Have you ever heard the words "We are experiencing an unusually high call volume"?

@TheHorse (226543)

Walnut Creek, California

April 24, 2025 1:24pm CST

I am on hold right now with an entity that I need to interact with. I have been on hold for about twenty minutes. The "relaxing" music I am listening to may be Mozart. Fifteen minutes ago, my estimated wait time was ten minutes. Now, it is ten minutes. This is mathematically odd to me. The other message I keep hearing is about them experiencing "an unusually high call volume." I have been hearing the same message for close to 20 years. At what point does the message "We are experiencing an unusually high call volume" yield to "We are experiencing a high call volume," or perhaps "We make it as hard as possible for people to get through to us?" At least I am not dealing with my medical provider today. I find it ironic that medical providers make it hard to get through to them, while the stress induced by this difficulty increases depression, anxiety, and high blood pressure, leading to increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and going ballistic with an AK-47. Have you ever heard the words "We are experiencing an unusually high call volume"?

11 people like this

10 responses

@DaddyEvil (148472)

• United States

24 Apr

Nope... I'm almost positive that everybody reserves that message for you alone, pony...

I don't think you'd hear it as often if you became a better customer.

I hope you get a live person soon.

3 people like this

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@DaddyEvil (148472)

• United States

24 Apr

Sorry if I burst one of your bubbles.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

24 Apr

Dang! I was hoping to do a post that was "relatable."

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Apr

@DaddyEvil I believe that stoplights are after me as well.

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@rakski (136449)

• Philippines

25 Apr

huh! that is what I always hear when calling any customer service here

2 people like this

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@rakski (136449)

• Philippines

25 Apr

@TheHorse it depends on the company but most of the time it sounds robotic, you know?

@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Apr

@rakski I usually have to talk to bots before I get to a human.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Apr

I am glad to hear I am not alone. Do you at least get messages that sound like the person speaks Tagalog or English?

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@celticeagle (174597)

• Boise, Idaho

24 Apr

Yes, I sure have. With all the staff shortages nowadays around the country, it is hard to say what is going on. Have you tried calling very early? Sometimes that is the way to get someone. First thing, before things get crazy.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Apr

If they hired more staff, would unemployment numbers go down?

1 person likes this

@celticeagle (174597)

• Boise, Idaho

25 Apr

@TheHorse .......You'd think so.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

26 Apr

@celticeagle Isn't that an easy solution?

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@kaylachan (77579)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

24 Apr

Only every single time I have to try and do literally anything online.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

24 Apr

It is sad that they DON'T want us interacting with them.

1 person likes this

@kaylachan (77579)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

24 Apr

@TheHorse I know we cost money and no one wants to spend it.

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@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Apr

@kaylachan I find it especially sad when it is a medical provider.

@wolfgirl569 (116208)

• Marion, Ohio

24 Apr

Too often I have heard it.

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@wolfgirl569 (116208)

• Marion, Ohio

25 Apr

@TheHorse doubt it

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

10 May

@wolfgirl569 They are lured into complacency.

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@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Apr

I wonder if "young people" realize it wasn't always this way.

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@JudyEv (353594)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Apr

Yes, I've heard this but only on occasion. Sometimes it's 'Your call is important to us blah blah'.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Apr

That's a funny one: "Your call is important to us."

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@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

26 Apr

@JudyEv It is common here as well I think it would be funny if there were an "honesty week" in bot communications. "Your money is important to us." "We save money by not hiring more people. You call will be answered in 37 minutes." "We honestly hope you will just give up." A little humor might make the world a better place.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (353594)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr

@TheHorse It's common to hear that here.

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@AmbiePam (98310)

• United States

24 Apr

Nowadays I usually hear something else, but very similar. I’m never on hold longer than with a government agency, followed by my cardiologist.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

24 Apr

Government agencies are good at putting people on hold.

1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (189657)

• United States

24 Apr

Ugh, some of the most aggravating words in the English language.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

24 Apr

Yep.

1 person likes this

@RasmaSandra (85096)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

24 Apr

I sure have and it always annoys me,

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

24 Apr

It is so odd to me, as an "older man," that this is the norm now. Make your life miserable, so long as we're making/saving more money. What ever happened to Christian/Jewish/Secular Humanist values?

1 person likes this

@xFiacre (13610)

• Ireland

24 Apr

@thehorse Those words really mean “We haven’t hired enough staff to deal with our customers because it’s cheaper to just employ Edna from HR’s granny and there’s no way callers know we’ve done that”.

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@TheHorse (226543)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Apr

Yep. I should do a study on how many humans they have ready when you want to sign up for their service, verses how many they have to serve you once you've signed up.

1 person likes this