This is my first ‘Mr Angry’ post in a while.
But, here goes…. RANT on!!!
I just received a phone call for Wendy (the missus).
I picked up the phone, said….
‘Hello?’
silence…
‘Hello?!’
click…
‘Hello, may I speak to Mrs Morris please?’
ARGHHH….. flippin’ call centres.
I hate that 5-10 seconds. I really do. We should do something about it.
That pause was because the call centre operators do NOT ring the number. Their computer rings, listens to the line, and when I answer, and it detects that there is a PERSON on the end of the line, it THEN (and only then) looks for someone to talk to me, and connects me to them.
All very efficient, but it is based upon the idea that THEIR time is worth more than mine, and they can waste MY time (admittedly only 10 seconds or so).
Now, SOMETIMES, their computer system will not have anyone to answer at that particular second. And you know what it does? Does it apologise? no, does it play a message saying it will call back? NO, it flippin HANGS UP. Institutionalised SILICON RUDENESS!
But I say NO! I say, my time is worth more to me! This is my windmill. This is my cause.
If I receive that call in the future, I don’t know exactly how it’s going to go…
I am considering a number of strategies.
1) As soon as I don’t hear a voice, I HANG UP.
2) Refuse to connect the human (once on the line) until I have talked to a supervisor and explained my position, and that NO phone call with a 10 second silence will be countenanced in the future, THEN hang up.