Phone Service on Automated machine and Hold!
How many of you have had the experience of being on hold on phone for a long irritating time period?
I have come across this problem many times, but I would not call them a problem as I never had this kind of experience before. I wanted to share my experience with phone on hold, as I suppose every one must have faced this some time, perhaps the experience might have been more irritating than mine.
Yesterday I wanted to get an appointment at the doctor’s office. So first I called the insurance company for the approbation if the doctor is “in Network”. I got thorough an automated machine, and a series of question started to throw on me. In the beginning I was fine, thinking that O.K .one more, and one more and I will get through this. But it never ended. I asked my self to be calm and composed for a while and bear with the situation, but apparently after 15 minutes of questionnaire session my anger started to exacerbate.
My tolerance became worse when after the last question I was kept on hold, waiting to talk to the representative. I was kept on hold for another 12 minutes. Then I gave up. That was it! No more. Finally I hung up.
But I needed an appointment. So the realization dawned upon me that I am the needy here, I gathered courage to call again and get some result. But this time I was ready with my tricks. The first trick which I did and amazingly it worked, which saved my 15 minutes, going through that questionnaire session again, was like this.
As soon as I was put on the automated machine I kept quite, and the machine asked me the same question twice, but I didn’t answer. After a while the machine said “mmm looks like you want to talk to a representative. I said to myself with a wide smile “here you go, yes this is what I want”.
And I saved that 15minutes just like that.
In India when you book your ticket on Phone you have to face this problem a lot and I am used to it. I remember once I was kept on hold for 25 minutes. But I thought this is America, things should be a little different. I know that it is rare, but I find this disconcerting to keep customers on hold, no matter where ever you are calling.
I have come across this problem many times, but I would not call them a problem as I never had this kind of experience before. I wanted to share my experience with phone on hold, as I suppose every one must have faced this some time, perhaps the experience might have been more irritating than mine.
Yesterday I wanted to get an appointment at the doctor’s office. So first I called the insurance company for the approbation if the doctor is “in Network”. I got thorough an automated machine, and a series of question started to throw on me. In the beginning I was fine, thinking that O.K .one more, and one more and I will get through this. But it never ended. I asked my self to be calm and composed for a while and bear with the situation, but apparently after 15 minutes of questionnaire session my anger started to exacerbate.
My tolerance became worse when after the last question I was kept on hold, waiting to talk to the representative. I was kept on hold for another 12 minutes. Then I gave up. That was it! No more. Finally I hung up.
But I needed an appointment. So the realization dawned upon me that I am the needy here, I gathered courage to call again and get some result. But this time I was ready with my tricks. The first trick which I did and amazingly it worked, which saved my 15 minutes, going through that questionnaire session again, was like this.
As soon as I was put on the automated machine I kept quite, and the machine asked me the same question twice, but I didn’t answer. After a while the machine said “mmm looks like you want to talk to a representative. I said to myself with a wide smile “here you go, yes this is what I want”.
And I saved that 15minutes just like that.
In India when you book your ticket on Phone you have to face this problem a lot and I am used to it. I remember once I was kept on hold for 25 minutes. But I thought this is America, things should be a little different. I know that it is rare, but I find this disconcerting to keep customers on hold, no matter where ever you are calling.
With every passing day, these call centres are becoming irritating. I dread calling them now.
ReplyDeleteYou have found a nice idea to reach the operator, I use the same trick.
Haha. That was a great trick.. I need to start using it.
ReplyDeleteI called our cable company recently to cancel... you can't believe how long they placed me on hold. I think they were hoping I would quit without canceling. I put the phone on speaker phone and did my other work until they answered after half hour!
But do see the doctor periodically for checkups. We all pay so much of insurance but dont utilize the services.
Must try this next time.Thanks for sharing your experience.
ReplyDeleteIt is a pain in the ass, huh? I hate automated voices, they are so creepy.
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing. sometimes you can just push O & get a real person.
When I get automated phone service, I compulsively hit '0' a bunch of times in hopes of getting to an operator. These 'holds' get on my nerves sometimes. Actualy, I don't mind hold times as long as the 'customer service representative' has a clue what he/she is talking
ReplyDeleteI agree, this is probably the most irritating thing that anyone can ever encounter.
ReplyDeletehahaha. i start feeling terribly sleepy whenever i am put on hold.
ReplyDeletesharda; Maybe the 3 wise monkeys wasn't the right illustration for my post?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information. I didn't really know that much about them, although, I remenber a statue my grandmother had of them in her house, they always seemed to be admomishing me for something. I didn't like those monkeys.