A real work at home job part 2

PaulK_3

kez1234 wrote: »

hi all got a call today and was told to do a pc check it failed, has i am on wireless so now will have to connect to landline lol

Is this for your pc? if so just connect via ethernet and it will be ok, you cannot use wireless for this job. It's been stated a few times now but as the thread gets longer the info gets harder to dig out.
No wireless connection to the internet, you have to have a ADSL / cable internet connection feeding your PC via ethernet. The system in use can place a high demand on your connection and your internet connection MUST be reliable and stable with at least 2Mb download speed if possible.
You should not use cordless phones during training due to interference/ battery life issues.
Training is a paid process on a set of hours that are fixed, once you complete training you will be given a set of fixed hours to work on your shift pattern.

fordie64

Thanks for that much appreciated, would you say for the support you would have had to have experience/training in that sort of area before? I am not stupid around computers but I am not highly knowledgable either.

Also with the sales side is this selling broadband and again is this something you would be able to do without having experience in this field, and are you selling to people who have called in to request information in the first place?

Is there still a trial period after which they can get rid of you? Do you still get a contract etc???

Yes I know very many questions lol!!!

wildt wrote: »

Hi, the recruitment process can take varying amount of times. For example, if there is a training date coming up and they still have spaces available for it, it may be quicker than normal. It took a few weeks from the date I actually applied to the date when I actually started earning. The best thing you can do is apply and ask the recruiter.

The equipment doesn't take up a large amount of space, you would be able to do it in a 1 bed flat as long as its quiet at all times during your shift and no one is in the room with you. All you have is your computer and a phone/headset. You also train from home and get paid for the training.

There are two positions that teletech offer - one is inbound sales and the other is broadband technical support. The job is exactly like a call center with all the same targets except you work from home. It is a part time vacancy although people work different numbers of hours - some people have over 30 scheduled hours a week and others have 20-odd. Overtime has been available every week since I started. They now offer daytime hours as well as evenings.

Hope this helps.

PaulK_3

The BB tech support role is one that doesn't require that "in depth" a knowledge as it is well supported and you use an onscreen guidance system. As long as you know the basics, don't get flustered and can handle the odd "irate" call then you should be ok.

kez1234

hi paul thanks for that hubby will have to connect to ethernet )

kmt

duchy

fordie64 wrote: »

Although it is a part time vacancy is it permanent or temporary ie can they just get rid of you when they want??? It's permanent-I've been there since January and they haven't got rid of me yet !

The posts state that its technical support is this on computers or something else???
There's two positions-one is technical support-helping people when they can't get their broadband to work-the other is inbound sales -customers ring asking about the different TV/Phone/Broadband packages and you sell them the most suitable package

Also I live in a small one bed flat so how much space does the equipment take up??? Practically none -computer-phone headset and a ring file to keep notes handy in-You could do it in a bedroom no problem (needs to be a quiet enviroment-no TV-or people noises in the background)

Do you have to go somewhere to do your training if so where, and does this depend on where you live??? No it's done on-line and via the phone

I have worked in a call centre before, do you still have the usual targets, such as AHT, time between calls etc??? Oh yes

Think of it as been a call centre job but based at home. Everything else is the same-you just interact with your colleagues and managers via a chat screen rather than face to face.

PaulK_3

The important thing when considering either role is that you must have somewhere quiet to work without interruption, you must have a stable broadband connection ( no drop outs as it impacts the system you log into) that runs at 2Mb or better and connects via ethernet to the computer you use. This pc must be compatible with the linux based boot cd in use. Testing this will where you failed last time due to being on wireless, test it again when on ethernet to make sure all is well.

Sanity

Ok, lets get real here shall we?

Sounds like a great idea, and it is. In principle.

However...

No unions allowed. Well, technically, they are, but they'd rather you didn't. No salary reviews after 12 months. No contact with management to air any grievances....roughly translates as e mail all you like but we'll ignore you anyway. In other words, you never get to stand face to face with anyone and state your case.

Holidays are accrued on hours worked. But don't try to actually take them when you want/need them. You'll generally get turned down. If you can find someone to cover the shifts for you, fine, but don't hold your breath. If you can't, and you take them anyway, you have to call in on a daily basis and tell them you won't be in. Even if you're in the South of France. And even if you book a September holiday in March, you'll most likely get turned down. Oh, and when all your friends get double time for bank holidays? You won't. Its an American company, so they don't recognise them.

Oh yes, and it doesn't matter how long you actually work there, or how much experience you have, or how good you are at the job. If any kind of promotion comes up, its not opened to the floor, as in any other employment of this kind, you'll find no matter how long you've been there, inevitably, someone who has been there a quarter of the time you have and is infinitely less qualified will be promoted over you, according to how much grovelling to management can be acheived in the shortest space of time.

In short...if you want to work from home, its great as far as saving you the inconvenience of travelling. But don't expect any kind of fair treatment from your employers, because you won't get it.

duchy

Here we go
Can you explain to me why you keep posting under new names ? Your writiing style is quite distinctive-you're not fooling anyone !!
Are you a student? Here's a newsflash for you-many many jobs in the UK don't have union "protection"-to be honest over the years (even when unions DID have teeth which they don't anymore) I've found employment protection from legislation more than sufficent to protect me from "big bad" employers !!
This job opened up 12 months go almost exactly to claim "no-one" hs had an annual salary review is a bit misleading-as most employees haven't been there a year yet...Oh and here's ANOTHER newsflash for you-most people haven't had a salary review in most jobs in the last TWO years-you may not have noticed but our economy is suffering as part of a wider world recession.
Management not face to face....well yes it's a work from home job do you SERIOUSLY expect management to travel hundreds of miles because you have a petty grievance ?
Bank holidays-in common with plenty of other companies-includng Thomas Cook to quote direct personal experience-certain bank holidays ARE paid and others aren't but treated as part of the normal schedule-it's one of the trade offs that has happened with many companies with 7 day working-Teletech aren't an exception and it has NOTHING to do with being an American company-they follow UK employment legislation -you may not like it but they aren't breaking any laws.
Holidays-yep SOME people have had problems getting time off booked-personally I haven't but other than a couple of hours I needed at short notice I booked mine in plenty of time -no problems with school holiday time-in fact it was EASIER than other companies I've worked for where getting school holiday time was impossible -again I'm wondering have you actually worked anywhere else or do you expect a company to grant holiday regardless of who else is already booked without any consideration for staffing levels. As for calling in every day-if you take unauthorised leave most companies would just sack you anyway for takiing extended unauthorised time off rather than just expect you to call daily.
Ah promotion ! Now I'm beginning to understand-you feel passed over and unappreciated eh ? Someone who was there "a quarter of the time" got promoted over you .......although in YOUR opinion you were the superior candidate (despite taking unauthorised time off and calling in from the South of France-do you think the two things might be connected ???? )
Yep-working from home is great-no fares-nice working enviroment-yes you get the odd moaner with inflated ideas of their own importance who think the world revolves solely for their own personal benefit but the majority of people are genuinely nice people who just get on with their jobs (and their lives-most people who do this are doing it for work/life balance purposes) and have a laugh between calls.
Posting under a variety of fake names and getting all screwed up over a part-time job that didn't suit you- over such an extended period is rather concerning-you really need to let go and move on for the sake of your own mental health. OK it wasn't the job for you-it happens-deal with it and move on-you'll be happier for it !!!

Daffodil1965

Sanity wrote: »

Ok, lets get real here shall we?

Sounds like a great idea, and it is. In principle.

However...

No unions allowed. Well, technically, they are, but they'd rather you didn't.
Yes they are, but as with many companies, there is no recommended or affiliated union

No salary reviews after 12 months.
Wrong - the review that takes place every April as per the contract

No contact with management to air any grievances....roughly translates as e mail all you like but we'll ignore you anyway. In other words, you never get to stand face to face with anyone and state your case.
Wrong - No face to face contact obviously as your manager could be hundreds of miles away. However, should you need to speak to your manager, you can do, as I did yesterday.

Holidays are accrued on hours worked. But don't try to actually take them when you want/need them. You'll generally get turned down. If you can find someone to cover the shifts for you, fine, but don't hold your breath. If you can't, and you take them anyway, you have to call in on a daily basis and tell them you won't be in. Even if you're in the South of France. And even if you book a September holiday in March, you'll most likely get turned down. Oh, and when all your friends get double time for bank holidays? You won't. Its an American company, so they don't recognise them.
Bank Holidays are not a legal entitlement unless you work in a Bank (the name gives it away somewhat!). Public Holidays are recognised and are rewarded suitably. As for holiday entitlement. We all work different hours so the fairest way to calculate holidays is by the hour worked. This is standard for most companies that have part time staff. It's called pro-rata;) It all adds up to 25 days a year, but you get paid each day based on the hours you are scheduled to work.

Oh yes, and it doesn't matter how long you actually work there, or how much experience you have, or how good you are at the job. If any kind of promotion comes up, its not opened to the floor, as in any other employment of this kind, you'll find no matter how long you've been there, inevitably, someone who has been there a quarter of the time you have and is infinitely less qualified will be promoted over you, according to how much grovelling to management can be acheived in the shortest space of time.
Oh dear - if you weren't selected for promotion perhaps it's because you feel you should have been more important than you obviously actually are - life sucks sometimes doesn't it. Was your attitude whilst in the job as negative as it is on all your posts (with your various log in names!)

In short...if you want to work from home, its great as far as saving you the inconvenience of travelling. But don't expect any kind of fair treatment from your employers, because you won't get it.
I've not seen or heard of any of my colleagues recieving anything but fair treatment, but this is a business and we are all adults so you can't expect to be babysat. Certainly the treatment I have recieved from all members of the company, from team mates right up to senior management has always been fair, encouraging and supportive.

As with any company, you will always find the critics that pop out of the woodwork to air their views. To anyone considering this position, all I can say is, make your own mind up. There are hundreds of posts on this site from staff who are very happy and enjoying their role. But this person does pop up on a regular basis, trying to cast doubts on the professionalism of the business. Obviously a very disgruntled ex employee who enjoys throwing their toys out the pram :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Sanity

duchy wrote: »

Here we go
Can you explain to me why you keep posting under new names ? Your writiing style is quite distinctive-you're not fooling anyone !!
Are you a student? Here's a newsflash for you-many many jobs in the UK don't have union "protection"-to be honest over the years (even when unions DID have teeth which they don't anymore) I've found employment protection from legislation more than sufficent to protect me from "big bad" employers !!
This job opened up 12 months go almost exactly to claim "no-one" hs had an annual salary review is a bit misleading-as most employees haven't been there a year yet...Oh and here's ANOTHER newsflash for you-most people haven't had a salary review in most jobs in the last TWO years-you may not have noticed but our economy is suffering as part of a wider world recession.
Management not face to face....well yes it's a work from home job do you SERIOUSLY expect management to travel hundreds of miles because you have a petty grievance ?
Bank holidays-in common with plenty of other companies-includng Thomas Cook to quote direct personal experience-certain bank holidays ARE paid and others aren't but treated as part of the normal schedule-it's one of the trade offs that has happened with many companies with 7 day working-Teletech aren't an exception and it has NOTHING to do with being an American company-they follow UK employment legislation -you may not like it but they aren't breaking any laws.
Holidays-yep SOME people have had problems getting time off booked-personally I haven't but other than a couple of hours I needed at short notice I booked mine in plenty of time -no problems with school holiday time-in fact it was EASIER than other companies I've worked for where getting school holiday time was impossible -again I'm wondering have you actually worked anywhere else or do you expect a company to grant holiday regardless of who else is already booked without any consideration for staffing levels. As for calling in every day-if you take unauthorised leave most companies would just sack you anyway for takiing extended unauthorised time off rather than just expect you to call daily.
Ah promotion ! Now I'm beginning to understand-you feel passed over and unappreciated eh ? Someone who was there "a quarter of the time" got promoted over you .......although in YOUR opinion you were the superior candidate (despite taking unauthorised time off and calling in from the South of France-do you think the two things might be connected ???? )
Yep-working from home is great-no fares-nice working enviroment-yes you get the odd moaner with inflated ideas of their own importance who think the world revolves solely for their own personal benefit but the majority of people are genuinely nice people who just get on with their jobs (and their lives-most people who do this are doing it for work/life balance purposes) and have a laugh between calls.
Posting under a variety of fake names and getting all screwed up over a part-time job that didn't suit you- over such an extended period is rather concerning-you really need to let go and move on for the sake of your own mental health. OK it wasn't the job for you-it happens-deal with it and move on-you'll be happier for it !!!

If you're addressing me, I've never posted here before.

No, I'm not a student.

And I happen to think people should know both the pro's and cons of a job before they decide to take it.

The rest of us wish we had.