Sunday, December 7, 2008

Cyber Stupid


I've wasted precious hours of my life this morning trying to fix what is probably a simple problem. Here's the scenario, plan and simple. Joe ordered a monthly service and pays for it with my paypal account automatically. He has now decided to discontinue this service and the service provider told him he needs to let Paypal know to stop the automatic payments (OK, I honestly think the provider should be stopping the draw, but whatever.). So after scouring the paypal website for an answer I resorted to my last option which is their automated cyber rep. The following is our conversation:

Sarah - PayPal :Hello, I’m Sarah and I’m here to answer your questions about PayPal. Even though I’d like to be a real person, I’m not. I’m programmed to answer your questions. How can I help you?

You : How do I stop automatic payments?

Sarah - PayPal :Do you mean:
Can I pay my eBay fees through PayPal?
How do I send a payment for an eBay item which I have won?
What is a Backup Funding Source and how do I select it?
Can I add funds to my PayPal account from a confirmed bank account?

You :no

Sarah - PayPal :So what are you searching for?

You :How do I discontinue paying automatic payments?

Sarah - PayPal :
Your question seems related to the following situations. Click on one of the following to find the information you are looking for.Could you be more precise please?
Can I pay my eBay fees through PayPal?
How do I send a payment for an eBay item which I have won?
Can I add funds to my PayPal account from a confirmed bank account?
What is a Backup Funding Source and how do I select it?

You :A vendor charges my paypal account every quarter. How do I stop this?

Sarah - PayPal :
Your question seems related to the following situations. Click on one of the following to find the information you are looking for.Do you mean:
Can I pay my eBay fees through PayPal?
What are the fees for Personal accounts?
Can I have a Personal account and a Premier or Business Account?

You :Sarah, I don't think you're listening.

Sarah - PayPal :So what are you looking for?

You :an answer to my question.

Sarah - PayPal :OK. How exactly can I help you?

You :by answering.

Sarah - PayPal :I'm not sure what you're saying. Could you please rephrase that?

You :You're an idiot.

Sarah - PayPal :It's hard for a virtual agent to be as smart as a person... but I am learning all the time, so if you come back to see me in a week or two, I'll be more intelligent.

You :not likely.

Man this makes me miss speaking to the customer service reps in Indonesia!

8 comments:

Bev said...

LOL! I think you hurt Sarah's cyber feelings, Mala. "This is where the tears would be if I could cry, mean human."

janiece said...

HAHA--I've dealt with something similiar. This is why we are all so darn crazy and businesses are suffering. And why the human connection is so important. Makes you want to beat the phone against the wall, doesn't it???

Bets said...

OMG LOL... I have done that... wasted my energy calling a stupid computer names, all the while smacking the zero for a live body... praying some one would pick up.

Oh and talking to Indonesia has about the same affect lol. It felt good to get a live body in regards to that Indonesia issue and give em a good dose of my mind.. I still feel great over what I told them lol... the turds ;) -- Grrrr... Good customer service has gone to hell in a handbasket and is now considered outdated. Dreadful!

Anonymous said...

she is limited by the confines of her programming...i think you are being harsh...she is a lovely robot!

Mala said...

Hi Anon, Welcome. Oh I know she's limited alright, but lovely?? eh, not so much. You really need to get out of Jersey more often.

Anonymous said...

you best not be disrespecting Sarah!!! I do need to get out of the US more often, you are right...

Bev said...

I had no idea that Sarah Paypal had so many admirers! How random!!

Anonymous said...

random indeed...