Cinnamon Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 NOT! I went into my local shop today & saw a really pretty top that I knew my youngest would like,but couldn't see it in her size & in black. No worries I thought,I will look it up on their site when I get home.Sadly it is not on there though. So I thought I would ring them up & see if they have it in the stock room - I have done this before & they have held stuff for me with no problems. But now you cannot actually phone the branch. Oh no, you have to phone a central number who can only tell you if the item is held by the store if you have a stock number for it,& even then can't tell you which colours or which sizes they have. Useless! I find it incredible that you can't just phone the store in question any more & ask them direct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 How stupid Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue_F Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 That's CRAZY!!!! Katy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatieB Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Thats terrible. I think we should start a name and shame on customer service (probably wouldn't be allowed though even if we stayed factually correct) My car insurance is due at the end of the month and last month I did a search and found the cheapest quote with a well known company. I then had to ring to pay. Despite the fact I had entered all the details online they made me go over them ALL again..it took 20 minutes. Now I know that isnt terrible but it is when you then get the documents through and they have the insurance starting on the wrong day! (i have checked I DID enter them correctly) It then took 10 minutes of explaination on a premium rate customer service number to complain. The man in India swore he understood, I then got a cover note through the post that covered dates within the existing policy and my policy still not starting on the right date. Customer services have now sworn blind that the only way to rectify this is to cancel the policy and start again with the correct date. However they have to refund me and I pay again.....guess what, I'm still awaiting the refund despite the fact they cancelled it on the 18th October and I dont have the money to take out a new policy until I get it back. What would they have done if I hadnt arranged it so far in advance? I am tempted to get the money back and go elsewhere but on looking again and checking the small print the nearest competitive quotes are all underwritten by the same company and the next one is 30 pounds or so more. Should I cut off my nose to spite my face. To add insult to injury the company rang me last night to ask if the quote they had given me was competitive and if I'd like to go ahead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvonne Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Along similar lines, I needed to speak specifically to someone in my local branch of LLoyds Bank a couple of years ago and lo and behold, it was actually totally impossible to call a branch, only a national number. I realise that a central call centre is probably more efficient than manning phones for general queries at all local branches, but in this instance it was about a local ongoing issue and no matter how hard I tried, I could not be put though (and was unable to actually visit as the branch was only open when I was at work). Exasperating !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Try Direct line...they have "Ooops, word censored!"ody in India and when I renewed, they were the cheapest by miles. Plus, they sorted out a claim when someone bashed my care with no fuss and I didn't have to talk to someone in India either. Yippee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatieB Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Try Direct line...they have "Ooops, word censored!"ody in India and when I renewed, they were the cheapest by miles. Plus, they sorted out a claim when someone bashed my care with no fuss and I didn't have to talk to someone in India either. Yippee! Unfortunately they are my current insurer but after "a review of their prices" my premium will nearly double this year with the excess going up substantially too and thats without me claiming and with max no claims! That is nearly £250 more than this new policy. I still havent received my refund so am in a slight panic now as I need insurance to begin on monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I agree Direct Line are quite cheap but I had a heck of a job getting them to pay out for storm damage to my roof . They paid out eventually but not without a fight . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I bank with NatWest and found their foreign based call centre to be frustrating and inept in the extreme - they've now (finally) listened to their customers and moved it back to the UK Having bashed overseas call centres in the past, I recently needed to book some rail tickets for work and their Indian call centre couldn't have been more helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I could write pages about Protect My Bubble! To cut it short, iphone stolen, all correct procedures followed, advert is guaranteed replacement in 48 hours Date of reported theft 27th June. Date of finally winning battle and boy was it a battle, 21st August It took hours of premium rate phone calls to useless call centre employees who would not listen, made me repeat over and over, would not refer to supervisor etc etc. Eventually documented the timeline, with calls, emails and wrote to directors. Got full refund for new phone, all call charges, excess repaid and monthly contract re-embursed but would never go near them again. I apologise to any call- centre employees on the forum as lots are VERY good, however this lot were clearly told to follow poor practice as far as customer was concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatieB Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Mine just gets better. I rang insurance company today to say I was concerned as I don't have the money back and need insurance from Monday. It turns out they only authorised my refund TODAY despite their customer service people repeatedly telling me it had left them from 18th October and being asked to check my bank every day. It will take up to 10 working days to reach me. I am beyond mad. Another 35 minutes on the phone and I finally have a policy having had to pay a percentage up front and they will take the rest when its refunded. Grrrrrrrr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 This site is useful http://www.saynoto0870.com/ My hubby used it when trying to get hold of our local Odeon and we got the managers phone number! This has been saved on his phone Might have some other numbers you could try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I always use that, refuse to pay for premium rate numbers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
