Comcast Confirmed service outage but appointments available. "Please call back" Internet

I woke up this morning to learn that our Comcast internet service was out. This was most likely due to the storms that came through our area last night. Since we receive our dial tone through the internet, our home phone service was out as well. I used my cell phone to call Comcast to report the trouble. After some brief troubleshooting the technician said they will need to roll a truck. He then stated that he didn't have any appointments available to schedule, and I will need to call back after 9 a.m.

This isn't the first time that I've heard this story from Comcast. I am in disbelief that a company the size of Comcast, after confirming there is a service problem thinks that I need to call back because at the present time, they can't schedule a service call for me. Seriously?? How about logging my call, and calling me back when you have the time scheduled? Perhaps I don't want to call back and wait another 45 minutes on hold only to learn that you still don't have an appointment available to schedule?

This is crazy and ridiculous.