I just had an incredible experience! Maybe I am not in Hell!
By The Horse
@TheHorse (207511)
Walnut Creek, California
April 2, 2024 2:42pm CST
I sometimes consider the possibility that I have already died and gone to Hell. I spend more time on hold than I do kissing pretty girls. I am owed $1150 by someone from a foreign country that I did a bunch of pro bono work for (in addition to some paid work). A malignant narcissist is running for President of the United States. Kids can rob Walgreens (pharmacy) stores here with absolutely no consequences.
But all of that is forgotten this morning. I had an experience that I've only had perhaps three times in the past five years: I called a phone number for help about something, was only on hold for half an hour, and got to speak with someone who spoke English and knew what he was doing. Have you ever had an experience like this? Even in the past five years? (Insert your native language if is not English.)
I spoke with someone at Social Security who told me how much I'd get if I applied for Social Security now, how I can do so, and how I should deal with the computer screw up that has left me on hold for hours trying to figure out how to get my Medicare autopay working properly again.
Short of a car crash that leaves me alive but paralyzed, I don't think it would be easy to ruin my day. I get to teach at Guitar Center this afternoon.
Have you ever spoken to a Customer Service representative who spoke your language and was competent? I hope this is the beginning of a good roll.
17 people like this
16 responses
@snowy22315 (171277)
• United States
2 Apr
Yes, sometimes..but you usually have to wait on hold for them a long time.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (171277)
• United States
3 Apr
@TheHorse Everybody who works for my current ISP seems to be Hispanic.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (207511)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Apr
@snowy22315 Most Hispanics here in California speak decent English.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53941)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Apr
Such an experience might have made me faint 
. I got the taste of both sides last year when making a zillion calls to help my mother out. The incompetent ones were a nightmare to deal with. The completely competent ones were a "pinch me, is this for real" moment - and yah, life felt good after that.
. I got the taste of both sides last year when making a zillion calls to help my mother out. The incompetent ones were a nightmare to deal with. The completely competent ones were a "pinch me, is this for real" moment - and yah, life felt good after that.1 person likes this
@kaylachan (58995)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Apr
rarely. But then I typically avoid having to deal with customer service because many try my patience.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (58995)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3 Apr
@TheHorse I can do mine online. I perfer it that way.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (207511)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Apr
@kaylachan I am not as competent as you on-line. I always encounter a question that I cannot answer.
@TheHorse (207511)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Apr
@JudyEv What is interesting to me is that they get training in speaking with "less of an accent," but they don't get adequate training in UNDERSTANDING spoken English. I wish Maluse were around. She would challenge me for expecting others to understand English. But I am American. And when I deal with American companies, I would like to speak to someone who understands English. I don't feel that makes me a "bad person."
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157915)
• United States
3 Apr
I actually got to speak to customer service this evening who had a nice southern drawl. And we fixed hubby's problem.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (160064)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Apr
Life is quite a negative place if you look at it that way. You were only on hold for 1/2 an hour? You are one lucky guy. I do hope you got computer screw up figured out. I used to work as a Customer Service Representative. Talking to a competent one is really hard nowadays. They used to teach them a lot back in the day but not so anymore.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (160064)
• Boise, Idaho
5 Apr
@TheHorse ........Like when I called the new bank I have a card with recently. Customer service obviously kept having me hold on while he looked up the correct thing to read. It was weird.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (207511)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Apr
@celticeagle I find it creepy.
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (13099)
• Italy
2 Apr
I've always been lucky with calls but I don't really have to call that often as I can get most things done on the internet. Even when I was told the operator would be located in a foreign country (within the EU, they specified), he spoke Italian very well and had no accent. Even natives can have an accent, but this guy spoke so clearly he could have worked for a radio! 
Of course; while no rocket science degree was needed, he was also competent.
And I believe there's no hell except on earth, so it can't get worse than this... hopefully.
Of course; while no rocket science degree was needed, he was also competent.
And I believe there's no hell except on earth, so it can't get worse than this... hopefully.1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36594)
• Toccoa, Georgia
3 Apr
Sometimes, but I still feel guilty telling off a cellphone guy through customer service 10 years ago who sold me a phone that had a problem. I should not have been so rude to him. I realize he was just trying to do his job.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (74146)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Apr
Glad you had such a great experience. I hope you had a great afternoon at the Guitar Center,
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40650)
• United States
2 Apr
That was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I'm very jealous.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (158796)
• United States
3 Apr
Yes, I actually have, as bizarre as that might seem. Sorry about the $1,150. That sucks. Have a good day.
@MarieCoyle (29529)
•
3 Apr
For all of those to happen in one day is a miracle!
I had to call my internet provider yesterday. Of course, the call was routed out of the country. I can usually understand most of what is said through a thick accent, but this was impossible. I handed my son my phone, and he couldn't understand the lady, either. There were two babies crying in the background...add that to someone we couldn't understand, we ended up saying thank you and then I hung up.
I did call them again today. Same problem. I asked for a supervisor to call me, and he was very easy to understand. I wonder, why doesn't someone check when they hire people, that they can speak clearly enough for us to get it?
