After several futile attempts to speak to my local bank via various call centres in different parts of the world, it suddenly occurred to me that one way that banks could help repay the massive loans that we the taxpayer have made available to them would be to re-establish UK call centres and thereby provide extra jobs for UK workers.
I know that my bank (HSBC) weren't bailed out by Gordon Brown, but I am sure that everyone would agree that return of UK call centres would have many advantages.
Like the idea of a levy, the cost will just be passed on to us. What Gordon Brown should have done and what Cameron should now do is introduce legislation that prevents them ever being rescued again other than by privatisation for a nominal sum. I wish the government would underwrite my businesses and I'm sure you would as well.
But it would be nice to have call centres back here and all of the banks and shareholders accept a little less profit.
I'd agree to a point, but UK call centres are only going to be any good if the staff in them are good at their jobs. I used to work at a large insurance company, and their call centres were staffed overwhelmingly by students and those looking for a few weeks work here and there. This resulted in the staff not caring about whether they give good service or not, as they probably wouldn't be around long enough for any complaints to get back to them.
I'd agree to a point, but UK call centres are only going to be any good if the staff in them are good at their jobs. I used to work at a large insurance company, and their call centres were staffed overwhelmingly by students and those looking for a few weeks work here and there. This resulted in the staff not caring about whether they give good service or not, as they probably wouldn't be around long enough for any complaints to get back to them.
As opposed to Indian call centres who have graduates working in them.
Like or not we live in a global economy which multi-national companies like HSBC will always seek to exploit for their own profit.
As opposed to Indian call centres who have graduates working in them.
Like or not we live in a global economy which multi-national companies like HSBC will always seek to exploit for their own profit.
That's business.
That's right. However, as I understand it, the call centre market in India is becoming saturated; not enough graduates, so costs are going up. That means some UK firms are moving call centres to......South Africa!
That's right. However, as I understand it, the call centre market in India is becoming saturated; not enough graduates, so costs are going up. That means some UK firms are moving call centres to......South Africa!
Vodafone are planning to more a couple of their UK based call centres to Egypt.
Just as the local businessman seeks to exploit the people of Newbury for his own gain (and there's nothing wrong with that under a capitalist system) global companies do so with the world.
Just as the local businessman seeks to exploit the people of Newbury for his own gain (and there's nothing wrong with that under a capitalist system).
...but clearly you think it wrong under a user23.3 system. The problem as I see it is the consumer, rather than the business. Companies like Vodafone, et al, do as they do because the consumer allows it.
At least these places currently have a high-street presence so there is someone to go an speak to. If you are ever considering a service provider, it is worth phoning their support team to see if they have local support or not.
...but clearly you think it wrong under a user23.3 system. The problem as I see it is the consumer, rather than the business. Companies like Vodafone, et al, do as they do because the consumer allows it.
At least these places currently have a high-street presence so there is someone to go an speak to. If you are ever considering a service provider, it is worth phoning their support team to see if they have local support or not.
I haven't said it's wrong, just explained how it is.
Yes you're right, if the consumer voted with their feet and moved supplier then the business would soon listen. I think the truth is that people don't really mind foreign call centres if it keeps their phone bills or bank charges low how ever much they moan about it or they'd move to a more expensive supplier of the service with UK call centres.
Let's put this to the test though. BrianB are you going to move your bank account because of your experience with HSBC?
I haven't said it's wrong, just explained how it is.
Yes you're right, if the consumer voted with their feet and moved supplier then the business would soon listen. I think the truth is that people don't really mind foreign call centres if it keeps their phone bills or bank charges low how ever much they moan about it or they'd move to a more expensive supplier of the service with UK call centres.
Let's put this to the test though. BrianB are you going to move your bank account because of your experience with HSBC?
If you have a substantial amount of money in the bank, HSBC for instance, there is no problem dealing with the local bank as they allocate personal advisors to you who are local and they also give you the advisors direct line. If you are trying to work with 50 quid in the account then I'm afraid it's the call centre for you to keep their costs reasonable for the amount of your capital they are looking after.
If you have a substantial amount of money in the bank, HSBC for instance, there is no problem dealing with the local bank as they allocate personal advisors to you who are local and they also give you the advisors direct line. If you are trying to work with 50 quid in the account then I'm afraid it's the call centre for you to keep their costs reasonable for the amount of your capital they are looking after.
Isn't this the same with any business, the more you spend the better service you get?
Take Newbury's butcher, Griffins for example. I pop in there for a pie and some sausages regularly and always get great service without fail however if I worked in the catering business and spent £1,000 a week with them I would guess they'd be kind enough to drop my purchases round to my business. If I asked them to drop a pie and some sausages round to my house they'd quite reasonably tell me no.
If you have a substantial amount of money in the bank, HSBC for instance, there is no problem dealing with the local bank as they allocate personal advisors to you who are local and they also give you the advisors direct line. If you are trying to work with 50 quid in the account then I'm afraid it's the call centre for you to keep their costs reasonable for the amount of your capital they are looking after.
I use the big building society in Northbrook Street, good service, I can ask the advisors in branch or telephone and they all speak good english. No substantial amount of money, but I do wish. Same with BT, always get good service and I can understand the call centre operators.
Same with BT, always get good service and I can understand the call centre operators.
You can eventually get a result out of BT but don't attempt to try to take them off script. My recent broadband speed complaint took two hours to get anywhere near an answer and then it didn't get resolved until next day as they needed to get a cap taken off. I had difficulty understanding the advisor and the big stumbling block was that I have an ADSL socket and don't need those filter things. This was not part of the script and we kept going back to the same question because she didn't recognise my BT socket and therefore my not having filters, time after time. It is halfway fixed in that I can now get 6mbits after upgrading from the 'up to 8mbits unlimited package' to 'up to 20mbits unlimited'. I had dropped to 560kbits.
You can eventually get a result out of BT but don't attempt to try to take them off script. My recent broadband speed complaint took two hours to get anywhere near an answer and then it didn't get resolved until next day as they needed to get a cap taken off. I had difficulty understanding the advisor and the big stumbling block was that I have an ADSL socket and don't need those filter things. This was not part of the script and we kept going back to the same question because she didn't recognise my BT socket and therefore my not having filters, time after time. It is halfway fixed in that I can now get 6mbits after upgrading from the 'up to 8mbits unlimited package' to 'up to 20mbits unlimited'. I had dropped to 560kbits.
Hope you manage to get it fixed Brian, realy irritating at low speed. I have BT for Broadband, TV and phone and really rate them - mind you my last provider was AOL so I would be impressed with anybody.
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