The voicemail message
This year start-up for school has not been smooth, maybe better then last year but by no means smooth. Stops were moved over the summer and parents are not happy because now their kids might have to walk a block or two. We still do not have enough drivers to cover all of the routes that we have to cover. Most of all is that routes were assigned rather then picked so some if not many drivers are in unfamiliar parts of town and having a hard time finding stops, or missing them all together. With all that said….
Well I do have to say that going into the office this morning was made worth it when I got to over hear a situation. Apparently a parent or some interested party hacked into the phone system at First Student sometime yesterday. They recorded an outgoing message on the main phone voice mail box.
“This is First Student”…”No one will answer your call today, and no one will return your call either.”…”Your child may not be picked up for school today, and may not be brought home either.”…”Especially if your child rides bus 721 a handicapped bus.”
On one hand I see this as being criminal and dangerous to the company, however after seeing the frustration on these parents faces. Many parents have no transportation, or the child are picked up from daycares, or the parent/gardian has other children to get on other buses. So sitting on hold, or leaving messages that are not returned is not only unprofessional of First Student but upsetting to parents. I have experienced first hand First Students inability to return phone calls.