Jananas

This week I received a voicemail from Maytag asking me to call a number (1-800-326-2742) because my fridge was being recalled due to a fire hazard (official recall site). So I go look in my fridge and write down the model and serial number. I call in. I answer a bunch of questions before finding out that the number is only for The Brick (who I didn’t buy from) and the recall is only for top mounted or side by side freezers (I have a bottom mounted). At this point I’m a little annoyed, but figure that I should follow up with Maytag themselves just in case.

I get the Maytag Recall hotline number (1-877-329-3304) and call in. We go through the entire rigamorole of giving personal information, model and serial number, purchase date, etc. all over again. Get to the end and the lady on the other end of the line tells me that my fridge is fine.

I suggest that they should look into the fact that customers who aren’t part of the recall are being notified. The CSR responds that they are likely trying to contact as many customers as possible, essentially so that they can cover everyone who is impacted.

I’m annoyed. I admittedly didn’t do any research into the issue before calling, although I think that its fair to assume that when you’ve been contacted by the manufacturer that you are included in the recall.  I’m still annoyed. I went to sleep last night half worried that my house might burn down. I sounded like an idiot to the two CSRs I spoke with (and yes, this is frustrating – especially when its not your fault!). I wasted a half hour of my time following up on something that wasn’t an issue at all (if I’d had to call later in the day, this would have been real minutes on my cell plan and thus cost me real money).

And all because as a company Maytag isn’t able to manage your data effectively.