I would like to talk to someone who does not have much accent so I can understand..

[surfergirl602]

When this happens to me, I always first thing ask to be transfered to a rep in the United States. It works every time, depending on the time of day that I call.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Oh no... kill me now... I've been on hold for a while waiting for Norton 360 and I am dreading having to talk to someone who I won't be able to understand.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Still waiting...

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I had to get a new Visa card because mine was expiring, now you have to actually speak to a person to activate it, and before I knew it they had me agreeing to all these extra costs because I could not understand a word they said. I did understand that 9.99 a month and finally just said I only called this number to activate my new card, I don't want any new services just activate the card.

How much do you wanna bet I will have additional services charged on my card now.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

I had to get a new Visa card because mine was expiring, now you have to actually speak to a person to activate it, and before I knew it they had me agreeing to all these extra costs because I could not understand a word they said. I did understand that 9.99 a month and finally just said I only called this number to activate my new card, I don't want any new services just activate the card.

How much do you wanna bet I will have additional services charged on my card now.

when i had first called about my computer, i said "i need the memory card that is 514mb" and then halfway thru the conversation the guy on the other end said "1gb" and i said "no no...i want the 514mb card, the one for $49.99" and then when we were wrapping up the conversation AGAIN he said "so you're getting the 1gb card and..."

luckily i got the correct card. however....i still need to send it back now....maybe i'll just try the instant chat feature that they have. it's a bit harder to get thru, but at least i can understand when they're typing.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I never hesitate to ask for another representative. You can tell by the first sentence if you will be in trouble.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

I switched to Kaspersky. Works better anyway! LOL!!

 

[C.Ann]

I just say, " I'm sure you are very nice, but I simply cannot understand you. May I please get another service person?"

I will say something similar.. I refuse to waste my time (not to mention becoming extremely frustrated) - with customer service reps (and even those in the medical profession) that are unable to speak clearly enough to be understood..

I don't think that is asking for "too" much..

 

[*Fantasia*]

I think I'll do that, just ask for another rep.. and American rep.. or rep that is not from that same country. I was frustrated that I just wanted to scream.
Norton company may be cheap.. but what you pay (software and services) is not. Verizon isn't cheap.. but the company are. Same with Sprint.. They have some that are base in other countries. Those jobs could have been given to those who are desperate need of work here in U.S. But that's another story.. another thread.

 

[ChrisFL]

I think I'll do that, just ask for another rep.. and American rep.. or rep that is not from that same country. I was frustrated that I just wanted to scream.
Norton company may be cheap.. but what you pay (software and services) is not. Verizon isn't cheap.. but the company are. Same with Sprint.. They have some that are base in other countries. Those jobs could have been given to those who are desperate need of work here in U.S. But that's another story.. another thread.

Companies are using other countries also, like the Philippines, though they learn Americanized english and not British english, so in general its easier to understand them

 

[Silent1CB]

I just say, " I'm sure you are very nice, but I simply cannot understand you. May I please get another service person?"

Maybe we all need to start saying this more & more. But maybe request talking to someone located in the USA also to get some of those jobs back.

 

[Mish19]

One of my friends suggested that if there is the option for a spanish speaking representative to choose that one. More than likely the rep will speak english (I think).

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Maybe we all need to start saying this more & more. But maybe request talking to someone located in the USA also to get some of those jobs back.

No, we need to vote with our dollars, stop looking for the cheapest item. I love how many people complain that this or that isn't made in the US or the service is outsourced, yet go shop at Walmart for the cheapest price.

Companies exist to make money, they then use that money to create jobs, pay their investors and invest in new technology/products. If they cannot create a reasonable profit by handling all aspects of their operations, they must look to alternatives to maintain a profit. You can only innovate processes so much before you've stripped out all the savings you can.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Companies are using other countries also, like the Philippines, though they learn Americanized english and not British english, so in general its easier to understand them

English is the Philippines' second language. We were taught right from the start. All text books are all in English with the exception of Filipino subject.
Most of the signs and documents/papers and everything else are in English. They do have accents.. but not as bad as some other countries. The people in the Philippines do try to pronounce words the Americanized way.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

and when the time comes that I do need one-it will be from Apple and if I have questions I will call the same nice people in California that I called that one time.

Happy now?

HEHEHEHEHEHE!!!

Oh I love my Mac friends! And I TOTALLY agree! My husband will pay the extra $$ for Apple Care just to speak to the kids in California. Well, that and it is a much better product for what we do (Audio/Video production).

 

[kaytieeldr]

I work in a job where I talk with people from all over the world. Fortunately I'm talking with them face to face (which helps some); I couldn't imagine doing this over the phone. The funny thing is, the one that I have the hardest time with isn't a foreign accent but with the folks from Louisiana. Between their Cajun accent and my Boston accent we spend a lot of time saying "what?" back and forth. It's almost comical as you'd never know we were both speaking the same language LOL

Nuh-uh. You don't HAVE an accent. The rest of the country does. We speak correctly and clearly, and it's up to them to understand us.

I read/heard somewhere recently that you are "entitled" to ask to speak to someone in America.

I have not had a chance to try this out, though....

Not everybody with a heavy accent is outside America, though... forgetting that "America" actually consists of 23 countries - it's entirely possible that someone living and working in the United States has a heavy accent.

 

[kaytieeldr]

then when i finally asked to be transfered to someone who spoke English more clearly, they gave me to someone with an accent just as thick.

i was so frustrated by this time that i told the "Supervisor" off, saying that i don't understand if this is an American based company why they would have the customer service center located in India and then i just hung up.

Not criticizing, and while I'm sure it made you feel better to let out your frustration by telling off the Supervisor - your anger is directed ENTIRELY at the wrong people. You need to be directing your anger at management/owners in the United States - the people who MAKE these unpopular and frustrating decisions.

 

[*Fantasia*]

If people have money to spend.. we would all try to buy the best.. the highest quality that money can buy. Some of us are not fortunate enough to be able to buy a Mac or Apple or whatever it is. Just because I have a Gateway comp with a Norton ant-virus doesn't mean I deserve a lesser customer service or poor service.

Just like private school vs. public school.. public schools' teacher is no better than teachers' in private school.. I can attest to this one. Again.. this is another topic.. different thread.. Just pointing out that's all.

My point is that.. paying high top dollar or not.. the customer service should be there. The service was there.. but it's just that we had communication barrier.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

If people have money to spend.. we would all try to buy the best.. the highest quality that money can buy. Some of us are not fortunate enough to be able to buy a Mac or Apple or whatever it is. Just because I have a Gateway comp with a Norton ant-virus doesn't mean I deserve a lesser customer service or poor service.

Just like private school vs. public school.. public schools' teacher is no better than teachers' in private school.. I can attest to this one. Again.. this is another topic.. different thread.. Just pointing out that's all.

My point is that.. paying high top dollar or not.. the customer service should be there. The service was there.. but it's just that we had communication barrier.

In the not-for-profit world, these expectations are great, but service costs money. Pretty much anywhere in the US, you'll need to pay a trained customer service representative $30,000 plus benefits a year, fully loaded, probably $50,000 (including taxes, space rent, etc), in India and other similar places you're looking at $8,000 - $10,000 fully loaded.

You cannot provide the level of service you expect at a bargain basement price. I understand personal economics but it doesn't hold weight to business economics.

 

[C.Ann]

No, we need to vote with our dollars, stop looking for the cheapest item. I love how many people complain that this or that isn't made in the US or the service is outsourced, yet go shop at Walmart for the cheapest price.

Companies exist to make money, they then use that money to create jobs, pay their investors and invest in new technology/products. If they cannot create a reasonable profit by handling all aspects of their operations, they must look to alternatives to maintain a profit. You can only innovate processes so much before you've stripped out all the savings you can.

What does "shopping at Walmart" have to do with a doctor who can't speak clearly enough to be understood? Or the rep for your health insurance company? Or the customer service for your cable company?

People don't "shop" at Walmart for doctors; health insurance; or the only cable company that is available in their particular area.. There are many, many needs for "customer service" that are in no way related to "where" the money transaction takes place - or how "much" that transaction is..