For example, you get a phone call, and the person on the other end says something you cannot understand, except for the name of the company- which lets you know they're calling from, say, your phone company. However the accent is so thick, you can't understand anything else. Or, you call any customer service line, or tech support, etc, and get the same thing- how does one ask for someone one can understand without being rude or offensive?
2007-02-04 06:27:31 · 6 answers · asked by imjustasteph 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Is it really fair for me to have to listen to everything twice, when either they called me and I did not ask for the call, or when I am paying by the minute for tech support?
2007-02-04 06:42:15 · update #1
Tell them, "Sorry, I am having a hard time understanding you. Can you repeat that?". If after several repetitions, you still can't get what they are saying, ask to speak to their supervisor. They are working for a business where speaking proper English is an important part of the job.
When you talk to the supervisor,explain to them that the employee may be trying their best, but that their English is not quite good enough to conduct business. The supervisor will likely tend to your problem on behalf of the other employee.
I have experienced this before, as well. I usually ask the person to repeat themselves. I then repeat back to them what I think they said, and this usually works. If the telephone rep./CSR continues to have this problem with multiple customers, their average call time will be too high, and the employer may decide to let them go. So, customers should voice their concerns about the matter to get things changed. Otherwise, the company will lose money.
2007-02-04 06:45:25 · answer #1 · answered by monica_dietz@sbcglobal.net 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As an ESL teacher, I promise that it really is possible to learn to understand speech with accents that you aren't used to hearing better. Careful listening sometimes does wonders for understanding.
You can also say something like, "I'm having a hard time understanding you. Is there someone else I could speak with?"
2007-02-05 07:00:33 · answer #2 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the best thing to say is: "I'm sorry. I'm having a hard time understanding you. May I please speak to someone else?"
You don't have to mention or refer to their accent, but they will get the idea. I think this is the most polite way. If they transfer you to yet another person with a heavy accent, I have heard that you can ask the person where they are calling from (& if they are in another country), you are allowed to ask to be transferred to someone in the U.S. This phenomenom is becoming more prevailent with all the outsourcing companies have been doing.
2007-02-04 06:39:27 · answer #3 · answered by Pumpkin 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have this problem all the time, and I'm sure that older people with hearing problems have it worse. So , This is what I say to the person. " I'm sorry , but I can't understand a word coming out of your mouth. could you please put someone else on the phone that doesn't have an accent".This of course after I have said to them at least twice. " I'm sorry , I didn't understand you, what did you say"?
2007-02-04 10:40:18 · answer #4 · answered by joy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This has happen to me on many occasions. I just say I am sorry, I'm having a hard time understanding you. Is there someone else there I can speak with.
2007-02-04 06:48:20 · answer #5 · answered by Classy Granny 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ask them to repeat themselves, and then learn to listen better.
2007-02-04 06:33:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋