Longest Wait On The Phone

smudger1964

I wonder how everyone is finding wait times to get through to someone on the phone with the virus complications.

I waited 2 hours and 5 minutes yesterday for Euro Car Parts to answer,do people hang on or just give up

I know longer wait times are the norm now just wondered if 2 hours was normal to speak to someone when you are phoning firms these days

Ted_Head

The call centre fiasco. I'm often an hour to the likes of BT. Tesco the same been trying to get a slot for groceries since February and it is impossible here.
It's so annoying that they don't employ enough staff to deal with calls. Sometimes you get cut off after being on hold for an hour. It's really disgraceful and annoying.

sharpe106

I would also think in the current situation a lot of business have more calls anyway and less staff to answering them due to shielding and self-isolating.

JJ_Egan

I dont call unless its vital or going to cost me a lot of money .

askeym

With more people working from home I would have thought with today's technology call centre staff could do likewise.

jon81uk

askeym said:

With more people working from home I would have thought with today's technology call centre staff could do likewise.

I think they can, but those who are unwell may not be working at all.

[Deleted User]

askeym said:

With more people working from home I would have thought with today's technology call centre staff could do likewise.

That would require significant investment from the companies concerned. Having already invested £millions in sophisticated call centres, do you really expect a similar investment due to the current (hopefully) temporary situation? No one can have foreseen the global pandemic which has overwhelmed us all..

Many staff are furloughed and others are self-isolating or redeployed by the way...

SidneySmutt

You can just imagine the receptionist Smudge. Sat there, watching the light flashing to indicate an "incoming". But carrying on with the knitting!

smudger1964

SidneySmutt said:

You can just imagine the receptionist Smudge. Sat there, watching the light flashing to indicate an "incoming". But carrying on with the knitting!

oh indeed or filing her nails im there with you sid

BookieBee

To the OP, I wish I even had a Customer Service phone number that was working. Homebase have disconnected their one so you can only call individual stores and they will not deal with the fiasco of online orders Homebase are up against.

knightstyle

Several years ago, in France, I left a phone ringing to the local water board for over two days!  I eventually drove to the office to find out that the staff were not answering phones as they were on "greve" work to rule and if they went into the office and just sat there they still got basic pay.