MLS
October 7, 2007, 9:11pm
41
I’m guessing, though, that if people call on Monday they get either a busy signal or a recorded message that says something to the effect of “We are experiencing an unusually high volume of calls. Please place your call later at a more convenient time.”
Nope. We have an absolute rule that the phone WILL be answered – preferably on the first ring, but under no circumstances after the 3rd.
Quartz
October 9, 2007, 12:29am
42
Wasn’t there a study done to the effect that it’s best to let the phone ring twice, then pick it up?
MLS
October 9, 2007, 2:04am
43
Best in what way? I can’t imagine why. Perhaps if you’re a girl waiting for a guy to call her and she doesn’t want him to think she has nothing better to do than sit by the phone. But for a business, well, I think our customers appreciate it.
jayjay:
I’m the switchboard operator for our county assistance office, which distributes welfare for the residents of this county. The general information line rings to my console, and I find out which caseworker or supervisor the caller needs to speak to, then transfer them. Food stamps is an allowance for the purchase of food, distributed monthly to qualifying clients. EBT is Electronic Benefits Transfer, a magnetic-stripe swipe card that holds the information that allows the client to access their food or cash allowance. This is an improvement over the old food stamps, which were actual paper coupons that were given out. EBT offers much less opportunity for welfare fraud.
So you work for the US equivalent of Centrelink? You have my sympathy.
