So, for those of you who don't know, I do IT for a company that has 55,000 employees. I support many project sites, and some of these sites have KeyCard access systems, where each building has a different access code. Well, at one site, where I spend 2 days a week at, I needed access to a new building because we are taking it over and puting employees in it next week. So they have the company we are contracted for add that keycode to my keycard. Simple, ne? HA!

So, I get to the project site today, a BP oil refinery, and we have to use our keycard just to get into the parking area with our car. My keycard doesn't open the gate. "Odd" I think to myself, and so I have to back up and go to the security tower, which is fun because I have 5 cars behind me that I now have to make back up so I can let them past me.

I get into the security tower and they ask all my information, which is printed on my keycard, so I just give them my keycard. They then call the Project Manager that is running the project for my company to see if they know who I am. My name is David Woodman. Says so on my keycard in nice, capitol, bold, printed letters. The guy in the security tower calls the PM and says: "I have a Daniel Whittman here. Do you know who he is?" Knowing he has said my name COMPLETELY wrong, I try to correct him, he tells me not to interrupt and will make me leave the room if I continue to talk. I try to explain that he is saying my name wrong, but he has me removed from the room.  


5 minutes later, he comes out to inform me that they have no idea who I am and that they have called security to come and arrest me for tresspassing, fraud, and attempted robery! So, after being cuffed (WTF), I am put in a 'holding room' that is completely empty except for me, a chair, and the guard standing watch over me. I try explaining to him what's going on, and he just ignores me.
 

20 minutes later Security showes up and the head of security comes in, whith his own chair, and begins to interrogate me, wanting to know who I am working for, what I'm trying to do, and if I'm not trying to steal anything (as i keep repeating to them), what am I trying to sabbatoge. THEY THINK I'M A TERRORIST!!!
 

So I explain what is going on in a somewhat frantic tone, and of course he doesn't believe my 'cover story' and wants to know the truth before they call the FBI for having a terrorist in custody who was attempting to sabotage the refinery!
 

I force myself to calm down, and explain again, in a very calm, and civil voice, that they have everything wrong. I convince the head of security to go get the Project Manager and have her come and identify my in person as they have so far been unable to tell her what my name is, as the guy kept saying it wrong. So the Project Manager shows up, takes one look at me and says "That's not Daniel Whittman, that's David Woodman. He's our IT guy that we've been waiting for." She then proceedes to scream at them and throw a fit because they have all but arrested me, have me locked in a tiny room, handcuffed, been interrogated, and all because their security guard couldn't say my name properly.  


So, I am released after spending 45 minutes there with a "Sorry 'bout that" from the head of security.

It turns out, that when they processed my request for gaining access to the new building, they revoked all of my access to everything EXCEPT that building...  


Other than that my day has gone somewhat normally, but still...

Can you beat being arrested and being accused of being a terrorist for being a bad day that you did nothing wrong?

~Chu

P.S. Sorry about the emoticons, I like using them.

ŤĤĀŃĶ ŸǾÜ ® wrote on Oct 7^th, 2009, 2:23pm:




You need an 'I hate you' emoticon.

~Chu

What's worse, I would probably laugh and no one would ever see me again.

wait... who is this Daniel Whittman guy and when did he become a member of our Forums???  

Lol...poor Chu, that is a very bad day.

man. that blows