Comments on: AT&T And a Comedy of Stupidity http://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/ Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:29:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: savedRhttp://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/comment-page-1/#comment-32229 savedR Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:06:41 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/#comment-32229 Hah. Let me tell you a story.I applied for a position at an AT&T call center pretty close to my hometown. My qualifications were excellent; I had worked as an IT manager/everything admin the year before, owned my own business for the past year, even had previous call center experience. I was also in gifted classes all through school, and consistently test 126 on iq tests, which isn't high, but higher than normal.I have pretty decent communication skills, especially over the phone. So I shouldve been a shoe-in, right?So how come I don't get hired, and in my place they hire three guys who have literally never worked at a call center or touched a computer before, and have no it experience whatsoever?All I'm saying is AT&T's hiring decisions are suspect. :) Hah. Let me tell you a story.

I applied for a position at an AT&T call center pretty close to my hometown. My qualifications were excellent; I had worked as an IT manager/everything admin the year before, owned my own business for the past year, even had previous call center experience. I was also in gifted classes all through school, and consistently test 126 on iq tests, which isn’t high, but higher than normal.

I have pretty decent communication skills, especially over the phone. So I shouldve been a shoe-in, right?

So how come I don’t get hired, and in my place they hire three guys who have literally never worked at a call center or touched a computer before, and have no it experience whatsoever?

All I’m saying is AT&T’s hiring decisions are suspect. :)

]]> By: M Wynnhttp://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/comment-page-1/#comment-32210 M Wynn Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:57:51 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/#comment-32210 I would much rather go to a website and take care of things myself, but I think the point is that AT&T is a telecommunications company and the messages keep getting screwed up. That's my problem with ANY company today - you can't make just ONE telephone call to take care of things. It takes 3 or 4 calls, all the while you have to navigate menus and are placed on hold. You also have to keep notes with dates and people's names for a couple of billing cycles because you never know when you'll need to refer to them. Companies should pay their customer service people better so they can hire people with a brain larger than the size of a pea and then give them the proper training! I would much rather go to a website and take care of things myself, but I think the point is that AT&T is a telecommunications company and the messages keep getting screwed up. That’s my problem with ANY company today – you can’t make just ONE telephone call to take care of things. It takes 3 or 4 calls, all the while you have to navigate menus and are placed on hold. You also have to keep notes with dates and people’s names for a couple of billing cycles because you never know when you’ll need to refer to them. Companies should pay their customer service people better so they can hire people with a brain larger than the size of a pea and then give them the proper training!

]]> By: M Wynnhttp://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/comment-page-1/#comment-32209 M Wynn Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:53:08 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/#comment-32209 I agree, I would rather use a web site and do things myself than depend on a customer service person for anything; but I think the point is that AT&T is a telecommunications company and the "messages" keep getting screwed up. That's my problem with ANY company these days - you can't make just ONE phone call and get anything taken care of. It turns into 3 and 4 calls, all the while you're having to navigate automated menus and being on hold. I think companies should pay their customer service people better so they can hire people with a brain larger than the size of a pea. I agree, I would rather use a web site and do things myself than depend on a customer service person for anything; but I think the point is that AT&T is a telecommunications company and the “messages” keep getting screwed up. That’s my problem with ANY company these days – you can’t make just ONE phone call and get anything taken care of. It turns into 3 and 4 calls, all the while you’re having to navigate automated menus and being on hold. I think companies should pay their customer service people better so they can hire people with a brain larger than the size of a pea.

]]> By: Sage Crispinhttp://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/comment-page-1/#comment-32018 Sage Crispin Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:54:10 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/#comment-32018 I doubt Lee M. is a plant. I have bought my last 4 phones from the AT&T site, use it to check billing, my children's usage, etc. While not the best, I've generally found the web site functional. For some time now however, I have been unable to turn internet offf and on online-I have to call. It has always happened (I think 4 times now, perhaps more) as I requested without trouble. We will be taking another trip next week, so will be turning on internet again. Will let you know if their service seems to have slipped.BTW, I usually ask the service person "how's the weather?". I've always gotten a U.S. type response. I certainly cannot say the same for Dish Network.Certainly AT&T screwed up royally with you. But as they say, stuff happens. Have you heard the Ron White routine about Sears? How could such a thing possibly happen?The world is FULL of screw ups.Sage I doubt Lee M. is a plant. I have bought my last 4 phones from the AT&T site, use it to check billing, my children’s usage, etc. While not the best, I’ve generally found the web site functional. For some time now however, I have been unable to turn internet offf and on online-I have to call. It has always happened (I think 4 times now, perhaps more) as I requested without trouble. We will be taking another trip next week, so will be turning on internet again. Will let you know if their service seems to have slipped.

BTW, I usually ask the service person “how’s the weather?”. I’ve always gotten a U.S. type response. I certainly cannot say the same for Dish Network.

Certainly AT&T screwed up royally with you. But as they say, stuff happens. Have you heard the Ron White routine about Sears? How could such a thing possibly happen?

The world is FULL of screw ups.

Sage

]]> By: Rich Mengahttp://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/comment-page-1/#comment-32003 Rich Menga Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:07:28 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/#comment-32003 That is a seriously crappy recommendation and you sound like a plant. Phone support should easily be able to accommodate simple plan changes as this one and they completely borked it. Several times. "Just go to the web and do it" is not a substitute for crappy phone customer support FROM A TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY. That is a seriously crappy recommendation and you sound like a plant. Phone support should easily be able to accommodate simple plan changes as this one and they completely borked it. Several times. “Just go to the web and do it” is not a substitute for crappy phone customer support FROM A TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY.

]]> By: Lee M.http://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/comment-page-1/#comment-31991 Lee M. Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:05:28 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/#comment-31991 You really choose the hard way to do this. You obviously have web access, so why are you not managing your own account online? You can add or remove literaly dozens of features at the click of a but and they are applied immediatly.http://www.wireless.att.com/We love AT&T for this very reason. As our circumstances change we have had huge swings in our need for texting, web browsing and it only took a couple of minutes to do it. You can even set up your account for oversees travel, it is amazing! You really choose the hard way to do this. You obviously have web access, so why are you not managing your own account online? You can add or remove literaly dozens of features at the click of a but and they are applied immediatly.

http://www.wireless.att.com/

We love AT&T for this very reason. As our circumstances change we have had huge swings in our need for texting, web browsing and it only took a couple of minutes to do it. You can even set up your account for oversees travel, it is amazing!

]]> By: Staceyhttp://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/comment-page-1/#comment-31981 Stacey Sat, 12 Sep 2009 04:07:57 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/#comment-31981 Up here in Canada, it's not much better with Rogers and Alliant as the only two main providers. As a customer of Rogers, I've been put on plans I didn't ask for, told I'd have to pay for things the company is supposed to and given the run around trying to pay in store with cash. The funnies t thing is that , in store, they can add whatever you want to you bill but you have to call their phone Techs to get things removed....how dumb is that?!? Up here in Canada, it’s not much better with Rogers and Alliant as the only two main providers. As a customer of Rogers, I’ve been put on plans I didn’t ask for, told I’d have to pay for things the company is supposed to and given the run around trying to pay in store with cash. The funnies t thing is that , in store, they can add whatever you want to you bill but you have to call their phone Techs to get things removed….how dumb is that?!?

]]> By: David K.http://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/comment-page-1/#comment-31967 David K. Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:04:23 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/#comment-31967 You think this is specific to AT&T? There's a serious deficiency in customer service anymore, brought in large part by outsourcing, as has been suggested. Try calling Verizon, Time Warner Cable, Dell. I could list more, but I won't...Verizon drove me nuts when I upgraded my account. Just google Verizon customer service if you don't believe me. You think this is specific to AT&T? There’s a serious deficiency in customer service anymore, brought in large part by outsourcing, as has been suggested. Try calling Verizon, Time Warner Cable, Dell. I could list more, but I won’t…

Verizon drove me nuts when I upgraded my account. Just google Verizon customer service if you don’t believe me.

]]> By: Kyle Pottshttp://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/comment-page-1/#comment-31953 Kyle Potts Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:13:50 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/#comment-31953 Wow, sorry about that Dave. I hate calling support they always f-up something. I think the reason is because they outsource and the people they outsource to are never trained. They are giving them a small website help desk app and thats it. It sucks, the only good support I get on the phone is Paypal, and Dell Wow, sorry about that Dave. I hate calling support they always f-up something. I think the reason is because they outsource and the people they outsource to are never trained. They are giving them a small website help desk app and thats it. It sucks, the only good support I get on the phone is Paypal, and Dell

]]> By: Steve Stonehttp://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/comment-page-1/#comment-31951 Steve Stone Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:55:14 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/att-and-a-comedy-of-stupidity/#comment-31951 How many of your Help Desk calls do you think were connected to outsourced third world call centers? None? All but the last? How many of your Help Desk calls do you think were connected to outsourced third world call centers? None? All but the last?

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