Such examples of technology used in this manner are those companies that use automated multi-choice telephone menu systems to handle their in-coming calls. These systems are unfortunately, becoming more common place, no doubt on the grounds of cost saving rather than actual ?improvements to customer service?.
You know the type of thing; you call a company wanting to speak to a human being. Instead you're faced with;
?press one for sales, press two for accounts, three to be plunged into a bottomless pit of silence, four to be cut off immediately or five, to start the whole soul destroying process again without any hope of actually speaking to a living being.?
These types of systems drive us and no doubt everyone else, completely do lally.
One example this week that got us leaping around our desks in frustration was our attempt to speak to one of the country's largest telecoms companies regarding the telephone services in our new office.
You've guessed it: ?press one for this, press two for that!? However, none of the choices presented by this ?wonderful system? applied to what we needed to speak to them about. So after 20 minutes of pressing buttons we gave up and sent them a fax having never got as far as speaking to a human.
Mind blowingly frustrating and horrendously bad customer service in anyone's book I'm sure you'd agree. (We got a response to our fax the next day ? but at least they rang us, which is one consolation i suppose).
The worrying thing though, is that it's not just the big utility giants or banks that deploy these automated call routing systems. We're starting to see them in small companies.
Why? How can such services enhance the customer experience?
If you're a small business, limited on staff or need to filter and route your inbound calls in a specific manner; why not employ one of these ?virtual receptionist? type of companies that are springing up? At least then your customers will be able to speak to a human being. They may not be able to offer immediate assistance, but at least they will be able to take a message or offer some advice.
Anything better than ?press one for this? or ?press two for that?.
It's common sense really.
Note: When you call us (0845 658 1331), you'll always speak to a human being. No matter how big we get, we'll never deploy automated call handling systems.
Air Force One For Cheap
Every year during the AEP for Medicare Part D, or Annual Enrollment Period, November 15th through December 31st, your existing Medicare Part D drug benefit plan will change the formulary of drugs they cover and the prices they charge for them. To make sure you continue to stay on the Part D drug plan that will cover your drugs at the lowest prices you will need a comparison every year based on your individual medications. If someone tells you what drug plan you should enroll in before this date, and they do not take your list of meds to compare plans, you are not getting accurate information.
The Centers for Medicare releases the updates for the upcoming year a week or so before the AEP. You can begin your comparison of your drug names, making SURE that if you are taking generics you use the generic name for an accurate comparison. Many seniors wonder why they should change their Medicare D coverage each year, but staying loyal to your Medicare D drug benefit can be costly. For example, you may be paying a co-pay of $25 dollars for Lipitor with your drug plan, but for the upcoming year they may raise the co-pay to $40. If you do not compare you plan, you may end up paying too much for your prescriptions.
The most important thing to remember is to look on your prescription bottles and make sure of the exact drug name you are taking. Many times Medicare D beneficiaries use the brand name of the medication to compare when they are actually using the generic form. This mistake will cause your comparing efforts to be inaccurate.
Every year your Medicare Part D drug benefit starts over on January 1. That is when your co-pays go back into force if you had gone into the ?donut hole? the previous year and were paying retail prices at years end. The new threshold in 2009 for reaching the ?donut hole? is $2,700. This figure is not reached using your out of pocket or co-pay expenses, but the actual retail value of your prescriptions.
This is the reason you need to make sure you are saving the most on your co-pays and getting the maximum Medicare D coverage before you reach the ?donut hole?.
When you reach the ?donut hole? and know that you will make it through to the catastrophic coverage of 95% you must continue to purchase your medications using your Medicare D drug plan card. If you fall into the ?donut hole? and know that you will never get out for the remainder of the calendar year, you must begin to compare retail prices and shop or order your medications anywhere you can find them cheaper not using your drug plan card. You must continue to pay the premium on your Medicare Part D drug benefit plan or you will incur the 1% per month penalty for being without a drug plan. However, there is no need to continue to pay more for your prescriptions than absolutely necessary.
Both Keyclicks & Grojan Fabiola are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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