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Archae

(46,262 posts)
Wed Apr 21, 2021, 09:58 AM Apr 2021

(Bleeping) "customer service..."

I just got off my cell phone with a woman who OBVIOUSLY was in India or some other Asian country.

She kept talking too fast and in a thick accent.

I told her SEVEN TIMES to speak English and she would start doing so then go back into her usual thick accent I couldn't understand.

I finally said "Forget it," and hung up.

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(Bleeping) "customer service..." (Original Post) Archae Apr 2021 OP
Speaking English "with an accent" is still speaking English MerryHolidays Apr 2021 #1
I don't get it either. Strange OP. demmiblue Apr 2021 #6
Exactly right! sdfernando Apr 2021 #10
Many years ago I worked with a guy from England Silent3 Apr 2021 #16
I know what you mean. sdfernando Apr 2021 #23
It is called out sourcing,.... magicarpet Apr 2021 #2
Ridiculous ... outsource your mind .. customer service is useless if you cant understand the rep Fullduplexxx Apr 2021 #9
If she was obviously from India or an Asian country, English probably isn't her first language. bearsfootball516 Apr 2021 #3
I usually tell them that I am getting older and that I hear more slowly rurallib Apr 2021 #4
I do exactly the same thing. I admire the grasp of English but sometimes it is too fast. CurtEastPoint Apr 2021 #5
+1 LizBeth Apr 2021 #15
I had a similar situation. ZenDem Apr 2021 #7
There are more English speakers in Asia than in the U.S. progree Apr 2021 #8
What was the meaning of this post? Nt USALiberal Apr 2021 #11
I'm assuming this? Tommy Carcetti Apr 2021 #12
With a dose of racism thrown in... AZSkiffyGeek Apr 2021 #13
That too, also. n/t demmiblue Apr 2021 #18
Yup, exactly obamanut2012 Apr 2021 #22
+1 demmiblue Apr 2021 #17
I understand this, actually Bayard Apr 2021 #14
She was speaking English obamanut2012 Apr 2021 #19
It sounds like she WAS speaking English to me. MineralMan Apr 2021 #20
Sounds like she WAS speaking English. Elessar Zappa Apr 2021 #21

MerryHolidays

(7,715 posts)
1. Speaking English "with an accent" is still speaking English
Wed Apr 21, 2021, 10:01 AM
Apr 2021

Right? And what exactly is an acceptable accent?

sdfernando

(4,896 posts)
10. Exactly right!
Wed Apr 21, 2021, 10:48 AM
Apr 2021

I work in IT and many of my co-workers have accents...mostly Indian and Spanish (well, Mexican really). I have hearing difficulties and any type of accent is difficult for me to deal with. When I'm having problems understanding I ALWAYS politely let them know that I am having trouble interpreting their accent but that it is me, not them. I explain I have hearing difficulties and even with my hearing aids I have trouble and if they could please speak more slowly. 9 times out of 10 it works like a charm.

Silent3

(15,018 posts)
16. Many years ago I worked with a guy from England
Wed Apr 21, 2021, 11:45 AM
Apr 2021

I don't know which particular region he was from, but this certainly wasn't BBC English he was speaking. Definitely tough going to understand him sometimes.

sdfernando

(4,896 posts)
23. I know what you mean.
Wed Apr 21, 2021, 12:58 PM
Apr 2021

Many years ago, before my hearing problems I took a trip to Europe. I had the hardest time understanding people in London (as opposed to those in France or Germany), and we were all speaking english!

magicarpet

(13,941 posts)
2. It is called out sourcing,....
Wed Apr 21, 2021, 10:04 AM
Apr 2021

... but to make ot work .... it is required you also be willing to out source your mind.



rurallib

(62,346 posts)
4. I usually tell them that I am getting older and that I hear more slowly
Wed Apr 21, 2021, 10:10 AM
Apr 2021

than I used to. Then I ask that they please speak slower and enunciate better so I can keep up. That seems to work for me.

ZenDem

(442 posts)
7. I had a similar situation.
Wed Apr 21, 2021, 10:17 AM
Apr 2021

I had to call my warranty company to approve some additional costs for a replacement. It was critical that I could understand what she was saying, but...I couldn't. I felt so bad, but I kept asking her to slow down and speak more clearly. She's giving me costs and numbers that I had to write down and there was just no freaking way I could get the info. I asked her to email me and she just started repeating the numbers...super fast, and with a heavy accent. I finally told her to please have someone just email the costs to me and I'd sign off on the details. Never got an email. Called back and talked to a gentleman with a similar accent, but he spoke slower and more clearly.

FWIW, my DIL is Japanese and has a very thick accent. It's gotten less so over the years, but I still have a hard time understanding her over the phone. Doesn't mean I don't love her to death and would fight anyone that dared to threaten her (sort of a fear of mine, lately).

That woman I spoke to was just trying to do her job. She's probably a great human. I blame the corporations for making the decision to outsource their customer service lines. It's a shitty job that I did for one summer decades ago.

progree

(10,864 posts)
8. There are more English speakers in Asia than in the U.S.
Wed Apr 21, 2021, 10:19 AM
Apr 2021

Last edited Wed Apr 21, 2021, 12:08 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.mapsofworld.com/answers/language/top-ten-english-speaking-countries/#

Edited to add: it may be that they think it is you who speaks English with an accent.

But yes, if they won't slow down and enunciate more, when asked, it is reasonable to be frustrated. But just saying "SPEAK ENGLISH" is, well not going in the right direction.

Bayard

(21,805 posts)
14. I understand this, actually
Wed Apr 21, 2021, 11:41 AM
Apr 2021

Back in my recruiting days, 30+ years in the business, I regularly interviewed people where I could only understand about every third word. I often had to ask them to repeat something, or slow down. Didn't matter if they were Asian, Russian, or Irish, and had nothing to do with racism.

In prep'ing them for an interview with a client company, especially since most first interviews were by phone, I would advise them to slow down and enunciate. You have excellent technical skills, but make sure your answers are understood. It was usually taken well, and they were often hired.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
20. It sounds like she WAS speaking English to me.
Wed Apr 21, 2021, 11:49 AM
Apr 2021

You had trouble understanding her, due to an accent and too fast delivery.

That does happen. Sometimes you have to ask for someone to repeat what they said or speak more slowly.

By hanging up, you did not accomplish your goal, I take it. Was that OK with you?

Customer service calls are always annoying, regardless of who is on the other end. Often complex things have to be explained, and information provided. Patience will generally get you to your goal eventually.

Since I have no idea who you called or why, that's about all I can offer.

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