Getting set up

One of the frustrating things about moving to a new area is setting up the utilities. (Gee, did you think I meant something else?)
The electric company was a breeze. We got to talk with a real live person, in person. I mean she had a pulse and everything. Plus she was polite. It was quick, simple and painless. It took about 10 minutes of our time and then we were on our way. The service will be in our name by the time we close on Wednesday.
Now the phone service was something else altogether. First just finding the correct company for service was an experience. In frustration. Then just try to find an office or even a phone number to call to set up service.
After going to 2 differnt buildings in 2 differnt towns, and getting nowhere fast, my hubby finally pounded on the door. At least this one was labeled for UPS deliveries, so there was a possibility that there was actually a human inside. He gave us directions to a town 30 miles away, that he said had live people to talk to about this.
We arrive at the telephone office and lo and behold, there are live people there. However, we were just shown to a desk area and told to call to set up service.
We had just driven 30 nmiles to make a phone call.
By this time, not being exactly sure that I would not be overly sarcastic, I asked my hubby to make the phone call. He waited on hold for about 20 minutes before talking with a supposedly live person. I was begining to wonder if the person on the other end of the phone was in India, or Pakistan where lots of call centers are located now days.
They wanted more infomation than most cops during a traffic stop. For basic phone service. You would think that we were trying to set up security for a visiting dignitary. I was waiting for them to ask for urine and stool samples. No wonder they hide in an undisclosed location and talk to you over the phone.