How do y'all deal with pissy phone customer service (bank, etc.) reps?

Question

My bank and my phone/internet service providers make me scroll through an automated voice prompt for what seems like forever, and when I do finally get a rep on the phone it feels as if they are reading from a script.

Even though they aren't verbalizing it, I feel as if they are telling me....."Yep, we screwed ya! Not gonna fix it. Deal with it!"

Only what comes out is, " Thank you. Is there anything else I can assist you with today?"

Besides blurting out something that rhymes with 'duck stew,' or ramming the phone up against the wall, do y'all have any clever ways of responding to rude service reps?

Answer 1

I only wish I did, but you just gave me the idea to discuss 'duck stew' recipes with them and see if it might be helpful to try and confuse them. At the very least, it might amuse me, even if I don't really get any help.

Answer 2

Well, having told someone "duck stew" today on the phone to someone in India, I got my revenge when an email arrived and asked if the problem had been solved. I replied, said no, everything was not OK, and got a different American call center. My problem was resolved, you just have to be persistent. Ask for supervisors, and if they don't natively speak your language, you can ask for an American...I do that if I have to call the credit card company. I swear, these days getting something accomplished is very much like the Capital One commercials. I also try to call during Eastern time business hours, and press '0' a lot. These companies don't have a clue that if a problem could be resolved on the internet or any other way, we would. Good luck, and complain to them that along with your issue with the company, customer service is a complete hassle, and you will consider taking your business to somewhere it is appreciated.

Answer 3

Well, I do point out that they didn't assist me in the first place, so it isn't accurate to ask if there "is anything else I can assist you with today" by definition.

When I encounter the automated system, I try pressing "0" immediately to see if this gets me to a live person. If this doesn't work, or gets me to an unexpected place, I hang up and dial again.

Good luck!

Answer 4

First, most automated systems will go right to a cutomer service rep (CSR) if you press '0'.

CSRs read from scripts, you are right. Get their name when they answer the phone and write it down.

When they try to sign you off, tell them you feel they did not serve you, the customer, to your expectations. Ask to speak with the "floor manager."

Since most people don't know this, they usually get you to the manager. The manager is trained to never say no to a customer.

Also, I find that informing them "If you don't like your job, you can always get a new one..." before hanging up leaves them reeling.

Answer 5

I leave them alone unless they're downright rude. They have a hard job talking to rude, demanding customers all day...people who feel like they can treat them like crap. I used to work in a place where they had a lot of customer service reps, and they used to complain all of the time, and I've heard the horror stories. So, my take on that is to make sure you have completely clean hands, because they take a lot of abuse.

Answer 6

Don't know if I have anything for *after* they have helped you, but my mom and I *HATE* that automated voice prompt thing. We just refuse to press any buttons at all -- eventually, someone comes on right away!! Or, just keep pressing "0", over and over -- that sometimes works just as well. But they might be mad at *you* at that point -- LOL!!

The other thing is something my husband does. Our phone number is unlisted -- but of course the bank has it, because of our account being there!! So, they call us at night, to try to offer us *upgraded financial services*. My husband always asks for the person's home phone number so he can call them while *THEY* are eating dinner and ask them stupid questions. Actually, you might try that one on the folks that want to "assist" you, too -- ask for their number so you can call them at home if you have more problems?!! If you practice that question so it just rolls out naturally, it should really flip them out!! LOL!!

Good luck!

Answer 7

I ask for the person in charge of their unit Then I say that the person was rude and I would like to speak to someone else until I get a person I can talk too And then at the end I ask to speak to their person in charge and say thank you for having one person on staff that has a brain.

Or if is a person who is in another country like some cell phone companies I ask for a US office and if it is Sprint ask for the Texas office even at midnight.

Answer 8

Ask them if they ever try soap? A clean person is a happy person.
Seriously, if you are not satisfied with customer service ask to speak with their supervisor. If that doesn't do it ask for the info to contact the regional manager. Wheels turn fast when you ask for that. If you are still not satisfied consider changing companies. Good Luck.

Answer 9

The person I had was from a finance company, she insulted me, accused me of obserd things. She was loud and rude. So first I told her how unexceptable her attitude was, the next day I called her supervisor, told them the time and date of the call, they are recorded. The next day or so I got a letter in the mail from her supervisor, stating that it had been handled.

Answer 10

You can't actually blame the rep for it coz that person just doing his job.

When the rep says "Is there anything i can do to help you?", just ask, "how can i sue your company?" and wait for the reaction.