How many times do you call a business without getting a call back do you just ask for the manager?

Yes, I would call the branch and ask to speak to that person’s superior.

Forget about labeling yourself. You deserve service. Call and ask for the manager and make big, loud but polite noises.

Today the ATM refused my pin number and my prescription drug plan, which deducts its monthly payments automatically from my checking account said that there was a problem with my Med. D card.

So tomorrow I will be doing the same thing. Strength in numbers, chére.

The second time she does not call back I would ask for the manager on the third call. I would only have waited a couple days at most. If they say some bullshit about her being out on vacation, I would tell the manager it seems unacceptable no one is taking her calls, or that she has not changed her voice message.

If I were the manager I would be happy you called me.

Calling tomorrow.

Good. Do you want to make my calls also?

Calls to Medicare usually mean being put on hold for 45 minutes. I put my phone on speaker and file my nails or work on my taxes; boy, are they surprised when they find me still waiting.

@gailcalled You will probably need to deal with my problem for me. I hate dealing with this stuff.

I dislike it too, but mainly for the time it takes. I enjoy being assertive and yet keeping my voice calm and measured. It’s a trick I learned about 15 years ago and comes in very handy.

I will keep that in mind @gailcalled. Voice calm, facts in front of me.

You don’t have to be angry. Asking for a manager at a bank is no big deal. It’s a branch bank right? You aren’t going to the CEO or anything. Ask for the manager, say you had not received a call back, and hope he can help you get whatever you need done done. He probably will apologize and ask what he can do for you. If he says he will have the other woman get back to you, because she is the one, ask him specifically when to expect her call, don’t leave it open ended.

The good thing about when people screw up, is when they realize their service was poor, they usually go into high gear to get it right this time. In fact, if it is something they possibly were going to say no to, like waving a fee, they might wave it now that they screwed up. If they do not take care of your problem within 24 hours, I would go above that managers head, or march myself into the bank if it is not far from you.

Oh, and if she gives the excuse she did not have the answer yet so she did not call you back, that is completely unnacceptable! I am so sick of incredibly stupid, subpar, customer service. In that case she should have called you, said she is having difficulty getting an answer, and wanted to let you know she is still working on ot, and when she expects the answer.

See, now I am all wound up LOL. I can’t believe how bad customer service is all too often. I’m already predicting all the excuses they might give you. I hope they do the right thing now, and tell you, “thank you” for calling the manager.

@JLeslie I agree, I am so tired of sub par customer service. There is no reason for her not to have called me and at least said she was working on it. I specifically went to a “home town” bank to give my home town the business. Bad move on my part.

@chyna The place it bothers me most is doctor’s offices. I’m sick and concerned and they are not calling me back, not giving me test results, or having me speak to an idiot instead of directly to the doctor. That drives me crazy.

@JLeslie Yes, that is the worse. I am so sick of people not doing their job. I am without work and KNOW I can do a much better job.

@chyna My ex business partner and I used the word incompetent a lot to describe people we had to deal with.

Do you live in a city with a branch location? I have found that when I call two days in a row and my doctor’s office doesn’t get back to me, I go up there and make someone talk to me. This has happened way too many times and it is time for me to find a new doctor! Demand the service and respect you deserve as a patron and don’t stop until you get answers you are satisfied with. good luck!

Wow, not surprised to find others who can’t get a call back from the doctor! Why can’t people just do their stinking job? Does no one take pride in the work they do anymore?

Alway call for the manager, first. I have discovered, in many years of phone haggling, that some people are just not efficient, in dealing with return phone calls.

Going to the top and asking for the manager, has always reaped a good reward for me.

My mother-in-law use to be a debt collector for a big bank. This was her advice years ago.

Update: I called the manager, she made an excuse for the woman and then sent me to another guy that was extremely helpful. So all is well now.

@chyna: I just spent 45 minutes with my Medicare D prescription drug plan carrier. I was shunted from pillar to post, had to give my DOB and zip code over and over, talked to several people I assume are lovely but had trouble with their English and then pushed the wrong prompt button so that the call hung up.

I then started over after breathing deeply for several minutes. Finally I found the right person and went through my issues yet again. She said that the problem lay with my
pharmacist’s method of billing. (Since the call was being recorded, I articulated my grievances; she apologized many times.)

I then called the pharmacist, whom I have know for 15 years. He needed to breathe deeply for several minutes also. He said that the problem was with the insurance company.

However, I think I am back on track. Now on to the bank to see why the ATM machine refused my pin number.

With my doctor’s, I nag. If they are busy, on vacation, sick or simply overwhelmed, I display sympathy and then say, “Now back to my issue, please.” I leave messages at the voice mail of the nurse, physician’s assistant, receptionist and the janitor, if need be. I am always courteous.

PS. @chyna; Good. Even though the manager protected her staff, she was aware of the complaint, I am sure.