The problem with Indian Telemarketers

[Comic Book Geek]

People in/from India speak very good English, but just because you speak and understand the words, doesn't mean you understand what I'm talking about.

Today I was offered a FREE quote on my mortgage. I asked how much a quote usually costs, he kept talking but never answered my question. I wanted to know how much of a bargain i was getting from that free quote. I was insistant on getting an answer, almost crazy over knowing how much a quote usually costs... and he never once understood that i was messing with him and that my level of sarcasm was quite high. Much more of a cultural gap I think than a language gap.

[mitchedwards]

Telemarketers have a script they have to go by. If you do anything to deviate them from the script it results in a trainwreck.

[Comic Book Geek]

I actually spent a few months just out of High School as a telemarketer. (So if you didn't like me before there's another reason to hate me) You do have a script, but you have to be able to roll with the punches. India native telemarketers and tech support employees don't have joking around and small talk skills... at least with Americans.

Having a little experience in this horrible job, I love to mess with these guys, and it's disapointing when they totally don't get it.

[toys2cool]

LOL! the poor guy must've been like what the hell is going on here?

[Sideshow Spock]

When I was in HS (we're talking mid 80s here), a friend and I took a job in the evening telemarketing.. we called people and tried to sell them tickets to something called the "International Magic Spectacular". I guess it was a circus type event that was coming to the area. I don't really remember.

I really didn't know what I was getting into, and once there (and "trained" in about 5 mins), I despised every second of it, and just wanted to GET OUT. Needless to say, that one nite was my last. And I didn't even go back to get the money they owed me.

My friend lasted a couple nites more than me. When he needed a break he'd call me and pretend he was trying to sell..

[Adam West]

Everyone has to make a living and although it is a slight annoyance, I realize there is a human being on the other end of the phone.

I usually just use my caller id to screen calls and don't bother picking up the phone if it is unrecognizable. In the rare instance that I do receive a telemarketing call, I figure the best thing I can do is simply hang up the phone.

It is my understanding that telemarketers go by scripts and are not allowed to end a call so the best thing I can do is hang up quickly so they can move on to their next potential sale.

I actually hate the new type of telemarketing which is with companies you already do business with. It seems like it's impossible to have a conversation with your credit card company regarding a charge issue that you might be experiencing without a last ditch effort to have the customer service rep. try to sell you credit protection or some other type of nonsense fee that is really unsolicited and unneeded. Those get a little trickier. I guess you could hang up on them but I just say no thank you and repeat it over and over even if the question is phrased in such a way that a no thank you would seem like a strange answer to the question. They usually don't push too hard and the conversation ends pretty quickly.

[ramsey37]

I've gotten rather good at just hanging up on people trying to sell me something over the phone. It saves us both alot of time and needless effort
George

[cjefferys]

I always screen my calls, but if one of the leeches slips through the cracks, I've gotten pretty good with a fast "No thanks, not interested, bye" *click* Almost all in under one second.

[kresge1]

Its quite painful dealing with foreign tele-marketers

[palitoy]

My phone company moved their call center to India, the most frustrating thing is being able to hear, it sounds like there is 100 people in one tiny room.

A friend of mine (who actually orchestrated the India call center) told me if I can't hear, to request a Canadian operator and they will transfer me.

[Comic Book Geek]

My phone company moved their call center to India, the most frustrating thing is being able to hear, it sounds like there is 100 people in one tiny room.

A friend of mine (who actually orchestrated the India call center) told me if I can't hear, to request a Canadian operator and they will transfer me.

It's my theory that ALL tech support/telemarketing jobs in India take place in the same metal walled building. I'm convinced of it.

[RG]

I hate it when they butcher a person's name. Since I live with my mommy and daddy I answer the phone most of the time. Our last name is Gould and most often they call us Gold, Good, Glued etc. Well, 90% of the time they ask for my Dad who is named Percy, many times they call him Pierce, Puss, and a slang term for a female part that could also refer to a cat, and sometimes all I hear is a "P" sound, then no idea what they are saying.

Once I answered the phone to have someone ask me "is Pu**y Good there" I was like ***??? then started laughing ... I said "don't know, and I'm not going to try it" and then hung up. I doubt it was a prank, but I had to be a smart butt just in case

[palitoy]

I hate it when they butcher a person's name.

I love that because it's a clear signal to me that it's unimportant, "Hello Mister Heeeelyooore" gets met with "he's not in, sorry"

[JDeRouen]

I did telemarketing for about six months when I was 18, and absolutely hated it. We sold aluminum siding.

"Hello, can I spreak to Mr. So-and so? This is Joe DeRouen, and I'm calling on behalf of my boss at Great Southwest Builders. My boss was driving past your house the other day and thought it would make a beautiful showcase home for our product, and he'd like to schedule a meeting with you. What day would work best for you?"

I'm probably not remembering all if it, but it's amazing I remember that much!

Joe

[JDeRouen]

I will add that I've spoken to America telemarketers who are just as hard, if not harder, to communicate with as their Indian counterparts. It's a sucky job.