My wife must be a prisoner

The Nuffield saga goes on. Nothing from the CEO and thankfully nothing from very rude James. However the GM from Aylesbury called my home earlier and spoke to my wife. She (the GM) said she was very disturbed, but not as you might imagine that we are unhappy, but that we didn't tell her. She seems to have overlooked the fact that every previous time I have spoken to her she has done nothing other than talk over me and interupt.

The best bit though, is that she wants to meet with me to discuss the situation and ............ wait for it.......... this is classic......... my wife can come too, as long as I say its ok.

Oh I laughed I can just imagine Ellie's face as she heard that. This may come as a surprise but I dont own my wife, we are a partnership and i recognise that I am only the head of my house because she say's I can be.

I wonder which dickensian world the GM is from. The companies service might be crap but they are great comedians

My Rant continues

At risk of sounding like a one tune act, I am back onto Nuffield, I still cant get my head around their complete apathy to the situation. I have found a piece on the web that intersted me. I have pasted it below


"There's much more to our centres than a run on the treadmill. We provide a friendly and warm atmosphere, the perfect enviornment for the entire family to come and escape the stresses and strains of every day life.
We also recognise the importance of allowing parents some 'me-time' to focus on their own fitness and wellbeing, whilst we entertain the kids"

Guess where I found that?........................... Thats right... on Nuffield fitness and wellbeing's own website. Obviously James in customer service hasn't read that and niether has the general manager at Aylesbury

PRICELESS

Nuffiled Health and Fitness get worse

I'm on a high horse now, and that coupled with the bee in my bonnet is not a good mix. Nuffield Health Clubs are surley the winners of the "couldn't give a toss" award for no customer care.

The chap who's voicemail yesterday told me he was at lunch, got back today (long lunch). His name was James and he started quite well telling me that he had some feedback. This consisted of telling me that there were not enough children in the club to warrant childrens activities. However there were too many children in the club to allow them to be unaccompanied in the rest area. AMAZING

He constantly talked over me, referred only to Terms and Conditions, acknowledged that we had a family membership, but said that we didint actually pay anything for the kids and so they didn't have to provide anything. He then told me that I couldn't raise any other issues as I hadn't told him of them at the start of the call. Brilliant, I must incorprate that into my customer strategy.

I have identified the CEO. Mr KP Doyle. I have emailed him via linkedin, but no response as yet.

The organisation has no customer focus. My god they are in a service industry. They need help.

Stunned

Customer service - Nuffield Health Clubs have never heard of it

Oh to be a customer service professional. As a member of Nuffield Fitness and Wellbeing, I suddenly feel an urge to offer them the services of Callen Customer Management Ltd www.callen-cm.co.uk. I can not believe how poor their service and route to contact are. First they consistently fail to meet their promises or my expectations and then they make it nearly impossible to address them on the issue.

I am a member of their health club in Aylesbury, We have a family membership..... You may guess what this includes.... There is a clue in the name. Its the summer holiday's, so guess what? They have cancelled all childrens activities. Its like inviting the parish priest to play golf on a Sunday morning (Sorry father Kevin). Better than this the genius general manager has decided to ban children from the public areas of the club unless accompanied by an adult. So basically my wife and I cant use the facilities (unless we are swimming & bring the kids in) for the next six weeks. You wont be surprised to hear ..... They are still taking the direct debit.

Oh yeah and the swimming........ apart from the fat girls jumping (I am told this is actually called Aqua arobics) they have locked away all the floats balls and toys. So the kids hate it any way.

I have tried to complain but they dont publish a number to customer services on the website and simply direct you back to the incompetent back at the club..... Mind blowing

Oh to identify the CEO

going well

Two weeks into the job. So far I have reviewed processes and contracts and renegotiated a deal saving ove 50k ..... so thats me paid for for the three months.

Big day today. St Thomas Aquinas Golf Society annual championship. The sun is out and I have polished the clubs, so lets hope

nearly done

Well its Thursday evening so the first full week or work in 6 months is almost done. I'm knackered! I have conjunctivitus and a headache, but I am so glad to be back working. Its always so interesting to see how different companies operate, and this assignment is no different.

I visited a small outsource partner yesterday and was really quite impressed, I am confident that there are areas we can improve for the overall operation and am looking forward tothe challenge.

Additionally we have the start of the second ashes test today and England seem to be starting well. Then on top of that The Open is under way at Turnberry. Should be a great weekend

Th Big Day

Well, its The night before the big day. I start my new contract tomorrow.... Cant wait... So tonight I'm gonna eit back watch Top Gear and have a drink, then an early night and ready for the big start

The journey back

Well its been a strange few days. I have been through even more changing emotions. Although its great to have the new contract to start, the time off makes you pessimistic. This has led to concerns about the job till it starts. That said I now have signed and returned the contract and have recieved a stack of reading material, so the deal feels good.

I have spent today doing my company accounts, so that I have a clean slate to start from. One of the negatives of downtime has been that it drives a lethargic approach. So although I have had time to do the business housekeeping, I haven't had the inclination. All my time has been spent searching for work and so until that proved positive it was a viscious circle.

I have had so many messages of support and congratulations from friends and colleagues over the last week or two. I am so grateful. I intend to keep the blog going for those that are interested, although work commitments may make postings a little less frequent. You have no idea how good that sounds.

I have been going swimming everyday for the last two weeks, as it was too hot for the gym. That said it had been hard to get motivated for the gym lately. It is strange that now I am concerning myself about when I migt fit in the gym from next week. What a strange world

Back soon

still warm

Well its been a little while since I posted a message. So I thought I would just take a fe minutes to check in. It still hot in Bucks although there is a little more air. Alaska still cant cope with a full walk but she is getting a bi more energetic.

We bought a paddling pool for the kids which has added to the dogs fun.

It is great to be talking about something other than work.

the day

I am delighted to report that today I won a 3 month interim contract in London. I am delighted