TalkTalk insist on using an Indian based call centre. When you question them, they tell you they are in Delhi but they very cleverly make sure they know what's going on here including the weather conditions so they can have anyone believe they are in the same country. The people in Delhi are trained to ask a pre-set list of questions separated by the odd pleasantry. This is so frustrating, especially when I know what the problem is. The diagnostic tests are unnecessary and a waste of time. I can see the exchange, I have ADSL so the fault is at your end, not mine. The only thing that stops them and makes them begin to treat me as an IT professional of 15+ years is when I tell them I am 'ex BT'. This is the only way to get them to break away from their lists and diagnostic checks. They seem to recognise this. It is code to switch them from normal mode to expert mode, and it works for me every time. A word of advice though, if you are going to use this ploy then I'd suggest reading up on the terminology used by engineers including a basic description of how your local telephone exchange works. It does work though.
How strange it was then that mid-call, my Internet service suddenly sprang back to life... The router at Talk Talk Network Centre was doing its job once again and negotiating successfully with my Internet routing request bounced across the network from my little exchange here at Gedney Drove End. A little more than just coincidence me thinks. More likely to be someone spotting that a router had tripped or a repeater was down. I'm back and running once more. My withdrawal symptoms are receding and I feel connected once again. My relationship with TalkTalk has once again been stretched to near breaking point. Four hours without Internet service is not good, not in 2012. I should change provider, I know I should. But the effort and stress involved in doing so is preventing me from doing it. I know how much hassle is involved, and so do the providers. That's why they make it so difficult to switch. Once they have you, they pretty much know you'll stay with them no matter the service you receive. This is of course bad, very bad but is true of all main utilities. The industry needs to change and switching can be made so much easier, but it's not in the providers interest so they don't bother. I simply couldn't cope with being without my Internet services for up to a week. I'm far too addicted to my instant news, information and mail.
Finally, I'm afraid it's also Santander's turn for a moan. I have to call them each month around this time to pay a little off a loan I have with them. I was unable to make my contractual payments so I have an arrangement with them to pay a little each month. Rather than let me pay using Internet Banking, a swift, safe and guaranteed method used my millions, they insist I call and pay using my debit card. This is always a stressful process for me and it's a relief when I can pay them without being reminded of how heavily in debt I am with them and how bad I have been in falling ill and daring to default. I begrudgingly accept I have to do this each month but can I please request that they change their on-hold music. It is bloody awful and can only have one intention of causing maximum stress to the caller.
A short audio clip will appear here once I've worked out how to add it!
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