Eternally Waiting For Gas

And no, I’m not talking about the gas that you can create yourself with a diet that includes, milk, eggs, cabbage and beans. I’m talking about the other gas. Tanks of gas. Gas that you need for your house to make things work.

My issues with the gas company go back as far as my 3 month stint in Cancun. I had problems back then and they still remain. It’s like this eternal gas problem that won’t go away. It is multifaceted because it’s the same continuous problem that begins with one problem and continues until you actually get the gas delivered. It’s a problem that starts from when you run out of gas until the time you replace the tank (gas leaks not taken into consideration). I’ve used about 4 different gas companies since I’ve lived in Cancun, and all of them seem operate in an equally shitty way.

The start of the problem begins with the gas company’s phone lines. Sometimes the phone lines just don’t work. Sometimes they just ring, and sometimes you get put on the never ending hold button that does nothing but piss you off and waste your time. The best is when the gas company has several different numbers you can call and absolutely none of them work.

Should you finally have the patience to get through (I do not, that’s where Becky comes in), you are so desperate for gas (gas = hot water + cooking + dryer function) you just order instead of complain. Because at this point, they may not like you’re attitude and say, the hell with you! You don’t get any gas (gas = hot water + cooking + dryer function)!

So, after spending about 4 hours trying to call the company you FINALLY get through! It’s almost as though you’ve achieved the impossible. But don’t get too excited yet. First, you have to give all of your information about 5 times over because the girls on the other end can almost never get your information correct the first time (it’s kind of the same as ordering pizza). Once you’ve placed your order, they tell you, “We can deliver between 9am and 6pm on Saturday” (notice the large time chunk). By this time you just agree because you NEED GAS and set aside your entire day (it's dia de descanso btw) so that you can receive the coveted gold worthy super duper special gas.

So you get your money out, and you clear a path to the gas tank and you wait. And wait. And wait. And wait. And by the way, did I tell you it’s a beautiful day out and you’re plan for the entire fricken day is to wait for a stupid gas tank? I suppose it’s not that big of a deal. I mean you need the gas. Remember at the beginning of this paragraph that I said “so you get your money out”? Yeah, apparently these companies don’t give a shit about the money they can collect. Because guess what? You wasted you’re entire fricken day off waiting for a tank of gas that didn’t come and your money is still sitting on the counter!

Oh and I forgot to mention, while waiting for the gas to show up, you also tried calling the gas company for several hours. But guess what? The phones don’t work so much today EITHER!? I mean why would they? I mean who gives a shit.

So come Monday…..that patient roommate of yours calls the gas company again. And again. And again. And you know….the phone lines don’t work so much. Until………. FINALLY someone answers.

Turns out the gas company came by on Friday to pick up our gas tank so that they could fill it up and bring it back on Saturday for on-time-delivery.

Um. What?????

Interesting. No one even mentioned that this would be happening. And no one called either.

Turns out the gas company is out of 30L tanks and so they have to come and pick up your tank (which btw costs about 700 pesos), fill it up, and bring it back the next day. I love just handing over a good chunk of money to strangers and praying that they bring it back.

It might be easier to eat eggs, milk, cabbage and beans, and fart in a tank. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s the same type of gas that will work.

But hey. I’m still out of gas, so it’s worth a try I suppose……...