Int'l Call Center vs. AutoAnswer

[bekkiz]

I'm really not sure which is more annoying when calling to do something important (pay a bill, change details etc)

I just went through like 10 minutes with one of those automated things that you talk to, except, it apparently couldn't understand what I was saying and wouldn't let me move on. Then it got in a loop and kept saying the same thing over and over. Then I got put on hold to speak to a representative--for another 10 minutes ACK!

I haven't had a bad experiance with an international call center yet, but at least it's a real person....

What do you think?

 

[LadyBears]

I despise the international call centers. I can never understand what they are asking. I almost had the warranty on my computer cancelled because I couldn't understand what the foreigner was saying. I feel more lost after talking to them than I did before I called. They know nothing about whatever it is I am trying to talk to them about. At least with the autoanswer, usually eventually I will get a real person.

 

[Planogirl]

The autoanswer is in place to handle simple things and is great if you just need basic info or to pay a bill. Unfortunately, they need fine tuning still or at least the one we have does. If the question is fairly complicated people have a lot of trouble. However, it's purposely kind of difficult to get to a live person because otherwise people would just bypass the autoanswer system and the companies don't want that.

 

[bicker]

It's all a reflection of what we, the general public as a whole, are willing to pay for, so getting angry is really kinda pointless since effectively we're only getting angry at ourselves.

 

[arminnie]

I don't mind punching in some numbers but I DETEST it being asked to SPEAK the response, because the machine NEVER EVER EVER understands me. I do not have a speech defect. People understand me in real life all of the time - even at those international call centers.

Lately when they ask me to SPEAK the response I just give a barrage of 4 letter words. At least then when it says "I do not understand your response" I know that at least my response was appropriate. My last name is XXXX you &*((*&^%$#%^&***(((&&^%%%##%$^*()))(&^$$##@@@

 

[Planogirl]

arminnie, I just saw the note next to the picture of Cody. I'm sorry to see that.