[kall]

This is weird.

I called the IRD about my supposed $68 000 tax bill. I asked for the person's name. They said 'Kristy Anderson'.

Cool...

So I call back again for more info. Get a new person. Their surname is also Anderson.

Hmm.

So, I call back one more time. ANOTHER Anderson.

Why the hell would a company tell all their employees to give out a false name? It's not like people are going to try to track down a Customer Services Rep because they are unhappy...is it?

[Penny]

Maybe there are just lots of people with the name Anderson that work there?

[Sparklechick]

Hmmm, that is weird.

Mr Anderson ... the arch nemesis of Mr Smith .... something must be wrong with the Matrix.

[kall]

No, after checking with a friend who used to work in the call centre, apparently they all give out the surname Anderson.

For safety reasons.

*shakes head*

[hugo weaving] Misssster Ann-dersunnn [/hugo weaving]

[Penny]

Why don't they just say, they don't give out their surnames. I can see why they wouldn't want to give out their surnames,

I know someone who used to work in the finace department of the Power company and she had people camping on her doorstep when she got home to "talk" to her about their power being cut off etc.

[trogg]

And what if they have 2 Johns or 2 Marys ?
What a dumb policy in practice... good in theory tho.

Perhaps if they gave the initial of their surname then it might be less confusing like John A and John H.

[Sparklechick]

If I were dealing with them and didn't like the service I was getting I would demand their full name so I could complain to their supervisor about them. Or maybe when you ask them for their full name to you can lay a complaint then they give you their staff ID number or something ....

[kall]

It would make assigning email addresses slightly more of a headache.

'Right, so your name is Robert. Hmm. We already have 8 combinations of robert.anderson@ird.govt.nz .. what can we give you?'