What's your longest wait? Big Six leaving customers hanging

SueBee

I know this shouldn't be a surprise, but it's still pretty incredible that companies get away with this.
"Power companies are rushing to answer calls from new customers – but leaving bill-payers hanging on the phone for an hour or more."
http://www.sundaypost.com/news-views/uk/power-companies-vast-difference-in-waiting-times-for-new-and-existing-customers-1.685384

What's the longest you've been held on the phone?

Bark01

This has been independently investigated numerous times.

The latest one was Which (link below)

Not sure what you really want to get out of thread like this. It just drives anger.

http://www.which.co.uk/news/2014/05/loyal-energy-customers-still-on-hold-366710/

WhoIsThat

SueBee wrote: »

...
What's the longest you've been held on the phone?

4 days, 17 hours, 36 minutes and 23 seconds

... but it was well worth it just to tell them I was leaving them

No such worries with my current supplier - they don't even offer a telephone number to contact them on; it all has to be done online

There is a postal address if we want to use snail mail, but I suspect that's just a maibox/forwarding address anyway.

Nada666

SueBee wrote: »

I know this shouldn't be a surprise, but it's still pretty incredible that companies get away with this.
"Power companies are rushing to answer calls from new customers – but leaving bill-payers hanging on the phone for an hour or more."

So? Why is this a bad thing? Ninety percent of the callers are harassing the supplier with no good reason. Anything that dissuades these time wasters is a good thing.

JJ_Egan

75 seconds my longest wait .

SueBee

Wow - pretty surprised by the responses!
Thought it would be a fair conversation starter - not to cause fury!
I don't see how most people contacting their suppliers can be time-wasters.
Not any more so that those contacting a bank or a council or any other body that has to deal with the public.
Thanks for the responses.

naedanger

Nada666 wrote: »

So? Why is this a bad thing? Ninety percent of the callers are harassing the supplier with no good reason. Anything that dissuades these time wasters is a good thing.

Do you work for npower by any chance?

You do realise that is also penalises those with a legitimate need to speak to their supplier, though I doubt you care about them.

naedanger

Bark01 wrote: »

This has been independently investigated numerous times.

The latest one was Which (link below)

Not sure what you really want to get out of thread like this. It just drives anger.

http://www.which.co.uk/news/2014/05/loyal-energy-customers-still-on-hold-366710/

Presumably the OP wants to hear some anecdotes about how long people have had to wait. It may be interesting if any pattern emerges. Plus the link you have given should be helpful. Therefore I don't see why this thread just drives anger.

My supplier is npower, and although their service to me has been truly dreadful, they have not been too slow to answer when I have called.

SueBee

Not to further infuriate, but there's also a survey at the end of that link I sent.
I've signed up to it and it just lets you say what experience you have had with your provider.
Not sure what good it does, but can't do any harm I guess!

https://www.completeasurvey.co.uk/yourviewk