Pkingy 10 #1 Posted June 16, 2021 does anyone think like me that the council an all the other service providers are using the pandemic as an excuse to say sorry but due to the pandemic there will be longer wait to answer your call. In my case 50 mins to get an answer on a council phoneline Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
HeHasRisen 3,405 #2 Posted June 16, 2021 If its council tax its always been a long wait, no change there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Fudbeer 12 #3 Posted June 16, 2021 Yes and just about any other service you require help with particularly banking. Its getting to the stage where you will only be able to talk via online chat which is what they want as it’s cheaper as they are clearly talking to many people at once judging by the huge gaps waiting for reply’s. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Thirsty Relic 215 #4 Posted June 16, 2021 Well, I've got a Doctors that has a recorded message urging everybody to use their website instead of the phone because of the pandemic, ringing utility provider says the same and plugs Direct Debits, a supermarket is pushing self-scan, and Poundland does the same both blaming temporary staffing shortages because of the pandemic. Virgin have been pushing their web "bot" to answer queries rather than humans (although they can't answer many of the problems you face - especially when the phone line goes down). A few shops I know have posters up asking for contactless payments where possible "to reduce passing on Covid". I wonder how many people will do as requested by all these, then find out when the pandemic is over that they will not be able to revert to how they used to interact with organisations previously? "Sorry, you're signed up to using the email/internet system now" "No, you can't go back to how you used to work with us before," "We're self-scan only now" "We don't use cash anymore - we're contactless from now on. Sorry" Of course, not everybody has the internet or smartphones. Many companies are not bothered about that - they target those who do. My main worry is the elderly, who risk being dragged into a future tech world that are not ready for, and are very vulnerable to scams etc etc - the very reason they are trying to stick to cash and cheques. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
HeHasRisen 3,405 #5 Posted June 16, 2021 (edited) Aren't you tarring "the elderly" with the same brush there? Not all of them are technophobic Luddites. Edited June 16, 2021 by HeHasRisen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Jeffrey Shaw 90 #6 Posted June 16, 2021 There seems to be a standard script for all large businesses and their answering machines/service: "We are receiving particularly high call volumes..." No, they're not. "Particularly" must mean "more than usual"- so whyever is the message the same for all of them and no matter at what time of day? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Pkingy 10 #7 Posted June 16, 2021 And another thing i was on the phone for 50 mins. Can i send them a bill for a 50 min phone call Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
HeHasRisen 3,405 #8 Posted June 16, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, Pkingy said: And another thing i was on the phone for 50 mins. Can i send them a bill for a 50 min phone call Well most sensible people would use a number that is included in their packaged minutes 🤷♂️ if you are ringing a 0114 number then surely you are getting these calls free/in a package Edited June 16, 2021 by HeHasRisen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
davyboy 19 #9 Posted June 16, 2021 Phone to arrange a blood take, asked for by the doctor. After 4 minutes listening to a :don't come in if you have covid symptoms i get a: you are number 25 in the q. Local pharmacy has a notice up: takes 4 days for Dr to approve a repeat prescription and 3 days for th pharmacy to dispense it All consultations with Dr are 10 minutes by phone one symptom at a time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Fudbeer 12 #10 Posted June 16, 2021 Yes it’s one thing not being able to meet face to face but now we are being reduced to talking to an auto reply bot on a website that rarely answers your questions.Ridiculous. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
apelike 10 #11 Posted June 16, 2021 3 hours ago, HeHasRisen said: Well most sensible people would use a number that is included in their packaged minutes 🤷♂️ if you are ringing a 0114 number then surely you are getting these calls free/in a package What are packaged minutes? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Fudbeer 12 #12 Posted June 16, 2021 1 hour ago, apelike said: What are packaged minutes? Many mobile contracts now include unlimited free calls to most numbers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...