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OT - Is there a machine that sucks the brains out of customer service reps . . .

doll faced sm's picture

. . . as they walk in the door to work every morning? I mean, really!

DHs internet provider has mysteriously lost *EVERY* payment we've sent them since June. They've cashed the checks, but the money is just lost in some black hole somewhere, it seems. And no one can tell me anything. Seriously, I spent half an hour on the phone with a rep yesterday who informed me:
1 - they can't call me on my cell phone(they *JUST* did, not 45 min. ago; I just happened to be unable to take the call at the time).
2 - "I don't know." Seriously, this was the answer to every question I asked. I can only assume they wanted me to hang up in frustration, which I did after about half an hour.
She is the 4th rep I've spoken to in as many days, and "I don't know" is a common refrain.

Another bill we have is due on the 20th of every month; I pay half on the first and half on the fifteenth (b/c if I leave *any* money in the account with the intention of paying the whole thing on the 15th, DH will spend it) - the whole payment gets to them before the 20th every month. Yet every month, I get a call that I haven't paid my whole bill, only half. It's only a five minute phone call where I tell them to please refer to the other half which was paid on the first, but it's still annoying to have to do this every single month.

DD was hit in car accident toward the end of the summer, and my lawyer is gathering all the necessary evidence to make a proposal to the insurance company of the other guy. I've requested the bill 3 times now. The first time, they just didn't even mail it or even make a note that I asked. The second time, they claim to have mailed it, but that was well over a week ago and I still don't have it; not to mention, it took them a week just to get it into the mail. So this time I asked them to please fax it to my attorney, they had a ROI on file for him. I know they did because I called them the day after he faxed it and they said they had it. Now they don't; it's mysteriously missing.

Seriously, there just *have* to be brain eating amoebas inhabiting all corporate buildings. That is the only explanation I have.

Comments

DaizyDuke's picture

Seriously! I agree! I just go straight to the "I want to talk to your supervisor" card if I feel myself getting nowhere and starting get pissy.

What drives me nutso too, is it seems no matter where you call, you get some barely English speaking person that you can't understand. I had to call in a hotline this morning to our state registry and almost jumped for joy when I got an English speaking woman that I could actually understand! How freaking ridiculous!

doll faced sm's picture

I actually did that on my first phone call to the internet provider. The supervisor didn't know anything, either. She actually refused to even entertain the idea that the company was cashing and keeping the checks if they weren't being applied. Yes, ma'am; I'm just calling with a made up issue because I love talking to customer service! GAH!

overworkedmom's picture

I heard a thing on the radio the other day that you have better chances talking to someone who speaks decent English if you "press 1 for Spanish". LOL

just.his.wife's picture

I just spent 4 hours on the phone with United Healthcare.

They speak philipino fluently, english not so good.

I speak English, Arabic, a little german and enough spanish to get myself in trouble.

Needless to say the entire call was an excercise in futility.

kathc's picture

Just ask for a supervisor at the first "I don't know". And repeat that request calmly and politely until they put one on with you.

Honestly, I remember a day when that was me and I honestly couldn't do anything for you. I didn't know. I was just there because the people who COULD do something didn't want to deal with you. BUT when I was told to get a supervisor I had to try talking them out of it, then could put them through when they insisted...however, if they raised their voice or swore or anything I was to disconnect them. I use that all the time now, on the other side. I just calmly ask them to please get me a supervisor until they do.

doll faced sm's picture

I worked at an in-bound call center, too, for many years. When I first started, I didn't know much, but I would *find out*. And after I'd been there a while, there wasn't much I didn't know anymore because when you do that kind of work day in and day out (for a while, with mandatory overtime, we were all working 60 hour weeks), you really have no excuse for not learning your job. That's the problem I'm having with the internet provider. And it's not just the front line reps; I've requested a supervisor/escalation specialist/whatever that particular company calls it. *THEY* don't know either. Nobody knows anything.