Tell me what i need to know, and ONLY what I need to know.

United States
March 10, 2017 4:52pm CST
**Rant Alert** When you ask someone something, should they not answer it? Now obviously, sometimes they simply can not answer it. That's fine, that's understandable. However, when you ask someone a specific question, and they answer a question you did not ask? That annoys me. Today's Example. I contacted (through chat) my network's customer service. I was trying to purchase a phone but it would not allow me to do so without purchasing a plan. I contacted the chat service and the conversation went something like this : Me : Hi. I am a prepaid customer and wanted to purchase a replacement phone. Is there anyway for me to remove the prepaid plan from the cart? Customer service: Hi, what's your name? Me: You can answer my above question without looking up any account information. I would be greatly appreciative if you would simply answer my question please. Customer Service: This is postpaid customer service. Customer Service: I would be happy to answer your question. Customer Service: You have to purchase a plan when purchasing a phone online. Is there anything else I can help you with? Well in fact, there is! Yes, okay, I know, I know. You are probably thinking I am just too impatient. Maybe you are thinking I'm just rude. However, I dont' feel the need for "pleasantries" when a simple question has been asked. Did I need to know it was a postpaid chat if you were going to answer my question anyway? No. If you wanted to tell me it was post paid, you could have answered my question and then said "However, this chat is generally geared towards postpaid accounts. We may not always be able to answer your questions." Did they do that? No. They told me something I didn't need to know. I was nice enough. I worded myself in a stern yet pleasant manner. But seriously, if you are answering a question, just answer the question asked. Don't answer things we didn't ask! My parting comment went something like this. Me: You have been most helpful. However, and while I realize this is not your fault, I would be appreciative if you'd forward it to the responsible parties. It is most inconvenient to not allow a customer to purchase a replacement phone online without first needing to purchase a plan. Then I simply clicked off and filled out the survey that always pops up afterwards. By the way, I've ordered a new phone online. I've switched carriers. Yes, I'm particular. Yes, that sometimes makes it seem as if I am rude. I'm not rude though. In this instance, I simply did not think it was necessary to go through the steps of looking up an account when I had a question that did not require you looking into my account.
4 people like this
4 responses
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
10 Mar 17
Call centre people deal with a lot of sh1t so on the rare occasions I phone them I'm ultra nice and find it works for me. Normally I start by saying i'm on payg so can you phone me back and so far they all have!!! Then I'm just nice and polite as I know they've probably had 100 calls where people were nasty. My opinion is that if you phone customer services with any sort of issue be very very nice as the call handler didn't cause the issue but they may be able to sort it and if you're nice many will go out of their way to help. So far I've had 100% success with this strategy!!! so will continue using it
• United States
10 Mar 17
I am usually very very nice. I know how horrible it must be to work in a call center. So I am kind. However, there are times (like above) where I don't have the time to go through all the steps (usually unnecessary). So i try to remain kind. It's like going to a fast food restaurant. If you are rude, how do you know whether or not your food has been spat in? I have a family member who is usually very rude with phone reps. They usually give him a hard time back because of it. Cant' say as I blame them.
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Mar 17
@Mike197602 I do try to phone when I am not busy. My problem is I always end up catching them at the their busiest times. I don't have a social life much either. I work, i come home. Rinse and Repeat. I might see old friends once every three months, if that.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
10 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum I always phone when I'm not busy as often get transferred from place to place One thing for me is I like speaking to them a lot of the time as outside of work I'm totally on my own and don't speak to anyone...having to phone customer services is like part of my social life
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
10 Mar 17
I get your point most times when we call to ask questions we get the same thing. It's annoying and most times it's expected of them to ask it sometimes helps sometimes when they take a look at your account they can extend you special things other customers won't get.
• United States
10 Mar 17
I understand that. I can even tolerate it most of the time. Sometimes, however, you just don't want to be "sold to".
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
11 Mar 17
Ok, so my pet peeve.. people who call me and have to give me details about things that have no relevance to the problem... or maybe they do have relevance but it doesn't much matter to me. For instance, when someone asks the balance of their account and then goes on and on about what the money is to be used for. I can give you your balance without knowing your life story. Or they call to say they've lost their debit card, and verbally retrace their steps so that I know everywhere their debit card might be. I don't care!! I'll order you a new dang card.. move on!
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
10 Mar 17
You are not impatient, you are busy. People waste our time with info they are required to tell us whether we want to hear it or not. Hope you like your new carrier.
• United States
10 Mar 17
I went with metropcs. When the phone gets here I will see about either trying to retain my same number or simply getting a new one. When I contacted metropcs before they said something about giving them my account number with verizon? I didnt think that made any sense. I will figure it out when the phone arrives. I do realize that the customer service people are made to use specific phrases etc, but well there are case by case basis. I was already annoyed that I went through the trouble of picking between phones. Of course they didn't know that, and that's why I was as pleasant as I was. A lot of places now are simply geared toward marketing more products. It's annoying. I don't want to be sold to when I contact a service with a simple question. You already have my business, don't turn me away by wasitng my time. Oh well, theyv'e already turned me away.