My New Office Policy

[MSbklawyer]

I get about a dozen calls a day from these collectors with THICK Indian accents calling for various creditors to verify that clients have filed or will be filing bankruptcy; which chapter, what's the case number, where is the collateral etc. etc.

I have resolved that from this day forward, I will not give any information to any person who does not speak English as a first language. I bet that these companies are paying these starving a**ed Indians about $2 per day to do their dirty work. Then they wonder why unemployed Americans fall behind on their credit card payments.

My response from now on will be "If you need information about one of my clients, have someone call me who speaks English as their first language and I'll be glad to help."

The only thing worse than a debt collector is a debt collector who can't speak English.

[kvangild]

Amen brother!

[OHBOY]

HALLALUJAH !!!

(Now would you, by chance, also know how to solve the ongoing insult of "push 1 for english" ?)

[Flamingo]

Why I totally, totally understand your point...watch it - review the matter of I believe Gino's Steaks or Pat's Steaks in Philadelphia which posted a sign a few years back that it will not serve anyone who does not speak English. The Spanish population in that area has exploded and their notification that they will not serve anyone who does not speak English resulted not only in really bad publicity (huge drop in sales) but I believe charges and fines.

[frogger]

I heard of an phone system that said press 1 for english, or hang up until you learn it.

[fooked]

I tip my hat to you, sir.

[Blueboy]

MSbklawyer I like your style.

Now if we can turn this into a nation wide movement!

[momisery]

We have done that for a while now. If someone calls us or we call in and we can not understand them, we ask for an American.

[albacore44]

Why I totally, totally understand your point...watch it - review the matter of I believe Gino's Steaks or Pat's Steaks in Philadelphia which posted a sign a few years back that it will not serve anyone who does not speak English. The Spanish population in that area has exploded and their notification that they will not serve anyone who does not speak English resulted not only in really bad publicity (huge drop in sales) but I believe charges and fines.

Thats sweet, i doubt the hispanic population was patronizing them anyway if they did not have a sign that read "Tortas Con Queso"

[justbroke]

I had an "argument" with an American Express (internal) collections person. She couldn't understand what I was saying, so I asked her if she could put someone on the phone who speaks English. (I didn't say as a first language, but that was strongly implied.) The argument was because she kept says "but I do speak English".

I kept telling her that she didn't understand the finer subtlties of what I was saying, that I explained something to her 5 differently ways, and she still didn't understand the "English" that I was speaking. Finally, I was transferred to someone in the United States. It took some time though to convince the rep that she wasn't speaking English.

I was trying to be nice the whole time, but it did get frustrating. No, I didn't start the conversation with "put someone on the phone who speaks English". I even asked her to explain what I had just said, and she couldn't. He stock answer was "yes".

[marie]

I am actually " english " ( British ) and this too annoys me. I now live in The US and this is an English speaking country. We should not have to press 1 for English. It should be by Default.

Having said that, sometimes americans can't quite grasp what I am saying because of my English accent and terms LOL. We speak the same but different !

[justbroke]

Having said that, sometimes americans can't quite grasp what I am saying because of my English accent and terms LOL. We speak the same but different !

I lived in London for a spell. My accent started changing. I loved it.

I had this friend who was unemployed, so I told her she could come to London with me on my assignment. She told me, and I quote... "I'm not going anyplace where they don't speak English!". I responded with "but it's England!". Her response... "you know what I mean." My response... "No, I don't."

[backtoschool]

I had an "argument" with an American Express (internal) collections person. She couldn't understand what I was saying, so I asked her if she could put someone on the phone who speaks English. (I didn't say as a first language, but that was strongly implied.) The argument was because she kept says "but I do speak English".

I kept telling her that she didn't understand the finer subtlties of what I was saying, that I explained something to her 5 differently ways, and she still didn't understand the "English" that I was speaking. Finally, I was transferred to someone in the United States. It took some time though to convince the rep that she wasn't speaking English.

I was trying to be nice the whole time, but it did get frustrating. No, I didn't start the conversation with "put someone on the phone who speaks English". I even asked her to explain what I had just said, and she couldn't. He stock answer was "yes".

You are much nicer than me justbroke. I ALWAYS start my conversation with Indian call center people with: "Please transfer me back to the states. Thank you." I say this right after they say "How can I help you".

[Flamingo]

You are much nicer than me justbroke. I ALWAYS start my conversation with Indian call center people with: "Please transfer me back to the states. Thank you." I say this right after they say "How can I help you".

Absolutely...if you cannot understand someone's accent on the phone from a call center or if they call you for any reason, just state that you just cannot understand what they are saying and ask to be transferred to a US supervisor or rep or ask for the phone number to the US location/center which they have to give you. Those folks are only doing their job - the issue is with the bank/company that gave them that overseas job...I've talked to some folks from the deep south and unless you are from that area, understanding them is difficult too; ever work with someone with a deep British accent? Or someone from Boston who you just cannot understand? :-)

[justbroke]

Or someone from Boston who you just cannot understand? :-)

Hey... I understand Bostonian!

Pock tha ka in Havid Yaad.

(Or so, I thought I did.) Actually I was asking directions in Boston once. The man kept telling me about the Boston Commons, the Combat Zone, and Downtown Crossing. I couldn't understand a word he told me! Of course, the directions included "Park Street", "Public Gardens" (Commons), "Jordan Marsh" (now closed), the water fountain in the Gardens, and various other landmarks.

Park Street: Pock Street
Public Gardens: Publik Gadins
Jordan Marsh: Jawdin Mawsh
Water Fountain: bubblah (bubbler)

So... see the Gadins over there? The Publik Gadins? Cross heya and go 'round the bubblah? Pass the Pock Street "T" station... bang a right and you'll see Jawdin Mawsh.