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AIBU?

TalkTalk are ignorant bastards, come and hear what they have done to my sn brother

242 replies

HairyPotter · 09/08/2012 21:08

So last week my db was visited by a rep from TalkTalk thread here
I called customer complaints the next day and the lady I spoke to was well trained in handling stroppy customers. I explained calmly that my db had cerebral palsy and learning difficulties and that he was subjected to an unwanted sales pitch from the uninvited rep. She appeared shocked and was very sympathetic. I told her that I wanted an written apology, confirmation that as my db had not signed anything, that they would not be changing his BT account over and I also said that in my opinion, the rep should be reprimanded.

This is the message I came into tonight;

Im looking to get a hold of HairyPotter in regard to HairyPotters db being signed up to TalkTalk. I've got a note here saying that customer has cerebal palsy and was approached by a sales rep from TalkTalk. We have the ID number there and we have to call you on this number. You would like the rep to be reprimanded and a written apology from us. Now, what I can do for you is, I can promise you that the account won't go live, we'll keep any eye on it to make sure it closes down and you won't across to TalkTalk. What I can't do unfortunately is send you a written apology. I mean, I've had a look, cerebral palsy is a physical disability so without sounding harsh, the customer is not vulnerable to being sold something We will cancel it down for you, you are within your cooling off period but there will be no reprimanding of agents and there will be no apology letter, Ok, I hope this is to your satisfaction HairyPotter, if there is anything else contact us.

This is the message word for word, I shit you not! I have highlighted the most offensive part but the last part is highlighted because emphasis on the no.

I am beyond furious. How dare they decide that he is not vulnerable!! It is crystal clear the second you meet him Angry but hey, he's had a look in a book.

They also denied that he had been signed up when I called, but the message makes it pretty clear that they did. I think they must have forged his signature because db is adamant he didn't sign anything.

So what next? I think I am too angry to call them back. I really want to make a fuss about they way they have treated him.

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lavenderfields · 14/08/2012 22:43

Did you manage to find a way to upload OP?

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HairyPotter · 14/08/2012 23:01

At last! I think I have managed to do it.




Would love to know other views. Everyone who has heard it is always horrified but they all know db and his situation. Is it as bad as I and everyone else think?

Still not sure why he says there was an account and the pa to the CEO says there isn't Confused

I know I didn't quite manage to edit out my name at the end but I'm past caring now tbh, so if you could pretend you didn't hear it, that would be great Grin
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confusedpixie · 14/08/2012 23:20

What a dickwad.

The volume is quiet but I managed to hear most of it! Good on you for uploading!

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HairyPotter · 14/08/2012 23:32

I know the quality was rubbish Blush it was left on my ancient home phone, I had to record it onto my iPhone then upload to YouTube. On the plus side, it only took me two hours Grin

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lavenderfields · 14/08/2012 23:38

Volume was fine When I turned my speakers up really loud Grin

That guy is so.... Well I'm not sure I am put it politely enough on here. Hope he gets reprimanded!

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edam · 14/08/2012 23:42

Jeez louise, that is really powerful stuff. Obviously we all knew it was appalling but hearing their employee actually saying it... wow.

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edam · 14/08/2012 23:47

Hairy, if you have the energy to pursue this any further, it'd be interesting to see what Ofcom have to say about it. OK, the company has finally apologised, but they are now claiming your brother wasn't signed up to anything. That's not the full story, is it? I dunno, maybe Mencap or someone that campaigns against the exploitation of vulnerable people should be alerted as well. But you may well have plenty of other demands on your time, of course.

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HairyPotter · 14/08/2012 23:49

I think until you hear it, you can't appreciate how gleeful he seems to be about refusing an apology.

What a wonderful person to have working in customer care/complaints Hmm

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paulapantsdown · 14/08/2012 23:55

TT are total wankers. They do not need a signature to sign someone up for a contract. My 83 year old uncle had a free calls contract with them. He was sick at the sick with anxiety problems, and was calling his family in Ireland about 10 times a day, which was fine as calls were free.

He then started getting phone bills for £300 per month +++.

On calling them, it transpired that he had agreed to a paid calls contract with free broadband. He doesnt have a friggin answerphone, nevermind a computer. He did not remember the call where he agreed to this, but they had kept a tape of it and played it to me. It was basically a tape of an old, confused and bewildered old man having a chat with someone from TT. It was very clear to me that he had no idea what he was agreeing to.

I lost the fucking head with them and threatened all sorts of exposure if they did not refund him every penny. They were full of apologies then. Bastards.

None of your post OP surprises me.

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HairyPotter · 14/08/2012 23:55

Xpost. They are saying there was no contract so I don't know how I can prove anything. Db says he didn't sign anything and the rep says he didn't sign him up. Ryan the twunt says differently, and then CEO denies it again.

I will send ofcom my original email and chase up Mencap tomorrow though. I am Angry that TalkTalk will not let me know the outcome of Ryan the twunt's investigation.

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HairyPotter · 14/08/2012 23:59

Paula they really are bastards aren't they? Your poor uncle Sad I can imagine only too well how distressed he must have been. Well done you though for fighting for him.

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Pickgo · 15/08/2012 00:13

REally disgusting treatment from TakeTake. Who dies Ryan the twunt think he is to make the judgement that your db isn't vulnerable?

I was thinking about changing my broadband to them this very evening - this thread has certainly made up my mind to avoid like the plague.

Good luck with exposing their absolutely dreadful customer service and unethical business methods - they deserve everything coming to them.

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PerspectiveUrgentlyRequired · 15/08/2012 00:45

Shock I've just listened to that call hairy and I'm gobsmacked. Utterly stunned. To gleefully state there will be no staff reprimand and no written apology and then have the gall to say 'i hope this is to your satisfaction !!!!!! I hope you take this as far as you can, that is just appalling.

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broodyandpoor · 15/08/2012 07:00

They are BASTARDS, my mum is SN and they cold called her and sighned her up 9even though she isnt allowed a bank account) Then send courst summons' because money hadnt left her account, they cut her off, she couldnt fathom the computer on the phone- I hate them with a passion and Im so sorry to hear it has happened to others too. Angry

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LurkingAndLearningLovesCats · 15/08/2012 07:18

I've been following this thread from the start, but I didn't reply as I am in Australia and didn't feel I could help, being overseas and having no Twitter.

But I had to reply after listening to that message. Angry

It was difficult for me to understand the words because of the accent, but trust me, I understood the tone!!! H
e sounded like a fucking smartass who thought you were being a bother, and the way he said 'I hope this is to your satisfaction?!?' It just reeked of smug sarcasm.

Fucking pig! AngryAngry

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ThisWeekonFancyPuffin · 15/08/2012 08:10

That is shocking Angry

I would think Watchdog would be interested to hear that...

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TallDwarf · 15/08/2012 08:52

This does not surprise me at all. I once worked in the sales team of talk talk, it was an awful job but I needed the money. They would cut loads of corners and didn't really care about customers, just the sales.
I remember my first sale, I got through to an old man that must have had some sort of learning difficulty as it was v obvious from speaking to him that he didn't have a clue what I was saying. Anyway, I was being listened in to by a supervisor and was getting a lot of pressure to make the sale with this man, it was sooo uncomfortable. I made the sale, hung up and started to ask if that was really an ok thing to do seen as you could tell he had SN, the supervisor couldn't give a shit about the man and said as long as he's agreed to the legal mumbo jumbo it's fine. Shock

It sat on my conscience for a couple of days until I rang the man back and got through to his carer. They had no idea the account had been set up. Anyway, i closed the account down and apologised as many times as i could, I didn't know management were listening and I got 2 disciplinary meetings and was suspended from work for a while, all because I did the right thing in closing the account! Apparently morals have nothing to do with making a sale!

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hobnobsaremyfavourite · 15/08/2012 09:01

If you want publicity quickly try Jeremy Vine (radio 2) easy to contact via bbc website

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MrsReiver · 15/08/2012 09:11

Jeremy Vine is also on twitter here [https://twitter.com/#!/theJeremyVine]

If a bunch of us tweet him the story - with your agreement Hairy - it could very well be on his show today.

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MrsReiver · 15/08/2012 09:12

I shall try that again - sorry!

twitter.com/#!/theJeremyVine

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HairyPotter · 15/08/2012 09:43

Broody I am Angry for the treatment your poor mum has received from these tossers! It clearly is far more common than even I realised. Tall , your story is shocking. Well done on having the strength to stand up to these unscrupulous bastards. Out of interest, what did they actually say in your disciplinary meeting? That is is absolutely fine to screw over vulnerable people as long as they have made a sale?

Re Jeremy Vine, there is a huge part of me that would love to see Ryan the twunt's message broadcast to the nation Grin . My only worry is that TalkTalk have now apologised. Should that matter? Or is the fact that it was left at all?

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t0lk13n · 15/08/2012 12:22

It shouldnt matter as he isnt the first vulnerable person and he isn`t going to be the last [sadly] :( Sad

I have a son with SN and worry about things like this all the time. You do what you need to do....apologies can be hollow!

Well done hairy xxx

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HairyPotter · 15/08/2012 13:36

I have put a link to this thread and therefore the recording on twitter. If anyone would like to share it, I would be very grateful. It's had 80 hits so far Grin

T0lk its a constant worry isn't it? The world is littered with people who will take advantage of others Sad

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t0lk13n · 15/08/2012 15:57

My son has 'friends' who take advantage of him every day! He has now agreed for me to be an added cardholder so I help control his finances so he doesnt get to lend his friends his money....he never gets it back...some of his friends have SN but some dont. I can`t prove it but he has admitted to lending money. Thank goodness for one firm who helped ....Nationwide!

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DozyDuck · 15/08/2012 16:13

Just listened to the message. What an utter cunt.

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