Companies keep saying how customer focussed they are. I really wish they'd shut up about it and start giving us better service.

After driving an hour with my XM radio and getting none of the services I had payed a year in advance for last night I was a wee bit annoyed.

Called customer service (full marks for having a 1-800 and giving me the numbers and not making me figure out what number goes with what letter). Got voice mail jail (deduct all marks for the 1-800 number). The voice recognition software didn't like me. Figures. Finally identified myself. FINALLY figured out how to get transfered to a human. Why can't companies get that we want to deal with people when we phone not with Silicone Sally (and frankly if they do make us deal with her shouldn't we get a choise of her or Silicone Scott?

Had the pleasure of reidentifying myself to said human. She was helpful, but did put me on hold with the obligatory music.

About 10 minutes on the phone, and within 15 minutes after the call I had my service working. I love it. Worked like a charm and I enjoyed it on my ride today (a six hour ride turned into 8 thanks to this being the middle of construction season)

I'm thinking I'm soon going to have to join a no spend challenge just to get a break from the trials of being a consumer.