I have been known to rant about call centers from time to time. I have a long list of complaints about call centers. If anyone wants to start a petition to outlaw call centers, count me in.
But recently, the call centers are playing a new game which is more insulting than ever.
Recently call centers have set it up so that you can be called back. I take that option rather than hang on the line for an hour and listen to terrible music over the phone.
So when they phone back they ask if you still want the call back and if you will take it. After you breathlessly say yes and think that you finally can talk to someone, they make you wait longer. So here I am waiting on the phone again for someone To take their sweet time about answering my call. It's insulting.
I like to have some control over things. I like to be able to make or take a call when it is convenient to me not when it's convenient for the other guy.
I like to have some control over my life.
Where are we going next with telephones and call centers?
Call centers are the bane of many an existence.
ReplyDeleteThat's putting it mildly!
DeleteRed, I couldn't agree with you more! I don't want them to call me back either because I might be busy when they call. Besides, what's the use if they just put you on hold when they do call back!
ReplyDeleteA person has to have some control over their time.
DeleteCall centers are not my favorite thing either, good customer service has good down the drain. Take care, have a happy day!
ReplyDeleteI guess the companies get away with poor service.
Delete"Where are we going next with telephones and call centers?" I'm giving you a thumbs up for a profound question. I would rephrase it slightly to ... Where are we going next with "smart"phones and customer service. I could write for hours. I'll leave it at this: In a business relationship, customer service can make the difference between success and failure. And, as for phones ... It's hard to think of anything that has changed, and is changing, humanity, as much as the smartphone. Perhaps: the wheel? :-)
ReplyDeleteI like your comparison of smart phone and wheel.
DeleteThere are so many spam calls. I don't even answer my phone any more if I don't recognize the number. I had someone calling the other day, asking for me by full name, saying she wanted to discuss my bank account. It was a very business like voice, and may well have BEEN the bank, but I hung up on her. I had no desire to discuss my investments over the phone with someone whose identity I could not be sure of.
ReplyDeleteI know that you're talking about something different. I waited 45 minutes to speak with someone about a problem with our internet server. It really is frustrating.
I only answer calls when I know the number or the caller is IDed.
DeleteI think even worse, they all now say something along the lines of due to Covid, your wait time may be until you grow a long white beard.
ReplyDeleteYes, I sometimes say that I could get old by waiting on a call.
DeleteWhat?! I never realized.
ReplyDeleteI hope you never experience this.
DeleteI've never taken the call back option, and I now I never will. When I have to wait for someone to finally take my call, I put the phone on speaker and just do other things until I hear a human voice.
ReplyDeleteI use my speaker phone all the time.
DeleteYeah, that's ridiculous. When THEY call YOU they should be ready to talk!
ReplyDeleteThey always have another trick
DeleteMy phone generally is in my pocket and I generally have little to do, so I like them calling me back. I haven't had this new scenario of being put on hold again! Awful!
ReplyDeleteEach one of us has our own routine.
DeleteIt is awful. Big business really ought to get smaller.
ReplyDelete...and they should be highly taxed instead of being corporate welfare bums.
DeleteI like to do business with real people that answer the phone. The other day I had a problem with something ordered...it took four people to straighten it out...we will see. And by the way their music was horrid.
ReplyDeleteWhen I phone somewhere and a human answers, I nearly have a heart attack. Yesterday my husband had a callback from a company he contacted. It worked out better than a long wait on the line.
ReplyDeleteIt is so infuriating. I try to avoid call centers at all costs. And you are so right about the usually awful music.
ReplyDeleteI always think that I would hate to have their job! Usually people are calling with a problem so it is difficult for the caller to be patient to begin with. Then the waiting makes us more angry before we even get to the worker. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteSo many places have done away with call centres and you 'speak' to someone via WhatsApp or similar and can wait days doe the 'callback' response.
ReplyDeleteIt is very frustrating when you have to call these places!
ReplyDeletesounds horrible
ReplyDeletei never had to call to call center though we have to call to complain about poor service of landline or else and music is horrible specially when you have to wait while so many due chores are pending