I don't know how to make this any clearer for you: cancel my account!

re: I don't know how to make this any clearer for you: cancel my account!

nameless — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:28:35 GMT

Ive worked at a call center, it sucks. We are required to get 3 no's before we can end the call. Its not that we dont know how to listen, cant hear, or trying to be rude. Our calls are listened into by QC and we get write-ups for being polite and ending the call early. Just tell the telemarketer you want to be put on their "do not call list" and hang up. I dreaded going for the third "no" and would pray that the customer would just hang up, we would just end up getting screamed at, it was pointless. The people that enforce the 3rd no rule are never the ones that actually have to call people.

re: I don't know how to make this any clearer for you: cancel my account!

Kit — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 19:47:42 GMT

I worked for AOL for about 4 months when I was in college.
They are paid by retention or so calls saves.
It is estimated that for each person saved is like $140 in revenue for them immediately and for that same person if the stayed on for another 30 days without calling back then it is about $2000.
Money is made on marketing end. People look at active subsriber #s and base cost for advertising on AOL.

They pay pretty decent bonus if you do well. I would say if I continue that part time that I could have made 80K a year. Not too many do that but I can certainly tell you that I was not at all in any way like the described conversation. There are many ways to cancel your account . I think people do pick out the worst scenarios to write about otherwise it would not sound so interesting.
I Refused to do those pitch though. I think it depends on the individuals. There are people who use these mindless methods but it definitely is not at all taught that you must ask a person that many times. Everyone is pretty much free to operate in their own style.

They are pushed to perform but that is their style. These are usually individuals who are thick headed.

Off the subject but my worst experience is once walikng through a store called Ultimate Electronics. We were looking for HDTV and teh store was probably 3000 sqft at that location. 9 people approached us sell. It was really ridiculous. They can all see that we have been approached and still did it. We walked out of the store and never been back in one of those. We did not even look at anything because of all the interruption. That was just pure harassment.

re: I don't know how to make this any clearer for you: cancel my account!

Jana — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 19:56:44 GMT

I believe you have to state "take me off your call list" to have the phone calls stop. Each time, take down the name of the person you are talking to and document time and date of conversation. Then, after three calls after you say "take me off your list" you can take them to small claims court or something along those lines. Not sure if that holds true today, but definitely something to keep in mind

re: I don't know how to make this any clearer for you: cancel my account!

HeatherLeigh — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 01:35:05 GMT

I'm not sure I know anyone that still has an AOL account, now that you mention it. I had an account in '97.

re: I don't know how to make this any clearer for you: cancel my account!

Tim — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 01:07:25 GMT

Looks like it's a great time to get rid of your AOL account, especially if you'd been afraid to because of the horror stories. I had the same experience with the LA Times you did with the Seattle Times. It's really a shame companies put their employees in those positions. As much as they'd like to think of themselves as "people companies" their behavior really proves the opposite, don't you think?

re: I don't know how to make this any clearer for you: cancel my account!

jb — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 00:08:31 GMT

that aol call remineds me of peoplepc.

re: I don't know how to make this any clearer for you: cancel my account!

HeatherLeigh — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 18:59:15 GMT

Hmm, OK, "take me off your marketing list". I'm going to do that.

re: I don't know how to make this any clearer for you: cancel my account!

Elizabeth — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 12:21:17 GMT

>Arggggh, "free" is not the answer to everything! My question is this: are they teaching them not to listen, just hiring people that have poor listening skills or is there some kind of contest to keep the customer on the line for a certain period of time? I heard that if you say "no" to a sales call 3 times, they have to hang up. Not sure if that is true.<

I'm not sure about that, but if you say, "Take me off your marketing list and don't call again," they legally can't, I believe under Federal law. Really, it's best to just cut them off-- that way you don't have to interact and take the crap ;-) I've done it with every telemarketing call that I get, and my husband and I barely get any bites anymore.

re: I don't know how to make this any clearer for you: cancel my account!

HeatherLeigh — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 07:03:23 GMT

Christina-kind of conflicting, huh? I feel the same.

James-sounds like a feature request. I'm not a gamer so unfortunatley I don't know if it has been added.

re: I don't know how to make this any clearer for you: cancel my account!

James Risto — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 05:37:00 GMT

Reminds me of my experience with XBox Live. Nowhere near as bad, but sheesh if I can input my name, address, credit card and other data with my controller, why do I have to call to cancel my subscription? That would be a simple yes/no on the controller! Perhaps this has changed ... this was a few years ago.