Incompetence at every level

I have a lot to moan about. I just thought I would mention that because sometimes I forget to stop - moaning that is. I will try to say some nice things on the odd occasion, but don't hold your breath. Just be grateful I don't have a car at the moment.
Anyway, this is just one thing I'm annoyed about at the moment. More to follow, I promise you...

Why are people in what is loosely known as the 'service' industry so reluctant to provide you with a good service? Sometimes I think they exist just to irritate me, but in reality I think it's because they are either a) stupid, b) incompetent, or c) just plain lazy. Count yourself lucky if you find one who only exhibits one or two of those characteristics...
I've worked in a call centre, and yes, it does resemble some kind of hell on earth, so I can understand why people on the other end of the phone really don't care that you want to transfer some money/insure your car/complain that your KitKat had no wafer in it, especially since they probably get their pay docked if they spend more than 20 minutes in any one day using the toilet facilities.
But really, people that you pay money to in order to sell your house, for example, or merely manage the letting of your house (even easier I would have thought), should be bending over backwards to help you out. I mean, the commission they are paid is enough to fund a luxury holiday or three, so being nice to your clients must be a priority, surely.
Hmm, I think not.
If someone rings me and leaves me a message, unless they are some mumbling freak I generally try to ring them back the same day, or as soon as humanly possible. Unfortunately, my letting agent doesn't seem to feel the same way.
When someone else answers her phone you can almost hear the cogs whirring as that person tries desperately to think of a valid reason why 'the agent' is not at her desk. So far, she's been: 'at lunch', 'in a meeting', 'away from her desk', 'on the other line' and 'ooh, I'm not sure, can I get her to call you back?'
Now, maybe she is doing all these things, but in my head, all I hear is: 'She can't be arsed to talk to you', 'She knows you want to talk to her but she's done nothing you asked her to do last time you spoke to her, so she'll look like an idiot (not very difficult for her) if she has to talk to you', 'She's on a two-hour shopping binge', 'Heat is more interesting I'm afraid', or even 'She's standing right next to me making stupid faces'.
Maybe I'm exaggerating, but I'd wager a fair amount of money that it's half true. 'The agent' spent so long trying to ascertain whether my tenants wanted to buy my flat that they had long enough to look for another place and give me a month's notice. So the flat's going on the market. Thank god, now I only have to deal with the estate agents...