Is this racist?.or just a statement of fact?

Interesting subject, this. I phoned my bank the other day, HSBC, none of the options on the menu suited me, so i was put through to an advisor (i needed a copy of a cheque). Male guy, actually sounded welsh, but could have been indian (sound the same to me on the phone). He told me the imaging system was down and to phone back later (maybe because he is 4000 miles from my branch in doncaster). Great. Was very helpful though - gave me his direct number (when it didn't begin with 00 i was suspicious, it turned out to be the cust serv number i just phoned!)

This guy spoke very good english, and was very polite. 2 hours later i phoned, a female voice, with less fluent english. Quite a bit of background noise too, which didn't help. Anyway, she managed to get me a copy of my cheque, which promptly arrived 7 days later. she was helpful though and i had no reason to complain.

I have no problem with foreign call centres, but why are we still seeing them locating in other countries when it is "one of the biggest growing industries in this country" <bbc look north>? Some companies have call centres in UK AND abroad, so its pot luck who you speak to!

i have phoned O2 on several occasions, sometimes english, sometimes foreign. Wanadoo have a contract with Ventura i believe, who have call centres in Rotherham. As far as i know, Ventura handle calls from BT, Wanadoo and O2. Great place to work too so i hear <not an advert>.

Andrew. You're not alone in your opinion. seen this?

well thats how i see them too poor exploited *******

Slogger said:

time to put it right MADE IN ENGLAND used to mean something

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It did used to mean something, that's why we stopped doing it

My wife embarasseed herself the other day...

called the bank about something and was having the usual communication difficulties. She was put on hold and says to me 'I hate speaking to these buggers in Bangalor'.

the girl came back on the line and rightly corrects the missus in her indian twang - 'Actually, Mrs ... I am in Putney'.

It's who you speak to, not where they are, although I think that if you are buying British products and services then your cash should be paying British employees

I think its perfectly PC to say 'I'm sorry I can't understand your accent - could I speak to another operator please?'

Why...why why....do call centres insist on employing asians you cannot understand or communicate in conversational english????


because they are in asia?

orange have 5 call centres... all in the uk
still un helpful.. but at least you can understand them

Zampa
First of all I hope you got your hometime /freeserve service sorted to Anytime ? LOL

I had the same problem last week with Freeserve/wannadoo....

I followed the online cheap upgrade on the Home page , I set up a direct debit everything sorted til I had too download the Anytime connection Prog,clicked too d/load an then NOTHING ..YIKES

I came offline an rang the helpline no ,after telling her my story 1st women English voice told me to ring another number ,

I rang that number an the women who answered was English, but her voice was soooooo Whinny ,it was like static on the line I after telling her my story ,I couldnt hear what she was saying I hung up

I rang the number again another English women answered ,after telling her my story ,she told me I needed the tech helpline at 50p a sec /min,I hung up ,
I rang the techhelp line an asian guy answered ,MY HEART SANK ...

I told him my story ....
he was too the point an gave me STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS ,
he even said he would give me the ANYTIME Phone number to input in the Hometime Connection Proggie as my old account maybe DEAD now ,

he also gave me another Anytime Phone No to use if my Connection is ever busy ,(this phone no WILL ALWAYS Connect he said )

I asked if he was from India an he roared with laughter an said NO Birmingham is the Wannadoo tech call centre ,
he was an Excellent bloke he was clear an to the point an ever so helpful even calmed me down an reassured me with the instructions ,
I hung up, VERY HAPPY INDEED ...

I tried to connect with my old hometime no an as he feared it was Dead , I inputed the Anytime Phone connection an then went online my speed has increased too ,
I checked the wannadoo home page an recieved a welcome pop up an went too my details to make sure every thing was fine ,

as the tech guy told me I rang BT next day to cancel my surftime agreement with them , I pay £9.99 a month for 24/7 dial up which is enough for me at present ...

Just thought I'd post to redress the balance a bit.

A few years back I was trying to get hold of a bottle of gas, on a sunday. I called a local supplier, and their answerphone gave another number to call. I called this number and a woman answered the phone. She understood exactly what I wanted and said she could have it delivered within an hour and I could pay Cash on Delivery. Brilliant. At first I just gave her my door number and street name. When she asked "and where's that", I gave her the name of the area. Then she asked for my full address. So I obliged. To my horror she then asked "Is that Essex in Scotland" Faceciously I answered "No, the border is a bit further north, so we're technically just about in England. Where are you then, Wales?". "No sorry, I'm not familiar with your area, I'm in Bangladesh". I had noticed the accent, but that's quite common around the East London/Essex area.

BTW. The gas arrived 20 minutes later. Result

Bought some plane tickets today on Opodo and couldn't get the website to work through the credit card verification bit, so phoned them up instead. I think it was an 'Indian' call centre (could've been in Leeds for all I know, but it had the feel of a connection to a long long way away) - All went very smoothly and I've had the confirmation through, so wish me luck.........

Until the law is changed, nothing will happen...

I had to make a call to my bank at the weekend..during the week they are in Scotland..and always EXTREMELY helpful..even when i get a bit irate occasionally...

Anyway, it would appear the weekend staff are in India..they claim otherwise, but when I asked where I was told Telford, so i said..Oh Telford..your only round the corner from me in Chelmsford..and the reply was..Yeeess Sirrr Just ashot busing ride..

Well as Telford is some 225 miles from me, that is one hell of a short Bus ride...

It wasn't helped by the fact that he thought Chelsmford and Telford were in Scotland!!!

They could at least give these poor blighters a bloody map of the UK!!

dabaldie said:

orange have 5 call centres... all in the uk
still un helpful.. but at least you can understand them

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Yeah, is that understandably unhelpful or unhelpfully understandable?

I had same probs with the citrus fruit.