Sorry, but I'm ranting today! I consider myself a calm person, takes things in my stride ya know?
Ok, so I'm a bit of a worrier, but as Mrs Hatsell my old form teacher put in an end of year report when I was eight, I'm happy go lucky, that's me!
But guess what? Let me phone up a company and be put through to an overseas call centre and I turn into a RABID DOG!
It's early so I think, I know, (insert a light bulb here) register on line for your credit card, so I can keep track of my air miles instead of waiting for a statement.
So I register.......... No problem there. Ahhhhhh, here we go, I need to phone to activate my registraion. Hmmm, ok, so I ring the number, premium rate of course.
Press option 1 for primary card holder, Press option 2 if you need 'any other service' press option 3 to speak to an account manager, press option 4 to input your card number, press option 5 to input your D.O.B. Press option 6 for your post code. Then press option 7 to hang yourself!
Ring ring, ring ring. 'Hel oh dis is Sharron spik in, ha khan a help hew tody?' In the back ground I hear about a million people in a call center (poor sods)
She avin a larf ain't she? SHARRON? Do me a favour? I would rather hear their own name so at least I know the citi cards ain't taking the piss. Nope, it's Sharon..... Fine.
I then go through the whole proccess again D.O.B. Mothers maiden name this time, post code and then account number.
Sharron then activates my on line account.
'Is tha eny ting halse ha khan help hew wit tody?'
'No, actualy Sharron, you have been very helpful, many thanks'
'Did I seff hew whell?'
'Orally yes' She didn't get the joke! I pmp laughing, but thats just me ;-)
So............. I go on line to see how many air miles I have. WRONG!
It wont work. I go through the whole process again and then guess what? I am CUT OFF! UNGHHHHHHHHHH.
Well 3rd time lucky me thinks, WRONG AGAIN. After going through the whole process with Miranda? LOL. Spell it biatch!
Miranda wants me to go on line again and change my pass word. NO. I'll wait for my Jan statement.
What pisses me of is these people on the other end of the phone are very intelligent, they all have a good education, most speak very good English, but the shitty companies that supply our services and employ them, treat us all with contempt. Isn't this why the world is in such a mess now? Through greedy companies supposedly saving us a few quid, to give us a better service or just trying to syphon off our money for their own greedy causes?
I would much rather have a decent conversation with someone on the other end of the phone what ever country they're in that doesn't just read from a script.
NO CITI CARDS MY PROBLEM WAS'NT SOLVED OK?
Rant over... Phew, I feel much better now. Maybe I'll try and get a new password now ;-)
Have a good weekend gang. PP xxxxxx
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19 comments:
YOU'LL BE GLAD TO HEAR THAT MY DAUGHTERS COMPANY AT AND T HAVE JUST CLOSED ALL THEIR OVERSEAS CALL CENTRES..IT WILL MEAN JOB SECURITY FOR HER BUT FOR NOW THEY ARE ON MANDATORY 6 DAY WORK WEEKS AND THE WAY HER PAYROLL FALLS SHE HAS TO WORK 12 DAYS IN A ROW...
I SHOULD TELL HER TO ANSWER THE PHONE..
" GOOD MORNING THIS IS PASHA PARMINDER" ;-)
LOVE YA PP..I AM UP WITH THE CHICKENS HERE TOO...
Hi Gaz,
The worst of it all, at least from a U.S. perspective, is that all those overseas call centers are filled with people who have taken over American jobs that were cut. Big Businesses unceremoniously fired hundreds of thousands of workers, saved lots of money and actually reaped tax breaks from the Bush administration for putting people out of work.
Best,
Marty
Wowie! How frustrating! I can so feel your pain. I very rarely deal with any of that crap anymore...I leave it for the Mister! :)
xx
I totally agree that customer service has taken a back seat to the bottom line. No one seems to care if we can accomplish anything without the patience of an angel. It's difficult, but it is the world we live in so we have to cope. Hope you are having a happy weekend without Sharon or Miranda. LOL
I'm all for closing down the call enters and putting jobs back into our respective countries. And days like today seeing how the treatment is on phone fare..I'm actually giddy I don't hear anymore. (Hugs)Indigo
Breathe slowly and let it go...life is way too short to waste energy on frustration. Think of something naughty that makes you smile; I know, you're thinking of me!
((((Gaz)))) You just need a big hug! I've had my share of "call center" experiences, so I know exactly what you're going through. So take that deep breath-or 7, you don't want it to give you gray hair do you?
;) Leigh
Don't even get me started on call centers, the last time was about 6 weeks ago by the time I finished I was in a muderous rage, like you say nice people but have no clue and just answer the questions given on a sheet.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend
Yasmin
xx
Haaaahaaa....one time.....I got a guy with the thickest Indian accent and he said his name was....'John'. I said "John? Really?" "Yes, ma'am...?" he said. I said "I know at the end of our conversation, I know there will be a survey, and I will give you an excellent review if you tell me your real name." LMAO What did he say? Well, he followed the script, of course!
I don't care that it's a foreigner, despite having to try to understand english spoken with a thick accent, what bothers me is that it is now so impersonal. You are not really a person to them, just a name and number. Happy Sunday! XXOO
It's not just call centres in other countries either. Ringing British Gas I got through to an English one but it might as well have been at the north pole. They read from their script and don't try and make them deviate because they'll hang up.
Are they real people do you think? I wonder where they live? I mean you mightbe stood next to one in the pub on a Friday night. You wouldn't want to do that without clonking him one, would you?
love, Angie, xx
I hated having to call AOL for anything because I always wound up with a person of foreign nationality (namely India) who spoke english but I was "huh?" every other word...then when I said I wanted to speak with a American...they didn't have those... ROFL. Sheesh. Puhleeze. I gave up.
Hugz, Teresa
Hi Gaz, Awesome Blog. Cute entry and O-SO-True!!!
Marty wrote what I was thinking. I worked in a call center and our company had call centers out of the country. On a REGULAR basis (daily) I'd have a caller ask me WHERE I was located. They would tell me how many times they called trying to reach one of our offices in the states. I enjoyed staying on the call and getting everything resolved - it would sometimes mean giving the customer time to get back online to verify all was correct. Anyway, the office I worked for is CLOSED and has been farmed out to another country. You won't find any call centers for the company I worked here in the States. So many jobs lost.
I'm off my soap box for the moment.
Monica
I like your ranting simply because I think you keep too much in, but otherwise, don't sweat all this too much. Have some hot peppers :-)
Call centers are, errr, call centers. I have heard most of them are on their way out, but I doubt it.
found you through my bud Mary. Your experience is exactly why I do NOT use call centers. I do call AT&T and they are here in the USA as Brit said. I already have to deal with broken English with my 2nd job. I thought the girl said paper when she was saying pepper...oops my bad.
http://everythingisgoingtobeallright2.blogspot.com/
rose
and it makes me crazy that you can't fuss at the people on the phone cause they are just trying to earn a living, but dammit, it's SOMEBODY"S fault!
Love
Marti
Gaz,
I couldn't agree with you more..... they certainly are pain in the butts. I hate all that sutomated stuff and then you still cant get where you want to.... bring back the old fashioned system of being able to actually talk to a person.
Love this comment.....lololol
'Orally yes' She didn't get the joke! I pmp laughing, but thats just me ;-)
Oh my..... what are you like
hugs Jayne
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