The operator tells you they are on the other line and asks if you would like to have their voicemail or leave a message and they'll call you back shortly. What would you do?
Let's then say you reject both suggestions and ask to hold. You stay on hold for ten minutes. Who do you blame? The operator who did what you asked and has put you on hold until the person you called for gets off the phone, or the person you called for because they're taking too long to get off the phone?
2007-04-26 08:21:31 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Because I'm the operator and I get cussed out time and time again for doing what people ask of me and putting them hold hold for someone who is already on the phone. Every few moments I'll pick up the phone and tell the caller the person they're calling for is still on the other line and suggest voicemail and a message yet again. Yet even though they choose to continue to hold, after a while they cuss ME out like it's MY fault the person they're calling won't get off the phone.
2007-04-26 08:21:43 · update #1
I don't blame anyone but myself.
In a place of business I trust that the person I'm asking for will get my voicemail and reply in a timely fashion.
If not, I call back and leave voicemails every few hours until I hear from them.
If it takes more than three voicemails then I start to get annoyed with the person I'm trying to contact.
Anyone who blames you after you check in and keep offering other options should be hit with a very long stick. With a thumbtack on it. And that thumbtack should have that same pain-inducing poison that goat head thorns have.
That'll teach them =)
2007-04-26 08:33:00 · answer #1 · answered by Laura 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know exactly how you feel because i am also a receptionist. IF the person they are asking for is on the other line I do say if they would like to hold or go to voicemail. Most times i get to send them to voicemail. But othertimes they want to hold. I let them hold for a while until it rings on my line for the second time. Then I ask if they would like to continue holding if they say yes i wait till they hang up or until the person they ask for gets off the other line and i transfer it right away. If the person hangs up and gets mad at me i just say in my nicest voice that they must have been disconected and put them on hold again. The person should not get mad at you because you are just the operator. You are there to just take the call and transfer the call. If the person they are asking for never picks up the line then do what i did, take down a written message of the person calling and give it to the other person directly.
2007-04-26 15:37:20 · answer #2 · answered by Snowy86 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I ask to be put on hold and wait. If the operator comes back and gives me the same choices again because who I am calling is still on the phone or whatever, I then opt for voicemail. That is just ridiculous for the operator to be blamed for something the caller chose to do. It is not your fault that the person they want to talk to is busy.
As for blaming the person you called, that is even sillier. If they are at work it is usually safe to assume they are working and not just being inaccessible.
2007-04-26 15:26:21 · answer #3 · answered by ESTamez 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Remember that you don't work for the caller--so follow and get instructions from your office! How polite you are expected to act varies from office to office and caller to caller.
You may need to find out who is on the interrupt list--some callers are so important you immediately need to let your person know they are holding. For any holding caller, you might want to send an email (or some other unobtrusive way to get a note to him) to your person when you give the first "still on the phone--do you still want to hold" so that that person can decide which call is more important at this moment.
If they are rude to me, I'd tell the caller I'm sending them to voice mail and transfer before they argue, but I know I can get away with that--if you aren't sure, ask.
2007-04-26 15:31:53 · answer #4 · answered by wayfaroutthere 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would tell them that the person they wish to speak to is on a very important conference call that could take a LONG time, much longer than they might care to wait and that you can't interrupt. However, if the choose to leave a voice-mail or a message, they will get a response.
Letting them know in advance that they'll be on hold forever might end that problem.
2007-04-26 15:27:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
ok girl ima operator too and the same thing happens to me everyday and u also get those people that will leave a message and the next day call back and ***** at u cause that person didnt call them back like its ur fault right? i just ignore them and if they wanna ***** at me ill hang up on then or put them on hold for hella long even if that person gets off the phone already i dont care if ur gunna be rude to me ill be rude right back or u can just simply explain to them thats its not u i did that a couple of times and some people apoligize to me for being mean its not ur fault ya know so thats all i can say ignore them or just do what they ask and if they ***** at u and u dont wanna talk back to them just say ill put u back on hold then and thats it keep em on hold who the *** cares if they wanna sit there oh well i hope i helped and good luck with it
2007-04-26 15:29:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's because nobody accepts responsibility any more. You gave them some choices right from the start, they are the ones who said they would wait. If they start cussing you out, just hang up on them, if they can't respect you, then you don't have to respect them. People get disconnected all the time.
2007-04-26 15:27:35 · answer #7 · answered by johN p. aka-Hey you. 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I blame myself - then I call back and ask the operator if I could leave a message-I don't blame the operator she/he is just doing their job-and doing what they are told to do.
2007-04-26 15:25:43 · answer #8 · answered by sunshinegirl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've been a receptionist before and I feel your pain. It's not your fault. They've made their choice (to hold) and they have to live with the results of that choice. At least you got back on the phone to check on them. Maybe next time they'll pick voice mail.
2007-04-26 15:25:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If they use foul language, give them ONE warning. Tell the person, "If you use that kind of language with me again, I will disconnect you!" That is their frustration coming out and you shouldn't take it personally. Depending on how important this job is to you, you may think about starting to be a smarta$$ to them. "Well, I guess I made a stupid decision to make you wait on hold, knowing that it could be awhile...Oh wait a minute, that was your decision." LOL
2007-04-27 10:02:24 · answer #10 · answered by mikehunt29 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋