Closely aligned to Jeff's groan about Automated Call Handling Systems - Call Centres are a real pain.
When you eventually get to a human being it is usually in a call centre in some far off foriegn land. The operator, God Bless them, has very little grasp of English and will answer your query from a script. If your query is one that is not on the script then you (and they) are completely lost.
I am not having a go at the operators, honest, their grasp of English is far better then my grasp of their language - it is the mother organisations that locate their call centres in the cheapest labour market. Don't they realise the frustration that we have calling a call centre to try and explain our problems, and the frustration the operator must have trying to understand the various English accents and solve the problem.
Come on those companies that use call centres - think of the needs of your customers before you think of the excess profits.
PROFITS WILL REDUCE IF WE DECIDE NOT TO BUY YOUR PRODUCT BECAUSE THE AFTER SALES SUPPORT IS POOR!
Saturday, December 31, 2005
DISCOURTEOUS DRIVERS
Wouldn't the roads be more pleasant to driver and, I dare say, safer if every driver just had a little consideration for other road users?
I was out in the car today driving along minding my own business when a clown coming toward me decided the learner driver in front of him was going to slow. So Mr Impatient veers out into the centre of the road and overtakes causing me and all the others behind me to brake to let him through. All he needed to do was to wait and show a little consideration for the learner - can't he remember when he was learning?
Usually I grump about women drivers but this time the driver was male! - don't worry I am sure the female of the species and her driving habits will feature here shortly!
I was out in the car today driving along minding my own business when a clown coming toward me decided the learner driver in front of him was going to slow. So Mr Impatient veers out into the centre of the road and overtakes causing me and all the others behind me to brake to let him through. All he needed to do was to wait and show a little consideration for the learner - can't he remember when he was learning?
Usually I grump about women drivers but this time the driver was male! - don't worry I am sure the female of the species and her driving habits will feature here shortly!
Thursday, December 29, 2005
AUTOMATED CALL HANDLING SYSTEMS
Contribution from another Moaning Old Git - Thanks again Jeff
Nothing gets my back up more than phoning companies and having to go through their queuing and menu selection. firstly many of these numbers 0870 for example cost much more than a standard call so they are making money out of our request to speak with them. Then they make even more money by putting a long message on that you have to listen to before you even get the chance to choose an option. I do not want to wait while they tell me that the call may be recorded for training purposes etc etc etc.
What a pain having to listen to the menu selections with the worst companies sometimes having three or four sub levels of menus. I can see that in some cases menus will help but am I the only one that seems to have a query that never fits in with offered menu selections.
Sometime as yesterday I got through the menu selection process just to be told that they were too busy to take my call,why could they have not said that at the beginning. Even more irritating is the meaningless message saying we know you are waiting, we are experiencing a higher than normal amount of calls, your call is important to us, etc etc If they really value the call get someone to answer the f------ phone.
Nothing gets my back up more than phoning companies and having to go through their queuing and menu selection. firstly many of these numbers 0870 for example cost much more than a standard call so they are making money out of our request to speak with them. Then they make even more money by putting a long message on that you have to listen to before you even get the chance to choose an option. I do not want to wait while they tell me that the call may be recorded for training purposes etc etc etc.
What a pain having to listen to the menu selections with the worst companies sometimes having three or four sub levels of menus. I can see that in some cases menus will help but am I the only one that seems to have a query that never fits in with offered menu selections.
Sometime as yesterday I got through the menu selection process just to be told that they were too busy to take my call,why could they have not said that at the beginning. Even more irritating is the meaningless message saying we know you are waiting, we are experiencing a higher than normal amount of calls, your call is important to us, etc etc If they really value the call get someone to answer the f------ phone.
A TOUCH OF SNOW
Contribution from Another Moaning Old Git - thanks Jeff
Why is it at the top of the main news when Kent get a few inches of snow?, at the best it warrants a short mention, at the worst it is very south of England biased, it is unlikely that we, in Scotland will get a mention after today's snow. Also why cannot people cope with snow nowadays, we get a few inches and life as we know it seems to come to almost a halt. Must be an age thing I remember when we had snow up to the roof level several time during the winter yet we still got to work on time.
The other irritating thing with the news is the habit of sending reporters to stand at the location of the subject of the article even if it adds nothing to the report, the poor old reporter will be standing in front of some town hall doing an article about bin collection and with no one to interview, they might as well have stayed in the studio.
Why is it at the top of the main news when Kent get a few inches of snow?, at the best it warrants a short mention, at the worst it is very south of England biased, it is unlikely that we, in Scotland will get a mention after today's snow. Also why cannot people cope with snow nowadays, we get a few inches and life as we know it seems to come to almost a halt. Must be an age thing I remember when we had snow up to the roof level several time during the winter yet we still got to work on time.
The other irritating thing with the news is the habit of sending reporters to stand at the location of the subject of the article even if it adds nothing to the report, the poor old reporter will be standing in front of some town hall doing an article about bin collection and with no one to interview, they might as well have stayed in the studio.
DO IT YOURSELF
Why is it that no matter what job you tackle - it is never simple? There is always some little thing that goes wrong and gives you more work, extends your swear vocabulary or leads to other jobs to be done.
AND
to make matters worse, why is that women never understand the complexity of the job that they suggest needs doing.
Hanging a Picture (To a Woman) get picture - hang it - job done (2 mins),
Hanging a Picture (Reality) - Find power drill and a sharp drill (kids have probably borrowed one or other) locate chuck key (someone tidied it up after the last DIY job and can't remember where they put it!). Drill hole, find suitably sized rawlplug and hammer to insert it (kids have hammer so use an old shoe heel!). Find screw and screw driver and screw in the screw to the rawlplug inserted in hole. Go to hang picture and find that there is no hanging mechanism on the back so have to find eye screws and some twine. Creat the hanging string and hang picture on the wall. Check with she who must be obeyed and it could do with being a little higher - adjust hanging twine - it snaps and one of the eye screws comes off in your hand as you tighten the twine. Repair and rehang. Picture hung to everyones satisfaction, however the dust from the drill needs to be vacuumed - find vacuum try to remember how to use it and clear up mess. Collect all the tools and put them back in toolbox ready for next little task - job done (1 hour 45 mins)
AND
to make matters worse, why is that women never understand the complexity of the job that they suggest needs doing.
Hanging a Picture (To a Woman) get picture - hang it - job done (2 mins),
Hanging a Picture (Reality) - Find power drill and a sharp drill (kids have probably borrowed one or other) locate chuck key (someone tidied it up after the last DIY job and can't remember where they put it!). Drill hole, find suitably sized rawlplug and hammer to insert it (kids have hammer so use an old shoe heel!). Find screw and screw driver and screw in the screw to the rawlplug inserted in hole. Go to hang picture and find that there is no hanging mechanism on the back so have to find eye screws and some twine. Creat the hanging string and hang picture on the wall. Check with she who must be obeyed and it could do with being a little higher - adjust hanging twine - it snaps and one of the eye screws comes off in your hand as you tighten the twine. Repair and rehang. Picture hung to everyones satisfaction, however the dust from the drill needs to be vacuumed - find vacuum try to remember how to use it and clear up mess. Collect all the tools and put them back in toolbox ready for next little task - job done (1 hour 45 mins)
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
PASSPORT OF CONVENIENCE
So there is this Australian with an English mother who is locked up at Gantanemo Bay having been lifted fighting for the Taliban. He has suddenly decided he wants to hold a British Passport because he believes that he has a better chance of release if the British Government are fighting for him.
OK I can accept that there are some of the detainees there that maybe shouldn't be, but if he falls into this category then the Australian Government would be puilling out all the stops for him wouldn't they?
Sorry this guy made his bed and he should be made to lie on it. If he is not a terrorist then let the Australian Government fight for him and re-patriate him to their country, let's not waste my taxes debating whether he is a British Citizen or not when we are deporting scores of good professional people such as doctors and dentists - of whom there is not even a hint of being involved with terrorism - just because their visas have run out.
OK I can accept that there are some of the detainees there that maybe shouldn't be, but if he falls into this category then the Australian Government would be puilling out all the stops for him wouldn't they?
Sorry this guy made his bed and he should be made to lie on it. If he is not a terrorist then let the Australian Government fight for him and re-patriate him to their country, let's not waste my taxes debating whether he is a British Citizen or not when we are deporting scores of good professional people such as doctors and dentists - of whom there is not even a hint of being involved with terrorism - just because their visas have run out.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
WINNIE THE POOH
Just shows how little things can get us upset as well as the bg ones!
Disney are going to replace Christopher Robin with a girlie character in the latest Winnie the Pooh cartoon. WHY????
Apparently it could be because dragging a teddy bear around the house is not a manly thing to do or it could be because of the old gender issue that to use only a male character disenfranchises the female of our race.......what a load of tosh.
If, 80 years ago, AA Milne had meant that a little girl would pull the bear around he would have written it that way. Lets not try to airbrush out history. As someone said today - Disney needs Winnie the Pooh more than Winnie the Pooh needs Disney.
LEAVE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN ALONE!!!!!
Disney are going to replace Christopher Robin with a girlie character in the latest Winnie the Pooh cartoon. WHY????
Apparently it could be because dragging a teddy bear around the house is not a manly thing to do or it could be because of the old gender issue that to use only a male character disenfranchises the female of our race.......what a load of tosh.
If, 80 years ago, AA Milne had meant that a little girl would pull the bear around he would have written it that way. Lets not try to airbrush out history. As someone said today - Disney needs Winnie the Pooh more than Winnie the Pooh needs Disney.
LEAVE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN ALONE!!!!!
Friday, December 23, 2005
THE NATIONAL (ILL)HEALTH SERVICE
Why is it you can't find an NHS dentist - they are like hen's teeth ('scuse the pun!)
All the dentists in our area are going private and I have to take out insurance or pay through the nose (??) for treatment.
What is my Tax and National Insurance paying for these days? Do I get a rebate for that little bit of it that is supposed to pay for the health of my teeth...somehow I don't think the Chancellor gives rebates!
And how is that I have to book a doctors appointment about four weeks in advance of getting ill. If I could foretell the future, I would play the lottery........then I could afford the costs to go PRIVATE!!!
All the dentists in our area are going private and I have to take out insurance or pay through the nose (??) for treatment.
What is my Tax and National Insurance paying for these days? Do I get a rebate for that little bit of it that is supposed to pay for the health of my teeth...somehow I don't think the Chancellor gives rebates!
And how is that I have to book a doctors appointment about four weeks in advance of getting ill. If I could foretell the future, I would play the lottery........then I could afford the costs to go PRIVATE!!!
TV
Why do we have hundreds of TV channels and they are all playing repeats, TV shopping or American chat or reality shows. I have just scanned all my channels and there is NOTHING on!
DEATH
Why is it nice people die but some really horrible people live to a ripe old age?
My Aunt died today and she was a young 60 something - and enjoyed life to much to give it up. My mate died last month and he was only 48, fit as a fiddle and a decent human being. The last two nights in the local paper there have been two different stories of young people being taken from thier loved ones.
It isn't fair but it just goes to show ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY 'CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW HOLDS
My Aunt died today and she was a young 60 something - and enjoyed life to much to give it up. My mate died last month and he was only 48, fit as a fiddle and a decent human being. The last two nights in the local paper there have been two different stories of young people being taken from thier loved ones.
It isn't fair but it just goes to show ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY 'CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW HOLDS
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS
The Sunday papers last week highlighted how daft we were becoming in trying to satisfy everyones sensitivities! Can't we just live and let live, accept our differences and celebrate them.
Apparently celebrating Christmas might upset some of our Muslim friends so we have to now refer to it as Celebrating the winter season. What a load of rot. I have spoken to muslim frineds and the christian celebrations do not upset them as, indeed, them celebrating Ramadan does not upset me.
We can't refer to "blackboards", "chairman", "old age pensioners", "paddies, jocks or taffies" etc etc. Where does it stop??
Now I am not suggesting that we should still use terminology that is genuinely offensive but come on we have gone far to far with censorship. Let's enjoy the fact that we are all different, let's get a sense of humour injection and lighten up a bit. LIFE IS TO SHORT to keep watching your p's and q's in case the thought police get ya!
Apparently celebrating Christmas might upset some of our Muslim friends so we have to now refer to it as Celebrating the winter season. What a load of rot. I have spoken to muslim frineds and the christian celebrations do not upset them as, indeed, them celebrating Ramadan does not upset me.
We can't refer to "blackboards", "chairman", "old age pensioners", "paddies, jocks or taffies" etc etc. Where does it stop??
Now I am not suggesting that we should still use terminology that is genuinely offensive but come on we have gone far to far with censorship. Let's enjoy the fact that we are all different, let's get a sense of humour injection and lighten up a bit. LIFE IS TO SHORT to keep watching your p's and q's in case the thought police get ya!
CHILD LABOUR
I was down at the local supermarket today and the sales assistants seem to be getting younger - in fact I am now going to call Somerfields - Bugsy Malones!
None of these kids seem to know anything about customer service. They stand and chat with each other, ignoring customers and, even when you do cough loudly and indicate that you want to "checkout", they carry on speaking to their mates as they scan your groceries, totally disinterested in the customer.
Come on Kids give us a smile and speak to us...after all WE PAY YOUR WAGES!!!!!!!!!!!
None of these kids seem to know anything about customer service. They stand and chat with each other, ignoring customers and, even when you do cough loudly and indicate that you want to "checkout", they carry on speaking to their mates as they scan your groceries, totally disinterested in the customer.
Come on Kids give us a smile and speak to us...after all WE PAY YOUR WAGES!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's all moan
The older we get the more things there are that cause us to moan!!!
Me and Mrs Moaningoldgit were having a daily bitching session about the news and life in general when I said - maybe we should build a website to vent our spleen or at least start a moaning blog.
Then I went to visit Granny Moaningoldgit who started moaning about a whole pile of things.....so here it is.
This is the place to get the daily moans off your chest. Whatever it is, no matter how trivial it may seem - give it a blast let's share our moans and frustrations with other moaning old gits throughout the world.....and if you don't that will be just typical of the world today....no-one wants to take responsibility for their own moans!
Me and Mrs Moaningoldgit were having a daily bitching session about the news and life in general when I said - maybe we should build a website to vent our spleen or at least start a moaning blog.
Then I went to visit Granny Moaningoldgit who started moaning about a whole pile of things.....so here it is.
This is the place to get the daily moans off your chest. Whatever it is, no matter how trivial it may seem - give it a blast let's share our moans and frustrations with other moaning old gits throughout the world.....and if you don't that will be just typical of the world today....no-one wants to take responsibility for their own moans!
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