Customer service in the UK sucks

[RichardW]

Originally Posted by Scoox

The UK is the one place in the world where customers are afraid to complain, therefore UK customer service sucks. For example, today my hairdresser said to me that THAT would be the last time he would cut my hair because I "was difficult to work with". Let me exaplain. I asked him to take a bit more hair off the right as it didn't look quite symmetrical. My telling him how to do his job pissed him off. WTF?? I think it is quite normal telling my hairdresser how I want my hair done, right? At least when it's my hair and my money we are talking about. He messed up and he should have acknowledged it and apologized, but insted he took a defensive stand. All hairdressers I've been to in the UK are like this, they never want to take direction. This is because, broadly speaking, Brits don't like to be told how to do things, and also because they don't complain (if I never complain, don't you complain to me). I didn't exactly complain, I suggested. Anyway, in addition, most services in the UK tend to be extremely bureaucratic and inefficient, the NHS is pathetic, GPs are incompetent beyond belief, public transport is totally unreliable yet expensive and bus drivers are rude, houses are sh*t yet expensive (beautiful victorian house my ass), council tax is too high yet rubbish is collected every 15 days, recycling does not get collected if there is a can in the plastics box (which could have been put in there by a passer-by), laws protect criminals, social benefits are too generous and promote laziness (go to any Jobcentre Plus and you'll see a bunch of layabouts drinking beer at the entrance), restaurants are prohibitively expensive yet British food is pretty mediocre and boring, there is a joining/administration fee for just about everything, and everything has to be done on a 12-month contract. What I've just said constitutes a stellar mess-up yet British people tend not to like being told when they've messed up. Nevertheless there prevails a sense of "British pride". Well, British boys and girls, you are missing out SOOOOOOO MUCH!! The grass is greener in many other countries. Lucky I am moving to Spain for good after the summer!

Enjoyed your little b*tch fest there did ya?

I always thought people in the UK were renowned for being blunt and direct about things that aren't good enough. Certainly in my experience we are.

If it wasn't for the NHS, three people I know, or and myself too, could have died because we wouldn't have been able to afford costs otherwise. If you prefer a "me first" society where it's every man for himself and nobody else gives a bugger (unlike everyones tax going into something like the NHS) well it says a lot about you.

I have travelled by british public transport all my life and yes there have been issues from time to time but over all it is no less reliable than that of other countries. Some places (such as France) I have found to be a nightmare.

So called "British" food is very multicultural, probably more so than any other nation I know..and a greater variety in super markets than many European countries. I've never been disappointed eating out in any restaurant and I have high standards. Certainly lots of great places in my home city of Lincoln too. And my city like much of the UK has an incredible rish history and culture.

Houses in the UK have higher build quality than many other countries particularly many USA houses (still made of wood panels???) I could go on... and what is a "sh*t" house meant to be? You expect a mansion? One person only needs a couple rooms, bedroom and a hall and toilet to live in, who do you think you are, the bloody president?

If you hadn't noticed there are plenty of different areas in England which offer varying quality in all areas, just like ANY country. Many areas are renowned for their good customer relations and hospitality such as the north west parts but not so much in the south east.

British boys and girls missing out so much? I think the youth of Britain will make their mind up about their own lives thank you very much and decide what they wish to make of it. The mood and experience of any situation has only to do with your attitude, not your surroundings.

[NYCGeordie]

Originally Posted by chilaili

it really is nice to have someone smile and ask how your day is going even if they don't mean it.

Only one thing to say about that - if you're going to pretend to be polite and ask me how I am or how's my day going, then at least have the common decency to stick around for 2 seconds to hear my answer! It really pi$%#s me off when people say "Hey, hows your day" or "how you doin?"..........I start to answer and find myself talking to the back of someones head. That's not being polite it's being ignorant!

[EnjoyTheSilence]

Customer service in the UK is no worse than anywhere else. You get the good, the bad and the ugly.

You can't compare UK's customer service to customer service in the US anyway. The US is such a huge country and it really depends on the state. For example, I live in Miami and customer service here is far worse than anything I've ever experienced in the UK, yet I've been to other states (e.g. California) where customer service was a lot more professional, but a little impersonal.

However, banks are different. Try getting on the wrong side of a bank/credit card company here and you'll be on the wrong end of a fleecing. At least in the UK, I believe you can claim back overdraft fees and have some level of protection against the vultures, i.e. through the Citizens Advice Bureau and other bodies that exist to protect consumers.

[Tartanlad]

As someone who had to take a job in a call centre after I was made redundant and couldn't find any work in my own field, my eyes were opened as to just how rude customers can be for no reason. Members of the public that will phone up and bitterly complain that they have to speak to a call centre in the first place doesn't get you off on the best foot with them, no matter how polite you are being. (Although you would like to tell them that you only work there to pay the bills and didn't invent the concept of the call centre). One guy phoned up ranting about his insurance renewal, shouting down the phone. Even though I offered him a discount he was that busy ranting he couldn't get the concept we were offering him money back and he insisted we cancelled his policy. So for anyone that phones up places like that to shout and moan, remember a civillised conversation with the employee at the end of the phone will usually get you alot further than ranting and raving. Call centre employees get shouted at on a regular basis and quickly you become oblivious to it which means it doesn't benefit the customer. Thankfully I am out of that job now and back in my own field of work but I will never view a call centre in the same way again.

[drlol]

I have experience of living in both countries and in the US on general in restaurants and retail stores the service is outstanding and I am continuously taken aback at how good it is, especially in the midwest. Free refills help as do stores that take anything back even if they didn't sell it. At airports the service can be a little blunt. For example when checking in its always "Last name" while staring at a computer, not "hello, can I see your passport please" like it is in the UK.

[eagle7]

Originally Posted by ian6479

Its called manners.. and many British companies are now following suit and wishing the customer a pleasant farewell. Nothign wrong with that in my book.

As for the smile.. I'd rather see that, than the god aweful state of most brits teeth!!

Whats wrong with british peoples teeth ? Im quite sure they brush/floss...right ?

[Tartanlad]

Originally Posted by eagle7

Whats wrong with british peoples teeth ? Im quite sure they brush/floss...right ?

Well I certainly do as do most people I know including having 6 monthly dental check ups.

Now my teeth are okay looking, never had my first filling until I was 16. But I think in some Americans view if teeth aren't all the same shape and aren't brilliant dayglow white then they are deemed to be rotten!

A very unfair and outdated stereotype if you ask me.

[averagejoe76]

Ive heard that Americans are more concerned with the appearance of their teeth.
Braces,Whitening,etc
Where Brit's are more concerned about the Health aspect.
Plus its also harder to see a dentist through NHS?
Anyways this thread is going off Topic...

[Scotslass]

Originally Posted by averagejoe76

Ive heard that Americans are more concerned with the appearance of their teeth.
Braces,Whitening,etc
Where Brit's are more concerned about the Health aspect.
Plus its also harder to see a dentist through NHS?
Anyways this thread is going off Topic...

Most people go private for dentists, i've never had any work done on my teeth and i only pay when i need to go to see a dentist. Which isn't much, last time i was at the dentist was 5 years ago i dont need to because i look after my teeth. I laugh at where this American stereotype came from about people here having bad teeth they obviously haven't been here. But you know most Americans dont even leave their own state nevermind the country.

[Cornerguy1]

The customer service aspect of this thread seems to be a thing of the past, so perhaps it's time to move on to other topics.