Annoying aspects of holding the line

R

Rose65

Well-known Member
Location
United Kingdom
It can be like torture, when you ring to change a hospital appointment or similar. A voice keeps saying 'your call will be answered please continue to hold'. As I can do is stay listening to that.

In other cases loud rubbish music is pounded into your head. Still other times descriptions of all their other services.

I much prefer silence or a very quiet music.
 

When I do get a live person to talk to, I tell them what is annoying. I can't remember ever checking back to see if anything was corrected but I would guess, probably not. I always try to visit a place in person or contact by email although it's not always possible. Sigh...I am sure glad I don't need to answer phones anymore.
 
I always have my phone on speaker, so at least i do not have to sit and hold it to my ear while I wait, and if there is an option to leave my number and be called back, I do that.
When it is possible, I do the online chat to try and resolve whatever the issue is. That usually gets you an automated AI at first, but if you can tell them enough things to confuse the AI, they will transfer you to a live real human, and then you can work on the issue.
 
I flip to speaker phone and busy myself with doing something constructive. Also need to admit there's been a couple times where someone finally answers and in my rush grabbing my phone I've accidently hit the hang up icon. Boy is that a bummer!
 
jujube said:
"Your call is very important to us. Please continue to hold." Yeah....VERY important....

I like the systems that say, "There are 12 calls ahead of you." At least, you can think, " Nope, gotta leave in 10 minutes, I'll call later OR well, I'll put it on speaker and get the silverware drawer organized finally."
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I have a call hands free function on my home landline. So I got the washing up done as I waited.
 
jujube said:
"Your call is very important to us. Please continue to hold." Yeah....VERY important....

I like the systems that say, "There are 12 calls ahead of you." At least, you can think, " Nope, gotta leave in 10 minutes, I'll call later OR well, I'll put it on speaker and get the silverware drawer organized finally."
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12 would be bliss at my Doctors surgery( office).. to get through to them we routinely wait at the end of a line of 30 callers.

Usually I call using the landline so it doesn't cost a fortune to be kept waiting.. and I take the phone around the house with me doing the housework until they answer..usually an hour...

What really drive a person insane is that after waiting all that time.. they'll often get to ''you are caller number 3''... and the line drops out.... :mad::mad::mad: ...and we have to start all over again
 
jujube said:
"Your call is very important to us. Please continue to hold." Yeah....VERY important....

I like the systems that say, "There are 12 calls ahead of you." At least, you can think, " Nope, gotta leave in 10 minutes, I'll call later OR well, I'll put it on speaker and get the silverware drawer organized finally."
Click to expand...
When I hear the "12 calls ahead of you" I also put it on speaker and get some work done.
 
If we somehow all organized and NOBODY waited, they wouldn't dare say, "Please hold. Your call is important to us." šŸ¤£
 
What I hate is getting someone who finally answers and they can't speak English. For heavens' sake, if you have to communicate in your job, you should be able to speak the language. I know it is not their fault. I'm sure the company has hired them at a lesser pay rate. We were on with Telus and seriously could not understand the person and had to ask to speak to someone else.
 
I've contacted Social Security several times recently re: Medicare issues and they always indicate what the hold time will be. It has always been over an hour. I just keep my phone on speaker and do other things because I know no one will pick up for at least an hour.
 
Another problem we aren't experiencing. When calling & there will be a wait time a message to leave our phone number & a call back will be made to us eliminates that. Gotta love technology that makes that possible :)
 
So happy to have found this thread at this moment. I just called my insurance company to inquire about an app they say I can get free with my insurance. I wanted to know how it worked. After 20 minutes on hold, I gave up.

It's comforting to know I'm not the only one having these experiences. I can relate to most of the posts in this thread.
 
Alizerine said:
Some now let you leave a call back number. I wish more of them would adopt that policy.
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If only the phone companies would do this. Iā€™m lucky if I can even find a phone number to call them.


hollydolly said:
Usually I call using the landline so it doesn't cost a fortune to be kept waiting..
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Do you have to pay when you use your mobile phone?

LoveTulips said:
What I hate is getting someone who finally answers and they can't speak English. For heavens' sake, if you have to communicate in your job, you should be able to speak the language. I know it is not their fault. I'm sure the company has hired them at a lesser pay rate. We were on with Telus and seriously could not understand the person and had to ask to speak to someone else.
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Telus is the worst. Iā€™m sure they do it on purpose because it discourages you from calling.
 
Knight said:
Another problem we aren't experiencing. When calling & there will be a wait time a message to leave our phone number & a call back will be made to us eliminates that. Gotta love technology that makes that possible :)
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While that might sound clever, I'm not going to sit on my thumb for an hour waiting either.

They have published hours of operation. If they're open they should be open. Let them properly staff the place and crack down on giggling with a friend over making ambrosia salad.

If they ever get behind more than 3 calls then they have a problem, not me.
 

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