This has happened to all of us at one point in time. You have a question regarding an account and you dial the number listed. First some automated machine answers and gives you a load of options to press on your keypad from 1 – 9 and right at the very end it will tell you to press 0 on the keypad to speak to a consultant.

Why not make that the first option????? I mean how many of us really have a query regarding off-shore investments with our banks? Most of our problems comes from owing the banks and they overcharged us. So yes, I want to speak to someone.

Then comes the dreaded line: “we are experiencing high call volumes, please be patient, your call is important to us”

Now, I want to break that down for you:

1 – why do they only experience high call volumes when I call? Even when its 11 pm, I think the whole country decided, hey wait, I’ll call at 11 pm cause then no one else will be calling. (I think it’s more a conspiracy from government against me cause I downloaded some wikileaks content) but that’s just me.

2 – don’t tell me to be patient. rather ask me politely to be patient. you don’t tell me you robot you.

3 – why is my call important to anyone? what would they do with the fact that I am holding? do they get paid more? (maybe they are in bed with the telecoms operators wanting to keep me holding for longer to suit their pockets)

So to all companies that have call centres: employ more staff as service will go a very long way for you future business and the staff that you do have, more work and less tea breaks.

Why then do I still put up with such bad service you might ask, well that’s easy, with the recession as it is, no one else will give me credit. bah humbug!!!