I’m going tell you a little story that has South Eastern Spanish culture as the main background (want to learn more? Download “why are we always late in Spain?” if you have not done it yet. I briefly discuss this same topic in my e-book).

The article you’re about to read is based on a true story that recently happened to me.

I went crazy writing and ended up with a huge text. That’s why I decided to divide it in two parts.

This set of articles will show you:

* How one big Spanish company keeps one unhappy client.

* How one self-employed person (my ex mechanic) loses the unhappy client + his partner.

Yes, I was the unhappy client. And, truth be said, despite everything I did enjoy writing this article :-)

The events

My car breaks down in the middle of nowhere on a Thursday night, around midnight, going back home.

I’m lucky it happens near a roundabout and not a couple of minutes before, right in a dark motorway. The car is completely dead and has no power at all. Nothing works. Not a single light in the car turns on.

(My car let me down in this roundabout, near Pilar de la Horadada, Spain – image taken from Google Maps)

I call the insurance and they send a tow truck in about 40 minutes. The driver offers me the option to leave my car at their depot because I can’t shut it down and has one window half opened.

When he’s putting some stuff to tow the car, he pulls from underneath a belt, and confirms that it’s the alternator’s belt. That is the reason why, according to him, every single mechanism in the car has stopped working.

The car is towed to their depot and I agree with him to call my mechanic next day so that he knows when to receive the car.

South Eastern Spanish culture: “I will call you later” means “I won’t call you later”

Day 1: Friday

Around 10am I call my mechanic and he says that he’s with his boy at the doctors. “No problem, I’ll get back to you later”, I say.

More or less about 3:00pm I call him back to make sure he’ll be at the garage. He says he is moving to a new garage on

Monday but he’s going to repair my car at another mechanic’s garage.

— “All right. I’m going to call the towing company right now then” — I reply.

A Spanish rude receptionist says that they do not know when they can tow the car to the mechanic, but maybe between 4:00pm-4:30pm. It’s 3:20pm.

At 7:00pm I call again my mechanic:

— Have you got the car?

— Not yet. I’m not there at the moment but the other guy is waiting for you car — he answers.

— You’re not going to have time to fix it today. Is the car going to be in a safe place?

— Oh yeah. Absolutely. This garage even has a private security guard at night. Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to the car. I will call you as soon as the car gets here.

All right, I trust him. Even though he does not call me later… I trust him.

Day 2: Saturday

I phone my mechanic at 10:00am. The car was brought around 7:30pm according to him. He says he’s going to take a look to the car and then will call me back later.

It’s time to fight the insurance company. I’m paying 400€ a year. I have only called them for assistance twice in 5 years. And I have never been involved in a car accident (fortunately).

The first time I used them they let me inside the car for three hours. I complained and I received a 40€ compensation. Ok. Better than nothing. But… it’s second time and this time I will not accept pocket money (allowance in the USA ;-) ).

I call the insurance but they do not want to process my complaint. The customer service department is closed until Monday. I insist and force them to write it down and pass a note to whoever on Monday. It works out. Great.

Around 3:00pm I call my mechanic to know what’s going on. He does not answer the phone.

Right after the phone call I seat down on a chair and think that it’s Saturday. The mechanic is probably resting and enjoying the day with the family.

Day 3: Sunday

I’m also running a company and work Saturdays and Sundays, and even nights, if I have to serve something to one of my clients.

Forget it David. Nobody works on Sunday in Spain.

Your car will be ready in a few days.

(Remember, Sundays and holidays are always red in Spanish calendars)

Day 4: Monday

Again, I phone the mechanic. It’s about 10:30am. According to him, there’s something else besides the alternator’s belt and he needs to investigate. He says he’ll ring me later with some conclusions.

All right. Unfortunately, I need the car. I’m more or less like a taxi driver but without transporting anybody. My clients don’t come to me: I go to them. I need my car now, but I’ll be patient.

Later on somebody from the insurance company rings me. She says they have everything in the system. According to the insurance policy, cars stored at a depot are not preference against those that need assistance on the road.

“Sorry but I don’t understand about internal policies or preferences. I’m a client and only see that you are offering a poor service. It’s been twice already and I am so unhappy that I’m going to start looking for a different insurance”, I reply.

After a few more tries, the lady gives up and confirms that my case will be passed to a higher department, where it will be studied for a possible compensation. Only “possible”. I don’t like hearing that.

Whatever. I want compensation.

In the meantime, of course, my mechanic never calls back. I ring him around 7:00pm and he does not answer.

Ok David, be patient. Let him investigate and do the job.

Day 5: Tuesday

I don’t call the mechanic. I don’t want to be insistent. I’ll give him a chance. Shouldn’t we all be this way? The world has plenty of arrogant and impatient people who lose their temper real quick. Be smart David and trust him.

Also, he’s been my mechanic for the last three years and has been honest and reasonable with my girlfriend and me. No problem man.

[/column] [hr style=dashed-line margin_top= margin_bottom=]

Day 6: Wednesday

Within the Spanish culture there are many local and national holidays. And today it is a local. It is some type of regional holiday only in the Valencian region.

Everybody else in Spain works but inhabitants living in this region.

Fine David, let the mechanic disconnect and enjoy his family.

[/column]

[column size=half position=last ]

(Day of the Valencian Community)

Day 7: Thursday

[column size=half position=first ]

Fortunately, my girlfriend got Monday and Tuesday off. Yesterday was a local holiday. However, today she goes back to work. We are in trouble!

I must keep visiting my clients and we only have one car. My girlfriend needs her car.

At 9:30am I call the mechanic.

— My car is ready, right?

— Yeah, it should be ready. Let me check out the other mechanic. He should have done it. I will call you right back.

Can’t believe it. He rings me back 20 minutes later:

— I’m very sorry David, but the other mechanic let me down and has not fixed your car. I apologize. But don’t worry, I promise I’m going to do it myself today. I swear. Not later than today David. Just little chance tomorrow, but gonna do my best to have it today. I’ll call you later.

Wouldn’t you believe the mechanic you’ve had the last three years? I did.

Although I’m getting tired of the situation (I’d say quite common in the culture of South Eastern Spain), there is still a little spark of hope on this mechanic. Don’t know why, but I still trust him.

It is 8:00pm and I desperately need my car because next day I have a lot of clients booked. Honestly, I don’t want to call him. I’m already fed up to be after him. And I have a feeling: he is not going to fix car today.

I’m going to call him and going to tell him seriously: “Give me my car back. It’s been already 7 days. Give it to me now”.

A few seconds later I phone him a couple of times and, guess what, he does not answer… again.

I should not be surprised, as I grew up in the South Eastern Spain and know very well this part of the Spanish culture. I don’t care. Tomorrow Friday I will to tell him a few words. This is too much.

TO BE CONTINUED

David

Did you like my article? Please share it!! (Click on any of the icons on the left bar (Facebook, Google +, Twitter) .

Wait a minute… also don’t forget to Like my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/torreviejatranslation

Thanks :-)

OTHER DAVID’S RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

How can I Improve my Spanish?

Practical Safety Tips in Spain

I’m going tell you a little story that has South Eastern Spanish culture as the main background (want to learn more? Download “why are we always late in Spain?” if you have not done it yet. I briefly discuss this same topic in my e-book).

The article you’re about to read is based on a true story that recently happened to me.

I went crazy writing and ended up with a huge text. That’s why I decided to divide it in two parts.

This set of articles will show you:

* How one big Spanish company keeps one unhappy client.

* How one self-employed person (my ex mechanic) loses the unhappy client + his partner.

Yes, I was the unhappy client. And, truth be said, despite everything I did enjoy writing this article :-)

The events

My car breaks down in the middle of nowhere on a Thursday night, around midnight, going back home.

I’m lucky it happens near a roundabout and not a couple of minutes before, right in a dark motorway. The car is completely dead and has no power at all. Nothing works. Not a single light in the car turns on.

(My car let me down in this roundabout, near Pilar de la Horadada, Spain – image taken from Google Maps)

I call the insurance and they send a tow truck in about 40 minutes. The driver offers me the option to leave my car at their depot because I can’t shut it down and has one window half opened.

When he’s putting some stuff to tow the car, he pulls from underneath a belt, and confirms that it’s the alternator’s belt. That is the reason why, according to him, every single mechanism in the car has stopped working.

The car is towed to their depot and I agree with him to call my mechanic next day so that he knows when to receive the car.

South Eastern Spanish culture: “I will call you later” means “I won’t call you later”

Day 1: Friday

Around 10am I call my mechanic and he says that he’s with his boy at the doctors. “No problem, I’ll get back to you later”, I say.

More or less about 3:00pm I call him back to make sure he’ll be at the garage. He says he is moving to a new garage on

Monday but he’s going to repair my car at another mechanic’s garage.

— “All right. I’m going to call the towing company right now then” — I reply.

A Spanish rude receptionist says that they do not know when they can tow the car to the mechanic, but maybe between 4:00pm-4:30pm. It’s 3:20pm.

At 7:00pm I call again my mechanic:

— Have you got the car?

— Not yet. I’m not there at the moment but the other guy is waiting for you car — he answers.

— You’re not going to have time to fix it today. Is the car going to be in a safe place?

— Oh yeah. Absolutely. This garage even has a private security guard at night. Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to the car. I will call you as soon as the car gets here.

All right, I trust him. Even though he does not call me later… I trust him.

Day 2: Saturday

I phone my mechanic at 10:00am. The car was brought around 7:30pm according to him. He says he’s going to take a look to the car and then will call me back later.

It’s time to fight the insurance company. I’m paying 400€ a year. I have only called them for assistance twice in 5 years. And I have never been involved in a car accident (fortunately).

The first time I used them they let me inside the car for three hours. I complained and I received a 40€ compensation. Ok. Better than nothing. But… it’s second time and this time I will not accept pocket money (allowance in the USA ;-) ).

I call the insurance but they do not want to process my complaint. The customer service department is closed until Monday. I insist and force them to write it down and pass a note to whoever on Monday. It works out. Great.

Around 3:00pm I call my mechanic to know what’s going on. He does not answer the phone.

Right after the phone call I seat down on a chair and think that it’s Saturday. The mechanic is probably resting and enjoying the day with the family.

Day 3: Sunday

I’m also running a company and work Saturdays and Sundays, and even nights, if I have to serve something to one of my clients.

Forget it David. Nobody works on Sunday in Spain.

Your car will be ready in a few days.

(Remember, Sundays and holidays are always red in Spanish calendars)

Day 4: Monday

Again, I phone the mechanic. It’s about 10:30am. According to him, there’s something else besides the alternator’s belt and he needs to investigate. He says he’ll ring me later with some conclusions.

All right. Unfortunately, I need the car. I’m more or less like a taxi driver but without transporting anybody. My clients don’t come to me: I go to them. I need my car now, but I’ll be patient.

Later on somebody from the insurance company rings me. She says they have everything in the system. According to the insurance policy, cars stored at a depot are not preference against those that need assistance on the road.

“Sorry but I don’t understand about internal policies or preferences. I’m a client and only see that you are offering a poor service. It’s been twice already and I am so unhappy that I’m going to start looking for a different insurance”, I reply.

After a few more tries, the lady gives up and confirms that my case will be passed to a higher department, where it will be studied for a possible compensation. Only “possible”. I don’t like hearing that.

Whatever. I want compensation.

In the meantime, of course, my mechanic never calls back. I ring him around 7:00pm and he does not answer.

Ok David, be patient. Let him investigate and do the job.

Day 5: Tuesday

I don’t call the mechanic. I don’t want to be insistent. I’ll give him a chance. Shouldn’t we all be this way? The world has plenty of arrogant and impatient people who lose their temper real quick. Be smart David and trust him.

Also, he’s been my mechanic for the last three years and has been honest and reasonable with my girlfriend and me. No problem man.

[/column] [hr style=dashed-line margin_top= margin_bottom=]

Day 6: Wednesday

Within the Spanish culture there are many local and national holidays. And today it is a local. It is some type of regional holiday only in the Valencian region.

Everybody else in Spain works but inhabitants living in this region.

Fine David, let the mechanic disconnect and enjoy his family.

[/column]

[column size=half position=last ]

(Day of the Valencian Community)

Day 7: Thursday

[column size=half position=first ]

Fortunately, my girlfriend got Monday and Tuesday off. Yesterday was a local holiday. However, today she goes back to work. We are in trouble!

I must keep visiting my clients and we only have one car. My girlfriend needs her car.

At 9:30am I call the mechanic.

— My car is ready, right?

— Yeah, it should be ready. Let me check out the other mechanic. He should have done it. I will call you right back.

Can’t believe it. He rings me back 20 minutes later:

— I’m very sorry David, but the other mechanic let me down and has not fixed your car. I apologize. But don’t worry, I promise I’m going to do it myself today. I swear. Not later than today David. Just little chance tomorrow, but gonna do my best to have it today. I’ll call you later.

Wouldn’t you believe the mechanic you’ve had the last three years? I did.

Although I’m getting tired of the situation (I’d say quite common in the culture of South Eastern Spain), there is still a little spark of hope on this mechanic. Don’t know why, but I still trust him.

It is 8:00pm and I desperately need my car because next day I have a lot of clients booked. Honestly, I don’t want to call him. I’m already fed up to be after him. And I have a feeling: he is not going to fix car today.

I’m going to call him and going to tell him seriously: “Give me my car back. It’s been already 7 days. Give it to me now”.

A few seconds later I phone him a couple of times and, guess what, he does not answer… again.

I should not be surprised, as I grew up in the South Eastern Spain and know very well this part of the Spanish culture. I don’t care. Tomorrow Friday I will to tell him a few words. This is too much.

TO BE CONTINUED

David

Did you like my article? Please share it!! (Click on any of the icons on the left bar (Facebook, Google +, Twitter) .

Wait a minute… also don’t forget to Like my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/torreviejatranslation

Thanks :-)

OTHER DAVID’S RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

How can I Improve my Spanish?

Practical Safety Tips in Spain

I’m going tell you a little story that has South Eastern Spanish culture as the main background (want to learn more? Download “why are we always late in Spain?” if you have not done it yet. I briefly discuss this same topic in my e-book).

The article you’re about to read is based on a true story that recently happened to me.

I went crazy writing and ended up with a huge text. That’s why I decided to divide it in two parts.

This set of articles will show you:

* How one big Spanish company keeps one unhappy client.

* How one self-employed person (my ex mechanic) loses the unhappy client + his partner.

Yes, I was the unhappy client. And, truth be said, despite everything I did enjoy writing this article :-)

The events

My car breaks down in the middle of nowhere on a Thursday night, around midnight, going back home.

I’m lucky it happens near a roundabout and not a couple of minutes before, right in a dark motorway. The car is completely dead and has no power at all. Nothing works. Not a single light in the car turns on.

(My car let me down in this roundabout, near Pilar de la Horadada, Spain – image taken from Google Maps)

I call the insurance and they send a tow truck in about 40 minutes. The driver offers me the option to leave my car at their depot because I can’t shut it down and has one window half opened.

When he’s putting some stuff to tow the car, he pulls from underneath a belt, and confirms that it’s the alternator’s belt. That is the reason why, according to him, every single mechanism in the car has stopped working.

The car is towed to their depot and I agree with him to call my mechanic next day so that he knows when to receive the car.

South Eastern Spanish culture: “I will call you later” means “I won’t call you later”

Day 1: Friday

Around 10am I call my mechanic and he says that he’s with his boy at the doctors. “No problem, I’ll get back to you later”, I say.

More or less about 3:00pm I call him back to make sure he’ll be at the garage. He says he is moving to a new garage on

Monday but he’s going to repair my car at another mechanic’s garage.

— “All right. I’m going to call the towing company right now then” — I reply.

A Spanish rude receptionist says that they do not know when they can tow the car to the mechanic, but maybe between 4:00pm-4:30pm. It’s 3:20pm.

At 7:00pm I call again my mechanic:

— Have you got the car?

— Not yet. I’m not there at the moment but the other guy is waiting for you car — he answers.

— You’re not going to have time to fix it today. Is the car going to be in a safe place?

— Oh yeah. Absolutely. This garage even has a private security guard at night. Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to the car. I will call you as soon as the car gets here.

All right, I trust him. Even though he does not call me later… I trust him.

Day 2: Saturday

I phone my mechanic at 10:00am. The car was brought around 7:30pm according to him. He says he’s going to take a look to the car and then will call me back later.

It’s time to fight the insurance company. I’m paying 400€ a year. I have only called them for assistance twice in 5 years. And I have never been involved in a car accident (fortunately).

The first time I used them they let me inside the car for three hours. I complained and I received a 40€ compensation. Ok. Better than nothing. But… it’s second time and this time I will not accept pocket money (allowance in the USA ;-) ).

I call the insurance but they do not want to process my complaint. The customer service department is closed until Monday. I insist and force them to write it down and pass a note to whoever on Monday. It works out. Great.

Around 3:00pm I call my mechanic to know what’s going on. He does not answer the phone.

Right after the phone call I seat down on a chair and think that it’s Saturday. The mechanic is probably resting and enjoying the day with the family.

Day 3: Sunday

I’m also running a company and work Saturdays and Sundays, and even nights, if I have to serve something to one of my clients.

Forget it David. Nobody works on Sunday in Spain.

Your car will be ready in a few days.

(Remember, Sundays and holidays are always red in Spanish calendars)

Day 4: Monday

Again, I phone the mechanic. It’s about 10:30am. According to him, there’s something else besides the alternator’s belt and he needs to investigate. He says he’ll ring me later with some conclusions.

All right. Unfortunately, I need the car. I’m more or less like a taxi driver but without transporting anybody. My clients don’t come to me: I go to them. I need my car now, but I’ll be patient.

Later on somebody from the insurance company rings me. She says they have everything in the system. According to the insurance policy, cars stored at a depot are not preference against those that need assistance on the road.

“Sorry but I don’t understand about internal policies or preferences. I’m a client and only see that you are offering a poor service. It’s been twice already and I am so unhappy that I’m going to start looking for a different insurance”, I reply.

After a few more tries, the lady gives up and confirms that my case will be passed to a higher department, where it will be studied for a possible compensation. Only “possible”. I don’t like hearing that.

Whatever. I want compensation.

In the meantime, of course, my mechanic never calls back. I ring him around 7:00pm and he does not answer.

Ok David, be patient. Let him investigate and do the job.

Day 5: Tuesday

I don’t call the mechanic. I don’t want to be insistent. I’ll give him a chance. Shouldn’t we all be this way? The world has plenty of arrogant and impatient people who lose their temper real quick. Be smart David and trust him.

Also, he’s been my mechanic for the last three years and has been honest and reasonable with my girlfriend and me. No problem man.

[/column] [hr style=dashed-line margin_top= margin_bottom=]

Day 6: Wednesday

Within the Spanish culture there are many local and national holidays. And today it is a local. It is some type of regional holiday only in the Valencian region.

Everybody else in Spain works but inhabitants living in this region.

Fine David, let the mechanic disconnect and enjoy his family.

[/column]

[column size=half position=last ]

(Day of the Valencian Community)

Day 7: Thursday

[column size=half position=first ]

Fortunately, my girlfriend got Monday and Tuesday off. Yesterday was a local holiday. However, today she goes back to work. We are in trouble!

I must keep visiting my clients and we only have one car. My girlfriend needs her car.

At 9:30am I call the mechanic.

— My car is ready, right?

— Yeah, it should be ready. Let me check out the other mechanic. He should have done it. I will call you right back.

Can’t believe it. He rings me back 20 minutes later:

— I’m very sorry David, but the other mechanic let me down and has not fixed your car. I apologize. But don’t worry, I promise I’m going to do it myself today. I swear. Not later than today David. Just little chance tomorrow, but gonna do my best to have it today. I’ll call you later.

Wouldn’t you believe the mechanic you’ve had the last three years? I did.

Although I’m getting tired of the situation (I’d say quite common in the culture of South Eastern Spain), there is still a little spark of hope on this mechanic. Don’t know why, but I still trust him.

It is 8:00pm and I desperately need my car because next day I have a lot of clients booked. Honestly, I don’t want to call him. I’m already fed up to be after him. And I have a feeling: he is not going to fix car today.

I’m going to call him and going to tell him seriously: “Give me my car back. It’s been already 7 days. Give it to me now”.

A few seconds later I phone him a couple of times and, guess what, he does not answer… again.

I should not be surprised, as I grew up in the South Eastern Spain and know very well this part of the Spanish culture. I don’t care. Tomorrow Friday I will to tell him a few words. This is too much.

TO BE CONTINUED

David

Did you like my article? Please share it!! (Click on any of the icons on the left bar (Facebook, Google +, Twitter) .

Wait a minute… also don’t forget to Like my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/torreviejatranslation

Thanks :-)

OTHER DAVID’S RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

How can I Improve my Spanish?

Practical Safety Tips in Spain

I’m going tell you a little story that has South Eastern Spanish culture as the main background (want to learn more? Download “why are we always late in Spain?” if you have not done it yet. I briefly discuss this same topic in my e-book).

The article you’re about to read is based on a true story that recently happened to me.

I went crazy writing and ended up with a huge text. That’s why I decided to divide it in two parts.

This set of articles will show you:

* How one big Spanish company keeps one unhappy client.

* How one self-employed person (my ex mechanic) loses the unhappy client + his partner.

Yes, I was the unhappy client. And, truth be said, despite everything I did enjoy writing this article :-)

The events

My car breaks down in the middle of nowhere on a Thursday night, around midnight, going back home.

I’m lucky it happens near a roundabout and not a couple of minutes before, right in a dark motorway. The car is completely dead and has no power at all. Nothing works. Not a single light in the car turns on.

(My car let me down in this roundabout, near Pilar de la Horadada, Spain – image taken from Google Maps)

I call the insurance and they send a tow truck in about 40 minutes. The driver offers me the option to leave my car at their depot because I can’t shut it down and has one window half opened.

When he’s putting some stuff to tow the car, he pulls from underneath a belt, and confirms that it’s the alternator’s belt. That is the reason why, according to him, every single mechanism in the car has stopped working.

The car is towed to their depot and I agree with him to call my mechanic next day so that he knows when to receive the car.

South Eastern Spanish culture: “I will call you later” means “I won’t call you later”

Day 1: Friday

Around 10am I call my mechanic and he says that he’s with his boy at the doctors. “No problem, I’ll get back to you later”, I say.

More or less about 3:00pm I call him back to make sure he’ll be at the garage. He says he is moving to a new garage on

Monday but he’s going to repair my car at another mechanic’s garage.

— “All right. I’m going to call the towing company right now then” — I reply.

A Spanish rude receptionist says that they do not know when they can tow the car to the mechanic, but maybe between 4:00pm-4:30pm. It’s 3:20pm.

At 7:00pm I call again my mechanic:

— Have you got the car?

— Not yet. I’m not there at the moment but the other guy is waiting for you car — he answers.

— You’re not going to have time to fix it today. Is the car going to be in a safe place?

— Oh yeah. Absolutely. This garage even has a private security guard at night. Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to the car. I will call you as soon as the car gets here.

All right, I trust him. Even though he does not call me later… I trust him.

Day 2: Saturday

I phone my mechanic at 10:00am. The car was brought around 7:30pm according to him. He says he’s going to take a look to the car and then will call me back later.

It’s time to fight the insurance company. I’m paying 400€ a year. I have only called them for assistance twice in 5 years. And I have never been involved in a car accident (fortunately).

The first time I used them they let me inside the car for three hours. I complained and I received a 40€ compensation. Ok. Better than nothing. But… it’s second time and this time I will not accept pocket money (allowance in the USA ;-) ).

I call the insurance but they do not want to process my complaint. The customer service department is closed until Monday. I insist and force them to write it down and pass a note to whoever on Monday. It works out. Great.

Around 3:00pm I call my mechanic to know what’s going on. He does not answer the phone.

Right after the phone call I seat down on a chair and think that it’s Saturday. The mechanic is probably resting and enjoying the day with the family.

Day 3: Sunday

I’m also running a company and work Saturdays and Sundays, and even nights, if I have to serve something to one of my clients.

Forget it David. Nobody works on Sunday in Spain.

Your car will be ready in a few days.

(Remember, Sundays and holidays are always red in Spanish calendars)

Day 4: Monday

Again, I phone the mechanic. It’s about 10:30am. According to him, there’s something else besides the alternator’s belt and he needs to investigate. He says he’ll ring me later with some conclusions.

All right. Unfortunately, I need the car. I’m more or less like a taxi driver but without transporting anybody. My clients don’t come to me: I go to them. I need my car now, but I’ll be patient.

Later on somebody from the insurance company rings me. She says they have everything in the system. According to the insurance policy, cars stored at a depot are not preference against those that need assistance on the road.

“Sorry but I don’t understand about internal policies or preferences. I’m a client and only see that you are offering a poor service. It’s been twice already and I am so unhappy that I’m going to start looking for a different insurance”, I reply.

After a few more tries, the lady gives up and confirms that my case will be passed to a higher department, where it will be studied for a possible compensation. Only “possible”. I don’t like hearing that.

Whatever. I want compensation.

In the meantime, of course, my mechanic never calls back. I ring him around 7:00pm and he does not answer.

Ok David, be patient. Let him investigate and do the job.

Day 5: Tuesday

I don’t call the mechanic. I don’t want to be insistent. I’ll give him a chance. Shouldn’t we all be this way? The world has plenty of arrogant and impatient people who lose their temper real quick. Be smart David and trust him.

Also, he’s been my mechanic for the last three years and has been honest and reasonable with my girlfriend and me. No problem man.

[/column] [hr style=dashed-line margin_top= margin_bottom=]

Day 6: Wednesday

Within the Spanish culture there are many local and national holidays. And today it is a local. It is some type of regional holiday only in the Valencian region.

Everybody else in Spain works but inhabitants living in this region.

Fine David, let the mechanic disconnect and enjoy his family.

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(Day of the Valencian Community)

Day 7: Thursday

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Fortunately, my girlfriend got Monday and Tuesday off. Yesterday was a local holiday. However, today she goes back to work. We are in trouble!

I must keep visiting my clients and we only have one car. My girlfriend needs her car.

At 9:30am I call the mechanic.

— My car is ready, right?

— Yeah, it should be ready. Let me check out the other mechanic. He should have done it. I will call you right back.

Can’t believe it. He rings me back 20 minutes later:

— I’m very sorry David, but the other mechanic let me down and has not fixed your car. I apologize. But don’t worry, I promise I’m going to do it myself today. I swear. Not later than today David. Just little chance tomorrow, but gonna do my best to have it today. I’ll call you later.

Wouldn’t you believe the mechanic you’ve had the last three years? I did.

Although I’m getting tired of the situation (I’d say quite common in the culture of South Eastern Spain), there is still a little spark of hope on this mechanic. Don’t know why, but I still trust him.

It is 8:00pm and I desperately need my car because next day I have a lot of clients booked. Honestly, I don’t want to call him. I’m already fed up to be after him. And I have a feeling: he is not going to fix car today.

I’m going to call him and going to tell him seriously: “Give me my car back. It’s been already 7 days. Give it to me now”.

A few seconds later I phone him a couple of times and, guess what, he does not answer… again.

I should not be surprised, as I grew up in the South Eastern Spain and know very well this part of the Spanish culture. I don’t care. Tomorrow Friday I will to tell him a few words. This is too much.

TO BE CONTINUED

David

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