The UK needs a Consumerist

Posted Sunday, May 27, 2007 at 6:51pm in Blogging, Off topic  | 

Customer service is terrible in the UK. It really is. How many times have you been got off the phone from a call centre and want to pull your hair out? I’ve been lied to; I’ve had the phone put down on me; I’ve been told by people in senior positions that they would call me back – they never did. I know I’m not alone either.

It’s quite bizarre that there’s a blog dedicated to outing these particular companies that don’t pride themselves in customer satisfaction in the US but not one in the UK. After all, the US is renowned for its customer-focused service staff, isn’t it? Okay, a lot of the “have a nice day” stuff does come across as a bit fake. But I’d take the fake-but-polite approach over the miserable-and-rude any day.

For example, a girl I know who has lived in the US but now resides in London had problems with her bank account. No fault of her own. It was the bank’s. After it was finally resolved did the bank apologise? Nope. And in her own words: “If that was in the US I would have a bunch of flowers on my desk about now.”

So, here’s what I propose. Shiny Media should start a blog dedicated to outing bad service from large companies who really should know better. Go on Shiny, you know you want to.

Check out Keith Flint in this video from Essex band, The Prodigy. This is how I feel after constant terrible customer service.

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