Telephone 'help' lines

[watervole]

Today is a new record. This is the first time I have ever been reduced to actual tears by call centres.

All I want to do is to find out what name I should enter into Paypal in order for Barclays to be able to accept payments from them. (I have a joint account and Paypal say I should check with my bank in order to ensure I use the correct version of my name).

I have now been routed through three Indian call centre operatives, each of which wanted to take all my details (the last one asking for everthing right down to mother's maiden name). The first two couldn't help and the information given by the third was *incorrect* - Paypal rejected RJ + JEL as containing an invalid symbol.

I tried a different number for Barclays and got someone who hung up on me. I tried again and got someone who told me they were too busy to handle any calls right now.

I'm stressed, my throat is raw and I STILL don't know what name to give Paypal.

Is it too much to want a phone number for a human being who has English as their first language who actually works at my local bank?

IF I didn't have a mortgage linked to our current account, I would be changing banks right now.

Comments

[peaceful-fox.livejournal.com]

We had the same kind of problem with our phone company. We called several times just to find out if we had caller ID and Voice Mail. We got different stories and different information each time, and it took a while to get a straight answer. We wanted to know if we could check messages from the US. They knew nothing about our account, were in another country, and they called themselves customer service?

(((hug))) I can relate to what you are saying.

[frandowdsofa.livejournal.com]

fuckwits

[alphekka-alpha.livejournal.com]

(((hugs))) I feel your pain. 8-(

We had a similar run in with British Gas, except that all the call centres were in the U.K. None of them knew what any of the others were doing though, so they might just as well've been in India. Maybe that's why they've transferred all these call centres there?

At one point, I wrote and sent a very sarcastic sonnet to Melanie in Leeds who'd been extremely rude with no provocation other than my expecting her to do her job and be helpful. OTOH, Steve in Cardiff was very pleasant, and Brian in Edinburgh offered to try and sort it out, which was nice...

It dragged on for eight months all told, despite numerous letters to the M.D. and Off-Gas (as it was then). It only finally ended when we involved our M.P. She was brilliant! It was sorted out in a matter of days, and we got compensation. 8-)

So maybe that's your answer. Cut the Gordian Knot - write to your M.P. and send a copy to the head honcho at Barclays. I think you have very valid cause for complaint - and underline the distress caused, too!
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[kerravonsen]

I was going to suggest complaining to a manager, but this sounds even better.