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Monday, October 28, 2013

G free for a healthier me

I have finally made the choice to go Gluten Free! I have thought about it for the past 6 years. After my recent struggles with continuous weight gain despite my best efforts to lose, I have made the change.

Today was my first weight in, with a result of 202lbs. I have started a new My Fitness Pal profile since I am starting from square one.

I will keep everyone updated.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

My struggle with weight gain

I have been struggling with my weight since having my daughter 4 years ago. I am 199lbs and completely stuck. I have tried everything, weight watchers, my fitness pal, walking 5km a day...yea...with no loss.

My doctor recently referred me to the Wharton Clinic, a medically monitored weight-loss clinic. So far it has been a total waste of time. I have been going for two months and haven't even been given my meal plan yet. I hate to quit but I am going to. In the gas I pay, parking fees and frustration it just isn't worth it.

I have an IUD and I have been saying for the past few years that it is the link to why I can't lose weight but my doctor says it is slim to none that this is the case. I have done a lot of research (on the suggestion of my sister) and I have to disagree with my doctor. I plan to have it removed in the near future so we will see if my hard work actually starts paying off and then I will know for sure.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Dear CBS,

I get that Big Brother is a reality show and sometimes we might see things we don't like. That being said, I am so disappointed in production for allowing Amanda to continue in the game after all the stuff she has done. If you have to hide all the sharp objects in the house from someone, maybe it's time for them to be expelled. She is WORSE than Willie. She just slammed that storage door open intending for it to hit Elissa. The fact that it didn't was pure luck.

I have watched Big Brother since day one and I have never seen anyone this bad in the house. I love the show but this season has been a complete cluster fuck, pardon the language, between the racism and the bullying. We are trying to teach our children that bullying is wrong and Big Brother is glorifying it by allowing this to continue, reality TV or not.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

We clearly see where you stand. Is that the message you want to give the world?

Customer Service FAIL: TLC Pet Food edition

11:04
Nikki Wills
cancelled our account with @tlcpetfood CSR Lindsay was really rude and out to prove me wrong. Unfortunate since we like the product.
Refused to take any ownership of my issue. This was my first ever complaint. I thought she might try to keep our business but didn't seem bothered that we cancelled. That is bad practice. If that keeps up you will end up with no clients.
 
11:35
 
TLC Pet Food
 
Hi Nikki. We are very sorry to hear about your issues and would love to have you stay on with TLC. We pride ourselves on our customer service and Lindsay has received nothing but positive feedback from customers. We understand that it wasn't really a complaint and you ordered more food than you needed. As always, we are more than happy to refund your order once you return it. TLC wants your business and we appreciate all of our customers. You can't have the type of success and growth that we have enjoyed since 1994 without the best products and the best service. We are sorry you are upset and will have a manager contact you to discuss further. Thank you Nikki for your business and we hope that we can work things out

Nikki Wills
The problem was it wasn't supposed to come for 30 weeks. I found the process of changing the date confusing. I had asked if this one time you would absorb the shipping cost since it was clearly a case of misunderstanding. Lindsay refused, didn't make me feel like my business is valued and was quite abrupt. If this was a running thing with me then no, I could see her saying no sorry it's a valid fee/policy but as this was my first complaint and I was clearly confused, good customer service would have explained the process and as a one time courtesy, credit my account the cost of shipping. I worked for the biggest bank in Canada for 8 years until recently starting my own business. Never would I blame my clients for anything. Always take ownership and educate my clients. Without clients I would not be in bisiness.
 

12:05
Nikki Wills
 
Business*
 
Thanks Nikki. I understand your dilemma and want to be fair. Having worked at the bank and owning your own business you understand that there are costs. The bank has made it an art form to charge customers for everything and good luck getting those fees back from customers. You can imagine what would happen if we allowed people to order the food and we had to pay for all of the returns. We would be bankrupt. We have incredible customer service and receive compliments daily. We are a customer service driven company where you can reach a human. Good customer service is not just giving in. It is not a matter of blaming clients. We give customers their own management tools that are very intuitive, however, that also comes with some responsibility on the customers part. You will learn this as your company grows. If you would like to return the product, we will split the cost of the return with you. Please let us know prior to sending it back and we will issue you a Return Authorization Number. Thanks Nikki.

Actually, TLC Pet Food, when I worked for the bank (who turned a 2.3 billion dollar profit in their 3rd quarter alone), CSR's at the "lowest level" authorization, were given the discretion of up to a certain amount (pretty high amount) to refund client fees without needing a manager override. We were trained not to fight clients who were upset about fees. If a client was polite and was in good standing we could reverse almost any fee up to 90 days backdated. If a client wasn't chronic in incurring fees and then complaining/asking to have them reversed, we would reverse them and apologize for inconvenience. So don't tell me that giving in to clients makes a company lose money.

Again, if I called every month and asked for fees to be reversed, then no, I shouldn't get what I want just because I am a client. However, since I am a good client who never missed a payment and has referred friends and family to the program (I even had a link to the website in my email signature and on my blog page and shared it frequently with my 323 twitter followers) it would have been a better business choice to absorb the shipping cost, with the understanding that it was a one time courtesy only.

Then, you go on to say,  you have "incredible customer service" but contradict that statement by saying you can't afford to "give in" to your customers. We know that the customer is NOT always right, in reality, BUT if you look at BIG businesses like the one I worked for you will see that they teach their staff that sometimes you have to give a little to receive a lot. THIS is the model I use in my own business and I have tripled my cliental in one year.

 
 

Thursday, August 15, 2013

ONE of the reasons I do not attend church anymore.

One of the main reasons I don't attend church anymore (Catholic) is because of a homoly given by a priest (who is no longer at my parish).

In it he went on at LENGTH about how homosexuality is wrong and a sin. My sister is gay and about to get married this weekend. That pissed me off. I highly doubt Jesus cares if someone is gay or straight. It is the content of their heart that matters.

Some people went to my church every single week, were straight and treated people like garbage. Why would they be better than my sister? Right?

Also, if we truly believe that Jesus died on the cross to save us, and that he carries the weight of all our burdens on his shoulders then he would not condemn people because they are gay. He is all forgiving. He even forgave those who crucified him and that's murder, which is worse than loving someone who is the same gender.

I would way rather my girls marry a woman who treated them well than a man who treated them like dirt anyday of the week and I tell them that. I say "I don't care WHO you fall in love with and marry, as long as they treat you well and are a kind person."

I still love Jesus. I still pray everyday. I still teach my children to love Jesus and they can't fall asleep without their bedtime prayer. Maybe one day I will go back to the church. That day, is not today.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

A filter is a good investment.

This was just too good not to share. The old saying "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" wrapped up a little more bluntly.

I am all for freedom of speech, don't get me wrong, but there is a little something called tact. Just because we have the RIGHT to say whatever we feel, doesn't always mean that we should.

People who argue for the sake of arguing, or make passive aggressive comments, just need to get a filter. If nothing good can come from your comment, why say it? Saying "because I can" is not good enough.

It's called class people, get some.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Boys can dance too!

I am SICK and tired, of ignorant people, that tell their kids girls and boys can only do specific activities. For example; some believe that, if they enrol their sons in dance classes, they will "become gay". I hate to break it to you, but whether your son plays hockey or dances, if he's gay, he's gay. Dance doesn't make men gay, genetics does. LONG before they ever even THINK of asking to dance...or whatever activity they want to do... they are gay. Same goes for females, just because a girl wants to play hockey, doesn't make her a lesbian. If she is gay, her genetics made her that way.

Don't want to have a gay child? Don't have children. Problem solved. Now you won't have to worry.

I have two daughters. I couldn't care less if they turn out to be gay. All I care is they are good people, who treat others and themselves with respect. I love my children UNCONDITIONALLY.

Furthermore, people who tell their kids that certain activities make you gay, are in effect telling their kids it's WRONG to be gay. If being gay is genetic, it's no more wrong than the fact that I have brown eyes. You can't help the way you were born, so why teach our children they will be less of a person if they are not straight?

Let kids be. Let them dance, sing, play sports, whatever they want to do. As long as they love themselves and those around them, you have done a good job.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Rogers doesn't care about customer loyalty


2:21 PM  Connecting...

2:21 PM  Connected. One of our Rogers specialists will be with you shortly. Please standby, you will receive an alert when we're available to help.

2:22 PM  Support session established with Ligia.

2:22 PM  
Ligia: 

Hello, you’ve reached Ligia, at Rogers Live chat, how may I help you?

2:22 PM  
Ligia: 

Good afternoon Nikki. I hope that you are having a good day today so far.

2:22 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

I was connected to Scott in customer relations and our session got disconnected

2:23 PM  
Ligia: 

Oh I am sorry to hear that let me bring up your account and then promptly get you back there.

2:23 PM  
Ligia: 

In order to access your account, I will require some information from you. Please click on the following secure link to enter your personal information. You will notice I requested a four digit PIN. If you do not have one associated to your account, please leave this field blank.

2:23 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

ok

2:23 PM  Ligia has sent a link:

2:23 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

thank you

2:24 PM  
Ligia: 

Thank you for your information, please allow me 1-3 minutes while I bring your account up. While I'm doing this is there anything else i can help you with?

2:24 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

No just need to be reconnected please

2:26 PM  
Ligia: 

No worries I will get you to them in priority sequence just to make sure I transfer you correctly, it was about canceling your Home Phone correct?

2:27 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

yes

2:27 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

thank you

2:28 PM  
Ligia: 

Have a great day, Nikki.

2:28 PM  Transferring session to another representative...

2:32 PM  Support session established with Diane.

2:32 PM  
Diane: 

Hi, you’ve reached Diane from Rogers Customers Relations office. In order to assist you, it will just take 3-5 minutes to bring up your account and review the notes. Please note for your records, our session ID:
201012400

2:32 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

thank you

2:34 PM  
Diane: 

I am sorry to hear that your chat got disconnected. How may I assist you ?

2:35 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

No worries.

2:35 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

We do not use our home phone. We have wireless, cable tv and internet as well. We wish to add a 2nd mobile line and cancel our home phone. can we do so without penalty?

2:36 PM  
Diane: 

I can certainly verify that for you. Could you please allow me 2 to 5 minutes to review your account?

2:36 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

ok

2:37 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

I can tell you right now that I have a contract until June 2014

2:38 PM  
Diane: 

Okay, I would like to verify if the contract that you are currently on is only for home phone, in some case you may loose a discount if you cancel one of the service.

2:39 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

I would rather lose a discount than keep and pay for a service I don't use.

2:40 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

The discount doesn't save me any money if the service is a waste

2:40 PM  
Diane: 

I understand, allow me 2 to 5 minutes please.

2:46 PM  
Diane: 

I am still working on your account, it seems that you need to keep all the 3 services if not there will be a cancellation fee. Let me verify one more information with a colleague and I will get back to you. Sorry for the long wait.

2:46 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

Thank-you

2:46 PM  Connecting...

2:46 PM  Connected. One of our Rogers specialists will be with you shortly. Please standby, you will receive an alert when we're available to help.

2:52 PM  Support session established with Diane.

2:53 PM  
Diane: 

I thought we got disconnected.

2:53 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

I did too

2:55 PM  
Diane: 

I verified your account and if you cancel the home phone, the full cancellation will be applied. What I am able to do if you activate the wireless with Rogers, I can credit you back $100 on the early cancellation fee of $380

2:56 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

That is ridiculous

2:56 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

So I would be signing a new wireless contract that would guarantee Rogers thousands of dollars but Rogers can't waive the full cancellation fee?

2:57 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

That makes zero sense

2:57 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

I am not cancelling my services, I am asking to essentially sub in a different service.

2:57 PM  
Diane: 

I am sorry about that but the discount that you accepted was given to you because you accepted to keep cable, internet and home phone.

2:58 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

The discount was given as an apology because they WOULDN'T cancel the home phone

2:59 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

So instead of waiving it for us, Rogers would rather see us take the 2nd line elsewhere? Because that is what will happen.

3:01 PM  
Diane: 

It's not that we want you to take a 2nd line with a different provide , the issue is that I am not able to waive the full cancellation fee. Now if you want, I will take a 2nd opinion and see if there is anything that I may missing.

3:02 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

I would like that because if it isn't waived we will take the 2nd line elsewhere and when our first line comes up for renewal we will move it as well

3:02 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

and possibly our other services along with it

3:03 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

When a company is good to me I am very loyal. When they treat me like a dollar sign instead of the reason they are in business, I leave and take my services to someone who will.

3:04 PM  
Diane: 

I understand that.

3:07 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

I have been on chat for over an hour and still have no resolution for my issue.

3:08 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

between this session and another that was disconnected

3:08 PM  
Diane: 

Thank you very much for holding, I verified to see if there is anything that can be done but unfortunately I cannot go over $100 credit if you activate the wireless.

3:09 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

Well then clearly I can see our business is not THAT valued by Rogers.

3:09 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

I guess Rogers has forgotten that without customers they would go out of business.

3:09 PM  
Diane: 

I am sorry about that.

3:10 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

clearly you aren't

3:10 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

or you would make it right

3:10 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

that's fine. we will begin the gradual move to a different company/carrier for all of our products I guess.

3:12 PM  
Diane: 

I am sorry you feel that way.

3:12 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

I will also be copying and pasting this chat and sharing it with as many people as I possibly can

3:12 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

I'm sorry Rogers feels their customers are disposable

3:14 PM  
Diane: 

I am really sorry, is there anything else I can assist you with?

3:15 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

you didn't really assist me to begin with, now did you?

3:16 PM  
Diane: 

I am sorry that I was not able to give you the answer that you expected, I explained to you what I am willing to offer you and I am sorry if its not enough.

3:17 PM  
Nikki Wills: 

It isn't and I am currently uploading this conversation to FB, Twitter, my blog and my local paper.

No my name ain't baby

No my name ain't baby