Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The Toll Booth Girl

I wanted to write this post yesterday but was too busy with work and by the time I got home, I was too lazy to log on and blog. Yes, I can get lazy to blog too these days. Ok, this is a rant. Well, not a real rant in the proper sense of the word but a rant all the same.

I'm sure all of you guys with cars and even those that don't would have at one time or another made a stop at a toll plaza to pay the toll, right? And most of you would politely say thank you or something along those lines when you get your change or your toll receipt, right? In fact, I don't know why we have to say thank you to them when we're actually paying them. It should be the other way round.

And do you notice how almost all of this toll booth collectors have this darn sour face like as if it's your fault that they're sitting inside a small toll collection box. And this is the norm with most toll plazas here. Granted, there are a few nice toll collectors who wish you a good day and even say thank you (a rare few, I must say) but the majority of them are just a bunch of sour faced morons!

Now, I normally don't give two hoots about their sour disposition but yesterday I lost it and gave a toll booth girl a few angry pieces of my mind!

I have to pass through two toll booths on the way to work every morning, which is the New Pantai Expessway (NPE). It's the fastest and least stressful way for me to get to work. Before I get into telling you about this stupid toll booth girl, let me tell you a thing or two about the NPE.

In my humble opinion, the NPE normally has one of the better mannered toll attendants. They never fail to wish you a good morning and always say thank you when returning your change. They're pretty friendly people and there have been occassions when they've even asked me how my day went ... Yes, NPE gets my vote as the friendliest and most courteous toll plaza around.

But one rotten apple can spoil the whole bunch sometimes. Yesterday when I was at the toll paying my usual toll. I gave the girl RM1.70 and was waiting for my change of 10 cents and the toll receipt.

Me: 'Tolong bagi resit, ya adik.' (Can I have the receipt please, Miss)

So I stick out my hand waiting for my change and receipt and this girl just chucks the change and receipt so forcefully into my hand with this look of displeasure on her face like as if I was making life so difficult for her by asking for my change and receipt. What did she expect? For me to say keep the change?

And you should have seen the look on her face. A look of plain disgust. Now that really was a mistake, cos I was already pissed on the way to work as we had some serious client problems that needed to be settled fast. I lost my cool and in a really raised and heated voice screamed at her. The conversation was in Malay, but for the sake of my foreign readers, I'll keep it to just English.

Me: 'Just what is your freaking problem? Why the heck are you so rude? Is it my freaking fault that you have to sit in that toll booth all day? If you don't like this job, then quit and get a new job or something but don't go dumping your displeasure on your customers, you stupid idiot!'

Trust me, I think I was so vocal the other toll plaza next to it would have probably heard the encounter. You should have seen the shock in her face cos she instantly started stuttering an apology. I don't think she was ever used to have anyone shouting like a crazy fool at her cos she had this really frightened look on her face. Well, good for her, she deserved to be scared!

What is it really with all these toll booth attendants? Why are all of them a majority of grumpy old soured faced people? It's not like there were forced to sit there or anything. If they don't like their job, then just quit, right?

Is it so wrong to utter a good morning or even a simple thank you instead of having this sour face all the while? Everyone has problems but do you bring them along to work with you and let it out on other people? I should think not!

Well, that was my rant for the day. At least I know she won't be going and giving anyone else that crappy attitude for a while. At least I hope not ... LOL! But then, thinking back, maybe I was a little too harsh with her. If I do see her again at the toll booth tomorrow or something, maybe I should apologise for being so pissed off .... then again, maybe not, cos she sure deserved it ... hahaha!
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54 comments:

  1. HAHAHAHAA!!! I'm not supposed to laugh at your story..but!!! hahahaha (again).
    And yeah...you are right, 70% of the toll booth attendants are just plain rude..like soooo angry all the time..its not like their booth no air cond pun!!
    Sooooo..thats why i use smart tag or touch and go..at least i don't have to deal with that bunch of rude toll booth people..hehehee

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  2. LOL I don't know if everyone does it, I know I do, I'd say thank yew after paying or help ppl open door if I'm in first LOL

    I dunno, I got used to it...But I get bitchy if ppl can't understand the word "excuse me"

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  3. HEHEHEEH!! U REALLY fierce ah? WAHAHAHA I pity the gal but serve her right lar. Some people just really have no manners and need someone to teach them a lesson.

    Having said that I have seen met with rather nice tol booth gal and guy. The most pleasant is the one at Sunway tol on the way to Puchong :) There is one guy that I notice never fail to smile and say thanks.

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  4. Yes, most of these toll booth people pissed me off. I think 90% of the time, I NEVER got a THANK YOU from them! It's not like I want people to thank me all the time, but a simple word of "Thank you" with a pleasant smile can really change the world! (or at least MY world)

    Padan muka that girl. We need more angry people like you here in KL, Nick! :D

    *applause*

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  5. Unfortunately the service industry as a whole is going this way. That's part of the reason I detest shopping so much, it's because there are so many rude shop assistants.

    Maybe she'll think twice about her attitude from now on.

    I had an encounter with an abusive taxi driver at the airport on Saturday. I was in my car, not in his taxi. I took his number and reported him to his taxi company. He hope he gets in BIG trouble.

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  6. I think what you did was just a normal reaction. I hope she has learned her lesson. And it's also good that you are willing to apologize. That's humility. Go! :)

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  7. Well done, Nick! Somebody needed to teach her some manners :)

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  8. Padan muka! These rude people shouldn't be let off the hook so easily. The Puchong toll on the way to Cyberjaya even has a notice from the management themselves that asks the customers to tell the toll people to smile if they're not smiling or if they forgot to say thank you! So funny! So basically you did the right thing Nick! Hehehe.

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  9. Some people in the service industry take it for granted and reflect their personal lives or displeasure by upsetting customers.

    Did she fall off her chair or gave you a lifetime Touch N Go pass? :-P

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  10. Wah, you go Nick!! I am glad I don't have to face toll booth girls. Here we have ERP gantries. Scold until mouth dry up also no reaction!

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  11. Kudos to you for voicing it out to her. Perhaps she will try to be nice in the future.

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  12. with such attitude, that is why she end up as a toll girl!!

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  13. Oh padan muka Nick!!!!! I don think u were too harsh on her, cause if I remember correctly, u did bitch abt this before here! Nevermind if it's a different girl but still, cannot smile is it? And what's with the angry look for no reason right? He he eh he...now I wish u had written ur scolding in malay, mesti lagi angry sounding LOL!!! :):):)

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  14. Nick, time to get yourself a Smart Tag :-) And yes, some toll booth collectors are not exactly friendly... maybe next time she'll be nicer?

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  15. Geezz, you must be furious! But good for her, a lesson to learn, hehee!
    If I were you, don't apologize back.

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  16. Kadus Mama - LOL! It's okay, go ahead and laugh :D She was really so darn rude la ... buat I geram je!

    I must remember to top up my smart tag soon so I don't have to face idiots like these!

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  17. Carol - Yeah, she betul-betul kena! I was already mad that morning lagi ... hehehe ...

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  18. Maslight - I say thank you quite a bit too, so it baffles me when people get so rude at times ... Well, at least I was not so mad after screaming at her ... LOL!

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  19. Jen - I'm not really that fierce but I can be when people piss me off.

    Yes, there are some very nice toll people out there :D

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  20. Ethel - Exactly, I wonder why it's so hard to just say a simple thank you. It would make a whole lot of difference to my world too :D

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  21. Romany Angel - I have to agree with you about the amount of rude people in the service industry. I don't know what it is with them. If they're going to be like that, might as well not work.

    And I hope that cab driver got what he deserves!

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  22. Rej - First of all, welcome to my blog. Somehow I really doubt if she has learnt her lesson.

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  23. Perky - Thank you. I'm proud of myself if I do say so myself ... LOL!

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  24. Syura - I've seen those notices. Sometimes I wonder why they put it up when they really don't give two hoots about what's written there. Bunch of idiots, that's what they are ... LOL!

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  25. Gallivanter - LOL! Unfortunately I didn't get any lifetime touch and go pass ... what a pity ... LOL!

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  26. BT - I need to get my smart tag renewed so I don't have to face these rude sour faced people ...

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  27. Terra Shield - I really hope so but somehow I doubt she would have learned anything from this episode.

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  28. Marzie - A birthday tag? But it's not my birthday yet ... LOL! I'll come check it out :D

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  29. Marzie - Yeah, how hard is it just to be nice to people. It's not like I asked her to let me pass through for free. I freaking pay for toll, so what's her problem?

    Urmmm, with my grasp of the malay language, you'd probably die laughing la. LOL!

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  30. Sting - I do have a smart tag but haven't got around to tipping it upi just yet, which I will be doing real soonn ...

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  31. Marlene - I don't intend to apologise back to her ... hehehe ...

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  32. Wow! Nick, so garang! I'm sure you shocked that girl with your sudden outburst! Well, serve her right! Haha!

    I can't stand people who give sour face and bad attitude especially if they are in the service industry.

    NPE has better mannered toll attendants? Really? I don't know about that. But one thing's for sure, you won't see say thank you to these attendants. They should be the ones saying it. The most I will do is smile that is, if they smile. LOL!

    Anyway, nowadays I use Touch n Go, no need to see sour faces : )

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  33. Sometimes people just need a wake up call.

    Hopefully everyone else she saw got a better reception.

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  34. Hahahaha.. isn't this the 2nd time you exploded on a toll booth girl? Next time, the toll booth attendants will have your picture circulating saying, "Beware! This man explodes! Must say Thank you!" hehehe..

    But seriously, my husband has a hard time with them too. Some of them are just downright rude. So I guess some deserve to be told off indeed!

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  35. I am like maslight...usually I make an effort to say 'thank you for making me pay for toll even though I am paying enough on roadtax' so, yeah....why should I, right? but it's common courtesy.

    Good that you whacked the shite out of this girl...should wake her up! PMS or not, throwing change into a customer's hand is akin to a slap across the face, esp when the customer didn't ask for it. :-)

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  36. Ok she must be a damn ugly girl, because I don't think any man, ANY man, has the heart to scold a pretty lady, regardless how rude she gets!

    :)

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  37. Foongpc - LOL! She was shocked alright!

    NPE really do have nice toll gate people except for a few like that moronic girl!

    Yup, it's time I top up my smart tag :D

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  38. Angela - Yes, they sometimes do! I really hope she is a little more well mannered in the future.

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  39. Shemah - LOL! No la, I'm not always explosive. It's just the rude and stupid people who set me off.

    You know, I totally forgot about the other toll situation I wrote before until you and Marzie mentioned it! Getting old, I guess ... LOL!

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  40. Marsha - That's what is missing in this world, common courtesy!

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  41. The Real Mother Hen - LOL! No I don't really give face to anyone, pretty or otherwise, well, maybe is she was Jennifer Garner, I would consider being nicer ... hahahah ...

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  42. It's good to have a rant every now and then! And it sounds like she deserved your ranting!

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  43. When I traveled on the NJTPK twice a day every day for SIX years, I actually became friends WITH two toll guys. I saw them everyday. Sometimes they gave me lottery tickets or chocolate and I used to bring them coffee. It made the commute more bareable.

    I've never had to deal with such a RUDE toll collector!

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  44. The World According To Me - Yeah, I was so relieved after the rant! LOL!

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  45. Meleah - Wow, you guys have wonderful toll collectors. Ours should take some lessons from yours ...

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  46. I agree with u 100% Nick, not like u were asking her for a favour or anything, it's her job what....if don wan to work as a toll booth girl, then quit la, what's the big problem right?!! ;)

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  47. Yeay,clap clap clap!! Padan muka that girl,yeay i like!! I like!! Sebab i've encounter so many of these muka asam at toll..some rude as hell..but i dont know why...i never scream my lungs out to them...hmmm...maybe i should already,kan?

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  48. Marzie - Yes, if don't feel like working as a toll booth girl, just quit. I'm sure there are more jobs out there that you don't have to face people and show muka asam, right?

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  49. Emelda - LOL! You should. It's like a stress reliever to scream.

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  50. Last time when I was working as a frontliner in MAS, I was so aghast at how some of my colleagues (i use that term very lightly) can be so rude and masam muka with the passengers lah. If passenger request aisle seat just give lah right? Whatever passenger request just give lah.. vegetarian meal on board kah whatever kah.. it doesn't kill us to hold it back? what good does it do us?? Stupid! hahahaha..

    BUT if you're friendly and helpful like me, passengers sampai buy kfc or a bouquet of flowers!! REALLY!! LOL! that was such a nice feeling! :D :D Made my days at work so fun!!

    Anyways, my hubs told me (after I resigned) that those particular workers now just handle the lost and found baggage. Apparently too many complaints were filed and if they were sooo masam muka, might as well face the luggage with that kinda face! LOL!

    So these rude toll booth girls can just be transferred elsewhere lah! back in some stuffy office do the filing or something.

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  51. Shemah - Yeah, I don't think it would kill anyone to be a little more nicer, ya? Especially if you're in the front lie of any business.

    Well, good for you. At least your friendliness paid off :D Getting KFC would have made my day too ... hehehe ...

    I agree, if they're gonna be so darn rude, they just might as well sit in some dark, stuffy office cubicle away from the general population!

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