My boss gave me a cell phone for emergency contact purposes, since I didn't have one. Treo 300, Sprint PCS. He'll pay the bills so long as I don't go over my minutes. This should have been a good thing.

Problems started when I wanted to HotSync my phone directory onto my computer. Got the cradle, but when I made the attempt, I found that my current version of Palm Desktop (used for my Palm Pilot) was inadequate; I needed some sort of upgrade to handle a Treo. Roadblock #1.

We couldn't find the software that came with the phone (it was previously owned by another employee). I go to Sprint, figuring I could download it... no sign of it. It's not linked from my service page; it can't be found by searching the site. Roadblock #2.

So I email their tech support, hoping they can email me the software or point out the link I'm missing. They respond by saying the only way to get the software is to go to a Sprint Store and get it there. Roadblock #3... anger rising...

I hunt down the nearest Sprint location and swing by on the way home from work today. It's a kiosk. They can't give me the software I need there. I need a full service station; the nearest one is about 15 minutes away. Roadblock #4.

I make it to the Sprint Service location and explain my problem. They spend about ten minutes checking in back, then come out and say they don't have any CDs with the software on it right now... but did I try downloading it? I can pick it up at this URL... .........THANKS FOR TELLING ME! THAT WAS SO HELPFUL! *kills the online tech support and the bozos at the kiosk who didn't feel it necessary to tell him that, then beats down Roadblock #5 and heads home*

So I download the friggin' software already. I install the upgrade. Roadblocks #6 and 7 coming up... when I try to actually HotSync, it demands my password. I don't know my password; my boss set this up! To add insult to injury, I discover that now my Palm won't sync either. To be honest, I could have lived without my Treo being able to sync; if I lose my data, I can retrieve my phone numbers quickly enough from my Palm. But the Palm has a lot of other important data on it, and since it's non-rechargeable, it's more likely to suffer data loss. In short, I want my Palm synching ability back, dammit.

But first things first. Back to the site for password retrieval. It's supposed to text message my phone with the password. It doesn't. #8.

I call tech support this time. I'm not putting up with those bozos online. Hello? I need my password already. Here's my data. Okay, that's my password? Thanks. *scribble scribble* Also, my Palm isn't... hello? Hello? I wasn't done with you! (#9)

I make sure my Treo will actually sync now. It does, the Palm doesn't. Redial. Hello! I need to figure out why your software screwed up my ability to sync my Palm. *gets transferred to another department* Hello! I need to figure out why your software screwed up my ability to sync my Palm. *gets transferred to yet another department... which has been disconnected or is no longer in service* ... *smashes stuff*

Tomorrow morning, when I have calmed down, I will put these ten offenses aside and try to call them again. And I will remember never to actually pay for Sprint PCS ever.