Are you sick of automated phone systems treating you as a non-entity? A majority of large, well-known companies are notorious for leading their customers through these systems. AT&T probably is the worst. Immediately, you are directed to answer a machine questioning whether your call is regarding phone services, Internet, mobile services or television.
After you have said “yes” a half dozen times, and the computer generated voice tells you he (or it, as the case may be) will connect you to a live person. That is if one is available, and you are not subjected to being placed on “Ignore” while drowning in elevator Bach music.
Upon talking to a live person, you are lucky to be able to understand someone who barely has grasped the basic rudiments of English – a second or third choice of dialects. This person will then direct you to someone who may or may not help, but will be able to provide you another 800, 877, 866 or 888 number to repeat the entire talking to a machine routine.
You also get the systems which require you to punch in several combinations of numbers in order to contact a real live person. By the time you have dealt with all the nonsense, you are ready to bite the head off anyone breathing on the other end of the phone. Such as, “The heck with you, give me your supervisor, I need to vent.” For a hoot, call your local Lowe’s and listen to the 20 options you are given just to address someone about your warped 2x4 kayak paddle.
AT&T probably is the grandfather of these automated systems we have learned to accept as normal speaking to anyone about any potential business issues. They now own 11 of the original Bell Companies with 150 million customers. Was it not the intent to break up good old Ma Bell in 1984? Similar to pay phones and the 10-cent phone call, telephone operators have become a thing of the past. This is why I believe they are unable to find enough people, who speak fluent English, to answer the calls.
It will not be long before 911 is automated. Wouldn’t that be fun, especially when you are dying of a high blood pressure-related heart attack?
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1 comment:
Saw or read something about some companies getting rid of their foreign call centers.
They aren't doing it out of a sense of obligation to provide improved customer satisfaction but rather from the standpoint of they're scared #$%#less that the continuing alienation of their customer base will result in their company's total implosion during the current depression, excuse me recession.
At least there's a little something good coming out of this economy.
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