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On my way out of Brooklyn this morning around 10am, I was heading to a business meeting at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce (which I was late for) and then to work…planning on doing my normal routine, the MTA had a different plan.
This particular train station on the Q line – Avenue U, has been under construction forever so its expected to be dirty and well…like a train station under construction. Today they decided to take it further. After getting dressed for my meeting, new shirt and all (never worn), I was feeling good, thought I looked nice and heading out for a productive day. I got to the train station then swiped my card and headed up the stairs, hearing the sound of the train just leaving the platform to Sheepshead Bay and people coming towards me. It was apparent – I missed the train, not I have to wait. Hot sun, humidity and a long sleeve shirt, not a good combo.
So I stood on the platform waiting…waiting…(construction noise in the background) and then I started to feel this strange feeling on the back of my neck. My reflex action was just brush it off, but then felt it was wet…thinking damn! water!….you would think that would be simple…but guess what…it was not water. My neck started to burn, smelt my hand and it smelt like bleach….@#$%$$^!!! Started to quickly wipe it off with my handkerchief, run down stairs to see if I could find something to see the back of my neck (looking like I am crazy at this point as others look on), couldn’t find anything…&^#@$!!
My only other option was then to head home (couple blocks away) and wash it off and take a look. So here I was speed walking back up Avenue U, while rubbing my neck and looking at my watch knowing I was now super late. You can imagine at this point I was really looking like a twitching crackhead. While on the way made a call to the office and told them the story and that I was going to work from home today, I am sure they believed me – not.
Got home took off my shirt and quickly washed off my neck, this @$%# was really starting to burn. After some water and a little cream it started to feel better but still burned a little. You would think it was done at this point…no. So apparently the entire back of my shirt was soaked with this liquid and it bleach my@#$%^* ! new shirt, are you kidding me MTA!
Anyone that knows me, knows that I am one to just let things go…back to the train station with my camera I go. Took some photos and asked some questions. Now taking the photos was easy but as we all know… this is the MTA, asking questions…not so easy. First person I spoke to was the boot attendant this is how the conversation went.
Me: “Hi, who would I speak to about filing a complaint.” (I explained what happened)
Attendant: “Well the is a general number you can call and leave a message”
Me: “And what happens then”
Attendant: “Someone will get back to me”
Me: “Someone will get back to me? Seriously is there a supervisor here or anyone that I can talk to? What’s the supervisors name?
Attendant: “Amm…Well…the supervisor’s name…I am not sure…amm…hold on.” (as she gets on the phone)
After a minute she then tells me “Well the supervisor’s name is Phipps and the superintendant’s name is Papa. (Here I am thinking wow the MTA has superstars, these people only have one name) so I then ask.
Me: “Fullnames? Do they have last names?”
Attendant: “Just call the numbers and leave a message the superintendant is Papa, someone will get ack to you. You should talk to the contractors that over there”
Now lets talk to the contractor:
Me: “Hi. Is there a supervisor I can talk to?”
Contractor 1 (woman): “What. I don’t know what you want. What?”
Contractor 2 (man): “What you want?”
Me: “Is there a supervisor I can talk to?
Contractor 2 (man): “Why? What for?”
Me: “Are you a supervisor?”
Contractor 2 (man): “No. Why do you want to talk to him?
Me: I explained what happen. “Is there a supervisor around?”
Contractor 2 (man): “What trade are you looking for? This is a big site (this is a very small station) I am not going to walk around looking for him.
Me: “So there is no Supervisor here?”
Contractor 2 (man): “What trade are you looking for?”
Me: “Is there a Project Manager who handles the work site?”
Contractor 2 (man): “No. You should talk to the Attendant”
So here I am, neck burning, damage shirt, and super late and now back to square one. Great I’ll call the number. So back home I go.
Still burning, had to take a shower and try to wash it all off. After the show did some research and found that there was the Office of the Inspector General that was set up to “kinda” police the MTA. Call and filed a complaint but this is what happens when you do.
- You will receive a letter confirming your complaint
- They will then forward your complaint to the MTA
- Then the MTA will decide on what to do (I am sure this happens ten months later)
Nice…just anther organization and pager work to take up time and do nothing.
So I called the MTA and filed a complaint there also. There response is exactly the same but also gives you the option of filing a claim with there “Law Department” (voice mail system), where you leave your name and address and they will mail you forms which you then have to fill out and send back to them…Whoow!!
At this point I am a bit fed up and need to head to the doctor and then to work. So I then thought to myself
Me: “Hey self. You are in the social media business, lets see if the MTA is on twitter…lets try an experiment to see how they respond and how fast this gets resolved. Lets also measure it against the traditional way of filing a complaint.”
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