How does this work then?

[miasmum]

This morning I ring the hospital to make Tim's ultrasound appointment

Me-I need to book an appointment for my husband to have an ultra sound
Them- He needs to ring himself, we can't book it through you
Me-well thats a bit difficult as he works in a psychiatric hospital and can't have his phone on him during the day
Them-we can write to him with the appointment
Me- thats all well and good, but he has meetings, ward rounds, tribunals and I have his work diary open in front of me, so we can book it
Them - no sorry he has to either ring himself or we will write to him. If he can't make it, he would need to ring and cancel and we can rebook
Me - ok, but that seems like a complete waste of an appointment as the chances of him being able to make a random appointment are slim
Them- sorry thats the way it is with data protection. Can we have his name and date of birth
Me Tim Wilkins xx-xx-xx
Them ok, and the scan is for urethra bladder and kidneys?

I was so tempted to say oh he told me it was for his thyroid, is he lying to me?

Why is it data protection for me to book an appointment with all his details, but they are quite happy to tell me what he is having done?

[debih]

The worlds gone mad hasn't it.

I would ring back on Monday and pretend that you are Tim. I know that you will sound like a woman but they are highly unlikely to tell you that as it is far to politically incorrect to query it.

I have done it a couple of times for Mick. It infuriates me that although I pay all the bill and sort all the household stuff out if it is in his name, they refuse to speak to me. So now if I know I have to ring up about anything that is in his name (generally mobile phones or Sky) I give my name as Michael. They always sound very puzzled and always but always repeat the name so I know they don't believe me but never have they actually accused me of not being him! And if they did I would act all hurt and horrified that they think I sound like a woman!!!!

[saundra]

World's gone mad Mm they did this to me more than once about Bill
Even our local drs needed me on the phone when Bill answered once
And we had been married years
And I'm the one who does all the organising
Ring Monday and do as Debnih says

[miasmum]

Oh Deb, that has really made me laugh

[Diflower]

Completely nuts isn't it, we had the same with Bb's eye. He could see to dial the no., or to make notes, or read out what it said on the letter telling him to phone

[Kaz]

It's crackers

[Osc]

This makes me laugh too as I'm another who does all that "stuff" in our house. It's not as strict here (yet) and in some cases Mr Osc has been here when I've phoned various companies, they have spoken briefly to him and have me as the authorised person. Once some years ago, I rang the gas company to make an appointment for a boiler service and came up against the problem as the bill was in his name. I was so annoyed that I told them I would go elsewhere, which I proceeded to do for far less money too. Every year subsequently, they would phone offering their boiler service and oddly enough, it didn't seem to matter that they were speaking to me

Strangely, with all the changes I organised in the last year, never once was the objection made by any of the service companies. Although there was that occasion when they came to cut off the electricity here and the guy would only talk to me........... I love Debih's approach

[saundra]

My water bill is in bills name I wonder what would happen if I didn't pay the bill tomorrow