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Grimmace
14-10-06, 02:28 PM
Hello, it's India calling

Exclusive by Luke McIlveen
October 14, 2006 12:00
Article from: The Daily Telegraph

FROM this sp**** room on top of a Bangalore pharmacy, call centre workers pester hundreds of households in NSW every day.

Trading as Anna Global Consulting, the centre pushes mobile phone upgrades for telecommunications firms.

Twelve agents start at 4.30am - 9am Sydney time - calling clients selected at random from the Yellow Pages.

Indian call centre operators call Australian customers at home and work every day - so The Daily Telegraph paid them a visit on their own time.

Science graduate Nanda Kumar, 25, said he found many customers had become hostile in recent months.

He has never been to Australia, but can rattle off the suburbs such as Liverpool, Bankstown and Casula which he targets each day.

He is paid about 10,000 rupees or $300 a month to do work once done by Australians before big companies began seeking cheaper labour offshore.

"Some say they won't talk to Indians because we took their brothers' and sisters' jobs or something, but most people are friendly," Mr Kumar said.

"We do not say we are from India, we say we're from Optus, but people can tell by the accent," he said.

"If they ask where are we calling from, we just say we are from Optus.

"Some get a bit cranky and hang up."

Mr Kumar said the prospect of almost certain rejection only made him try harder.

During The Daily Telegraph's visit, a call worker made three calls to businesses in western Sydney but was cut off before he could finish spruiking.

Sydney firms in the call centre's sights included Kennards Hire at Kellyville and Hoist It Hire in Castle Hill.

Only one in 10 clients takes up the offer of a new mobile phone but Anna Consulting chief Samuel Thiparala is satisfied with his company's strike rate.

"If they say yes to a new phone we have an office in Burwood that can get the product to them quickly," said Mr Thiparala, who spent a year in Sydney and still carries his membership card to Wests Leagues Club in Ashfield.

His modest office is plastered with posters showing the Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay, and three Australian flags are proudly on display.

Mr Thiparala said he used tapes to teach his workers how to speak with an Australian accent but most found it too difficult and he settled instead for a ``neutral'' Indian accent.

An Optus spokeswoman said the phone giant had outsourced call centre staff to India in recent years.

"We have been up front about the fact that we use call centres in India," she said.

W.I.L.T
14-10-06, 02:35 PM
I love when they ring me.

Me: Hello
telstra indian: Hello mr peat may i talk to you about such and such
Me: Aww im busy right now
Telstra indian: oh, ok, when will you not be busy
Me: what time does you shift finish
Telstra indian: Ahhh another 3 hours
Me: yeah i'll be busy for another 3 hours at least, how about you give me your number and I'll ring you and we can talk about it
Telstra Indian: Sorry that is against the rules.
Me: I guess you dont like being bothered on the phone when your at home aye
Telstra indian: no i don't
Me: WELL NEITHER DO I!!!!!!! *hang up*

Capital_Shark
14-10-06, 03:06 PM
These poor bastards have a habit of calling me when I'm in a bad mood and keen to put my fist through something. Some of the abuse I've given these people down the phone line could probably get me and my goat killed in their country. They're persistent though, they'll got a gob full and still carry on trying to sell me 'the latest colour screen Nokia mobile' on some tandori talker plan.

jenny
14-10-06, 03:10 PM
These poor bastards have a habit of calling me when I'm in a bad mood and keen to put my fist through something. Some of the abuse I've given these people down the phone line could probably get me and my goat killed in their country. They're persistent though, they'll got a gob full and still carry on trying to sell me 'the latest colour screen Nokia mobile' on some tandori talker plan.
ROFL! I got a call the other day, they said
"Hello Mrs......."
i said hi :ok:
They said
"you have won a phone"
I said GREAT, do you have my address
they said "yes we do"
I said "great post it there thankyou, byeeee"

Grimmace
14-10-06, 03:14 PM
I hate these Indian people i refuse to speak to them.If they ring me i just hasng up on them.NO im not racist i hate speaking to people i can barely understand.

jenny
14-10-06, 03:17 PM
I hate these Indian people i refuse to speak to them.If they ring me i just hasng up on them.NO im not racist i hate speaking to people i can barely understand.
AND, they have Aussie Jobs....I know some of us wont work (not me, i do)
But they work for alot less, SO the Companies are taking it OFF SHORE!
YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE WE CAN LIVE ON $7.00 A WEEK!

Grimmace
14-10-06, 03:19 PM
AND, they have Aussie Jobs....I know some of us wont work (not me, i do)
But they work for alot less, SO the Companies are taking it OFF SHORE!
YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE WE CAN LIVE ON $7.00 A WEEK!
Funny enough thats what the IR laws were brought in for so wed be more globally competitive.Id rather have Aussies working for me than people offshore.............. like they cant afford it anyway oh wait no they cant that means it eats into their profits

SaRaH...
14-10-06, 03:20 PM
they called me yesterday wanting to speak to my mum ...
i said "shes not home"
can we speak to mrs ...
i said again "shes not home"
ok can you help us then
i said "nope sorry im not 18"
ok can we offer you a deal with telstra
i said again "im not 18" and by this time i was angry "goodbye" and i hung the phone up

i really hate them when they call .. and they always call when my mum isnt home so then they call back and speak to my mum and then she hangs up on them too ..

jenny
14-10-06, 03:41 PM
Funny enough thats what the IR laws were brought in for so wed be more globally competitive.Id rather have Aussies working for me than people offshore.............. like they cant afford it anyway oh wait no they cant that means it eats into their profits
If labor gets in they say they will wipe those new laws

jenny
14-10-06, 03:42 PM
they called me yesterday wanting to speak to my mum ...
i said "shes not home"
can we speak to mrs ...
i said again "shes not home"
ok can you help us then
i said "nope sorry im not 18"
ok can we offer you a deal with telstra
i said again "im not 18" and by this time i was angry "goodbye" and i hung the phone up

i really hate them when they call .. and they always call when my mum isnt home so then they call back and speak to my mum and then she hangs up on them too ..
Its funny Sarah, that they dont wipe our names off the board, when they are getting so many Knock backs from a number!Persistant lil Critters!

Darren Lockyer
14-10-06, 04:14 PM
These poor bastards have a habit of calling me when I'm in a bad mood and keen to put my fist through something. Some of the abuse I've given these people down the phone line could probably get me and my goat killed in their country. They're persistent though, they'll got a gob full and still carry on trying to sell me 'the latest colour screen Nokia mobile' on some tandori talker plan.
lol

Robbie_Dee
14-10-06, 04:24 PM
ROFL! I got a call the other day, they said
"Hello Mrs......."
i said hi :ok:
They said
"you have won a phone"
I said GREAT, do you have my address
they said "yes we do"
I said "great post it there thankyou, byeeee"hahaha :laugh:thats gold...i gotta try that one day!

you gotta love ya old telemarketers...NOT!!! just imagine how much %$#! they cop from everyone they ring...at the end up the day they must go home feeling all dejected because every single person they rings either tells them to get $#^$@& or hangs up on them.

jenny
14-10-06, 04:26 PM
hahaha :laugh:thats gold...i gotta try that one day!

you gotta love ya old telemarketers...NOT!!! just imagine how much %$#! they cop from everyone they ring...at the end up the day they must go home feeling all dejected because every single person they rings either tells them to get $#^$@& or hangs up on them.
OHHHHHH! it would be dredful....none of that...("well i'm off to work, gonna have a great day" :dead: )

Hoppy2007Dragons
14-10-06, 04:48 PM
I had one trying to get me a credit card

so anyway it goes.

Operator: Mr Hopkins, how are you
Me: Yeah allright
Operator: I was wondering would you be interested i na credit card
Me: I might,
Operator: ok, very good, i'll just need some personal details, etc etc
Me: ok, etc etc
Operator: Whos is your employer?
Me: The Australian Federal Police, Telemarketing Fraud Division.
Operator: Silence
Me: Are you there
Operator: *hang up*

I pissed my self, had it on loud speaker with all my mates, best fun i have ever had on the phone, lol.

I wonder if their is such a division, :p

jenny
14-10-06, 04:56 PM
I had one trying to get me a credit card

so anyway it goes.

Operator: Mr Hopkins, how are you
Me: Yeah allright
Operator: I was wondering would you be interested i na credit card
Me: I might,
Operator: ok, very good, i'll just need some personal details, etc etc
Me: ok, etc etc
Operator: Whos is your employer?
Me: The Australian Federal Police, Telemarketing Fraud Division.
Operator: Silence
Me: Are you there
Operator: *hang up*

I pissed my self, had it on loud speaker with all my mates, best fun i have ever had on the phone, lol.

I wonder if their is such a division, :p
I think we have a winner! :rotflmao:

Hoppy2007Dragons
14-10-06, 07:17 PM
literally, i was pissing myself, kidding.

We know when were gonna get one because we say hello, and there is no answer, so we hang up, because it takes a little while for the line to be established.

Darren Lockyer
14-10-06, 08:21 PM
literally, i was pissing myself, kidding.

We know when were gonna get one because we say hello, and there is no answer, so we hang up, because it takes a little while for the line to be established.
that one is a classic

Bernster
14-10-06, 10:09 PM
literally, i was pissing myself, kidding.

We know when were gonna get one because we say hello, and there is no answer, so we hang up, because it takes a little while for the line to be established.

If there is a pause of 10 seconds or so when you pick up the phone, you should be aware that it is going to be one of those bullies in some Indian call Center...Just hang up on them...

I always seem to cop the phone calls because I am at home on my own durring the day (because most of my Uni classes are afternoon/evening's) and I hate it...A lot of the time, I tell them that I am still 17 (although I am 33)...I told my parents what I did to some tellemarketer once when I fibbed about my age (I told them that I was 17) and they p!ssed themselves laughing (honestly).

I heard that to get a job in the Indian Call Centers, you have to have a University Degree (WTF...I don't geddit)...

Steve Dangerous
14-10-06, 10:16 PM
the delay is a timesaver. many callcenters these days have numbers automatically dialed, then when you pick up they transfer to an available salesperson. it's so people aren't left there waiting for calls to ringout when nobody's home. has nothing to do with what country they're from.

Titans#1
15-10-06, 07:05 AM
Am I the only one that's had the automated message? I've mentioned it before here, but geez, it's a pisser...

"Hi! We have an important message for you, but all our operaters are busy right now so please hold"

*Hold Music*

1 minute later.... (still haven't talked to a person btw)

"I'm sorry, it seems we are having a longer than normal waiting period. We will call you back another time, Thankyou and Goodbye"

*Beep, Beep, Beep*

Yes, they hung up on me.... Have had it a couple of times now.. still NO IDEA what this important message is......

Robbie_Dee
15-10-06, 07:21 AM
Their important messsage was infact to tell you that they are having a longer than normal waiting period;)

Bernster
15-10-06, 08:59 AM
Am I the only one that's had the automated message? I've mentioned it before here, but geez, it's a pisser...

"Hi! We have an important message for you, but all our operaters are busy right now so please hold"

*Hold Music*

1 minute later.... (still haven't talked to a person btw)

"I'm sorry, it seems we are having a longer than normal waiting period. We will call you back another time, Thankyou and Goodbye"

*Beep, Beep, Beep*

Yes, they hung up on me.... Have had it a couple of times now.. still NO IDEA what this important message is......

Yep, I have answered a few of those. It happens to be GE Capital Finance/Money/Whatever. Although I have nothing to do with them (and I wouldn't touch them with an iron bar let alone a beanpole), they were always for either of my two sisters and the person on the other end of the line (I can never understand them) just tells me that it is a "Business Matter"...

Steve
15-10-06, 09:15 AM
ah yep, as soon as i hear on-hold music, or a silent pause, i hang up. i have had a few recordings too, but it's been an american woman going on about some holiday. you dont speak to someone at all, it's JUST a recording.

i only get them at work, so unfortunately i have to be at least somewhat polite. usually, "we're not interested, thank you!" *click*

the australian call centres are actually worse. you don't know if it's a call centre, they won't say who they are or what they want, they just ask for my boss, by name. who usually just gives them a spray then hangs up. :D

Nathalie
15-10-06, 11:21 AM
I am at home by myself a lot too, and what really annoys me (amongst other things, lol) is when I get calls (which sometimes start at about 7.30am), where all that happens is a long pause, then all I get is a strange 'beep' which happens every 5 seconds or so. Not the kind of 'beep' where they hang up on you, just some other weird noise. And the most annoying thing about it is - aside from the fact that I rush to the phone thinking it's someone important calling - that when I hang up the phone, and pick it up again a few seconds later, the 'beeping' is still going on and I can't use the phone for another few minutes. Isn't that at least against the law? Bloody hopeless.

P.S. I'm pregnant so I'm P.O'd about a lot of things at the moment :rotflmao:

jenny
15-10-06, 03:54 PM
I am at home by myself a lot too, and what really annoys me (amongst other things, lol) is when I get calls (which sometimes start at about 7.30am), where all that happens is a long pause, then all I get is a strange 'beep' which happens every 5 seconds or so. Not the kind of 'beep' where they hang up on you, just some other weird noise. And the most annoying thing about it is - aside from the fact that I rush to the phone thinking it's someone important calling - that when I hang up the phone, and pick it up again a few seconds later, the 'beeping' is still going on and I can't use the phone for another few minutes. Isn't that at least against the law? Bloody hopeless.

P.S. I'm pregnant so I'm P.O'd about a lot of things at the moment :rotflmao:
Not only that Nathalie...what if you need to make an urgent call! Grrrr it ticks me off too! :mad:

Nathalie
15-10-06, 05:30 PM
Not only that Nathalie...what if you need to make an urgent call! Grrrr it ticks me off too! :mad:

I know.. something really needs to be done about this. Could interfere with a potentially life-threatening situation.

SaRaH...
15-10-06, 05:40 PM
we got another call today from these people trying to sell telstra to my mum ...

she told them that we had to leave the line free cause we were waiting for a call from my grandparents who are in new zealand for a holiday .. and the person was like .. ohh no no dont hang up .. so she hung up ..lol

and funny enough 5 minutes later my grandparents rang ...

Darren Lockyer
15-10-06, 05:52 PM
we got another call today from these people trying to sell telstra to my mum ...

she told them that we had to leave the line free cause we were waiting for a call from my grandparents who are in new zealand for a holiday .. and the person was like .. ohh no no dont hang up .. so she hung up ..lol

and funny enough 5 minutes later my grandparents rang ...
lol

s_s_s
15-10-06, 06:03 PM
they called us at least 6 times in an hour last night around dinner time while we were waiting a phone call from my mum

jenny
15-10-06, 06:23 PM
they called us at least 6 times in an hour last night around dinner time while we were waiting a phone call from my mum
its a giant pain in the you know what :(

W.I.L.T
15-10-06, 07:36 PM
I like them, they are always friendly and looking to give you a great deal.

patrick
15-10-06, 09:26 PM
I hate these callers.

One classic i took was:
Me: Hello
Indian: Is that Mr O'Really? (my last name is O'Reilly)
Me: Not here at the moment thanks.
Indian: My name is James Williams.
Me: Your name is James Williams?
Indian: Ooh, Yes. James Williams.
Me: BULL****!!!
[hung up]