Royal Mail Customer Service Rant

[XPertByExperien]

Meh, I got an email about an hour ago that RM had been to the Flat to pick up an Amazon parcel, even though I specifically arranged for it to be picked up on Friday as due to a Dentist and Hospital appointment today, I knew I wasn't going to be around, I've just rung them on the deaf/hard of hearing phone number on my mobile, and even though I explained my address/post code/order number 4 times, the woman didn't understand and kept asking!

 

I freely admit I have NO patience but come on!

 

WHY do the majority of call centres employ Foreign people that don't understand Yorkshire accents?   

 

 

[The_DADDY]

4 minutes ago, XPertByExperien said:

Meh, I got an email about an hour ago that RM had been to the Flat to pick up an Amazon parcel, even though I specifically arranged for it to be picked up on Friday as due to a Dentist and Hospital appointment today, I knew I wasn't going to be around, I've just rung them on the deaf/hard of hearing phone number on my mobile, and even though I explained my address/post code/order number 4 times, the woman didn't understand and kept asking!

 

I freely admit I have NO patience but come on!

 

WHY do the majority of call centres employ Foreign people that don't understand Yorkshire accents?   

 

 

Foreign call centres are probably cheaper.

[XPertByExperien]

4 minutes ago, The_DADDY said:

Foreign call centres are probably cheaper.

I get that, but why bother when the majority of them don't understand most UK regional dialects?  

 

 

[RollingJ]

5 minutes ago, XPertByExperien said:

Meh, I got an email about an hour ago that RM had been to the Flat to pick up an Amazon parcel, even though I specifically arranged for it to be picked up on Friday as due to a Dentist and Hospital appointment today, I knew I wasn't going to be around, I've just rung them on the deaf/hard of hearing phone number on my mobile, and even though I explained my address/post code/order number 4 times, the woman didn't understand and kept asking!

 

I freely admit I have NO patience but come on!

 

WHY do the majority of call centres employ Foreign people that don't understand Yorkshire accents?   

 

 

I get your point - in a way - but I have usually found that speaking slowly and carefully in these situations helps - if they fail to understand, I ring off and try again, in the vain hope of getting someone who does a little more than read from a script, and (very occasionally) has a better grasp of the English language.

[The_DADDY]

6 minutes ago, XPertByExperien said:

I get that, but why bother when the majority of them don't understand most UK regional dialects?  

 

 

Because its probably cheaper

 

6 minutes ago, RollingJ said:

I get your point - in a way - but I have usually found that speaking slowly and carefully in these situations helps - if they fail to understand, I ring off and try again, in the vain hope of getting someone who does a little more than read from a script, and (very occasionally) has a better grasp of the English language.

My bold 

Yup, this generally works for me too.👍

[XPertByExperien]

3 minutes ago, The_DADDY said:

Because its probably cheaper

 

My bold 

Yup, this generally works for me too.👍

So basically, I have to talk like a robot purely to be understood? No, no, and did I mention, no? I don't see why I should change my voice for some call centre drone that doesn't understand basic English!

 

[The_DADDY]

6 minutes ago, XPertByExperien said:

So basically, I have to talk like a robot purely to be understood? No, no, and did I mention, no? I don't see why I should change my voice for some call centre drone that doesn't understand basic English!

 

No. Just slow and clear then you should have fewer problems. 

[RollingJ]

1 minute ago, XPertByExperien said:

So basically, I have to talk like a robot purely to be understood? No, no, and did I mention, no? I don't see why I should change my voice for some call centre drone that doesn't understand basic English!

 

As we both said (differently), if you want something done, you have to make yourself understood, and if that means changing your mode of speech, then you do.  I have a fairly strong Sheffield accent (so I'm told), and when speaking to people from outside the region - even native English speakers - I tone the accent down and speak slower/more clearly.

 

had exactly this issue this morning speaking to someone from the North-east.

[The_DADDY]

7 minutes ago, XPertByExperien said:

So basically, I have to talk like a robot purely to be understood? No, no, and did I mention, no? I don't see why I should change my voice for some call centre drone that doesn't understand basic English!

 

'Call centre drones' are people too you know. Just take your time and be patient with them or hang up and try again.

[XPertByExperien]

44 minutes ago, RollingJ said:

As we both said (differently), if you want something done, you have to make yourself understood, and if that means changing your mode of speech, then you do.  I have a fairly strong Sheffield accent (so I'm told), and when speaking to people from outside the region - even native English speakers - I tone the accent down and speak slower/more clearly.

 

had exactly this issue this morning speaking to someone from the North-east.

I've been with Sky for years for TV, and last April, I signed up for landline and Fibre after coming out of contract with Plusnet, their call centre's based in the far North of Scotland, yet I can vaguely translate a strong Scottish accent a lot better than say, Indian or even worse, African.