I'll second your ARRRGGG! I would write a letter expressing your displeasure with the "solution."

DH went through something similar last week with a major chain that tried to charge us for two bottles of $4 in-room water that we didn't drink or remove. They credited the charge, but I wonder how many of these "accidental" charges go through without question for consumers who don't scrutinize their bill?

"I wonder how many of these "accidental" charges go through without question for consumers who don't scrutinize their bill?"

I wonder that too. There have been several, several times we have had charges put on bills for things that we didn't purchase/use/do. Lots of "accidents" out there.

As to my situation, I am just glad I got out alive before blood started to shoot from my eyes. :o)

Unless you have a dedicated platinum line to call, I'd never bother with the phone.

Keep emailing customer service until you get satisfaction.

You are right, Parma. I should have just e-mailed from the beginning. To talk to the supervisor, I was transferred to India. We had some communication problems, but worked through most of them.

At least I wasn't stuck on one of those automated systems.

The absolute worst thing that can happen, on a phone adventure like that, is to have invested a half an hour and then lose the connection. Even if you have the person's name, it doesn't do much good when the people who work there are given about three names, total.

I'm trying hard not to be politically incorrect but most of the trainers, in a foriegn country, make name assignments and there are only a few. "Hi, this is Bob, how may I assist you today?" (I picked Bob because that's DH's favorite...he justs starts calling everybody Bob. :)

Really? I didn't realize they reused names.

Makes sense though. There must be thousands of call center employees, but only a handful of easy names. No wonder I feel like I've talked to "Jennifer" before. LOL

Some are also trained to have a western accent, so callers believe they're talking to someone in the U.S.

I've had excellent tech service by phone with AT&T, I wonder if their call centers
are foreign?

I just wanted to follow up in re to my last post.

DH and I have kind of a dark humor which is not to everyone's taste. I wasn't trying to portray myself as a xenophobe.

He works for a foreign company and has lots of dealing with people from India, long with fascinating conversations about everything from politics, economics, religion and philosophy.

I've just never understood the mindset of corporations that are using training centers which try to obliterate one's name and identity. As much as they use voice coaches, does anybody really believe that it's Bob on the other end of the line and does it really matter? But, perhaps, that's the bigger question.

Parma, I don't think anyone would think that about you.

Rather than focusing on obliterating one's name (and heritage by proxy), I would consider it a privacy issue. In these days where one can google for information anywhere in the world, would a customer service rep really want dissatisfied customers to have their true identity?

As much as they use voice coaches, does anybody really believe that it's Bob on the other end of the line and does it really matter? But, perhaps, that's the bigger question.

It really doesn't matter to me where the customer service rep is located, as long as they can provide the assistance I'm seeking. I know with certainty that some of the individuals I've had the most difficult time understanding (due to heavily accented English or plain old "mush mouth") were actually based right here, in the U.S.

Courtesy, professionalism, good communications skills, and the ability to solve my problem are the things that matter to me, and I honestly believe those attributes are not defined by a geographical region.