Attitude to customer service in the UK

notanewuser

[quote=[Deleted User];59662319]Probably is. But hiring a car is a premium service and I expect it to be right.[/QUOTE]

#firstworldproblems

mountainofdebt

cockaleekee wrote: »

The OP does seem to be a serial complainer. Makes you wonder if he is part of the problem, his attitude provokes this apparent "couldn't care less" response?

Glad I'm not the only one ........its either that or the OP is SERIOUSLY unlucky with every transaction in his life!

keyser666

[quote=[Deleted User];59662263]15 mins - more than that. OK so I waste an hour of my time during which I'm not billing my customer. and its their mistake. Would cost me more than the cost of the daily rental in lost billing time.

Or I'd be here an hour later tonight thus spending an hour less with my family because some donut couldnt be arsed to check the levels. Different opinion now?[/QUOTE]

Er no it doesn't change my opinion, very clear to me, if they cant be arsed to check the screen wash, then they cant be arsed to check the rest of the car.

Now lets see would I rather drive a car provided to me with no confidence in their checks and therefore god knows what I could potentially be driving or shall I go to another company.

*sounds of feet tip tapping into the distance*

VitaK

pmduk wrote: »

But it is the case isn't it? You might not like the law, but that's what it says.

The driver must ensure the car is safe to drive regardless of how inconvenient it may be. That includes checking that there is enough cleaning fluid in the tank.

[Deleted User]

mountainofdebt wrote: »

Glad I'm not the only one ........its either that or the OP is SERIOUSLY unlucky with every transaction in his life!

No. I just maybe put up with it less than most people. If its wrong I'll say so.

System

[quote=[Deleted User];59669075]No. I just maybe put up with it less than most people. If its wrong I'll say so.[/QUOTE]

This is an excuse that difficult people like to use.
They seem to think that because they are not prepared to be reasonable that this is like a badge of honour and should be applauded!

Sommer43

I see the issue with the OP's statement. In that customer service in the UK is poor. It always has been on the whole. That's because shop work, counter sales, waitressing, bar work, is well-known to be a subserviant job. Customer service in the UK can be very poor compared to other countries and I have lived in the Middle East and the US, where it is excellent. Here we have the "customer is always right" attitude and I have seen some terribly pompous Brits certainly in the Middle East who have treated checkout girls there like dirt. Unfortunately, the British are famous for being pompous and for incredibly poor customer service. That's generalising, but it is how the Brits are seen. We are however, well-known for our sense of humour and satirical wit and for being a little robust in colonising other countries.

The fact of the matter in this case, is that the car-hire company have failed on their contract on delivery. Claiming all checks were done and the car was fit for hire. Now, it may only be screen wash and in the great scheme of things, it is not the end of the world, but the car hire company have a duty to provide exactly what they say on the tin. They offered a resolution and the OP wasn't happy with the resolution and felt it was an inconvenience to his time. I would have replaced the screen wash and certainly mentioned the lack of screen wash on return, politely and calmly and see how they would gesture me in return.

If they didn't, then I would write a strident letter to the car hire company outlining their failures. End of.

angelil

I understand that there will always be exceptions, but...if you think that customer service in the UK is bad as a whole, you should come to France! I have lived here for the past 5 years nearly, and also speak the language, and still find that customer service here is mostly terrible. Even in independent businesses, people generally treat you with the utmost suspicion for about the first six months of your custom, and will only then begin to show you a modicum of friendliness (assuming you've stuck it out for that long). It's really quite depressing frankly. French husband also agrees with me on this

pmduk

The UK problem with customer service is entirely related to the fact we always want the cheapest possible price, regardless of service and quality - and yes, I'll put my hand up, sites like this just exaggerate the problem, which makes me part of the problem, although I choose not to drive killing machines.

Perhaps this site should have a warning: Customer Service costs money.

mellymeepmeep

Why wouldn't you just fill it up with water yourself? Not that hard.