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Original poster

To hate call centre work?anyone worked in one?

129 replies

redbedled · 24/02/2021 08:08

A month ago I started work in a call centre and I hate it.
My last job was in a department store for 8 years which I loved but it closed down and this feels like torture.
Yes the money is better but it's giving me anxiety (already had it but it's getting worse)
It's a sales role,8am till 6.30pm
I have to get up at half 5 to catch the 6.15 bus then I'm not getting home till 8.15 pm.
It's mom -fri
The people I work with are really loud and cocky and a lot younger than me.
I'm late 30s and shy and just want to take calls and go home but it's not like that.
Are they all like this ?
Everyone slags everyone off.
I feel like a fish out of water.
They record your screens so watch every move you make,you have to sell on every call (even if you miss sell ) they take advantage of elderly customers or lonely customers who think you want to chat to them (I do ) but then you have the team leader in front
Sell
Sell
I'm feeling sick every day.
I can't sleep
I'm getting 3 hours a night
I don't want to let people down by quitting but I can't stand it.

OP posts:
tanguero · 25/02/2021 22:41

You did the right thing OP .

sneakysnoopysniper · 26/02/2021 00:19

I had the same experience as other posters - constant monitoring, pressure to keep calls short, shaming and peer pressure to sell and get money in. Most of the customers on inbound sales were ok - they were buying financial products like credit cards and wanted information so they were usually quite polite.

I did learn some useful skills doing this kind of work. Usually the organization gives you a "script" behind which you can operate. You use this as a shield when you get a challenging customer. It means you dont have to invest yourself into the roll and become involved to the extent that you go home stressed. Nowadays I use these skills and some of the useful phrases I learned into operating my own business when I get difficult situations or challenging customers.

So working in a call center isnt all bad.

Nat6999 · 26/02/2021 00:28

I worked in an HMRC call centre, I hated it because although you had customer contact you were mainly just a message taking service, other than things like changes of address you just did customer service type stuff. You had to know about all aspects of tax, not just specific areas & because some things rarely cropped up it was a nightmare when they did. We got timed when we went to the toilet, & even though we were on flexitime with no core hours we were tied down during opening times. I stuck it a year & then ended up going off sick with depression, I had a manager who was a bully who made my life a misery & it just wasn't worth making myself ill over.

Nat6999 · 26/02/2021 00:38

Look at Civil Service jobs for clerical roles, money isn't bad, flexible working, family friendly, good maternity pay & a pension.

Backtoschool101 · 26/02/2021 00:41

I worked in a call centre for a car insurance company. I worked in the department that organised repairs and courtesy cars. It was shit! The training was so bad i usd to wake uo i the middle of the night reciting the message we say when we answered the phone. Used to piss dh off but i was so worried about doing it wrong as we were monitored, timed and it effected our end of year bonus!

We used to regularly have people threaten to kill, rape burn our houses down.....because jt was shit insuramce and no one reads their policy before they buy it. They wouldnt fix the car with genuine parts and there would always be uproar. And local garages were always used unless the manufacturing garages gave a low quote which was never. So obviously no one was ever happy. I actually did alright as im a good talker and became a semi manager, but without the pay!!! So i went on maternity took all the leave etc and days off i coukd get and never went back!
I would never reccommend this line of work unless you are desperate!

Ginmaker · 26/02/2021 00:46

OP I'm so glad you have left.

I'm horrified about the misselling stuff. If this is anything financial services related please, please let the FCA know asap. Totally unacceptable.

If utilities please also report to their regulatory body.

bebarkered · 26/02/2021 00:52

Well done for walking! Happy days to come x

AnnaFiveTowns · 26/02/2021 00:53

Well done, OP. You've done the right thing. I worked in a call centre and it was utterly shit and soul destroying. Six of us started together and by the end of week one I was the only one left. I lasted about a month before walking out like you.

LolaButt · 26/02/2021 00:55

I did it for a few years, in various places doing inbound CS.

It’s a micro manager’s birth place, where they are created and flourish into disgusting prison guards who discipline you for taking a piss.

It’s the office equivalent of a sweat shop. They too would happily have little kids working there for a penny an hour.

Well done OP. You have gained your freedom! Definitely done the right thing. Enjoy the relief!

iceicesunsun · 26/02/2021 01:19

I'd leave. They are awful places to work and more often then not are dead end jobs.

maddiemookins16mum · 26/02/2021 05:50

I left after 10 weeks in a call centre. It was vile. I was too old to be told off for going to the loo outside of my miserly break times. Oh and as for being on wrap for more than 30 seconds at the end of a call (to type up a note or investigate something), god help you.

Sapho47 · 26/02/2021 08:05

@redbedled

A old lady might ring up and they expect us to sell a Mobile and tv package to her (she has no idea what I'm talking about ) A lot will say ok and not understand. Then they get the bill for £65 extra and will ring customer services. Apparently that's not our problem and a different department but once they agree they are stuck in a contact for 24 months.
They record your screens so watch every move you make,you have to sell on every call (even if you miss sell

So you're admiting to a crime publicly right now?

Probably best to be the whistle-blower?

Ninkanink · 26/02/2021 08:10

No it’s not criminal, which is why they all do it so brazenly...

They have a recording with consent from the customer, so unless it can be proven that customer didn’t understand the contract, they have done nothing wrong. Customer gets a cool off period by law, but they bank on people not realising or not bothering.

Unscrupulous.

BarryTheKestrel · 26/02/2021 08:17

I've worked at the same call centre for the past 8 years, however only did 18 months on the phone in a technical support role and have moved through various management and support roles since. No selling, yes customers were often frustrated that their item didn't work as expected or had broken down, but it was always simple enough to talk them round with troubleshooting and repair bookings if needed.

However, it does take a very thick skin to work in a call centre I've found. Ours is quite good with a mix of age ranges from school leavers to almost retirement, I find the mix of older people tends to keep the younger ones in line and less bitchy and banter-y. There are obviously still issues but overall, it is a nice place to work.

With call centres it all depends on the work and the people. It sounds like you've found work you don't enjoy (selling isn't for everyone) with people you don't get on with and have nothing in common with so it's no surprise you aren't happy and hate it.

littlefireseverywhere · 26/02/2021 08:32

Well done OP, onto the next challenge.

tootsytoo · 26/02/2021 08:34

I worked on call centre from age 16-22 and I knew I had to get OUT!! It had always been part time to find uni or college but from an early age.

They suck, really suck - monitoring how long you take to go to the toilet. It's great I think for a part time job or in between jobs but not as a career

MedusasBadHairDay · 26/02/2021 08:39

@maddiemookins16mum

I left after 10 weeks in a call centre. It was vile. I was too old to be told off for going to the loo outside of my miserly break times. Oh and as for being on wrap for more than 30 seconds at the end of a call (to type up a note or investigate something), god help you.
Oh god I think I'd blocked out the 30 seconds wrap from my memory.

It's interesting how many posters talk about office politics in places like that are so much nastier and more vicious. It does seem like that atmosphere is created by a management who treat their staff like machines, rather than accepting than they are actual people who need breaks and support. It filters down into how staff treat each other.

SeldomFollowedIt · 26/02/2021 08:41

OP I’ve done many jobs in many different sectors.
All of them low paid. Call centre one was the PITTS. It was my worst job.

Tomselleckhaskindeyes · 26/02/2021 08:43

ok can i make a suggestion. If you want and like talking to lonely old people then your skills will be much better in social care. They are crying out for lovely kind people like yourself.

Original poster
redbedled · 26/02/2021 08:44

I think I'm going to steer clear from call centre work from now on.
I'm just not thick skinned enough

OP posts:
FTEngineerM · 26/02/2021 08:46

@redbedled

I think I'm going to steer clear from call centre work from now on. I'm just not thick skinned enough
Nobody is, it’s a scum job, you and everyone else is worth so much more.
PrincessTuna · 26/02/2021 08:48

I wouldnt have been able to cope with what you describe either @redbedled. Good luck with whatever is next x

Eastereggfan · 26/02/2021 08:49

I had a job exactly like this, majority of the staff were mis selling and it was horrendous. I had questioned why so many people were making sales and it's because they were praying on the elderly and tying them into new gas and electricity contracts without their agreement. It's bad but I started to call people and hang up after 3 rings because I just couldn't face the calls. I got pulled up on it and walked out before I was asked to leave. This was 15 years ago and I was about 21 but it still gives me nightmares.

FrostyChocolateMilkshake · 26/02/2021 08:49

OP no job is worth this.

Get applying for more jobs - I've seen loads about on Indeed, CV Library etc.

Please try and get out of there Flowers

Original poster
redbedled · 26/02/2021 09:13

I got paid today and they have overpaid me by £180 (the two days I quit )
Shall I ring them and tell them?
Or wait till they contact me
They made payment by BGC

OP posts:
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