What would you do?
By tmlnmr
@tmlnmr (1850)
Canada
June 20, 2007 11:13am CST
I have contacted my phone company today and I was forwarded to a machine, as usual, anyway another machine came on stating that the wait time to speak with a representative would be 20-26 minutes. Ughhhhh. Then I got a surprise and it continued to say that if I wanted a call back when it was my turn I could do this and it continued to say that if I chose to do this then I would not lose my place in line. I thought You have got to be kidding me! You mean I can just hang up and go on with life and wait for the 20+ min until you call me back? I don't have to sit on the phone and listen to your dumb music? That is awesome! So when they asked if I wanted to do this to press 1 of course I did. Then I realized you had to give them your number, which makes sense, and say who you were and 20+ min.,in my case, later they will call me. So have anyone out there experienced this before? What did you do? Is it a good idea or would you be afraid of getting lost and them not calling back. Do tell! :))
4 people like this
12 responses
@molacuk (2)
•
21 Jun 07
Phone companys are the worst for these types of things best thing to do is just keep pushing at it and never give up sadly there is no way they will call you back and if they do it will be a amasing moment that you should cherish lol
I would sujest just keep trying and trying till they get sick of the phone ringing and answer it
1 person likes this
@tmlnmr (1850)
• Canada
21 Jun 07
Hey molacuk, welcome here! I have a problem with being pushy like that I will either stay on the line or I will forget it. What I really hate is when it is close to the end of the day and once it hits a certain time they just put you to a recording saying they aren't taking anymore calls. I know it is necessary but come on! Sit there for 10 minutes then get this recording? That makes me so mad! Thanks for the comment.:)
@meljessxena (2315)
• Australia
21 Jun 07
i have never heard such a thing before. that would be awesome though if i could do that to the amount of places that i ring up and have to wait and usually its way more than 20 minutes. i spose theres always the chance of them not calling back
1 person likes this
@tmlnmr (1850)
• Canada
21 Jun 07
With this system there is no way they don't call you back because it isn't the rep. that calls you it is the system when you are next in line to talk to a rep. So the computer, that you have put the info in as to your number and name, just dials it at the right time. I can remember sitting on hold all the time for long periods of time and was so frustrated when they finally got to me and with this system in place I am calm because I get to do whatever while waiting instead of sitting and waisting time. Thanks for the comment. :)
@Michele21 (3093)
• United States
21 Jun 07
I would definitely try it out!! Who wants to wait holding the phone for 20+ minutes?? Not me!! I hope they did call you back though..I would worry about that!!
1 person likes this
@puchapox (579)
• Philippines
21 Jun 07
I thought I'll give u another perspective..
I worked in a call center for 2 years and we receive calls for an electronics company. There really are days when calls are overflowing that the automated voice has to direct them to a voicemail or a website for a quicker reply.
My advise is for you to wait, leave a voice message, make sure the message is clear, and wait some more. :)
I guarantee that you will get a call back, because companies value their customers, and are true to their word.
1 person likes this
@tmlnmr (1850)
• Canada
21 Jun 07
hey good to hear from the other end of the line! I know there can be an overwhelming number of calls and I commend you because I don't know if I could do it. I wasn't actually talking about being redirected to a voicemail though. This system lets you hang up and you keep your place in line and when you are next in line then it will call you and get you ready for the next rep. that is available. It is really an amazing setup and not nearly as frustrating for the customer all companies should implement this option in my opinion. When a customer waits for that long on the phone they are upset or angry by the time they get to talk to anyone which doesn't help the situation any. I will leave a message if directed to a voicemail and if a website is available I will also go to that for my sanity as well. Thanks for your comment.
@bundybabe8669 (27)
• Australia
21 Jun 07
i think its a good idea no one likes being on hold..and if they dont call you bak u can always call them and abuse them
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
20 Jun 07
There are a few companies here that have the service. I always use it and have always been called back. Not sure if it works that way with everyone though or if I am just lucky.
1 person likes this
@usmcsgtwife (4997)
• United States
20 Jun 07
depending on the wait time, I usally just wait. I would be afraid they would not call back.. But I usally make my husband call so he has to wait LOL
1 person likes this
@tmlnmr (1850)
• Canada
20 Jun 07
LOL we are the opposite I do all the calling. My hubby claims to hate talking on the phone even though it is always for him. The system is good for calling back it is not an actual person just the system when you are next inline. Comes in handy. Thanks for the comment.
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
20 Jun 07
I am stubborn so when I want to get a hold of a company, I just hold the phone with my shoulder and continue with what I was doing until they picked up. No way would I give them my number and have them call me back. Callbacks, I have found, are conveniently missed or an error occurred. So I just stay with it until they answer.
1 person likes this
@tmlnmr (1850)
• Canada
20 Jun 07
Good point and I wouldn't give my number to just any company but this one was the phone company so they actually already had my phone number. I will see if they call back and if not I will call again and stay on the line. Thanks for the comment.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
20 Jun 07
I do think the waiting time is preposterous. That long!!
But I think that you might have misinterpreted what you heard. They didn't mean that they will call you back in 20 min. They mean they will call you AT THEIR LEISURE - and this could mean days if you are lucky.
Unless I can wait indefinitely and don't mind to be just left hanging like that, I won't ask them to call me back. Too much uncertainty! I will just hold or call back again myself, later.
1 person likes this
@tmlnmr (1850)
• Canada
20 Jun 07
Yes wait times are definitely preposterous! LOL it is not a person who calls back it is the system when you are next inline. It did callback within the time frame and because I got to spend that time on here it didn't seem so long. LOL. If it is only a few minutes wait then I stay on the line as well. Thanks for the comment.:)
@magicalmerlin (1623)
•
20 Jun 07
I am surprised how many people would wait 20 mins to get through - are they paying for that time? I have other things I would rather be doing so would wait for the call back. That is when computerized systems are really useful. How excellent that it will call you back when it is your turn then they are paying for the call as well. I hope you got sorted out whatever it was you needed.
Lots of places have online sites now so people can e-mail their messages.
@tmlnmr (1850)
• Canada
20 Jun 07
So am I really surprised at that. I have alot of patience but if I don't have to I won't wait like that. I wasn't paying for the time on this call but I have had to call places where I was paying and got put on hold for what seemed like forever. I did get it sorted out and it was important so I would have waited if I needed to. Thank goodness I didn't have to. I needed to speak to someone right away and the online sight only had the email not the live contact so I couldn't use it. All is good now! LOL Thanks for the comment.
@tina12679 (1126)
• United States
20 Jun 07
I have done this many times. There is this one place i have to call from time to time to change account thing and when you do they always have a high call volume so they do that and sure enough in around the estimated time they say they will call you they do and you not waiting listening to the stupid music. If every place i called and had to wait on the line for the next available representative i would do it everytime. But i would still definitly make sure that i kept an eye on the clock to make sure i got the call back in the appropriate time and then if i didnt then i would have to call them and wait on the line and let them know however that i didnt get my call back.
1 person likes this
