On my first call I was directed into an automated system, upon entering every conceivable piece of information; name, ID number, date of birth, address, phone number, what I ate for breakfast, I was transferred to a customer service representative who proceeded to ask me all the same questions. After my interrogation she tells me that I need to call a different number, where again I sat on hold for over 20 minutes. Another round of questioning by yet another snippy representative resulted in yet another transfer to another department!
It has now been over an hour that I have been…hold on…I think I am about to be connected to a human…
…Can you believe it?! I was transferred to another recording saying that “due to high call volume, they can’t take my call right now, so call back”…are they serious? I think my blood pressure just went up! I’ve wasted the best part of the morning in a holding pattern!
For the most part, I am a pretty easy going person but I must confess that there are two things that drive me insane, one is being stuck in traffic and the other is being put on hold, especially for extended periods of time.
Well, I’m taking my now cranky, high blood pressured self outside, in the sunshine, and when I have relaxed, I will go back inside and repeat this act of futility all over again!
32 comments:
OMG! Been there, done that more times than I even want to think about!! I'm easy going, too, until I get put on hold, or have to talk to a machine! I do so relate, Sunny! Hope you get your blood pressure down before you have to try again!!
Sylvia
LOL, can you hear me now! I couldn't help but smile to myself while reading your amusing but all to true rant, Sunny. I just made a called this morning and although I did get through fairly fast they wanted to sell me everything under the sun before they did what I originally called for.
Your time is not worth anything anymore. I hardly ever get to talk to someone real. Perhaps they have so many customers that they don't appreciate them anymore. When I finally get a real person..I complain..and take names and times..not that it does any good :(
That is beyond aggravating. I had a lady at Radio Shack show me once that as soon as you get the automated system, just scream in to the phone slowly and distinctly, "I want to talk to a person." Not sure how, but it works and I do it all the time now.
Good luck
THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY! I JUST WANT TO TALK TO A REAL PERSON!
Oh, Sunny, I can SO relate! I,ve been trying to make calls while I have the week off. When I'm teaching I've wasted many a lunch break being transferred only to find out that unless I know what my mom ate for breakfast they can't help me. OK, just a slight exaggeration, but JEEZ!
Anyway, good choice to outside in the sunshine before trying again.
It does make a funny story though! Thanks for sharing! Blessings!
Getting a passport has been an ordeal for my granddaughter. The 'Department' actually lost everything she sent, but they did find it 3 weeks later. Getting through to them was impossible. Our local county offices are now helping with the problem.
I know another trick. If you get someone you cannot understand due to their nationality, just say, "I want to speak to an American." Works everytime.
Automated answering and rude operators are two of my biggest pet peeves. It drives me insane. What ever happened to customer service? Non-existent anymore. I feel your frustration.
Sheesh! This is the main reason I left my (not to be mentioned) previous insurance. I was left hanging forever, and when we moved here from Colorado, I actually used more than 7 HOURS on the phone trying to get things straightened out, and then they screwed it up after all!!! I ended up going over my minutes, the only time, and that was on top of the incredible frustration of being in your situation. I finally gave up and called my bank, which had suggested these people, and THEY took care of it!
Yes, Sunny I have been there so many times in the past that I could just scream!
Just recently, dealing with this computer Server, I have had to call Verizon Internet on 4 occasions. Each time I had to listen to the same old greetings and listen to an automated computer voice asking me what or where I wanted to go. After finally getting there, all I wanted to do is talk to a real person, that does not speak broken English and one that I could understand without any trouble. I was put on hold so many times and had to wait until the next available rep could talk with me.
I don't want to talk to a computer voice or press a number all the time. I wanted to talk with a real person, but half the time I had to wait so darn long I got a bit angry over the whole thing, and hung up. Only later to go thru the same crap all over again. I even had my Wife try her luck, and got the same ole' shit!
It does get very frustrating and can make you extremely angry. Would you believe that I'm still going thru all this yet!?
By all your comments it looks like a very common problem. I too have had all that happen to me but with our telecom company. I have been trying to get a problem fixed since November last year. I was o hold for 2 hours once being shuffled here and there and finally got cut off with no problem solved. It is sooo frustrating. I would much rather be held up in traffic.
Thanks for stopping by and letting me know I am not alone. Dick VanPatten's Natural Balance Original Ultra cat food has pretty much solved Minnie's problem. It can be found at Petco. Good luck.
Remember the good ole days when you actually TALKED to human beings right off the bat? Not this Press 1 for this and Press 2 for that. I feel your pain. Nothing is more frustrating that being shuffled around on hold. And then the final result being to have to call back? That's when my Italian/Irish temper kicks in and I want to hurl my phone across the room but then I realize I'm only punishing myself when I have to buy a new one! LOL!
Maybe the best time to call this place is 10 minutes before they close. Then they'd be in a hurry to help you 'cause they want to go home!
Oh, yes, I understand your frustration. There's nothing says customer service like an automated phone system, and especially when they give you choices that you can't figure out. I wish we could go back to talking to a real person.
I know there is a way you can call those companies directly. Well, I know there is one, but I don't know which one unfortunately! Sorry...
Hope you got connected in the end though.
I don't think anything is more annoying than trying to communicate with a computer (voice-activated systems) and being put on hold.
It really is a passive aggressive way to keep people on cable for a longer period of time, or to keep you paying rather than not lose the insurance, etc. I can't get ahold of the power company of my mom's place so they will send me a bill. One time I finally talked to a real person and she said I couldn't discuss it with her without the paperwork. I finally said that if I send you $200 to cover the bill, even though you can't talk to me, will I keep the estate out of trouble. Yes I could say the account could use that money. All winter I just sent in estimates as I wasn't visiting the house to get the mail and I wasn't too far off. We had to stop payment to a program at the bank once, because we couldn't get a hold of the real people. That did get their attention. Hang in there.
I agree totally, Sunny... I have no patience when having to sit in traffic or having to wait in line for anything... Drives me crazy!!!!
Thank God we can get out in nature and look for waterfalls... There's no people much there or no lines to stand in!!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
Oh my goodness, what a morning! So flipping annoying I know. Like you I have a lot of patience but those two things you've mentioned can try the patience of a saint.
ACK, I feel your pain; I've had this experience a time our two and it is infuriating. There's not much you can be doing when you have the phone to your ear, waiting...waiting. Dust? Wash dishes? Get a load of laundry going? But I get a crick in my neck holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder for that long. Maybe a complaint letter to the company is in order.
ACK, I feel your pain; I've had this experience a time our two and it is infuriating. There's not much you can be doing when you have the phone to your ear, waiting...waiting. Dust? Wash dishes? Get a load of laundry going? But I get a crick in my neck holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder for that long. Maybe a complaint letter to the company is in order.
Sunny you never cease to amaze me! This is the first time I have visited your Narrative site and as with your other blogs...I love this one too! I don't see how you can keep all of them going???? I struggle to post daily on mine and visit my "friends" blogs to comment. How do you do it?
Dan
Your philosophy on aging "some age gracefully, I plan to go kicking and screaming" made me smile, and I am with you on this.
The one thing that makes being on hold less annoying is that I can be online and read stuff while I wait. It is still annoying though!
One of the departments my hubby oversees is a contact centre. When I showed him this, he shrugged, "Ask her to send an email. Make them call back." Hope it works...
Love you humour! Call centres overseas take many calls and bounce us around.I just found this blog and love what you're writing. I'm a bit over 60 and get you!!! The sticky note post is so valid. Sadly I feel myself losing the desire to leave post its cause I'm forgetting more and more. Next will be cell phone alarms!! Seems they are programming for us more and more.
This is my first time to your blog and I think it's great.....I'll be back..
Oh yes I have been there too, it is so frustrating waiting and waiting, my longest was the telephone company, well over an hour!
You described to a 't' one of my last calls to a customer service number. I am really beginning to hate automated systems. I have discovered that dialing '0' on most of them will take me to a live person provided the system isn't busy.
You rant so well, it was a pure joy to read!
I didn't want to laugh at your misfortune but I did anyway.
Thanks
Hi Sunny!
Thinking of you.
Hope all is well!
Blessings!
After being a bank customer for 25 years, I had it one day on hold. I cancelled all six accounts. That felt good!
Hi, Sunny..I'm bj and ran into you over at LV's tonight.
Your cute little music notes in your comment caught my eye. I would just love to learn to do that...hard??
Come over to see me when you have time. I would love your visit.
O, and I can so relate to your post...been there..done that!! :))
xo bj
and, well, shoot..I am lovin' this song playing....:)
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