OT - Call Centres......Arrrggggg!

Having finally eascaped from Beruit to a lovelly cottage in a
delightful village, I've had the wonderous delights of dealing with
call centre's for changing addresses. The best so far has been NLT,
who were so good at answering the phone that they got dumped and
they will *never* blacken my doorstep again. Finaly, all done.
But no! We have changed the TV licence over, but after 2 weeks
we get the standard threatening letter to "The Occupier" threatening
court action. Ringing the number provided resulted in a total of
22 minutes of awful music. After the move, I've got so peed off with
this sort of nonsense that I've come up witha new tactic which I shall
apply from now on. I will ring twice, on two days, and hold the line
for 3 mins on each occasion. If I don't get through, they get one
of these.....

**********************************

Mr. Ross McTaggart
TV Licencing
Bristol
BS98 1TL

Ref: 2904654009HM2

Dear Mr McTaggart,
thank you for your undated letter regarding the TV Licence
at the above address. I have, as requested, rung the telephone
number provided, 0870 2419049, and have so far held the line for a
total of 22 minutes.
I presume as there is no urgency on your part to answer
the telephone that the matter is unimportant and I have therefore
given up trying. If you could give me a time (out of work hours,
since I am self-employed and charge £25.00 + VAT per hour for my time),
in writing, when someone feels able to deal with the matter I would
be delighted to hear from you.

**********************************

I just wish I had the time to set up a web site to provide info
on how to deal with these morons and get this nonsense stopped. I
really don't see it being my problem if they can't be bothered to
have sufficient staff available to deal with customers, if we
could just everyone to respond as above, their stupid systems
would become untennable, and they'd *have* to do something.

Feeling much better now!

Richard


--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
RISC-OS - Where have all the good guys gone?
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive

"beamendsltd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:9678d45a4e%[email protected]...
> Having finally eascaped from Beruit to a lovelly cottage in a
> delightful village, I've had the wonderous delights of dealing with
> call centre's for changing addresses. The best so far has been NLT,
> who were so good at answering the phone that they got dumped and
> they will *never* blacken my doorstep again. Finaly, all done.
> But no! We have changed the TV licence over, but after 2 weeks
> we get the standard threatening letter to "The Occupier" threatening
> court action. Ringing the number provided resulted in a total of
> 22 minutes of awful music. After the move, I've got so peed off with
> this sort of nonsense that I've come up witha new tactic which I shall
> apply from now on. I will ring twice, on two days, and hold the line
> for 3 mins on each occasion. If I don't get through, they get one
> of these.....

I **HATED** the tv license changeover system when I had to do it last year.
Is it still the dodgy voice recognition thing that tells you what you said?

The only bit of sense that I got from them was that as long as I had the old
license, and could prove that I had moved, then if the boys with the
revolving roof rack turned up then I would be ok.

Did you find the "moving house" website? we used it and it was mostly ok,
you just fill in who your suppliers are and where you're going to and it
notifies them all, or prints the letter in a way they will understand.

the joys ;-)

Si

In message <9678d45a4e%[email protected]>
beamendsltd <[email protected]> wrote:

> Having finally eascaped from Beruit to a lovelly cottage in a
<snip>

>

Oh, and Dell - you lost an order for a PC yesterday - I coudn't
understand a bloody word the bloke was on about!

Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
RISC-OS - Where have all the good guys gone?
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive

On 2006-08-23, beamendsltd <[email protected]> wrote:

> But no! We have changed the TV licence over, but after 2 weeks we
> get the standard threatening letter to "The Occupier" threatening
> court action.

They can't do anything until they send someone round to find out who
you are and if you really are watching telly, so I wouldn't bother if
I were you. I paid TV license for about 2 years, the rest of the time
I never got visits other than when living in very densly populated
areas. My aerial broke in January and quite frankly TV wasn't worth
the hassle of getting it fixed, I've been TV free since then and don't
miss it. I told them that and I've not had hassle from them since.

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!

On Wed, 23 Aug 2006 10:25:51 +0100, beamendsltd
<[email protected]> wrote:

>In message <9678d45a4e%[email protected]>
> beamendsltd <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Having finally eascaped from Beruit to a lovelly cottage in a
><snip>
>
>>
>
>Oh, and Dell - you lost an order for a PC yesterday - I coudn't
>understand a bloody word the bloke was on about!
>
>Richard


AAARRGGHHHH

DELL

Ordered two identical laptops a couple of weeks back.

Arranged to have them deliverd on Monday.

Gest a call from driver, got your delivery will be with you between
12.00 and 13.00.

Excellent I thought, and the driver appeared on time.

With one laptop.

Rang Dell.

"Nothing to worry about sir. Second one is in a separate shipment
which will be delivered after 17.00 this evening."

HOW CAN IT MAKE SENSE TO SHIP 2 IDENTICAL LAPTOPS, PLACED ON THE SAME
ORDER, IN TWO DELIVERIES 5 HOURS APART?

Still, had a moan at "customer service" and they have pacified me by
sending 2 free printers. Whats the betting they come on two separate
deliveries...

David

In message <[email protected]>
"GrnOval" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> "beamendsltd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:9678d45a4e%[email protected]...
> > Having finally eascaped from Beruit to a lovelly cottage in a
> > delightful village, I've had the wonderous delights of dealing with
> > call centre's for changing addresses. The best so far has been NLT,
> > who were so good at answering the phone that they got dumped and
> > they will *never* blacken my doorstep again. Finaly, all done.
> > But no! We have changed the TV licence over, but after 2 weeks
> > we get the standard threatening letter to "The Occupier" threatening
> > court action. Ringing the number provided resulted in a total of
> > 22 minutes of awful music. After the move, I've got so peed off with
> > this sort of nonsense that I've come up witha new tactic which I shall
> > apply from now on. I will ring twice, on two days, and hold the line
> > for 3 mins on each occasion. If I don't get through, they get one
> > of these.....
>
> I **HATED** the tv license changeover system when I had to do it last year.
> Is it still the dodgy voice recognition thing that tells you what you said?
>

No! Thank god - but Parcel Force have got one that doesn't understand
English!

> The only bit of sense that I got from them was that as long as I had the old
> license, and could prove that I had moved, then if the boys with the
> revolving roof rack turned up then I would be ok.

That's what I was told. Unfortunately Mr. McTaggart must be very
unpopular for some reason, as no one seems to talk to him.

>
> Did you find the "moving house" website? we used it and it was mostly ok,
> you just fill in who your suppliers are and where you're going to and it
> notifies them all, or prints the letter in a way they will understand.
>
> the joys ;-)

I didn't use the site for the TV licence, they are so heavy-handed I
didn't want to risk any mistakes. I tried the NTL "Moving Home" page,
but they don't make any provision for not continuing with them, they
just grab your new address, presumably in the vain hope you will give
up and stay with them. I really can't understand how they have any
customers at all - 15 minutes on hold on 5 occasions, being told
repeatedly how good their customers service is, and how it's
getting better, is probably the biggest wind-up I've ever come across.

NPower were fantastic, they answered the phone, took the details,
closed the old account, opened a new one and put the readings in
on the day we moved. Even Lloyds did a good job - I went into the
branch and got the bloke to change everything, personal and business,
over in one go. Severn Trent - a doddle, their web page was obvioulsy
not done by a "designer" but by someone who knows what's required -
no frills, no bells, no whistles - just the right questions and done.

Stoke-on-Trent city council also don't seem to be able to grasp the
concept of someone leaving the city, so I filled the page in as best
I could - god knows what's going to happen - there's been no feedback
at all so far....

>
> Si
>

Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
RISC-OS - Where have all the good guys gone?
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive

reminds me of a joke about training call centre workers in India - - bear
with me i might not recall it properly. Something along the lines of "to be
able to answer the phone in this call centre you must be able to deal with
UK citizens. To this end we require to test you on your knowledge of
english. please write a sentence with the following colours in it. Green,
Yellow, Blue, Rose, Black,

When the telephone rings, it goes "green green-green green", i answer and
say "yellow" "how are blue" "rose calling please" "do you want a ring black"

oh well, i thought it was funny

Wolfie

rads wrote:
>
> Still, had a moan at "customer service" and they have pacified me by
> sending 2 free printers. Whats the betting they come on two separate
> deliveries...

What's a bet they are 2 different models, and one won't work.

--
EMB

[email protected] wrote:
> reminds me of a joke about training call centre workers in India - -
> bear with me i might not recall it properly. Something along the
> lines of "to be able to answer the phone in this call centre you must
> be able to deal with UK citizens. To this end we require to test you
> on your knowledge of english. please write a sentence with the
> following colours in it. Green, Yellow, Blue, Rose, Black,
>
> When the telephone rings, it goes "green green-green green", i answer
> and say "yellow" "how are blue" "rose calling please" "do you want a
> ring black"
>
> oh well, i thought it was funny
>
> Wolfie

It would be funnier if it wasn't so true!

--
If Your specification is vague or imprecise, you'll likely get what you
asked for not what you wanted!

Do not say it cannot be done, rather what is needed for it to be done!

rads wrote:
> On Wed, 23 Aug 2006 10:25:51 +0100, beamendsltd
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> In message <9678d45a4e%[email protected]>
>> beamendsltd <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> Having finally eascaped from Beruit to a lovelly cottage in a <snip>
>>
>>>
>>
>> Oh, and Dell - you lost an order for a PC yesterday - I coudn't
>> understand a bloody word the bloke was on about!
>>
>> Richard
>
>
> AAARRGGHHHH
>
> DELL
>
> Ordered two identical laptops a couple of weeks back.
>
> Arranged to have them deliverd on Monday.
>
> Gest a call from driver, got your delivery will be with you between
> 12.00 and 13.00.
>
> Excellent I thought, and the driver appeared on time.
>
> With one laptop.
>
> Rang Dell.
>
> "Nothing to worry about sir. Second one is in a separate shipment
> which will be delivered after 17.00 this evening."
>
> HOW CAN IT MAKE SENSE TO SHIP 2 IDENTICAL LAPTOPS, PLACED ON THE SAME
> ORDER, IN TWO DELIVERIES 5 HOURS APART?
>
> Still, had a moan at "customer service" and they have pacified me by
> sending 2 free printers. Whats the betting they come on two separate
> deliveries...
>
> David

And don't actually print!

--
If Your specification is vague or imprecise, you'll likely get what you
asked for not what you wanted!

Do not say it cannot be done, rather what is needed for it to be done!

In message <[email protected]>
rads <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Wed, 23 Aug 2006 10:25:51 +0100, beamendsltd
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >In message <9678d45a4e%[email protected]>
> > beamendsltd <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >> Having finally eascaped from Beruit to a lovelly cottage in a
> ><snip>
> >
> >>
> >
> >Oh, and Dell - you lost an order for a PC yesterday - I coudn't
> >understand a bloody word the bloke was on about!
> >
> >Richard
>
>
> AAARRGGHHHH
>
> DELL
>
> Ordered two identical laptops a couple of weeks back.
>
> Arranged to have them deliverd on Monday.
>
> Gest a call from driver, got your delivery will be with you between
> 12.00 and 13.00.
>
> Excellent I thought, and the driver appeared on time.
>
> With one laptop.
>
> Rang Dell.
>
> "Nothing to worry about sir. Second one is in a separate shipment
> which will be delivered after 17.00 this evening."
>
> HOW CAN IT MAKE SENSE TO SHIP 2 IDENTICAL LAPTOPS, PLACED ON THE SAME
> ORDER, IN TWO DELIVERIES 5 HOURS APART?
>
> Still, had a moan at "customer service" and they have pacified me by
> sending 2 free printers. Whats the betting they come on two separate
> deliveries...
>
> David

They can do better than that! I tried again just now..... finaly
got through ("transfering you to the small business advisor" -
the number I'd just rung from the web site!)......

It says on the web site "Dimension 3100 - £299 + VAT & delivery"

I finaly get the woman to accept I don't want any extras, execpt
McAffee at £21.00 plus VAT. The total miraculously becomes £429.00
- they want £50.00, yes *FITY* pounds, for delivery! + VAT!

Hang on a min, that's *exactly* the same as the "home" price,
which includes McAffee & Delivery! I have to say feel I've
been conned there, that's way beyond even sharp practice!

Needless to say I won't be dealing with them again! No wonder
their results have been disappointing.....

Now, PC World have a suitable system (I only want it run MicroCat
since I tipped coffee in the laptop) for £329 inc VAT. I wonder
where I'll go?

I'm having a really good ranty day to day

Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
RISC-OS - Where have all the good guys gone?
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive

On Wed, 23 Aug 2006 10:25:51 +0100, beamendsltd
<[email protected]> wrote:

>In message <9678d45a4e%[email protected]>
> beamendsltd <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Having finally eascaped from Beruit to a lovelly cottage in a
><snip>
>
>>
>
>Oh, and Dell - you lost an order for a PC yesterday - I coudn't
>understand a bloody word the bloke was on about!

I wouldnt be hugely surprised if dell go bankrupt or similar soon. I
keep seeing stuff on the news saying theyre making a loss - but they
are still useless.
They have lost around 150 orders from me over the last 6 months and
are also quickly loosing custom from many of the other places i supply
mainly due to messed up orders and being hard to deal with. The indian
call centres dont help either
I wanted to buy lots of PC's and they refused to negotiate on
delivery.
The money they wanted just for delivery came to more than it would
have cost me to buy a transit van, then along with a paid employee
drive to ireland and spend a weekend there whilst picking them up..

GbH wrote:

> It would be funnier if it wasn't so true!

And if not for the fact that the people in Indian call centres speak
better english, with a better accent and better understanding of our
geography than those in many of the UK ones 8-(.
Greg

EMB wrote:
> rads wrote:
> >
> > Still, had a moan at "customer service" and they have pacified me by
> > sending 2 free printers. Whats the betting they come on two separate
> > deliveries...
>
> What's a bet they are 2 different models, and one won't work.

The standard procedure when receiving anything from Dell is to shake
the package and if it rattles with broken bits hand it straight back,
in our experience this happens about 50% of the time.

Greg

beamendsltd wrote:
> Having finally eascaped from Beruit to a lovelly cottage in a
> delightful village, I've had the wonderous delights of dealing with
> call centre's for changing addresses.

The simple way to handle it is to forget the telephone, just write to
them. I discovered this when I became a land lord a few years ago, the
letting agent handles the change over between tenants and believe me
they don't spend days on the phone each time, they just write a
standard letter and post it to each utility. The utilities don't like
it because of the cost of handling mail, but have no choice legally.
Greg

Greg wrote:

> The standard procedure when receiving anything from Dell is to shake
> the package and if it rattles with broken bits hand it straight back,
> in our experience this happens about 50% of the time.

That is one of the reasons I don't use Dell stuff any more.


--
EMB

"Ian Rawlings" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 2006-08-23, beamendsltd <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > But no! We have changed the TV licence over, but after 2 weeks we
> > get the standard threatening letter to "The Occupier" threatening
> > court action.
>
> They can't do anything until they send someone round to find out who
> you are and if you really are watching telly, so I wouldn't bother if
> I were you. I paid TV license for about 2 years, the rest of the time
> I never got visits other than when living in very densly populated
> areas. My aerial broke in January and quite frankly TV wasn't worth
> the hassle of getting it fixed, I've been TV free since then and don't
> miss it. I told them that and I've not had hassle from them since.
>

I'm curious about how the TV licence rip-off affects non-electromagnetic
wave propagated signals. I understood that the licence was a licence to
receive television which, up until recently meant you poked an aerial up
onto the chimney, connected the wire and the pictures appeared on the telly.
With so many other methods of receiving moving pictures, digital cable
satellite web-based, I'm wondering if the licence is still valid or whether
we're actually being ripped off because we now don't actually need one
unless you're still using the old aerial/chimney arrangement (whether it be
connected to TV, video recorder, TV tuner card in a PC etc). I can get all
kinds of moving pictures via the internet, including streamed news and other
broadcasts, down the broadband line and which to me seem not to be telly in
the sense of the licence wording. Any ideas?

On 2006-08-23, Steve <[email protected]> wrote:

> I can get all kinds of moving pictures via the internet, including
> streamed news and other broadcasts, down the broadband line and
> which to me seem not to be telly in the sense of the licence
> wording. Any ideas?

ISTR this being covered on the TV licensing website's FAQs, something
like if the streaming media is going out at roughly the same time as
the radio signal then you need a license to receive it as you're
deemed to be receiving the signal by proxy. That's from memory, so
precious little point in asking me to comment further on what I've
just said, as I've shot my load on that subject.

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!

Steve wrote:
> "Ian Rawlings" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>On 2006-08-23, beamendsltd <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>But no! We have changed the TV licence over, but after 2 weeks we
>>>get the standard threatening letter to "The Occupier" threatening
>>>court action.
>>
>>They can't do anything until they send someone round to find out who
>>you are and if you really are watching telly, so I wouldn't bother if
>>I were you. I paid TV license for about 2 years, the rest of the time
>>I never got visits other than when living in very densly populated
>>areas. My aerial broke in January and quite frankly TV wasn't worth
>>the hassle of getting it fixed, I've been TV free since then and don't
>>miss it. I told them that and I've not had hassle from them since.
>>
>
>
> I'm curious about how the TV licence rip-off affects non-electromagnetic
> wave propagated signals. I understood that the licence was a licence to
> receive television which, up until recently meant you poked an aerial up
> onto the chimney, connected the wire and the pictures appeared on the telly.
> With so many other methods of receiving moving pictures, digital cable
> satellite web-based, I'm wondering if the licence is still valid or whether
> we're actually being ripped off because we now don't actually need one
> unless you're still using the old aerial/chimney arrangement (whether it be
> connected to TV, video recorder, TV tuner card in a PC etc). I can get all
> kinds of moving pictures via the internet, including streamed news and other
> broadcasts, down the broadband line and which to me seem not to be telly in
> the sense of the licence wording. Any ideas?
>
>
It all depends on whether the content originates in the UK. Before we
moved away, we had satellite in order to watch EWTN (Catholic
television). Had a nice conversation with a bloke at TV licensing, who
eventually told us that the licence is required to receive any kind of
television type stuff, but only if it is broadcast (or webcast) from
within the UK. So we could watch EWTN (which comes from the US) plus
any number of European channels without paying a licence. Which is
exactly what we did.

Stuart

"Greg" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> GbH wrote:
>
>> It would be funnier if it wasn't so true!
>
> And if not for the fact that the people in Indian call centres speak
> better english, with a better accent and better understanding of our
> geography than those in many of the UK ones 8-(.
> Greg

Provided it's in the script.

Lee D