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Thread ID: 107259 2010-02-10 06:15:00 long time on hold robsonde (120) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
856895 2010-02-10 07:46:00 Which is still better than Telecon KarameaDave (15222)
856896 2010-02-10 08:36:00 I spent a hour and 15 minutes waiting to speak to ihug's (now Vodafone) technical support, not long after that I canceled and swapped ISPs.

Amazing the amount of other tasks you can get done while waiting with them on speakerphone.
nate (15033)
856897 2010-02-10 14:21:00 Once I called Xtra on relay service... using the relay service on computer to NZ relay and NZ relay uses voice to speak to Xtra, while I type down on the computer...

The longest hold was 45 minutes.... Bonus thing is I was able surf around on computer while waiting for a live response from Xtra.

Only hassle thing is the NZ Relay service keep on asking me if I want to hold on the call in every 5 minutes and another annoying thing is each NZ Relay staff keep changing to different NZ Relay staff.
PiscesKiwi (7911)
856898 2010-02-10 22:07:00 yep, speaker phone, I made and ate dinner while on hold .

I am always police to the people who answer the phone, I have been on that end of the line myself and the hold time is not there fault .



the problem:

I would have thought that a 5 minute average in peek times would be good .
you have call stats going back years, you have a good idea of how many call you will get in any shift .
then if you get four times as many calls as expected for that shift you get a hold time of about 20 minutes (still not that bad) .




what ISPs and phone companies do:
they have as few staff on a shift as they can get away with .
they have you by the balls (contract) and they have your money up front .
they can offer crap hold time and there is little you can do .
yes, you can change providers, but you cant do that right then and there . . .



if we compare this to ordering pizza:
you get a hold time of less than 5 minutes, even in peek times .
this is because you are not locked in to a contract .
if they keep you on hold for more then 5 minutes then they know there is a 60% chance you will hang up and ring the other pizza shop down the road .




disclaimer:
this is just my thoughts on the issue, and maybe just the ramblings of a fool .

Sounds sensible to me . . .
Agent_24 (57)
856899 2010-02-10 22:13:00 I reckon its all luck. Right call at the right time or you're stuck, I wouldn't even waste my time being put on hold. I go see them in person, amazing how effective that is. rob_on_guitar (4196)
856900 2010-02-10 22:16:00 I keep yelling **** it checks to see if they are listening prefect (6291)
856901 2010-02-10 22:19:00 I reckon its all luck. Right call at the right time or you're stuck, I wouldn't even waste my time being put on hold. I go see them in person, amazing how effective that is.
Amazing how expensive it is going to India, Egypt, the Phillipines or wherever too. ;)
R2x1 (4628)
856902 2010-02-11 12:06:00 Heh, if you like, I think thats why the helpdesk is outsourced, to prevent guys like me. rob_on_guitar (4196)
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