why?

In the past week, two separate customers at my work have had 2 separate complaints. They are both ridiculous and make me want to not do business with these companies on any level.

1. We are repeating our invoice numbers - we sent the customer an invoice with this number in 2002 and they have since paid it. They called and said we need to change the invoice number.
First off, I assume they've paid their 2002 bill, and that's why they are still allowed to actually be our customers. Secondly, that is impossible because our invoices are 5 digits long and increase every day. We've just this week entered into the 80000's. Even if we started at zero, I'm sure it would take more than 5 years to go all the way through the numbers sequentially to get back here. And why do we have to change the invoice number? Oh I forgot, they are our only customer and so the world revolves around them. NOT!
You need to adapt. If for some reason the number is repeating (and it couldn't be because someone on your end made a typo) then put an "A" or "-01" or something after it. I'm sure you can figure something out.

2. We put the wrong purchase order number on the invoice. They sent us a 2-page typed letter explaining to us why this was wrong. They also sent back the original invoice, with the PO # crossed out and the correct one written beside it.
Um, if you take the time to do all that and you obviously know what the correct order number is, wouldn't it just be faster to take care of it rather than mail it back to us and wait for a cosmetic correction? Are they punishing us? Because we don't care. We just think you are stupid.

Both of these companies are very well known, but I will not mention their names. They are clearly run by idiots bent on wasting my time.



PS - I am now stealing Suzanne's tag, asshole idiots, because it is entirely appropriate.