First assist (Halifax)

Jamesmcdonald10

I have worked for first assist in Glasgow for 2 months now. Doing both the PA plan and the 50+ PA plan I find that you talk to a few nice people. alot of the time people are just horrible, forgetting that you are a human being, a simple no thank you would do. With regards to people being called again and again this is not to do with the agent on the phone but the actual dialer system, we don't want to be a pest to people as this doesn't make our job pleasent as people do get angry! at the end of the day it is just a service that's being offered, if you don't want it then don't take it, be nice about it! if your NOT INTERESTED, you don't know anything about it yet so hear us out a bit, again we're just doing a days work, you don't have to take it and if your busy, we'll call you back. Like I've said, it doesn't bother
me if anyones not interested or has it already, just tell us about it NICELY and that's all. A bit of courtesy never hurt anyone!

knowitall10

Totally agree with you mate i work in a simler job

janaltus

I've been inundated with silent calls from 01202415780 (First Assist/HBOS) despite being on the TPS and having informed Halifax NEVER to call me by phone. Eventually spoke to them and they were incredulous that I didn't want to hear from them.

Unsolicited calls are not welcome and I'm quickly losing patience. Call centre workers often don't realise the stress we are under - having received so many unwanted calls.

Guess I'll just have to threaten HBOS that I'll close all my accounts with them if these nuisance calls don't stop.

EduardStreltsov

I'm a former employee of FirstAssist in Plymouth.

To be honest, in the two years I worked there I only had one troublesome call... Mind you I didn't have a 'sell, sell, sell' mentality so never pushed potential customer into anything they didn't want. It's why I was never top salesman but at least I could sleep at night!

I fully appreciate why people get annoyed. Like all jobs there are hazards... The chap earlier within this thread clearly took it to heart.

Trust me, nobody likes doing the calls between 8pm and 9pm... The people who do those 5-9 shifts are filled mostly of students who do appreciate how much of a nuisance it is but need to earn money which is fair enough.

I believe the whole TPS thing is a bit of a waste of time, you'll never escape from getting some kind of unwanted call.

greyngone

I've been plagued by this lot. The annoying thing is they call my mobile, hang up before I can grab my phone, when I have answered there has been no one on the other end. No call-centre worker can justify this behaviour!
The lovely folk at the AA passed my details on. Had it been made clear to me that the AA were going to pass my detauils on to their 'partners' I would've made it clear that I wouldn't allow it!
Though I haven't actually spoken to this lot , I've googled them and the procedure is pretty much the usual...they ring you and then ask you to confirm your personal details BEFORE the pitch starts! In this day and age NO one should be encouraged to divulge personal details to an uncoming and unsolicited caller!! A big company like the AA seem to think it's okay-they've also been entrusted with my bank details, etc!!

I received numerous missed calls - 8 in 24 hours! This is harrassment and can't be justified by anyone. Why do you think people get abusive?!!
I emailed First Assist ( googled their website ) - its free after all. Here's the reply:

Dear Mr Smith

Thank you for your email dated 28 October 2010.

We can confirm that your number 07**** *******6 has been removed from our database as requested and you will receive no further calls from us.

Your details were given to us by the AA as one of the customers who might benefit from the products we were offering on their behalf. They have the right to do this if you did not tick the box on their paperwork stating that you did not want them to contact you in respect of future products and promotions. This consent overrides the Telephone Preference Service.

We have passed your comments to the AA on this occasion, however in order to prevent any further calls or correspondence coming from them regarding new products and services we would recommend that you contact them directly.

We hope this has resolved your enquiry, however if you have any further queries please feel free to contact us again.

Yours Sincerely


Mrs D Tanner



....no calls so far!!

paulethanjones1

They will phone you till they get to speak to. dont be nasty to them as they are only doing their job and a sh*t one at that. to get rid of them do as I do just tell them you are out of work and on the dole. they will not know any different. i also use this technique when on holiday with time share reps....mint!!!!

Paul.

flashg67

joshthomas1 wrote: »

I worked at first assist for years. Put it this way. Customers from Halifax in particular are evil !!!!!!!s!! Honestly how would lot like it if we came into your work and swore at you! At the end of the day, we are just doing our jobs and you people as customers do not understand this! yes we do hate our job but give us some leway be nice! We are not being rude to you so don't be rude to us!! AND if we ask you to confirm details, i really do not understand why u lot dnt do it! Its a bank for gods sake! We cannot do anything with your date of birth!! Some customers say I'm not giving you my postcode!!! Hello!! You aint the only one with the same postcode!


AND finally.......

When we want to speak to a customer, why on earth do there spouses say they are not interested when they do not have a clue what the call is about and the customer didnt even say they wern't interested! If my girlfriend told someone that i wasn't interested I'd hit the wall!! You all wanna know what the calls about when we call! If the call aint for you and its the bank, its none of your business! Simple!

Agree to some extent - I too work in customer service and won't entertain someone who is rude to me!

However - in this case, THEY are calling US - unsolicited, at 9pm at night when many people are trying to relax and, reading the posts, many have registered not to receive these calls. In addition - they are using other company's names - eg Halifax, AA etc to get a foot in the door, which is deceptive to say the least.

No-one should feel pressured into confirming any personal details if they don't want to - I certainly wouldn't.

If the product is that good, they should be happy to post the info, secure in the knowledge that the product is so good that people will be rushing to sign up.....:D

Yogibear

a bit late in the day re old post but there was four of them in Starbucks in Lothian Road Edinburgh today discussing tactics they were very loud I couldnt but help hearing what they were discussing,ie "we are from First Assist /Hbos pretending to talk `posh` then lapsing into ther normal gutteral twang,just like old me:rotfl::rotfl:

urbane_2

I have worked for First Assist in the past and after reading these ridiculous messages I was compelled to sign up to this website and reply. first of all TPS covers companies you don't have a relationship with, so saying you're TPS registered doesn't mean anything because first assist are affiliated with the halifax. secondly, first assist don't use halifax's name to gain trust. halifax get first assist to sell and administer the plan for them. thirdly, you talk about harassment and nuisance calls like the one lady who had "8 missed calls"..if you don't answer the phone and we haven't had a chance to talk to you, we're going to assume you're obviously not in and try and call back at a time you are. also in regards to the fantastic quote from "idealworld" - 'I always talk over them and say I am not interested, and First Assist always reply with "What is it that you not you interested in?" Unbelievable!' i love how they act all exasperated after over talking someone on the end of the phone, then when they quite rightly ask "what it is you arent interested in?" considering they haven't told you anything, you feel aggrieved.

and leaving the phone against a speaker playing music after saying you'll be right back? c'mon! if i called you and you did that, id assume you'd been distracted and arranged a call back for 1 hours time. but if you had said that you weren't interested and could i kindly remove your name from our list. i would do that. first assist and halifax are FSA regulated. do you honestly think that an agent would risk their job over some wiseacre who thinks its clever to take the proverbial?

you have to all remember, first assist and every other company out there that call you offer a product. it's up to the customer to decide if they want it or not. if you feel you have been missold or misled, then like everything else you're protected by your consumer rights.
there is no need to be rude on the phones, and be passive aggressive in forums like this.
get a life

DVardysShadow

urbane wrote: »

I have worked for First Assist in the past and after reading these ridiculous messages ....
get a life

Obviously you don't get it the extent to which some people feel that cold calling is just a blight on their lives.

Their rights not to be cold called transcend your 'rights' to cold call.