call centre work

[manicinsomniac]

AIBU to think that, if you work in an important telephone service centre (banking, student loans, Microsoft etc) that it should be a condition of employment to be able to speak clearly, loudly and without any strong accent?

I've been on the phone for over an hour today with various people I can't understand and I'm ready to cry.

Perhaps the centre you are speaking to is outsourced, so not in the UK at all?

I feel your pain. I particularly struggle with Scottish accents and also with accents from outsourced centres as 'onetiredmummy' mentioned.

I just ask them to repeat as many times as required. It's does become tiresome though.

I am awful with accents on the phone - I die a bit inside when I ask them for the forth time to repeat what they are saying.

It's not allowed. There was a big case on this while I was studying discrimination for law, and it's just not allowed. You can't refuse someone a job because of their accent or speaking style.

It is frustrating, but there is nothing that can be done by the company, so you just have to make the most of it. I tend to either just repeat myself until we both understand, or call back and speak to someone else. I do hate that these calls tend to be charged, though, because it'd be a lot quicker if the conversation was easier.

YANBU. Outsourced ones are so frustrating - having to spell the name of UK cities endlessly

I'm usually okay with outsourced accents but sink every time with a Geordie accent.

Mind you, I translate for any Irish/Scouse accents for DH and he translates the north eastern corner of the UK for me and we manage just about. That is, we can understand them. We can't get them to actually do anything. Though I don't envy their job.

It depends entirely on what is considered a strong accent relative to where you live, shirley?

I'm sure the Glasweigan accent sounds perfectly normal to customers phoning from Glasgow.

True saucy but everyone can understand a neutral or light accent can't they.

I don't think the bank I'm speaking with has outsorced I'm getting a wide variety of accents.

I'd imagine that RP call centre workers are hard to find.

YABU

British gas have 'uk call centres' it's in bloody glasgow! There are only so many times you can say 'excuse me' or 'pardon' to someone

Makes sense that it is illegal though, I suppose it has to be. Just so frustrating.