Business people and public servants not returning calls etc.

BrianD3

I've a pain in my arse asking various businesses, tradespeople etc. to take my money in exchange for services only to get radio silence back. They don't answer the phone, they don't return calls, they don't reply to texts, they don't reply to emails, they say they'll get back to you and then don't. Is this an Irish thing, not being direct with people if you don't want the work and instead ignoring them.

If they don't want the work, as they are private sector then that's their choice, but at least give me something back e.g. tell me they won't be able to get back to me for 6 months and hope that I'll f*ck off in the meantime.

I have recently had this with:
Structural engineers
Architects
Solicitor
Tree surgeons
Physiotherapist
Also a GP who has to be chased on every little thing like results of blood tests

One of the above has a big presence on social media and the email address is very obvious yet when I emailed them having put a fair amount of effort into the email - nothing.

I worked in the public sector for many years and "depending on who you get" it is even worse. Salaries and pensions will be paid no matter how sh*t a service is provided. A member of the public gets in contact about an issue that is important to them. Resources are stretched, organisations are shambolic and many staff are no good and have no empathy. Enquires which need action get put on an absurdly long finger or are forgotten about or ignored altogether. Communication is woeful. I actually had a discussion with a manager about this one day, there was an issue that needed to be dealt with but it was a tricky one and we were short staffed, the suggestion, was "can't we just ignore it". FFS.

Mad_maxx

Tradesmen in Ireland would think you were mad if you had any expectations of them returning calls or arriving to look at a job on the date they said they would

sprucemoose

BrianD3 wrote: »

I have recently had this with:
Structural engineers
Architects

in fairness, you still deserve replies but.....

.....you most likely have no idea just how busy the construction industry has become over the last year or so due to shutdowns. ive found that those in charge have largely not adjusted to this for the most part and alot of us simply have no time to return calls/emails due to the constant contact from contractors/existing clients etc,.

moycullen14

BrianD3 wrote: »

I've a pain in my arse asking various businesses, tradespeople etc. to take my money in exchange for services only to get radio silence back. They don't answer the phone, they don't return calls, they don't reply to texts, they don't reply to emails, they say they'll get back to you and then don't. Is this an Irish thing, not being direct with people if you don't want the work and instead ignoring them.

If they don't want the work, as they are private sector then that's their choice, but at least give me something back e.g. tell me they won't be able to get back to me for 6 months and hope that I'll f*ck off in the meantime.

I have recently had this with:
Structural engineers
Architects
Solicitor
Tree surgeons
Physiotherapist
Also a GP who has to be chased on every little thing like results of blood tests

One of the above has a big presence on social media and the email address is very obvious yet when I emailed them having put a fair amount of effort into the email - nothing.

I worked in the public sector for many years and "depending on who you get" it is even worse. Salaries and pensions will be paid no matter how sh*t a service is provided. A member of the public gets in contact about an issue that is important to them. Resources are stretched, organisations are shambolic and many staff are no good and have no empathy. Enquires which need action get put on an absurdly long finger or are forgotten about or ignored altogether. Communication is woeful. I actually had a discussion with a manager about this one day, there was an issue that needed to be dealt with but it was a tricky one and we were short staffed, the suggestion, was "can't we just ignore it". FFS.

Had a builder who had a flawless screening mechanism. He would only return every 3rd call from a number. His logic was that if it was urgent, you'd keep calling.

So when you go to the magic '3 Missed Calls', you'd get a response.

fryup

was in the market for a car a few years back got in contact with various garages/dealerships north and south

...nearly all the northern irish dealerships got back to me, got zero return calls from the southern dealerships............so???? what does that say?

Hyperbollix

I used to text service providers / tradesmen / businesses if that option was there, but I soon learned the only way you get anywhere is to call, call again and keep calling. Don't expect callbacks on voicemails you left, don't expect replies to written correspondence.

I find if most people get emails/texts they are either forgotten about or never opened. They are just struggling to deal with the people who ring them daily. So if you don't ring them, you are back of the queue, if you are even in the queue at all.

frag420

fryup wrote: »

was in the market for a car a few years back got in contact with various garages/dealerships north and south

...nearly all the northern irish dealerships got back to me, got zero return calls from the southern dealerships............so???? what does that say?

Dem prods love money?

Ubbquittious

Everyone is "working from home". They are poorly organised with not giving people phones at home and the ones who do have phones spend a lot of time dossing.


Very hard to get through to a lot of companies now. Aer Fungus told me today they changed my flight in an email, but no indication of what they changed it to and when I called them I spent half an hour on hold only to be cut off.

BrianD3

Hyperbollix wrote: »

I used to text service providers / tradesmen / businesses if that option was there, but I soon learned the only way you get anywhere is to call, call again and keep calling. Don't expect callbacks on voicemails you left, don't expect replies to written correspondence.

I find if most people get emails/texts they are either forgotten about or never opened. They are just struggling to deal with the people who ring them daily. So if you don't ring them, you are back of the queue, if you are even in the queue at all.

The lad who services my boiler is very good and encourages text messages and emails. Always replies and gets back to you preferably by text, he calls if it is something that needs a more detailed discussion.

Tries to discourage calls though and I can see why - PPE on, servicing a sooty boiler and the phone keeps ringing.

I know a roofer that is similar, up to his eyes with work and text/email is the best way to get him.

When I am interacting with tradesmen and others I try to put myself in their shoes and be a "good customer". Which is why it is annoying when none of my communication attempts seem to work on some people. E.g. some clown is advertising their business on facebook and asking for private messages/emails and then doesn't reply. And doesn't answer their phone either.

Mad_maxx

fryup wrote: »

was in the market for a car a few years back got in contact with various garages/dealerships north and south

...nearly all the northern irish dealerships got back to me, got zero return calls from the southern dealerships............so???? what does that say?

if doing business up North , keep to the prods

much straighter people to deal with

Purple is a Fruit

fryup wrote: »

was in the market for a car a few years back got in contact with various garages/dealerships north and south

...nearly all the northern irish dealerships got back to me, got zero return calls from the southern dealerships............so???? what does that say?

That they're not as busy in the North.

I think most mean to get back - they're just flat out. They should create realistic expectations though.

Strumms

They should enable customers / potential customers to have realistic expectations...

“ yep, I’ll get you a price, just give me till Wednesday, not ideal but just flat out at the min which you’ll agree is a good sign and I don’t want to rip you or me off by quoting off the top of my head, I can get you on ‘this’ number ? “

I’m being fücked about by the company who do a service on my boiler and central heating system... it needed a service about a year ago... but with covid.... now when I get him it’s ‘ yep you are on the list, bare with me, backlog yadda yadda... it’s requiring about 10 goes to start it, I spent an hour ago 20 minutes stood there trying to get it running.... glad in not October.

Aongus Von Bismarck

I bought a holiday home in Ireland a number of years ago, and got a local builder in to fit a new bathroom, expose the natural brickwork, and a few other bits and pieces. Almost impossible contact the chap, and you'd think I was asking for a kidney when I suggested he might send on a few pictures every so often to keep me updated on progress.

He was quick enough to call me when he was finished though looking for the balance of payment.

peter4918

fryup wrote: »

was in the market for a car a few years back got in contact with various garages/dealerships north and south

...nearly all the northern irish dealerships got back to me, got zero return calls from the southern dealerships............so???? what does that say?

Dunno, go on tell us?

fryup

Purple is a Fruit wrote: »

That they're not as busy in the North.

I think most mean to get back - they're just flat out. They should create realistic expectations though.

flat out my arse! most forecourts i visited had tumbleweed passing through them

peter4918 wrote: »

Dunno, go on tell us?

....they couldn't be arsed, that's what

Purple is a Fruit

You don't know though. Best not to state speculation as fact. No business couldn't be arsed getting business.

Ubbquittious

Purple is a Fruit wrote: »

You don't know though. Best not to state speculation as fact. No business couldn't be arsed getting business.

There is such a place. A crowd in Mallow I recently went into stood there refusing to sell me stuff because they were happy with their existing customer base. Before you could go in and buy a few nuts and bolts, now you need an account and 10,000 a year minimum spend.