Accrington Web
   

Home Gallery Arcade Blogs Members List Today's Posts
Go Back   Accrington Web > AccyWeb > General Chat
Donate! Join Today

General Chat General chat - common sense in here please. Decent serious discussions to be enjoyed by everyone!


Welcome to Accrington Web!

We are a discussion forum dedicated to the towns of Accrington, Oswaldtwistle and the surrounding areas, sometimes referred to as Hyndburn! We are a friendly bunch please feel free to browse or read on for more info.
You are currently viewing our site as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, photos, play in the community arcade and use our blog section. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free, so please, join our community today!



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 19-05-2008, 12:41   #1
Apprentice Geriatric
 
jambutty's Avatar
 

Question United Utilities

I received a letter from UU the other day that informed me that as from 1st July 2008 I would no longer be able to use my plastic paying in card at the Post Office to pay my water bill free of charge or at Pay Point shops.

Instead I will have to either opt for DD and get a reduction of £5 pa, (Wow!) or pay by Debit Card via the telephone or Internet or use the supplied new piece of plastic, which I could use to pay at local shops displaying the Payzone sign. Very thoughtfully my letter listed two local Payzone shops where fortunately one of which is en-route from the Darwen Post Office to back home.

As there was nothing in the letter to indicate whether Payzone will be free or not I rang UU to find out. Just bear in mind all I wanted to ask was “Is Payzone free and if not what is the charge?”

A Scottish female voice answered.
Me – Good afternoon! Can you tell me…………..
Voice interrupted – Your account number please.
Me – I only want to ask one simple question.
Voice – I need your account number.
I gave the account number and continued - Can you tell me…………..
Voice interrupted – Your full name please.
Me – I only want to ask one simple question.
Voice – I need your full name.
I gave my full name and continued - Can you tell me…………..
The exchange of words carried on in this format with “Post Code?”, “House number?”, “Street name?”, “Town?” and finally “DOB”.

With my voice thickly laden with exasperation I retorted, “My shoe size is 6”, “My collar size is ???” and a few other similar comments.
“No need to be rude” she responded.

Me - “All I wanted to know is whether I will be charged for using Payzone so there was no need for all those personal questions.”

A few more verbal exchanges but after all that she answered my simple question and revealed that there would be no charge at Payzone. She also informed me that I would still be able to pay at the Post Office but I would be charged £2.30.

But that wasn’t the end. Oh! No! She had two more questions.

She – “Do you own the property?”
Me – “It’s none of your business.”
She – “There is no need to be rude. Do you own the property?”
Me – “I’m not telling you. It’s none of your business.”
She asked another question but I’ve forgotten what it was. However my response was the same.
Finally me – “Thank you for the information” and I rang off before she had a chance to ask yet another question.
__________________
Thanks for reading. If you have a few minutes to spare please visit my web site at http://popye.bravehost.com
jambutty is offline   Reply With Quote
Accrington Web
Old 19-05-2008, 12:51   #2
Senior Member+
 
beechy's Avatar
 

Re: United Utilities

big brother is watching..YOU......
__________________
its just

like i've never been gone
beechy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-05-2008, 13:05   #3
God Member
 
Royboy39's Avatar
 

Re: United Utilities

Sounds like she's making a pass at you Jim?
__________________
Supporting Barcelona 2012/2013

Blackburn Rovers Supporter Since 1950
Royboy39 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-05-2008, 14:04   #4
Coffin Dodger.

 
cashman's Avatar
 
Jewel Quest Champion!
Cribbage Master Champion!

Re: United Utilities

well jim,ya sure got more patience n good manners than me. mind ya thats not difficult.
__________________
N.L.T.B.G.Y.D. Do not argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
cashman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-05-2008, 14:11   #5
God Member

 
BERNADETTE's Avatar
 

Re: United Utilities

I got the same letter, thing is there seem to be far fewer places you can pay at with the new lot.
__________________
A PERSON WHO MINDS THEIR OWN BUSINESS WILL ALWAYS BE FULLY EMPLOYED (Cicero)
BERNADETTE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-05-2008, 14:17   #6
God Member
 
Stanleymad's Avatar
 

Re: United Utilities

You can pay online too on the UU website which i have utilised so far
__________________


ACCRINGTON STANLEY MAD!

Stanleymad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-05-2008, 14:27   #7
Apprentice Geriatric
 
jambutty's Avatar
 

Cool Re: United Utilities

Quote:
Originally Posted by Royboy39 View Post
Sounds like she's making a pass at you Jim?
I’ll bet she was a Rangers fan!
__________________
Thanks for reading. If you have a few minutes to spare please visit my web site at http://popye.bravehost.com
jambutty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-05-2008, 14:33   #8
Apprentice Geriatric
 
jambutty's Avatar
 

Cool Re: United Utilities

Quote:
Originally Posted by cashman View Post
well jim,ya sure got more patience n good manners than me. mind ya thats not difficult.
It was obvious to me right away that if I wanted an answer to my question I would have to jump through her hoops. So patience had to be exercised.

I have noticed in similar conversations with other companies that if the caller is not following the call girl’s rules they always seem to accuse the caller of being rude, even when the caller isn’t.
__________________
Thanks for reading. If you have a few minutes to spare please visit my web site at http://popye.bravehost.com
jambutty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-05-2008, 16:34   #9
Resting in Peace
 
jaysay's Avatar
 

Re: United Utilities

Quote:
Originally Posted by jambutty View Post
It was obvious to me right away that if I wanted an answer to my question I would have to jump through her hoops. So patience had to be exercised.

I have noticed in similar conversations with other companies that if the caller is not following the call girl’s rules they always seem to accuse the caller of being rude, even when the caller isn’t.
Well you know the old saying JB, why be awkward when with very little effort you can be bloody impossible, I though all public utilities used this premise, they're certainly not there to make life easy. Mind you we used to have a member of Accy Web who worked for United Utilities, but haven't seen her on here lately, we could have had a right go
__________________
35 YEARS AND COUNTING

Last edited by jaysay; 19-05-2008 at 16:35. Reason: error
jaysay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-05-2008, 16:39   #10
God Member
 
MargaretR's Avatar
 

Re: United Utilities

That member who is employed at United Utilities posted on my thread
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...ies-37904.html
__________________



MargaretR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-05-2008, 16:52   #11
☆ V.I.P Member ☆
 
panther's Avatar
 

Re: United Utilities

I got one of those letters too, now i cant pay that at the P.O anymore (from july)
its the same with the tv licence too, ya have to either pay DD or pay at any P (whatever that is)

I dont want some nosy shop keeper looking at my bills, so now i will have to register with the bloody water company just to pay a sodin bill....and before someone says 'ya can pay direct debit.....i prefer to not to, i have enough coming out me bank

whos idea was it again to shut P.O's????
__________________
"Dont make someone a priority if your only an option!!"
panther is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-05-2008, 20:49   #12
Senior Member+
 
lindsay ormerod's Avatar
 

Re: United Utilities

Quote:
Originally Posted by panther View Post
I got one of those letters too, now i cant pay that at the P.O anymore (from july)
its the same with the tv licence too, ya have to either pay DD or pay at any P (whatever that is)

I dont want some nosy shop keeper looking at my bills, so now i will have to register with the bloody water company just to pay a sodin bill....and before someone says 'ya can pay direct debit.....i prefer to not to, i have enough coming out me bank

whos idea was it again to shut P.O's????
Surely it's coming out of your bank one way or another?
__________________
"Cover up those table legs Mother, they are inflaming my sexual ardour ! "
lindsay ormerod is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-05-2008, 20:59   #13
God Member
 
Lilly's Avatar
 

Re: United Utilities

Quote:
Originally Posted by jambutty View Post
I received a letter from UU the other day that informed me that as from 1st July 2008 I would no longer be able to use my plastic paying in card at the Post Office to pay my water bill free of charge or at Pay Point shops.

Instead I will have to either opt for DD and get a reduction of £5 pa, (Wow!) or pay by Debit Card via the telephone or Internet or use the supplied new piece of plastic, which I could use to pay at local shops displaying the Payzone sign. Very thoughtfully my letter listed two local Payzone shops where fortunately one of which is en-route from the Darwen Post Office to back home.

As there was nothing in the letter to indicate whether Payzone will be free or not I rang UU to find out. Just bear in mind all I wanted to ask was “Is Payzone free and if not what is the charge?”

A Scottish female voice answered.
Me – Good afternoon! Can you tell me…………..
Voice interrupted – Your account number please.
Me – I only want to ask one simple question.
Voice – I need your account number.
I gave the account number and continued - Can you tell me…………..
Voice interrupted – Your full name please.
Me – I only want to ask one simple question.
Voice – I need your full name.
I gave my full name and continued - Can you tell me…………..
The exchange of words carried on in this format with “Post Code?”, “House number?”, “Street name?”, “Town?” and finally “DOB”.

With my voice thickly laden with exasperation I retorted, “My shoe size is 6”, “My collar size is ???” and a few other similar comments.
“No need to be rude” she responded.

Me - “All I wanted to know is whether I will be charged for using Payzone so there was no need for all those personal questions.”

A few more verbal exchanges but after all that she answered my simple question and revealed that there would be no charge at Payzone. She also informed me that I would still be able to pay at the Post Office but I would be charged £2.30.

But that wasn’t the end. Oh! No! She had two more questions.

She – “Do you own the property?”
Me – “It’s none of your business.”
She – “There is no need to be rude. Do you own the property?”
Me – “I’m not telling you. It’s none of your business.”
She asked another question but I’ve forgotten what it was. However my response was the same.
Finally me – “Thank you for the information” and I rang off before she had a chance to ask yet another question.
Call centre staff are given scripts to use and they have to stick to them or they get into trouble with their manager. The girl you spoke to asked you those questions because she had to not because she wanted to.

As the message tells you, calls are recorded for training and assessment purposes.

If a manager listens in to a call where the advisor has deviated from the script they lose marks in their assessments and if they keep doing it they will get a warning.

I know it seems like a rigmarole to have to go through when you only want to ask one simple question but the advisors don't make these rules so please try not to be rude to them.
__________________
Old aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs, cackling and telling me
'You'll be next.' They stopped when I started doing the same to them at funerals.
Lilly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-05-2008, 21:25   #14
Apprentice Geriatric
 
jambutty's Avatar
 

Cool Re: United Utilities

I appreciate that if someone calls with a view to discussing a particular account then the call girl has to establish if the caller is the owner of the account. But I only wanted to ask a general question not related to a specific account and SHE KEPT ON INTERRUPTING ME.

So just exactly who was rude in the first place?

When I have called BT or Eon in the past I was asked, “Can I help you?” It was only AFTER it was established that my query was account related that my account details were asked for.

Now that is the way to run a call centre.
__________________
Thanks for reading. If you have a few minutes to spare please visit my web site at http://popye.bravehost.com
jambutty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-05-2008, 21:33   #15
God Member
 
flashy's Avatar
 

Re: United Utilities

i got the same letter too, i usually pay my water bill on the last Thursday before the first of every month (its due on the first) which sometimes is upto a week early, now i would be due to pay it on the first of July but i will end up paying it on Thursday the 26th of June for Julys payment, so i wont be using the PAYZONE till the end of July for Augusts payment
__________________
When people walk away from you, let them go... It doesn't mean they are bad people, it just means their part in your story is over
flashy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply




Other sites of interest.. More town sites..




All times are GMT. The time now is 08:21.


© 2003-2013 AccringtonWeb.com



Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.1