Dutch Service

The title of this blog is probably an oxymoron. The Netherlands is a relatively fun place to be if you don't have to move here. If you do move here though, prepare to lower your expectations as far as service goes in this country. Getting settled in here has been a frustrating experience for me, so I'll share with you some examples of the kind of things that happen here:

• Wanna follow-up on an order you made on-line? Be prepared to pay 10 cents per minute to 0900 #s. There is no such thing as 'toll-free' here.
• ABN Amro (one of the international banks here) is an exception and do have toll-free service desk. And a good thing at that because you will need to call them a lot probably. For starters, they lost my application for internet banking so it took me almost a month to get this service. (I had to keep calling to follow-up on this.) Meanwhile, when it came time to start paying bills, I had no way of making bank transfers (this is typically how payments are made). It took me about 2 hours on the phone and 3 visits to my local branch office before someone realized they could immediately provide me with a code that allows me to make bank transfers over the phone. Then my credit card application was denied because they did not have a pay slip from me. Apparently my work contract which clearly states my salary wasn't enough. So yet another trip to the bank to reapply. Oh, and no on-line address changing either. You need proof of residence and sign any requests for address changes, which means it has to be done by mail or in person. So much for convenience.
• So you need new furniture and did some shopping at IKEA? Be damn sure when you want your delivery because if you want to change it - yep - you have to call the 0900 #. Even if you don't mind paying the toll to change the date, chances are, you will confuse them and they will not even come on the day that you want. This was my case. I rescheduled a Monday delivery to Tuesday over the phone. And they came on Wednesday - unannounced. I was very lucky that I happenned to be home at the time they came.
• The movers on the otherhand, came when they said they'd come. But they almost left without unpacking anything even though I had paid for this service on the U.S. side. And they even wanted me to pay some sort of 'terminal delivery' fee!!! We had already paid the U.S. movers lots of money and I was not aware of any other fee to pay. I live on the first floor so they shouldn't charge me for having to go up stairs. They were in and out in 30 minutes, even after I made them unpack. I'm still trying to figure out what this is all about.
• Want internet service? Telephone? Cable? Well, Cassema is this great one stop shop where you can get it all. You can even order it all on-line!! That is, if you know Dutch. Btw, don't expect them to get things right. I waited a while, after receiving my confirmation e-mail, for my modem and such to arrive. It never did. After calling yet another 0900 #, I found out they never received my order. To boot, they said there is no service for my address!! Yet, their website says I do!

I still have no internet, telephone, or TV. My only form of entertainment at home is this cheap radio that ABN Amro gave me for all the troubles they caused. This is probably the most valuable cheap thing I ever received. Anyways, did I ever tell you how great Holland was? Well, if I did, I lied - it sucks!!!!! I did not come here for the weather, food, or the service - that's for sure.

(On a brighter note tho, had a fun game of volleyball yesterday afterwork. Also getting into my PS2 games now that my shipment has arrived. I have DDR Max 2, Karaoke Revolution 3, and Katamari Damacy. Went for a nice swim this morning in a lap pool 5 minutes away by bike from home. Things ARE fun here - but I had to vent for all the frustrating stuff that goes on.)