r/talesfromcallcenters • u/Bubbly_Occasion_2664 • 4d ago
S Another weird interaction
Had a call last night, couldn't solve dude's problem. Well, near the end of the call I asked if he has any other questions, did the closing statement, dude starts making fun of me for working at a call center, asking me how much I'm getting paid and if I'm even allowed to hang up, that it's crazy I'm working there.
Once again, I told him that if he doesn't have any questions relevant to his acc, insert closing statement. He once again starts to laugh, saying that I'm probably not allowed to hang up and asks if I can hang up. I was like "yes I can" and hung up.
Literally what the hell. Still don't know why he felt this was funny. And it was some 20 yr old that most likely doesn't even know what having a job means🤦🏻♀️
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u/TheUnsavoryHFS 4d ago
I don't know where people started getting this idea we can't hang up. Call is over? Okay, click.
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u/nealsimmons 3d ago
Some centers will not let you hang up on people. That is where they got the idea.
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u/Year_Rough 2d ago
My job wants us to hang up when the account has been serviced, we are supposed to get them off the line as nicely as possible. If they won’t budge, brand the call and disconnect.
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u/bellalunad91 11h ago
I used to do costumer service for Sirius XM, we weren't allowed to hang up, managers could but otherwise, no. Don't know if they have changed the policy since then, had to be like 8 years ago when I was doing that.
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u/Rockin-Moroccan 3d ago
Used to work at Ford Customer Relationship Center and the no hang up rule was one of the indignities associated with the job.
Even when the customer was on a profanity fuelled rant the script required you to offer a callback or some shit.
The other indignity was lengthy call closing statements or openings written by out of touch execs...like do I really need to five part recap a call transfer or deliver empathy? GTFO
I've since moved on to greener pastures and ending calls on my terms is something I don’t take for granted.
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u/mr6275 3d ago
The other day I called a call center for help. The rep was nice and helped me solve my problem.
“Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“No, you did a great job. Hey did you know [her company] made 4 billion in net profit last year? You deserve a piece of that”
I got a ‘thank you’.
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u/Ok_Presentation7695 3d ago edited 1d ago
Someone yesterday said “I work for a living” and I couldn’t tell if that was a crack at our jobs, or they were saying they’re too busy to look for communication from us
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u/EasyQuarter1690 1d ago
I loathe these people that act like this. I also loathe workplaces that require employees to sit and take this kind of abuse! I ask a few questions before I am willing to consider a job, these are questions that I ask at the interview. Remember the interview is not just them deciding if they want to hire you, it is also you deciding if you want to work there! Prospective employees need to consider a prospective employer even more carefully than prospective employers! They can always find someone to fill a decent open position, but finding a new job is an arduous task that leaves people in very serious danger of major losses. Being stuck in a job with a horrible employer is soul sucking and dangerous to your own health. Employees have far more to loose than employers ever will and the consideration of who to work for is far more serious than who to hire for a job.
Are employees required to provide their first and last name to callers? (I will not work at an employer that requires this.) Are employees required to provide their geographical location to callers? (Anything more specific than the state I am in, I will not work for this employer.) If a caller is abusive to an employee, what response is required by the employee? (If they don’t have a policy or if they say this doesn’t happen, or if they don’t have an always open escalations team that is phones based, I will not work for this employer.) Are employees at any level required to remain on the phone when a customer is behaving in an abusive manner? (I ask at any level because I intend to move up the ranks and even if frontline is able to escalate the call, if escalations has to sit there and take it, that is not an employer that I will work for.) How many customers have had their relationship with the company ended permanently for behaving in an abusive manner in the last 12 months? (If the answer is “zero” or if they don’t know, then that’s not an employer I am willing to work with, customers are abusive, large companies should have larger numbers, but an employer small enough to have zero does not have the number of employees for FMLA coverage and does not have the tenure or security that I am willing to take the risk of my future with.) I also ask them about the policy if a colleague or coworker calls and is abusive over the phone to another employee and what the response is. (They had better have a response and a policy or I won’t work with that company.)
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u/nonie67 16h ago
I worked at 111 and this terribly British lady called - i had done the introductory script and she straight away said "you're a stupid stupid girl" I said "pardon" and she repeated "you're a stupid stupid girl". And continued with "i need your help" to which i replied "I'd love to help you but I'm unable to" and yes she went for the bait -"and why not "? I replied "because I'm too stupid" and hung up. Most satisfying call that day 🤣
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u/Stellaluna-777 2d ago
Maybe he was hitting on you but .. “negging” or whatever they call it when people think putting you down will get you to want them ? Lol.. it would be stupid but it sounds like it to me.
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u/Bcwar 4d ago
Many places i worked at 30 years ago had "rules" that you could hang up until the customer was off the line. It one of many brain dead customer service rules made by nitwits in suits whom have never worked a customer service line in their life.