Why is it so difficult to let people know you're running late or not attending a meeting?

TELLIT01

If you are talking business meetings with external attendees, I'd say it's simply rude for people from the organising company not to be there on time, or slightly before time, but allowing a bit of leeway for those travelling to attend is not unreasonable.  If I was travelling to a meeting and looked like being delayed I would try to contact the organiser but I won't use the phone, handsfree or otherwise, whilst actually driving.

If you are waiting from a call from DWP it could happen late or not happen at all with no notification.  When I worked there, there was no central system which would flag up if a call wasn't being made at the due time, for example if the person who was due to make the call was off sick.

Jonathan_Powell

Tealblue said:

Jonathan_Powell said:

Started a job around a month ago and never in my career has it been so bad regarding cancelled meetings. With clients, I would say 40% of the calls I've had or shadowed are either more than 5 minutes late or simply don't show up without notice. Even now, last week I get a message from Universal Credit saying I have an appointment. I put aside time at work to deal with it and 10 minutes past the appointment date no one has called me or sent a message. I waste time preparing and waiting.

Is it a British thing? The whole thing around being too scared too say no? Seriously just don't understand it. 

It isn't at all difficult, but perhaps you just need to chill out a bit instead of fervently counting the seconds? Maybe the 'clients' aren't as keen on the meetings as you are - what are you trying to sell?

I'm not selling anything! It's a service they are all paying for but some are literally paying for nothing we they are not using it. They are booking the time in my diary. Today is a perfect example; 5 calls so far (all they have booked), 3 are no shows, 1 has the "decency" to let me know they can't make it 1 minute before the meeting and 1 shows up (after he didn't last week).