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British customer service!
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We are crap aren't we?
Finding a,pub, restaurant, hotel, holiday locations pretty much anywhere where you feel like the staff are genuine and really friendly helpful and want to be there is almost impossible.
Only really noticed it after recently going on holiday to Greece and literally everywhere we went everyone was so friendly and helpful.
The moment we arrived home almost instantly confronted by a rude grumpy jobsworth coach driver.
Currently looking at booking a few days away in September.
So I'm someone who reads reviews and almost everywhere says same thing, great place shocking staff and terrible customer service.
It seems Basil Fawlty was pretty spot on after all.
Anyone got any stories or terrible customer service??
And in the interest of balance good stories also ( although the good one's probably stick in our heads more as they are so rare) |
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We find it's mixed.
Being a holiday destination the pubs, restaurants and coffee shops tend to be pretty good. I have to say though that some of the tourists could do with a lesson in manners and good customer behaviour, they can be so rude.
We stayed in an hotel in Wiltshire recently where every member of staff was excellent and went out of their way to ensure things were done properly.
However (I won't name the product or shop) it's taken us several months to sort out a problem with something quite vital to daily life we bought. We've been patronised, talked down to, told that is just how things are and generally been obstructed at every turn. Culminating in the person snatching it from Mr N and marching off only to return with said product claim it was repaired and walk off like a petulant child. Another member of staff was so embarrassed that they approached us and tried to apologise. Throughout we've been calm and polite but firm.
We sent an email to their customer services department who to their credit have read, obviously understood and taken immediate action. The end result is that neither of us will use their service again and it could have been simply resolved months ago |
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"I don't think the poor pay and long hours help with staff morale in these jobs. Customers can be demanding and dismissive."
Are pay and conditions and customer behaviour any different in the other countries the OP might have visited? I recently stayed in a small Spanish hotel in Granada and the staff were exceptional. Really exceptional. |
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We are currently having major problems with 2 companies. Booking.com failed to book our flights, seats & baggage then claimed they could not refund us as they have a no refund policy.
The second is with SCS who delivered our new settee with every panel on it damaged and its taken 3 months for them to even send someone out to look at it. Looks like we will be forcing them both through small claims court to get our money back. shocking customer service from both. wont be using either ever again.  |
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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago
Dubai & Nottingham |
I totally agree , same with public sector, NHS etc. you are generally spoken to like you are a problem not the customer.
Even private sector health and education in the uk is quite poor service compared to other countries.
Unfortunately this has become British culture - poor services, poor service.
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By *eavenNhellCouple
over a year ago
carrbrook stalybridge |
"I don't think the poor pay and long hours help with staff morale in these jobs. Customers can be demanding and dismissive."
this in Greece spain italy service is seen as a career and respected staff can progress and climb the ladder. In this country its seen as a low paid menial job for students and skiveys staff are treated like dirt pay peanuts get monkeys
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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago
Dubai & Nottingham |
"I don't think the poor pay and long hours help with staff morale in these jobs. Customers can be demanding and dismissive.
Poor pay? In relation to what?
C"
Then why is service so good in countries where they are paid far less? If a dentist or doctors receptionist here kept you waiting or wasn’t super friendly & made sure you have everything you need they would simply be fired. They are highly professional in service delivery & they are paid around £500 - £1000 a month for those rules. |
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I think customer service can be mixed, and in other countries as well.
What's frustrating for me is more the service from companies or services to the public. And must be frustrating for staff who have to work in these conditions.
Thing is I think the English public is a bit used to it... Examples ... NHS just generally (and not just now), pubs:half the menu items not available (nice examples burgers, burger buns, chicken wings in big pub chains... I mean it's not really exotic food.
And my favourite 10y ago long queue in post office. A granny in front was not amused by something... Her comment to staff: but it's the ROYAL mail. Made me giggle.
PS: dont kick me out if this slightly disfunctional country   |
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"I don't think the poor pay and long hours help with staff morale in these jobs. Customers can be demanding and dismissive.
Poor pay? In relation to what?
C
Then why is service so good in countries where they are paid far less? If a dentist or doctors receptionist here kept you waiting or wasn’t super friendly & made sure you have everything you need they would simply be fired. They are highly professional in service delivery & they are paid around £500 - £1000 a month for those rules."
You can't directly compare absolute salaries because of the vastly different cost of living in other countries vs UK. What you can do is compare salaries to the minimum or mean for that country. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I kinda feel like, I'm paying for the service to be provided efficiently and effectively.
If I want smiles with that I tip.
I don't care if someone is grumpy or not. They could just be having a shit day. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I've heard how some customers speak to staff, how they can get treated, I wouldn't want to work with the general public.
Whinging and complaining about everything. |
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By *ad NannaWoman
over a year ago
East London |
There's a little cafe we go to that has lovely food and staff.
There's a bigger one down the road that has a different menu and more staff. The staff are polite but look bored and aren't very chatty.
They also told us they don't get the tips if we put it on the card. |
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I don't think that the ownerd of many larger UK businesses are fit to enable great customer service, hence why we don't get it as standard. The focus on reducing costs at any cost, forces people towards sl@ve labour type conditions  |
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"I totally agree , same with public sector, NHS etc. you are generally spoken to like you are a problem not the customer.
Even private sector health and education in the uk is quite poor service compared to other countries.
Unfortunately this has become British culture - poor services, poor service.
"
When I have written complaints about products/services, I have gotten restitution. When I complained about failure of duty of care in the NHS, I was gaslighted. When I took it further to the parliamentary ombudsman, he was only interested if the Trust followed the complaint process!
Not the gaslighting, not the lies (proof of via documentation), not the inadequate care that has left me with a disability. |
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"I've heard how some customers speak to staff, how they can get treated, I wouldn't want to work with the general public.
Whinging and complaining about everything. "
Yep we hear tourists treating staff like something on the bottom of their shoe. |
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"I've heard how some customers speak to staff, how they can get treated, I wouldn't want to work with the general public.
Whinging and complaining about everything.
Yep we hear tourists treating staff like something on the bottom of their shoe. "
We've seen Brits and Americans abroad behaving like children, yet seems the customer service in other countries is superior? Honestly, some of the complaints of Americans in the Spanish hotel I was at, were ridiculous. |
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"I've heard how some customers speak to staff, how they can get treated, I wouldn't want to work with the general public.
Whinging and complaining about everything.
Yep we hear tourists treating staff like something on the bottom of their shoe.
We've seen Brits and Americans abroad behaving like children, yet seems the customer service in other countries is superior? Honestly, some of the complaints of Americans in the Spanish hotel I was at, were ridiculous. "
We were in a Spanish hotel a while back. There were dreadful floods, the hotel restaurant was partially flooded, many staff had lost possessions some had lost their homes. Dinner was delayed and we had to wait for our food but we got food, very good, hot food. People complained, they actually expected the staff to behave as if nothing had happened and provide the 'service they had paid for'. Smh |
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"I've heard how some customers speak to staff, how they can get treated, I wouldn't want to work with the general public.
Whinging and complaining about everything.
Yep we hear tourists treating staff like something on the bottom of their shoe.
We've seen Brits and Americans abroad behaving like children, yet seems the customer service in other countries is superior? Honestly, some of the complaints of Americans in the Spanish hotel I was at, were ridiculous.
We were in a Spanish hotel a while back. There were dreadful floods, the hotel restaurant was partially flooded, many staff had lost possessions some had lost their homes. Dinner was delayed and we had to wait for our food but we got food, very good, hot food. People complained, they actually expected the staff to behave as if nothing had happened and provide the 'service they had paid for'. Smh"
We had Americans complaining about the fact bread is provided with olive oil, not butter at the table. That the room did not have free snacks (only water, tea, coffee and milk in little cartons!) That breakfast was of mainly the continental variety, plus eggs and bacon. Exactly as advertised on the website, but never mind that! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I think it's sad that people write bad reviews but never praise the good stuff. For every bad experience there will be countless great ones.
I also think the people who do abroad and expect Blackpool with sun, moan that the food is different and no one speaks chav, should be sent back home on the next plane. |
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"I think it's sad that people write bad reviews but never praise the good stuff. For every bad experience there will be countless great ones.
I also think the people who do abroad and expect Blackpool with sun, moan that the food is different and no one speaks chav, should be sent back home on the next plane. "
Agree with those last sentences  |
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"I've heard how some customers speak to staff, how they can get treated, I wouldn't want to work with the general public.
Whinging and complaining about everything.
Yep we hear tourists treating staff like something on the bottom of their shoe.
We've seen Brits and Americans abroad behaving like children, yet seems the customer service in other countries is superior? Honestly, some of the complaints of Americans in the Spanish hotel I was at, were ridiculous.
We were in a Spanish hotel a while back. There were dreadful floods, the hotel restaurant was partially flooded, many staff had lost possessions some had lost their homes. Dinner was delayed and we had to wait for our food but we got food, very good, hot food. People complained, they actually expected the staff to behave as if nothing had happened and provide the 'service they had paid for'. Smh
We had Americans complaining about the fact bread is provided with olive oil, not butter at the table. That the room did not have free snacks (only water, tea, coffee and milk in little cartons!) That breakfast was of mainly the continental variety, plus eggs and bacon. Exactly as advertised on the website, but never mind that!"
. |
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"I think it's sad that people write bad reviews but never praise the good stuff. For every bad experience there will be countless great ones.
I also think the people who do abroad and expect Blackpool with sun, moan that the food is different and no one speaks chav, should be sent back home on the next plane. "
If I go somewhere and experience great service I will leave good feedback.
Same with bad service.
As for the last bit this is exactly why we always try to book somewhere away from the "Brit's on tour" brigade.
We try to immerse ourselves in the culture of where we go if possible. |
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"I've heard how some customers speak to staff, how they can get treated, I wouldn't want to work with the general public.
Whinging and complaining about everything. "
I'd say in my job at least once a week one of us is a verbal punchbag for the patients. And nine times out of ten it is something we can help woth or rectify if they'd let us get a word in edgeways. I've seen colleagues tear up and hold it in and then break down after the patient has gone. Myself personally I have been poked in the chest and shouted at in my face and I've stood there calmly and took it, I've had items thrown at me whilst being shouted at..... the list goes on.
The only reason I carry on is the other nice patients who actually make my job rewarding or I'd have left years ago.
Tinder |
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"I think it's sad that people write bad reviews but never praise the good stuff. For every bad experience there will be countless great ones.
I also think the people who do abroad and expect Blackpool with sun, moan that the food is different and no one speaks chav, should be sent back home on the next plane.
If I go somewhere and experience great service I will leave good feedback.
Same with bad service.
As for the last bit this is exactly why we always try to book somewhere away from the "Brit's on tour" brigade.
We try to immerse ourselves in the culture of where we go if possible."
Yeah we try to address bad service directly rather than leave a bad review. We're always mindful that it's people's livelihoods.
We received spectacularly bad service at a hotel in Madeira. I spoke to the manager discreetly and it was addressed, we were given a bottle of Madeira wine, soft drinks, pastries etc in our room and a written apology. We left a basic review. Some people complain hoping to get compensation though. |
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"I think it's sad that people write bad reviews but never praise the good stuff. For every bad experience there will be countless great ones.
I also think the people who do abroad and expect Blackpool with sun, moan that the food is different and no one speaks chav, should be sent back home on the next plane.
If I go somewhere and experience great service I will leave good feedback.
Same with bad service.
As for the last bit this is exactly why we always try to book somewhere away from the "Brit's on tour" brigade.
We try to immerse ourselves in the culture of where we go if possible.
Yeah we try to address bad service directly rather than leave a bad review. We're always mindful that it's people's livelihoods.
We received spectacularly bad service at a hotel in Madeira. I spoke to the manager discreetly and it was addressed, we were given a bottle of Madeira wine, soft drinks, pastries etc in our room and a written apology. We left a basic review. Some people complain hoping to get compensation though. "
I hate fries that have been left under the heat lamp... Never got enough so I go back to get fresh ones. My kids hate me doing this ... I just want fresh fries |
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"I think it's sad that people write bad reviews but never praise the good stuff. For every bad experience there will be countless great ones.
I also think the people who do abroad and expect Blackpool with sun, moan that the food is different and no one speaks chav, should be sent back home on the next plane.
If I go somewhere and experience great service I will leave good feedback.
Same with bad service.
As for the last bit this is exactly why we always try to book somewhere away from the "Brit's on tour" brigade.
We try to immerse ourselves in the culture of where we go if possible.
Yeah we try to address bad service directly rather than leave a bad review. We're always mindful that it's people's livelihoods.
We received spectacularly bad service at a hotel in Madeira. I spoke to the manager discreetly and it was addressed, we were given a bottle of Madeira wine, soft drinks, pastries etc in our room and a written apology. We left a basic review. Some people complain hoping to get compensation though.
I hate fries that have been left under the heat lamp... Never got enough so I go back to get fresh ones. My kids hate me doing this ... I just want fresh fries "
Hot |
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Yesterday - I booked tickets online for the cinema. I noticed the location was wrong on the payment screen. Decided to phone and book instead to be on the safe side.
I got through and I quote....... Hello you are through to Odeon xxxxxx. Please be aware that we no longer give cinema times or take bookings over the phone. Everything you could possibly want is online at .... |
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A week ago my insurance company e mailed me. They said you going ahead with this or not ? I said yes I am. They said well your claim operator will call you. I said when ? They said 48 hrs. 8 days and no one has called. |
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Two weeks ago ....... bleedin' virgin media.... Grrrrrrrr so I e mailed their CEO because I'd spoken to other people a myriad of times.
They wrote back Lutz isn't here right now but we can help you whats up ? ( even though id explained whats up )
So I explained again and a week later got an e mail saying we've fixed your e mail hope that's all sorted now.
I never complained about my e mail.
Bastaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrdssssssssssss |
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By *m3232Man
over a year ago
maidenhead |
People are not trained properly and have the wrong attitude. Most should be sacked but too many rules so it’s not easy.
Kind of fed up with the current bad service and people not being able to do their jobs properly nowadays. |
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"A week ago my insurance company e mailed me. They said you going ahead with this or not ? I said yes I am. They said well your claim operator will call you. I said when ? They said 48 hrs. 8 days and no one has called."
I'm still waiting for my insurance company to return my call re: changing address. We moved in February. I've emailed them and tried calling many times but was asked to leave a message  |
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I have to say some of it is the customers, I run a customer facing business, 99% of our customers are fantastic but the sense of entitlement is definitely increasing and when people have more money the worse they tend to be
I always love those who ask for a discount and then produce their coutts card to pay ( you will have seen in the news recently the requirements to get a coutts account ) |
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