Rant & Rave: Reader appreciated kind and quick customer service

RAVE to Seattle City Light! After I accidentally paid my online bill twice(!), I called them, got through to a real person quite easily and was refunded my overpayment kindly and quickly. What a relief! Thanks for the great customer service.

RANT to stores that now have antitheft shopping carts. They don’t work! Twice, I’ve had my cart incorrectly stop dead in its tracks as I am trying to leave the store, and I feel like other shoppers are looking at me as if I’m a thief! Now I’m paranoid that it’s going to happen again every time I exit the store, and I’m beginning to wonder if my picture has been posted somewhere. Surely there’s a better way!

RAVE to street crossing lights. The flashing lights at pedestrian street crossings are so EFFECTIVE. Why doesn’t the city install them at every major crosswalk? Even drivers texting, drinking or generally distracted can see the otherwise camouflaged pedestrians with their headphones on, looking at their phones, with their hoods up. Just press a button, look both ways and off you go.

RANT and shame to the person who stole the bag of donated food from our driveway on May 9. It was for the postal workers’ annual food drive. Hungry? I would have given you food IF YOU’D ASKED!

RAVE to the nice women who kept my cellphone safe after I stupidly left it at one of the picnic tables at Chuck’s Hop Shop in the Central District. As I was running back, all I could think about was the nondownloaded pictures of our sweet kitty, who has passed away. I was so relieved to get it back. Thanks for saving my device and the pictures of our dearly beloved kitty. Reminds me that people in general are good. 

RANT to people who complain about dog owners who throw bags of dog waste in their trash cans. Would you rather have them drop them on the ground or throw them in your bushes or garden? Do you make a habit of sniffing what’s in your garbage, and if so, why?

RANT AND RAVE Rant to the ever-increasing number of car owners who choose to ignore the Washington state requirement for a front license plate. Rant also to the folks not renewing their license tabs, since there is no enforcement. We also find rules for tinted windows and loud mufflers being ignored frequently. Rave to everybody still following the rules and paying their dues!

RANT to the dozens of motorcyclists who decided to noisily parade up and down our Belltown neighborhood late on a Friday night. How would you like it if this happened where you live?