Dealing with Customer service agents,complaints (offshoot annoying Fees thread)

[bsfins]

I didn't want to get into a different discussion about the Customer service agents...(after reading something Badger said,and then Bosox said) in the Annoying fees...

(Especially the last 3 to 5 years an older and wiser me,and reading different articles on Customer service posted on things like Lifehacker.com)

I'm very careful,and clearly state to the agent...I'm not mad,or yelling at you personally,(then My complaint)I'm pissed at this situation,or how your company has handled this.For me,They have to be the problem before I fly off the handle at them...Paying a late fee,on something that I'm paying late...I understand...

Directv is one,that is depending on the agent...
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my example...

Problem - September of 2011,my HD reciever kept screwing up,and would freeze up after about 60 seconds,then take ten -15 minutes to reboot...When I tried to watch my NFL Sunday ticket package, eventually found a workaround online to fix this well after talking to Directv on the phone)

The complaint -Called directv finally got through to an agent...She explained the problem essentially our engineers are working on it, they had no timetable on when it would be fixed... Told me to reboot,then said that same thing over and over...We're working on it....She's just doing her job,so as she's saying the same line over,and over...My eyes are boiling and seeing red...Then I say "I'm not mad,or yelling at you personally"  I then let loose my complaint,like a raving lunatic...

After I'm done,I apologizes,she apologizes for the problem then offers me Showtime for 3 months free (which is just the promotion they had at the time (I think they always have it on no.. I only Agreed because Dexter was going to be on) I asked the lady like 5 times,What's my bill going to be if I do this..The same...What's the catch? This is Free right? I can't afford any increase to my bill,it's free right?

Problem 2,and the bad agent - I get my bill a couple weeks later,It's more than usual...Call Directv,I get an agent,she explains why I've got an extra $11 tacked on for Showtime. (because I started outside of a normal billing cycle,so they charged me the full month).I explained I was given the free three months because of a prior screw up...She explains why I'm charged again,and she didn't care what I was was told before it wasn't her..Then repeated the reason why I was charged.I was then pretty pissed.I started asking her," Mam, do you know the definition of the word Free?"when she replied "Yes",I asked her to define it...Then at the end I chipred in," if that's free,and I was reassured 5 times it would be free...How am I being charged $11) We went round and round till I hung up on her....

 Call back 4 hours later,Got a good agent-I explain why I was given the Showtime free...She immediately said... Ohh we're over charging you by $11....Let me credit your account....

Example over
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I've had multiple little hiccups in the billing with Directv,It all depends on the agent...

I find customer service agents are willing to help me and solve the problem when I'm not screaming at them.Some of them are horrible,even when I keep telling myself, they're just doing their job to keep me from exploding...

I like dealing with Amazon,preferably with a Customer service Chat..The bad of it sometimes,some of the reasons for returns seem to get changed quite a bit in the here's your refund emails...I sent something back that is destroyed in shipping,and the email will say wrong color,size)

Sears was really bad,The chat,said to call a customer service number,which then made me call the store.

Office Depot,was just plain Effin horrendous and by far the worst,I joked in a tweet,it was so bad,I'm gonna buy stock in Staples...

So my rambling comes to this question...

How do you deal with Customer service agents?

Do you have any type of method in how you find to get the best results?

Who do you think has the worst customer service agents?

How about the best agents?

fixed a spell check fixed error

[Dave Gray]

I don't think it's so much the agents themselves, as to what they have the power to do and the company's policy about when to actually cave to the demands of someone with a problem.

Bose, as I've said on here many times, is always great.  But I think that's just because they have a commitment to making their client happy, because their product is expensive.  Whenever I have an issue, I call and they handle it.  Every time.  It's great.  No hassle.  No bullshit.

[badger6]

Office Depot,was just plain Effin horrendous and by far the worst,I joked in a tweet,it was so bad,I'm gonna by stock in Staples...

I concur completely. Office Depot will soon cease to exist. Such a shady company !!!