It seems foreign call centres are as unpopular over you side of the pond too (I never realised it was the rage there too for greedy companies who resort to such cost cutting without caring about good customer service)

Heres a couple of the not so hellish tales and funny experiences Ive come across.

(1)  I was at a trade union gathering and got introduced to someone who was some big shot director of some company. The company itself was making cutbacks and relocating their call centres abroad. This director chap tried to sell us the idea why it was so wonderful and made "good business sense"  , yeah the usual corporate waffle.

I questioned him on this and he came up with the expected reply with the expected bull**** , "efficiency", "increased profits" , (you know the rest).

I then asked him a simple question ..

"If its all about cutbacks, efficiency, and increased profits then im sure the company could also relocate YOUR role to India too, Im sure they could find a successful director who the company could also pay less than your salary and he'd do an equally impressive job?"

Oh dear, he went all red, and rather speechless (plus i hasten to add he was met with a fair few smirky grins around the room) - friggin' hypocrite!  :)

(2) Brother-in-law wanted to sign up to some Bollywood film channel and as English isnt his first language , big sis was talking to the cable company on the phone at their UK call centre (yes, a UK based one - surprise surprise!). The agent on the other end of the line quoted a price which sis relayed back to bro-in-law.  Now , bearing in mind sis has been married to bro-in-law for 30 years she is pretty much used to his constant use of the urdu equivalent of the "f-word" , especially when he hears a price he dosent like, so it came as no surprise to her when he said

"How much? That f--ker (sorry cant type the urdu word for that) said it was a special offer when we spoke to him the other day" .

 Before my sis had time to say "foul mouth" the agent on the other end of the line told her to

"Tell that person in the background i heard what he said and i fully understood it too!"

Naturally big sis was rather embarrassed, bro-in-law muttered something about "how did he know it would be an indian person in a UK centre" , and as for me ? Well I nearly fell off my chair laughing - sorry but it was so hilarious  :)

We've treated them to a mini-break in Paris btw , a pressie from the rest of us for their 30th wedding anniversary!