The client I work for was the highest bidder for a certain utility company that was selling off accounts. Anyhow, we sent letters to everyone explaining what happened, and the previous company also sent letters *AND* bill inserts to inform everyone of what happened. This was almost a year ago. However, since we know how well sucky customers read and comprehend policy, a majority of our calls started with the words "Who the HELL are you people? And why the HELL do I owe YOU money?" If it wasn't that it was "Are you guys a scam?" Because naturally, if you're a scammer as soon as someone figures you out you come clean and say "Well played."
My favorite though, was this man:
SC: WHO THE HELL ARE YOU PEOPLE!
Me: We are [company name] and we just recently took over for [previous company name]
SC: I don't believe you! This is a scam! If you're really my gas company tell me who I am!
Me: I wouldn't know unless you told me.
SC: SEE! IT'S A SCAM! My gas company would know who I was. I was a Vietnam Vet and nobody makes a fool out of me (he's capable of doing it all on his own)
Me: Sir, we service over 500,000 customers here, I have no way of knowing anything about you unless you give me your account number.
SC: I Ain't givin' you nuthin! If you don't tell me my meter number in 30 seconds I'm reporting you to the Attourney General!
Me: Okay, but I have no way of telling you that, I don't even know your address.
SC: Well fine, my name is John Edwards (or some equally common name)
Me: J-O-H-N?
SC: HOW ELSE YOU SPELL IT!
Me: J-O-N.
SC: Who the hell would do that? Just look me up.
Me: [types it in, and sure enough, there's thousands of results]
SC: Well?
Me: Unfortunately there's about one thousand John Edwards, could you at least tell me your city?
SC: *grumble* [gives state] I still think this is a scam!
Me, amazingly only finding one result in this town: Okay, I have your account, but you'll need to verify your phone number before I can even give you your meter number.
SC: AHA! AHA! YOU'RE A SCAM! I AIN'T PAYING NOTHIN'!
Me: Then your natural gas service will be shut off, if you don't believe we exist contact the BBB, thank you!
SC: *hangs up*
My favorite though, was this man:
SC: WHO THE HELL ARE YOU PEOPLE!
Me: We are [company name] and we just recently took over for [previous company name]
SC: I don't believe you! This is a scam! If you're really my gas company tell me who I am!
Me: I wouldn't know unless you told me.
SC: SEE! IT'S A SCAM! My gas company would know who I was. I was a Vietnam Vet and nobody makes a fool out of me (he's capable of doing it all on his own)
Me: Sir, we service over 500,000 customers here, I have no way of knowing anything about you unless you give me your account number.
SC: I Ain't givin' you nuthin! If you don't tell me my meter number in 30 seconds I'm reporting you to the Attourney General!
Me: Okay, but I have no way of telling you that, I don't even know your address.
SC: Well fine, my name is John Edwards (or some equally common name)
Me: J-O-H-N?
SC: HOW ELSE YOU SPELL IT!
Me: J-O-N.
SC: Who the hell would do that? Just look me up.
Me: [types it in, and sure enough, there's thousands of results]
SC: Well?
Me: Unfortunately there's about one thousand John Edwards, could you at least tell me your city?
SC: *grumble* [gives state] I still think this is a scam!
Me, amazingly only finding one result in this town: Okay, I have your account, but you'll need to verify your phone number before I can even give you your meter number.
SC: AHA! AHA! YOU'RE A SCAM! I AIN'T PAYING NOTHIN'!
Me: Then your natural gas service will be shut off, if you don't believe we exist contact the BBB, thank you!
SC: *hangs up*
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