Close Encounters with the Civil Service

Another rant about the civil service. Isn't it a wonder that I, a civil servant, can't bear my own kind.... Our new old-flat has badly cracked tiles all across the toilet walls, so we requested for the all the toilet tiles to be changed. I must say the officer in my branch office is really helpful in an un-civil service kind of way. I called my branch office to arrange for a meeting with HDB's contractor to get the tiles changed, but couldn't get anyone on the phone. Thus I resorted to writing an email - something you should NOT do when dealing with the civil service. Simple request - HDB, pls get your contractor to call me.

I was quite stunned when I received HDB's email-reply,to know that I've been attacked by the customer service email! Retribution for me, I guess, some of the public queries I received also received similar replies (details ommitted for obvious reasons):

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HIS95/HDB/SG hdb.gov.sg>
Date: 25/10/2007 Time: 14:43 Subject: Re : Changing tiles for blk xxx

Thank you for using our e-mail enquiry service.We have received your e-mail and will look into it.For clarifications, please call our Branch Office at 1800-2255432

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I must say, though, that MOE's customer service does a better job than this -we will :assure you that your mail is forwarded to the relevant parties to take up!