I like talking to real people. In person. If that is not possible, then a real person on the other end of a phone will do. In this case I mean when doing business.
An ATM does not smile or say “Good Morning!”
An automated phone call with fifty two options followed by a Concerto does noting for me. If I have to continue to press buttons to complete my business, I HANG UP!
I like to speak to a real person, who can answer all my questions, with an interesting voice or accent while interacting with me. Hopefully we both come away from the call feeling better about the day.
This morning I did feel better.
Sorting through a bundle of paperwork, I discovered my renewal notice for motor insurance was due tomorrow. The reason it had not been sorted, is I was still waiting for an answer to whether I am allowed to renew my driving licence. Yes, the medical forms are still doing a tour of Northern Ireland before the final decision is made and I am informed. 🙁 If the licence is declined, there would be no reason for motor insurance.
Living in hope, I phone the insurance company to renew coverage for another year.
I spoke to a delightful young man (DYM). I gave him my policy number and said I wanted to give him money. He laughed and asked the required questions to make sure we were on the same page.
I then enquired if he could do better for me than the figure I had in front of me.
DYM – “Now let me see… I can reduce it to £xxx.xx” he said.
Me – “ I am always surprised that if I ask, the renewal cost is always reduced, yet if I say nothing the full amount would be taken, without comment.”
DYM – “It is a discretionary reduction. There is no obligation to give it. A customer who has been with us just a year or two would get a small reduction. Since you have been with us for a good number of years then the reduction is worth more for you.”
So I happily gave him the long number on my card and answered his other questions.
Today I have £51.53 to play with all because I made a phone call and asked for a reduction. It would not have happened if I paid by direct debit.
Glad your phone call paid off!
These days it is a nice surprise.
Well done on that! I much prefer to talk to a real person too but i don’t always get such positive results! 🙂
It has happened to me for several years now, but only with the insurance company.
I shall try it at next renewal date! Thank you. 🙂
Fingers crossed, Sally!
Congratulations and yes, talking to a person and asking can give you very pleasant surprises.
It can indeed.
My car insurance is due and the cost has rocketed. I wonder if I can talk to a real person ? I’ll give it a try.
BTW… I have not been commenting during my long period of ‘no internet access’, and when I tried my ‘link’ to you I discovered that you had been ‘hacked’. Glad that I found you again.
John, the guy I spoke today said they had all rocketed, but thankfully he reduced it for me to almost the same cost as last year. Give it a try, it is worth the price of a phone call.
It has been a long time since my blog was hacked, hopefully it remains healthy for many a long year. Welcome back!
A result ! … £30 saved. .. 🙂
Yeah! Better in your pocket, John, than subsidising a CEO’s yacht!
We used to have our car insurance with the AA. When the premiums started rising sharply, I queried them and always got a reduction of £50 or so. Then when the premiums rocketed to ridiculous levels, we transferred to Allianz and were quoted around £150 less. It’s always wise to shop around, I find.
I do well with the insurance for the car and later in the year for the house. They are both with the same company.
You do better here is you can combine car, contents, house – but as I now only have contents…it’s basically a done thing!
Cathy, mine are all with the one company
It’s nice when you can get a human being, but too often I find the ones I do reach are reading from a script and have no idea how to deal with non-standard questions or issues. And don’t get me started on the humans at the phone company, who lie shamelessly to my face!
I always get one with the insurance company and they are always polite and have a conversation as they go through the business part of the call. Coming away with a reduction in cost is a nice bonus!
our insurances over here are according to what you do for a living. and since teachers are civil servants, believe it or not, we get civil servant insurance. which means you pay a good deal less because you are supposedly more responsible. and although I appreciate have more running around money (insurance is outrageous here) I find this whole system ridiculous.
I think the whole system needs a revamp.
Good for you! I refuse all automatic payment plans for just that reason. It never hurts to ask about rates or prices. There have been times when the person I’ve asked didn’t realize their company had a senior rate, or other reduced cost plan.
Brighid, had I gone modern and paid on-line there would have been nobody to ask about a discount. Being old fashioned has benefits!
This is why I’m pleased that my mother in law does the insurance! And gets the coal delivered 🙂 Neither of us has time during working hours to have a conversation outside-work. Well done!