Sorry, our agents are currently busy

Mal · 22-03-2005, 10:12

Quote:

Sorry, our agents are currently busy...

I hate that phrase. After spending 20 mins on hold to a company, this really annoyed me.

I'd rather just listen to the repetative music, because at least you know when it cuts off, it's because your call has been answered.

It's not like it means anything. It would be okay if it was actually a real live person coming on saying it (I know, impossible), but it's just a recording, the same as the music, so your call can still be lost.

So, would you prefer to have just music or would you like the recorded voice?

Gareth · 22-03-2005, 10:24

I'd rather have a robotic voice say once at the beginning that they 'cannot take my call for the moment cause all their agents are stood at the coffee machine right now' and then play music all the time till they get back.

One of the American offices for the place I work doesn't have any talking, and the hold music is their local radio station... which is nice.

Earl of Bronze · 22-03-2005, 10:31

Music with the voice was my vote.

Though I'd prefer it if the music was somewhat better, and the voice didnt mouth sound so feckin cheerful. Its not likely that I'm gonna take any more of a companies products/services, when I'm on the phone to cancel or report a fault.

punky · 22-03-2005, 10:42

I hate it when you get that recorded voice comes on. It sounds like someone is answering, so you get ready to say what you have to, and then you realise it is recorded, and its a big let down. Almost like its taunting me.

I prefer some decent music... and credit where it is due, sometimes it can be really good.

goldoni · 22-03-2005, 10:50

Just the music, but the lines that give information like you are number x and you call will be answered in x minutes are cool. I just hate the ones that state, Ã¢â‚¬Å“Your call is important to use please waitÃ¢â‚¬Â

SMHarman · 22-03-2005, 11:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

I hate it when you get that recorded voice comes on. It sounds like someone is answering, so you get ready to say what you have to, and then you realise it is recorded, and its a big let down. Almost like its taunting me.

I prefer some decent music... and credit where it is due, sometimes it can be really good.

Exactly - I was dysoning while on hold to NTL yesterday PM (it's in another thread) and everytime they wanted to tell me about the latest bollywood release I had to stop the dyson to make sure it was not a CSR on the line.

ian@huth · 22-03-2005, 11:32

Wondered what the hell dysoning was when I first saw it but all was explained later.

I like the music with the voice but hate the frequency of the voice messages on some switchboards and the content of some of the voice messages.

Mal · 22-03-2005, 12:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

I hate it when you get that recorded voice comes on. It sounds like someone is answering, so you get ready to say what you have to, and then you realise it is recorded, and its a big let down. Almost like its taunting me.

That's exactly my point

22-03-2005, 13:13

Provided it is *GOOD* music, rather than some tinny repetitive piece of musical wallpaper I'd go for music only.

What's really annoying is when they are playing good music, but interrupt it every ten seconds with an announcement that "All of our operators are busy", yes I bloody well *KNOW* they are because you've already *TOLD* me that a dozen times!

Also if they're playing music, I can put the phone to one side and listen for when the music stops so I know when someone's actually picked up, but if I keep getting a recorded voice I've got to *keep* listening to the damn thing

The only recorded announcements I *do* like are the ones that say "you are at position X in the queue" which are at least informative and useful, rather than just *irritating*!

Salu · 22-03-2005, 13:51

Sometimes I would actually like the engaged tone ...as at least then YOU arent paying the bill for their busyness...

Theodoric · 22-03-2005, 19:09

Quote:
Sorry, our agents are currently busy...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

I hate that phrase. After spending 20 mins on hold to a company, this really annoyed me.

<Snip>

You may hate that phrase, but at least it's true. What I really hate is that downright, shameless, bare-faced, brazen, do-you-take-me-for-an-idiot lie, "Your call is important to us." No it isn't, so why do you keep ramming it down my throat!

Bex · 22-03-2005, 19:33

i seem to spend most my mornings at work, on the phone to our suppliers, generally you get the robotic voice telling you they are busy and then crappy "elevator" music. but a couple actually seem to play pop music which isn't so bad.... when we are quiet (ie no customers in the store) we've actually started inflicting the music on our collegues now.

more annoying than the robotic voices is when you have been on hold for ages and then they just cut you off.

Theodoric · 22-03-2005, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bex

<Snip>
more annoying than the robotic voices is when you have been on hold for ages and then they just cut you off.

Ah, yes, it's the complete sense of life's injustice that this engenders. You've patiently waited. You've suffered in silence. And then someone up there decides that you should be cut off for no reason whatsoever!

Strzelecki · 22-03-2005, 19:58

Eclipse Computer in coventry has a good one, I had to deal with them once and got the 'you are number 2 in the queue'....10 minutes later ' you are number 1 in the queue' 10 minutes later and still number one in the queue I decided to call them on my mobile whilst on hold on the landline and got 'you are number 1 in the queue', how, when my landline call is number 1!? Needles to say I never got through to them that day!

22-03-2005, 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salu

Sometimes I would actually like the engaged tone ...as at least then YOU arent paying the bill for their busyness...

Thing is, if you keep getting the engaged tone you're liable to give up which will lose business for the people you're calling, so they won't like to do that.