I got an email from the regional manager in response to the complaint that I lodged last night. He wants to organise to meet with me tomorrow. Unfortunately I’m not available on Fridays so I’ll have to meet him next week.
I’m not super keen about meeting people in person or discussing things over the phone, to be honest. Sort of get that way when people do that and promise the world and then don’t follow through with it. Plus I feel like I am able to better articulate my points through email, but I seem to be in a very exclusive club with that.
I’ll probably have to meet him in person, but I’ll try and organise for someone else who’s on my side to come so I have another advocate and a witness in case he tries to get out of whatever promises he makes. But then again I did that when I had a meeting with the former acting regional manager and he still refused to uphold his end of the agreement, so maybe it’s all pointless
The whole point about formal minutes of a meeting is JUST EXACTLY THIS. So the participants can’t wriggle out of undertakings given and recorded.
Baku, let me introduce you to the ancient and uncivilised practice of writing the minutes of a meeting BEFORE the meeting.
Start with the agenda of the meeting - a bullet point list of items to be discussed. These should be few in number. Ideally less than 6. You might like to send this bullet point list to the regional manager before the meeting so he knows what topics you want to discuss. For example :
return/repair/replacement/compensation of stolen/damaged goods
living arrangements going forward including repairs to locks etc.
what happens if someone else is moved in to your house without consulting you
personal safety
maybe another item that you consider necessary
These can be in any order - I usually put the most important one at the top but you might like to start with something that the manager can agree with as this can be a useful way to get co-operation on the other items.
Then, (not sending this bit to the manager) expand on each bullet point by adding 3 short paragraphs/sentences describing and/or discussing 1) What if you get everything you want when you want it AND who is responsible for seeing that you get it, 2) If you get something, but not all of what you want and who is responsible for each/what etc, and 3) You don’t get anything, and won’t get it in the future either.
Print this out (or save on your phone screen) and take to the meeting. As each bullet point is discussed, you strike out whichever of 1) 2) or 3) above that doesn’t apply - for each bullet point. At the end, you’ll have a list of what was discussed and what was agreed, and who is going to action each item agreed to.
At the end of the meeting you make the person read the document, and sign off on it if at all possible. If you like, give them a copy so that they have a record available too.
This is standard corporate practice, and will do a lot to concentrate their mind on doing things properly.
I’m in that club as well. Let him know while it’s okay to meet face to face, you’d like to be able to send him an email prior to the meeting with your points laid out and ask that he sends you a follow up email after the meeting with what was discussed. Heck, write him one afterwards with what was discussed and get your advocate to read over it.
If they push you into a discussion by yourself it’s a good idea to get anything said in writing so they can’t lie and bs later. Do not talk to them on the phone.
Also great to have someone with more power present or bcc’ed in, good idea
I got an email from the regional manager in response to the complaint that I lodged last night. He wants to organise to meet with me tomorrow. Unfortunately I’m not available on Fridays so I’ll have to meet him next week.
I’m not super keen about meeting people in person or discussing things over the phone, to be honest. Sort of get that way when people do that and promise the world and then don’t follow through with it. Plus I feel like I am able to better articulate my points through email, but I seem to be in a very exclusive club with that.
I’ll probably have to meet him in person, but I’ll try and organise for someone else who’s on my side to come so I have another advocate and a witness in case he tries to get out of whatever promises he makes. But then again I did that when I had a meeting with the former acting regional manager and he still refused to uphold his end of the agreement, so maybe it’s all pointless
The whole point about formal minutes of a meeting is JUST EXACTLY THIS. So the participants can’t wriggle out of undertakings given and recorded.
Baku, let me introduce you to the ancient and uncivilised practice of writing the minutes of a meeting BEFORE the meeting.
Start with the agenda of the meeting - a bullet point list of items to be discussed. These should be few in number. Ideally less than 6. You might like to send this bullet point list to the regional manager before the meeting so he knows what topics you want to discuss. For example :
These can be in any order - I usually put the most important one at the top but you might like to start with something that the manager can agree with as this can be a useful way to get co-operation on the other items.
Then, (not sending this bit to the manager) expand on each bullet point by adding 3 short paragraphs/sentences describing and/or discussing 1) What if you get everything you want when you want it AND who is responsible for seeing that you get it, 2) If you get something, but not all of what you want and who is responsible for each/what etc, and 3) You don’t get anything, and won’t get it in the future either.
Print this out (or save on your phone screen) and take to the meeting. As each bullet point is discussed, you strike out whichever of 1) 2) or 3) above that doesn’t apply - for each bullet point. At the end, you’ll have a list of what was discussed and what was agreed, and who is going to action each item agreed to.
At the end of the meeting you make the person read the document, and sign off on it if at all possible. If you like, give them a copy so that they have a record available too.
This is standard corporate practice, and will do a lot to concentrate their mind on doing things properly.
I’m in that club as well. Let him know while it’s okay to meet face to face, you’d like to be able to send him an email prior to the meeting with your points laid out and ask that he sends you a follow up email after the meeting with what was discussed. Heck, write him one afterwards with what was discussed and get your advocate to read over it.
Seconding Spin. Written or recorded. Don’t trust verbal anything
I’d be replying with a polite “I’d prefer to have this conversation in writing thanks”.
If they push you into a discussion by yourself it’s a good idea to get anything said in writing so they can’t lie and bs later. Do not talk to them on the phone.
Also great to have someone with more power present or bcc’ed in, good idea