.

I must be lucky as I can’t say I have encountered rudeness or abruptness from staff at my local dental, medical or other services. Bus drivers are particularly friendly.

I sometimes have to go into my bank branch

What is one of those?

🤷‍♀️

Ah, but being a Receptionist is but a stepping stone on the path to becoming Amanda Hughes, the embryonic business empire-builder in "AmandaLand".

Customers, patients and/or clients are but driftwood........

Even if I feel miserable, I act happy and smiley 😀.

There are such miserable women working in my doctor's surgery, dental clinic, pharmacy, bakery, supermarket. They all look like they're working under duress, like serving you is an inconvenience, and rarely smile or engage in pleasantries.

This seems to be a sign of the times 🤷.

😁
You're not the only one. It's just as well my dentist is friendly and puts patients at their ease.

I'd pay after, as there's always the chance of me bolting out the door when my name is called - I am such a scaredy -cat at the dentist.

Astitchintime

SueDonim

I’m not sure what the OP wanted the receptionist to say in the first place. Is there something wrong with asking if you’re exempt?

SueDonim……..I wasn’t objecting to the question at all. She asked was I exempt to which I replied, no. But she didn’t then ask me to pay - I thought I’d be paying as I left.
Then another patient arrived and paid, after she asked if he paid for treatment. This made me realise that the wires had been crossed and I approached the receptionist again and mention that she had asked if I was exempt. She didn’t ask me to pay at that point. Hope that makes this clearer.

Just to confirm, I wasn’t trying to avoid paying…….the receptionist was rather sharp to be honest and claimed I should have known what she was supposed to ask me!!!!

Really odd that he paid first though.
We pay when we leave as the total cost then comes up on the computer.

The receptionists at our dental surgery are lovely but one has just retired so I hope the new one is as good.

The GP surgery receptionists are a mixture of polite and helpful and difficult.

I'm so sorry that it's upset you.
It was rather curt.
Unfortunately it's not a particularly well - paid job and seems to attract some people who can't be bothered.
My GP's surgery has the worst reputation in the area for rude and unhelpful receptionists .
People have actually burst into tears.
I've burst into tears as well.
My meds are usually not ready and haven't been for about 15 years .
I've had all my patient's notes deleted.
My "posh " accent has been made fun of.
One of my friends lasted a week as a receptionist at the surgery.
She said that it's the worst job that she's had and pays minimum wage for awkward hours and the work is demanding with too much responsibility.

I think I get it now, Astitchintime. Our dentist doesn’t work like that so that situation wouldn’t arise. We do have lovely receptionists, though!

My dental surgery has recently changed hands and reception is staffed by a squad of lookalikes. Same early 20 something’s, long bleached hair tied back, spray tan, useless nails and lip filler jobs. Nothing wrong with that, but they mumble the questions to clients (DD1 asked to have something written down, as she couldn’t understand one) and there’s no empathy at all, especially to clients who phone in on behalf of someone suffering from toothache. When I was last in, Nat’lee was ringing clients to remind them of imminent appointments and had to repeat herself several times as her tone and diction was so poor.

Magenta8

I sometimes have to go into my bank branch and I know that if a particular women serves me she will not fail to be curt, roll her eyes at me and sigh. The local pharmacy employs a similar woman. Both establishments display the zero tolerance of rudeness sign.

The other day a bus driver told me off for not making eye contact with him when I tapped my bus pass. I had muttered 'thank you' but apparently that was not enough. Of course I smiled at him and apologised.

Well I wouldn’t have done ( apology) there could be many reasons a woman or any person doesn’t make eye contact.

Some people are just not cut out to deal with the public.

DH and a group of six men from a club walked in to a restaurant where they had booked a table. They were most taken back when the receptionist barked, 'Any allergies' at them as a greeting. No 'good evening' or 'do you have a reservation' or similar pleasantries. The service went on as it had started. It was one of the places that add an automatic service charge of 10%. For the first time ever DH had it removed.

Sorry, but the way I feel now about rude service people, I would probably answer with 'Computer says no, with the right voice'.

I have just got back from the dentist New dentist, new town. Both receptionists and dentist were pleasant and polite.

Best to answer "I'm on the NHS and pay those charges". Our practice has both. Fortunately the receptionist is a nice older woman.

Perhaps asking if you a re exempt is thought of being nicer than asking in public, "are you on relevant benefits for free treatment"

SueDonim I think the point was that the receptionist did not ask OP and the other patient the same question. OP was asked "Are you exempt?" to which, correctly, OP replied "No" meaning she was not exempt from paying for treatment in other words she had to pay for treatment.

Another patient was asked a different question "Do you pay for treatment?" to which he answered, again correctly, "Yes" and paid before his treatment. Which incidentally is not usual for dental treatment as often the dentist does not know precisely what treatment will be necessary in advance.

Nothing wrong in itself with asking if someone is exempt as long as you understand the difference between yes and no in this context.

SueDonim

I’m not sure what the OP wanted the receptionist to say in the first place. Is there something wrong with asking if you’re exempt?

SueDonim……..I wasn’t objecting to the question at all. She asked was I exempt to which I replied, no. But she didn’t then ask me to pay - I thought I’d be paying as I left.
Then another patient arrived and paid, after she asked if he paid for treatment. This made me realise that the wires had been crossed and I approached the receptionist again and mention that she had asked if I was exempt. She didn’t ask me to pay at that point. Hope that makes this clearer.

Just to confirm, I wasn’t trying to avoid paying…….the receptionist was rather sharp to be honest and claimed I should have known what she was supposed to ask me!!!!