So... I quit my job today.

I handed in my notice, 7 years to the day after I started.

Short backstory, I work health insurance. Specifically mental health and substance abuse. If you're from the midwest and you've been to rehab, I probably know who you went to on a first name basis. One of the "fun" parts of my (former) job was sitting and listening to billers for these places bitch me out because they weren't getting paid. This is super enjoyable because from what i've noticed, they hire the lowest common denominator. I'm quite familiar with India, as well as any local scumbag that manages to collect a paycheck for doing nothing, because clearly it's my job to balance their books. Demanding check copies, sending REAMS of paper worth of EOBs that they lost, down to several million dollar plus accounts that I personally had to get paid because they bitched and moaned, even though it was acknowledged all the way up to my director that it was their fault they were ass out of a pile of money. I was both the most loved (when we paid something) and hated (when I tell them that they screwed it up for the 5th time and had to do it again) person on the planet, usually multiple times a day.

I was DAMN good at it too. I was the first person in my division to do full time claims ( they had previously farmed us out to Houston, but they were so bad, our clients demanded they bring it to us, or lose the business) anywhere. I routinely handled million dollar+ accounts. I trained EVERYONE, until they took the trainees away from me because I scared them with how much I knew and expected them to know. Any given day, I did the work of 2-3 people. And I never asked for anything. I was granted work from home capabilities due to this around september of last year. All was well, UNTIL........

A customer ( a biller for a local rehab facility) took exception with the way I handled her. She's been acknowledged as a problem all the way up to the regional staff. We all know this woman. She was in the midst of berating me for some nonsense, making all sorts of wild demands, and got to the point where she dumped me to speaker so her AND her supervisor could yell at me at the same time. So- I did the logical thing, and I disconnected the call. I won't stand for that kind of abuse from anyone. Had it been a personal call, she would have heard a string of vulgarities that would peel paint off a battleship in exactly what I had thought of her. Not wanting to lose my job, I elected to disconnect the car.

This is the part that sucks. She decided to file a formal complaint. And because we have to listen to every customer piss session, my nuts got swung into a vice. To the point, they were going to force me back into the office. If you've ever watched In Living Color, you're familiar with the term "Homey don't play that". So, I quit. I decided that after 7 years of abuse while continuing to work for a pittance and doing the work of 2 people at the same time, while being understaffed and overworked, if this is what they were going to do to me, screw them, they can watch the whole place burn right on up into the new year, which is our busiest time because EVERYONE is looking to close books. I discussed it with the wife, and she's actually going to work OT at her job for the immediate future, because less than 70 hours a week and my child has a stay at home dad.

The real problem is- I don't know what the hell to do next. I have ABSOLUTELY no idea of when i'll be able to find another job. Given the industry as a whole, I can go back to grinding my face off for a pittance if it really gets down to it. Medical is always hiring, and ESPECIALLY mental health. You have to be a special kind of lunatic to do what I do. Except I don't want to do that. How the hell, at the age of 33, with no schooling past state mandated, do I find a new career? I can do anything, if someone teaches me. I didnt know how to do insurance before I got my hands on it, and I'm the best in the business now. I can replicate that. In the interim, I think i'm finally going to take up striping as a hobby. I have a lot of friends in the lowrider community, as well as some hot rod friends, and generally people that would love some killer pinwork on their rides. I doubt I can turn it into a viable career, but it might bring in a few bucks. Beyond that, who the hell knows.

At some point you just have to say berkeley it and move one. My suggestion, find something you can do for yourself and tell the corporate world to kiss off. BTDT

Oh I said berkeley it alright, I'm unemployed in 72 hours for the first time since I was 15.

Good luck! You are a braver man than I.

I wouldn't let go of one branch until I grabbed another.

I would find another company in the industry. Want to work customer service up in Rogers?

Same scenario - same headaches - same jack rod customers (JK) - different product.

Good for you man. The millions of times I have wanted to do the same thing, but backed down from fear of not finding another job. I hope you can find a more welcoming career. Berk yeah

Similar situation got me into my present gig. Wasn't customers, got along with them fine, but management was insane. So, after one more insulting "Counseling" , I simply said that I quit. I was prepared for it though, so no panic was involved. No advice, as I think you will find your way forward just fine.

Sooo.... is this what i have to look forward to in a year and a half myself considering the haunting similarities between you and i in terms of our employment?

Yeah Ben, that is highly probable. Don't have a kid first, it makes figuring out the now mysterious finances a E36 M3load easier. I'm a magician with money and I know how to bust my ass, so I am not afraid. Probably not the smartest thing I've ever done, but as has been said, berkeley it. It's not worth the pain.

Datsun310Guy wrote: I would find another company in the industry. Want to work customer service up in Rogers? Same scenario - same headaches - same jack rod customers (JK) - different product.

Sort of tempting. We'll see how it goes. I know I can land a CS job yesterweek, but i'm hoping to parlay my skillset and my scary depth of knowledge into something that doesn't require me to talk anyone. Or maybe try something new. Who knows.

Good for you? It sucks to have to leave but it sounds like you'd be much happier somewhere else. My brother had the same feeling for a while when he was a car salesman at the bottom of the hierarchy. Very little income, very small town so not many customers, and everyone that steps on the lot automatically hates/distrusts him. He's a nice guy and is really into cars (owns a miata and everything) so it was wearing on him, and his wife in school and kids were wearing on his bank account. In his case he was also the best out there, and it got him promoted to managing something or another at a much larger dealership. Before that started happening, he seriously considered doing the exact same thing as you.

I did it when I was 37. I had a wife and 4 kids. I was fed up to here with the corporate BS. (Arm as high over my head as I can reach.) When I gave notice I had nothing but an idea and a little cash. For the first month or two, I kicked myself at least once a week for walking out of a $60k a year job with full benefits to basically nothing. SWMBO picked up some of the slack and savings had to pick up the rest.

It's still the smartest thing I have ever done in my life.

Keep the faith man and keep your eyes open. Don't be scared to look outside your specialty. Opportunity is always knocking and now you won't be scared to answer the door.

In reply to Toyman01:

That's the plan. Keep the eyes open, keep the cars running, and keep the kids butt clean.

Is Monticello too far away?

z31maniac wrote: You are a braver man than I.

That's a nice way of putting it.

My sister in law went from medical billing stuff (not quite the same, but dealing with idiots constantly) and switched into banking. It's still customer service type stuff and still requires strict attention to detail so the switch was pretty painless. What she discovered is that in banking, if you're good at things, over time you talk to fewer and fewer screwups, not more. As you progress in your job you get better customers, not worse. She's quite happy with the change.
Edit to add she's in southwest Michigan, so sort of kind of relavent? Maybe?
Second edit to add that you've probably had my dad though your system. Repeatedly. Thanks for having even a small part in dealing with him and the people like him.

I'm not sure how much of your knowledge is transferable, but I've been very pleased with the company I started working for earlier this year. We're nation-wide, employee-owned, and primarily deal with Workers Compensation. We also have many employees who work from home. www.ccmsi.com Feel free to use me as a reference.

damn.. congratulations for doing what everyone in the entertainment department at Harrah's AC wants to do. I more than understand when you say management is insane (I think they get their brains surgically removed when they get a management job)

So she got what she wanted?

She won and you lost.

T.J. wrote: Is Monticello too far away?

Monticello is a helluva rip for me, I'm in Inver Grove Heights. The right gig might make me do it anyhow.

Can you become the person on the other end of the phone? Seems to me you would be valuable for knowing how things work and how to get things done within your old building.

carguy123 wrote: So she got what she wanted? She won and you lost.

She won the battle. I win the war. She is now stuck with the dregs that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground. Let her twist on that one. She just prompted me to do something I shoulda done a LONG time ago.

Life's too short to be stuck in a toxic workplace. I'd suggest taking a little time to let yourself settle down, and figure out what it is you want out of life. And honestly.... 33 is young. I was in my mid 40s when I started my life over.

JohnRW1621 wrote: Can you become the person on the other end of the phone? Seems to me you would be valuable for knowing how things work and how to get things done within your old building.

Also a possibility. There's a half a dozen big time players local that would probably fight over me if my resume got to them.

Lesley wrote: Life's too short to be stuck in a toxic workplace. I'd suggest taking a little time to let yourself settle down, and figure out what it is you want out of life. And honestly.... 33 is young. I was in my mid 40s when I started my life over.

That's the plan. I'm gonna kick out some new car reviews for my site, (apparently I can write) teach my kid some cool stuff, and go from there. And striping. GOD I love line work.