To think call centre people should have a basic grasp of English??

[SourCreamnChive]

Just phoned British gas, kind of an emergency as we have no way of topping up our elec meter and are running low ... conversation went like this:

man with heavy accent "yes, my name is &&^ how may I help you please?"

me - (in basic terms - "need token meter changed to key"

men - "you have key meter yes?"

me - "no, I want a key meter"

man "you want key meter taken out, yes?"

me " no ... I want a key meter fitted"

man "excuse me?"

me - " want a key meter fitted"

man - "you don't want a key meter, yes?"

OFFS!

Had similar experiences - PITA

YADNBU - I had similar experiences a few months ago when it took prudential the best part of 4 months to sort out an endowment, and the staff, based in India were nothing short of useless.
I got things like
"Hello Mrs saltire, my name is Sangita, and how is the weather in XXX today"
Me "It's fine, can I ask you why you why my cheque hasn't been paid yet"
Her "Oh I see it was your birthday 3 weeks ago, can i wish you ahppy birthday"
ME "thanks, but where's my cheque"
Her "I'm sorry I don't understand what you mean"
and on and on, with her telling me she didn't understand what I meant.