Governmental (emphasis on the mental) budgets usually provide cushion for the inevitable waste that comes with implementing them. We accept that for some reason, just as we accept the reality that they have to account for acceptable losses in military campaigns. It's astounding what we can learn to accept.

But for service providers, especially those that have been in the business for a hundred years, to accept 12% of their revenue leaking into the drain of their sparkling headquarters because of lousy processes and preventable fraud is ridiculous. The only explanation for allowing this to happen year-over-year is that they are making so much stinking money that they don't care. Given the salary of most C-level execs, this is probably true. And given those salaries, it's not like we should really care, because if they tightened their processes and recouped their revenue, we know where the biggest chunk of it would go. But still...12%? Nobody should waste that much cash.

Take a look at the story here to see what I mean. But don't do it until you have properly positioned your puke pan.

E-mail me at tmcelligott@telephonyonline.com.