Phone Etiquette — For the Caller, Not the Representative

Welcome to Kia's blog. She is excited to finally have a soapbox of her own where she can voice her "strong opinions." A 29-year-old New Tampa resident, Kia is a graduate of both Florida State University and the University of South Florida. Her interests are reading, knitting and social work. Here is her first post:

As a current call center representative and for all other call center agents, I must tell the public a few things. 

1. When making a call have your information ready. DO NOT call Bright House with your Verizon account number.

2. When talking on your cellphone, stay in one spot if you KNOW you have a bad connection.

3. Before you catch an attitude, make sure you have done everything you were supposed to do on your end. Have you waited the complete time? Sent in all your paperwork? Kept your papers in an organized fashion?

4. Do not make a phone call when there is background noise that you cannot get away from, for example crying babies, washing dishes, loud overhead speakers.

5. Read the document in full before calling with your questions. 

6. Use your brain and don't make the call center representative do all the work. 

7. Do not make the representative have a conversation with you, your mother, and your dog. At times its hard to speak to one person, speaking to two people and an animal would be a struggle. 

8. Speak so the call center agent can hear and do not mumble. No one can decipher "mkkjlksdlf" as a coherent response.

9. If you consider all of these factors before making a call, your call center agent will appreciate you.