# Why aren't incompetents held accountable? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 7, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375 "2010-10-07T16:53:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/1 "2010-10-07T16:53:10Z")
My transportation FUCKED up! (full disclosure, I assumed they had gotten it right, so I didn’t check up on them) I usually go to the “Y” from 1-2:30, and get picked up about 11:30, so when they were late, I called, and was told htey thought I was going at 9! They bookings are on tape, so I’m confident my side will be vindicated. I understand they aren’t perfect, but this issue is fairly frequent, but I’m not asking htem to split hte atom. The reason they don’t hold people accountable for incompetence: they know they have us over a barrel, so good customer service isn’t worth it. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/2 "2010-10-07T17:11:10Z")
No fucking idea what you’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/3 "2010-10-07T17:11:56Z")
Why don’t _you_ hold them accountable, and find some other transportation? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/4 "2010-10-07T17:15:49Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > No fucking idea what you’re talking about. As the OP uses a wheelchair, I presume a lift-equipped van/medical transport/Dial-A -Ride company. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Why don’t _you_ hold them accountable, and find some other transportation? There may be only one option in the area. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/5 "2010-10-07T17:16:54Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > > [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > > > No fucking idea what you’re talking about. > > As the OP uses a wheelchair, I presume a lift-equipped van/medical transport/Dial-A -Ride company. > > > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > > Why don’t _you_ hold them accountable, and find some other transportation? > > There may be only one option in the area. Correct! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/6 "2010-10-07T17:22:55Z")
Unless the OP is in a rural area, I highly doubt that. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/7 "2010-10-07T17:47:46Z")
Assuming the OP knows more about his transportation options than **RNATB** (way to live up to your user name), I would still urge him to rattle a few cages and not just roll over for their incompetence. Specifially, I’d be willing to bet this kind of transportation company has a lot of government oversight, and they probably get government subsidies. In the long term, I would find out what local or state agency would be able to exercise the most leverage on this company, and get friendly with them. In the short term, I would communicate with executives of this company and make noises about government oversight. Do it nicely but firmly. Lest this get political, let me point out that I do not necessarily believe that all people in wheelchairs are entitled to special transportation benefits. But if the tax dollars are being spent, they should be spent with competence and efficiency, and they should not be spent to reward companies that can’t or won’t do the job. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/8 "2010-10-07T17:57:30Z")
Roderick-It’s a branch of the state’s public transportation (receives Federal $$) ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/9 "2010-10-07T18:02:20Z")
Maybe they were all busy at the team building festivities. Go start your own transportation company. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/10 "2010-10-07T18:14:32Z")
Was your communication with them as clear and well-thought out as the majority of your OPs? Because I think I have an idea as to where the confusion may have started… ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/11 "2010-10-07T18:25:07Z")
Well, I’d definitely call and complain, for sure. But don’t they usually get it right? Everybody makes mistakes. You’re certainly entitled to rant about it when they strand you, but if it’s not a frequent occurrence then just complain, let them fix it (and they should probably compensate you), and get on with it. On edit: I have to wonder, this kind of job doesn’t sound like it would really attract the cream of the crop as workers. Do they have lots of turnover? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/12 "2010-10-07T19:24:32Z")
Hilarity: Turnover is fairly high among drivers. Dispatch and reservation I’m unsure. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/13 "2010-10-07T19:25:56Z")
Don’t worry. The system may be slow, but it works out all right eventually. You’ll get banned sooner or later. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/14 "2010-10-07T19:37:09Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Hilarity: Turnover is fairly high among drivers. Do you find that you’re often the last assignment for drivers who abruptly quit to take stock of their lives and reflect on the poor choices that led them to that point? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/15 "2010-10-07T21:49:26Z")
I guess this thread is all about the OP as a person rather than about the subject he raised up top there. I guess that’s why all you folks chimed in to say nothing at all about the subject, and instead to shit all over the thread. My bad, I guess, for not being familiar with the awfulness of this poster’s other threads. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![sinical\_brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@sinical\_brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinical_brit)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/16 "2010-10-08T09:18:26Z")
I’m holding you etv78, directly responsible for wasting my time, with your incoherent gibberish. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/17 "2010-10-08T09:57:19Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > My transportation FUCKED up! (full disclosure, I assumed they had gotten it right, so I didn’t check up on them) I usually go to the “Y” from 1-2:30, and get picked up about 11:30, so when they were late, I called, and was told htey thought I was going at 9! They bookings are on tape, so I’m confident my side will be vindicated. I understand they aren’t perfect, but this issue is fairly frequent, but I’m not asking htem to split hte atom. The reason they don’t hold people accountable for incompetence: they know they have us over a barrel, so good customer service isn’t worth it. How much do you pay for this service? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/18 "2010-10-08T10:28:02Z")
… never mind… ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/19 "2010-10-08T18:46:01Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > > [@etv78](#): > > > > My transportation FUCKED up! (full disclosure, I assumed they had gotten it right, so I didn’t check up on them) I usually go to the “Y” from 1-2:30, and get picked up about 11:30, so when they were late, I called, and was told htey thought I was going at 9! They bookings are on tape, so I’m confident my side will be vindicated. I understand they aren’t perfect, but this issue is fairly frequent, but I’m not asking htem to split hte atom. The reason they don’t hold people accountable for incompetence: they know they have us over a barrel, so good customer service isn’t worth it. > > How much do you pay for this service? What does it matter? As long as they pretend to be cheerful and friendly. The “perceived attitude” is way more important. So long as they make smily teamy faces, incompetence is A-OK. Right etv?? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375/20 "2010-10-08T20:19:16Z")
Well, I think the problem is that people aren’t seeing the pitworthy incompetence, they are only seeing one mistake. perhaps it wold help if the Op would quantify how many times this has happened in the last year out of how many times they got it right. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-incompetents-held-accountable/556375.md?page=2)