And now it's time for the inevitable truth, I hate my new job. I've tried to be happy and satisfied after coming out of the hellhole I was previously in, but the new situation is a whole new ballgame.
Have you ever noticed now whenever you call in for any kind of service you are always sold something, well this is the reason behind my current disenchantment. I'm not a salesman, I never have been, and because of that I'm on the thin edge of the wedge in my current place of employment.
Sell, Sell, Sell....that's what it's all about. Working for a large financial organization and a world-wide brand one would think that they would have a deeper appreciation of their clients and cardmembers, however that is not the case, far from it. The only concern of the rep you are speaking to is not for whatever issue you called in about but how and what they can sell you. 9 times out of 10 whenever you are placed on hold that rep is sizing you up for a pitch for when they come back on the line to "resolve your issue".
I'm a service guy, I prefer being quick and simple and fixing whatever problem efficiently so I can go onto the next call. I don't have the time or patience to butter a customer up and basically con them into a service or product that they don't really need. If there is a true value and is something of a benefit then it's an easy sell and something I can complete, but out of the 110 calls I take a night only 3 or 4 really warrant a sales approach to let them know of the options.
I have a quota that I can not seem to maintain because of this, however there are people on the floor that clear an extra paycheque every month. Sure, I'd like to be that guy to but not at the cost of my dignity and sense of right and wrong. I'm sure if I went into specifics and started naming names I would be held liable under my companies code of conduct, but the this companies card holders should really know the truth about the money hungry machine they are dealing with.
Here's a few tips I can share:
1) Never take a cash advance - The first thing they do is charge insane amounts of interest right from the moment of withdrawal. Secondly the repayment method is next to loan sharking, especially if you took advantage of a promotional balance transfer offer. Credit cards work in a trickle down repayment method meaning the lowest APR or Annual Percentage Rate is satisfied first whenever a payment is made. Basically this means that if you had transferred $10000 at 3.99% and then you made $1000 in regular purchases at 11.99% you would have to pay off the 11000 first before you would even touch the $500 you withdrew which is financed at Prime + 14.99%. $500 at 22.99% accumulates $0.31 a day or $114.95 a year of interest, which of course is compounded and forever growing. It's a huge scam and I have seen many a cardmember paying insane amounts of finance charges for cash advances they took over 2 years ago.
2)Never take the insurances - Insurance is always nice to have and required in some cases but have you ever tried to make a claim when something does go wrong, it's near impossible. They are built to create income not pay out and again I have spoken to clients who are still waiting for their claim to be processed after 8 - 12 months time. Unless you are spending more than $25,000 a year, don't expect any real service no matter how easy the rep makes it sound.
3)Sign up for direct debit minimum payments - Credit cards are merciless when it comes to payment schedules. Everything is computerized and all human contact is removed. If you come in 1 min after 12 am after your payment due date expect a late fee and a APR increase. Not only that but the finance charges you will incur will be carried over the next 2 months since the system calculates the interest on the balance you are carrying as well as your new charges. Residual finance charges are one of the number one issues I deal with every night. Yes I understand you paid you balance in full but you fail to remember that you have been carrying a balance for the last 6 months, those charges are from the end of your last billing date up until the day you paid your balance in full.
And that is all for tonight, I hope to comment more on the unfairness of credit card companies and their shifty sales tactics but that will be left for another time.
OK...I'll shuddup now. Cheers.
