Accounting Departments

[rp2813]

Has anyone ever worked/dealt with anyplace where the accounting department actually answered their phones? I have been on hold for 27 minutes for my own company's acctg dept due to an issue with my W2. I have never known any accounting department to actually answer their phones wherever I have worked, especially payables.

Anyone else have this experience? It might be time to expose these people who I suspect are just filing their nails while phone lights are flashing in front of them.

I wouldn't even be using the phone to contact them, but the email I am questioning re: my W2 can't be replied to, so I have no choice. ARRRRRRGGGGGGGGH!

 

[dalangdon]

At the company I used to work for (the one that laid me off) I thought it was important that we still answer the phone after we got rid of the receptionist, so I hooked her phone up at my desk.

At first they thought I was being silly, but our accountant and CFO were actually happy that I did that, as it helped them negotiate with our creditors during our "troubles"

When the new CEO came in, and decided that I was a luxury they couldn't afford, it wreaked havoc, because no one was answering the phone at first, and went they got organized enough to do it, they were amazed by how many calls we got.

 

[sudsmaster]

Ralph,

Send them an email. If that doesn't work, send them a paper memo. If that doesn't work, pay them a personal visit (providing they've not been outsourced to another state)...

 

[rp2813]

Email is not an option, as the email that started all of this stated "do not reply to this email." The phone is the only way. Since they are likely in St. Louis, a personal visit isn't likely, but . . .

After 00:59:42 on the phone, maybe 10 minutes of that actually speaking with someone or being placed on hold by them, I was referred back to the original person I contacted, my HR specialist who had already claimed she couldn't help me. Armed with a couple of form numbers, such as PD42 or whatever, I contacted her and she said she'd handle it.

Over an hour down the drain after emailing the person who ended up being the fixer after all.

Don't bother with the link below--it doesn't go anywhere. I hit something by mistake that made it think I wanted to post a link and it won't let me erase it.

http://

 

[pturo]

My company's accountants: Dewey, Cheetam and Howe, never answer the phone either. The mail is always postmarked from the Cayman Islands and the main office is in Cartegena, Colombia, with branches in Bangladesh and Madagascar.
It might be hard to get my W2 corrected on time.

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Ralph

If it's any consolation to you ; In days gone by I worked
in the "Employee Records" Units of Disbursement Accounting ,
back in the old days. It was Pacific Telephone when I started.
I worked 17 years at 666 Folsom in the City. I always answered
my phone (remember pre-voicemail?) and often others in the same unit. I could usually refer a caller to no more than
three #'s away from where they needed to be. I agree, it is generally a huge pain in the ass to get information from your
own company. Once SBC took over and they outsourced so many
functions it was almost impossible to connect with a knowledgeble human , especially as a retiree. Isn't there
online access to active employee benefits/services these days?

 

[rp2813]

Darrel, I figured somebody who has worked in an accounting capacity would likely chime in here. Definitely when you were answering those phones it was a different environment and a very different company. But even when I worked for a small air conditioning contractor, the accounting office there never answered their phones.

There is on-line access but they tend to draw the line at your ability to change information. You have to talk to a human to do that, and only after answering two or three questions to confirm your ID.

The tangle of red tape is only getting larger, and you are correct about the slim chance of ever reaching a knowledgeable human.

 

[oldhouseman]

Civil Service

I become an un-civil civil servant when I have to deal with issues like this. All of our materials are supposed to be available on-line for updating. Great service -if it ever worked. The site is often down. Be persistent and remember when you do get a human being they are a cog in the machine like the rest of us. Kill'em with kindness. And remember to get their name and contact info.