Had an online grocery delivery last week. Been buying a little extra each delivery to avoid the Christmas rush so I had ordered some pouches of tobacco, one or two for Xmas presents, a couple to save my neighbour trundling to the shops and the rest for me.
All was well until I noticed one of the pouches, for my use, was a smaller gram weight than what I had been invoiced for so I phoned the help line to tell them of the over-charge (approx £15). An advisor came on the line and I swear to God I couldn’t understand a word he was saying. Three times I had to explain the over-charge, repeatedly gave him the item description and stock number, delivery number and time etc etc. I told him numerous times I didn’t want to return the item just wanted the over-charge sorting out. He left me waiting whilst talking to his supervisor and came back to say I couldn’t return the item, a point I had repeatedly denied wanting. By this time (15-20 minutes on the phone by then) I was getting agitated and having to bite my lip. I had asked him to speak slower a couple of times as I was having problems understanding him but to no avail.
long story short, I got three subsequent emails - one saying my refund was being dealt with, the next saying my refund was denied, the final one saying the refund was, again, being dealt with. A refund has finally been issued, not on the £15 over-charge but a full refund on a heavier gram weight and on a different tobacco (a more expensive brand).
I did debate whether to phone again and point out their mistake but couldn’t face the prospect of my getting the same advisor…
I would definitely not point out their mistake, pocket the difference, you did everything you could to point out their mistake.
I know many companies use foreign call centres, it's a lot cheaper for them to do so....pity for the inconvenience to their customers here who can't understand a word they are saying.
I had a similar problem last week with my M&S credit card. I had reason to call their customer services, the operator kept saying I had to type in the 4 digit number he would send, he didn't understand I was on the house phone. In the end, after 10 minutes or so, I hung up and dialled again on my husband's mobile phone.
I was on the phone that long I was 15 minutes late for an appointment I had to get to.
Frustrating isn’t it!
My bank is the worse and I have to be in dire need of help before I phone them up over anything, I’ve honestly not heard an English accent on the help-line in all the years I’ve been a customer. And like you I have problems getting them to understand that giving me a 4 figure code is useless as I don’t have a mobile.
Anyway, since decided I’ll keep shtum on the refund amount…feel I earned my ill-gotten gains.
Syl said
Nov 24 7:23 PM, 2025
Yes...and don't feel guilty, it's one of the 'joys' of online shopping. I stopped a couple of years ago now. Started when Covid hit, and all in all it was OK, but some of the substitutes were interesting, They made for good talking points when I was eating kippers instead of poached salmon.
Vam said
Nov 25 10:06 AM, 2025
These call centre workers in far-flung corners of the world are no doubt working for a pittance. They don’t know or understand much beyond their standard training manual responses. Tbf, most of them are very polite - they’re just clueless most of the time!
But, yes, my heart sinks whenever I hear certain accents, and I have to steel myself to start speaking slowwwwly as if I’m talking to a 5-year old 😂
Syl said
Nov 25 11:36 AM, 2025
Vam wrote:
These call centre workers in far-flung corners of the world are no doubt working for a pittance. They don’t know or understand much beyond their standard training manual responses. Tbf, most of them are very polite - they’re just clueless most of the time!
But, yes, my heart sinks whenever I hear certain accents, and I have to steel myself to start speaking slowwwwly as if I’m talking to a 5-year old 😂
I wonder if they feel the same way Spanish do when silly English tourists put O on the end of words, thinking they are speaking the lingo?
Vam said
Nov 25 4:42 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Vam wrote:
These call centre workers in far-flung corners of the world are no doubt working for a pittance. They don’t know or understand much beyond their standard training manual responses. Tbf, most of them are very polite - they’re just clueless most of the time!
But, yes, my heart sinks whenever I hear certain accents, and I have to steel myself to start speaking slowwwwly as if I’m talking to a 5-year old 😂
I wonder if they feel the same way Spanish do when silly English tourists put O on the end of words, thinking they are speaking the lingo?
The supermarket checkout queues in peak tourist season can be a laugh.
I love watching Germans and Brits making total prats of themselves, completely oblivious to the deadpan, stony-eyed stares of the checkout ladies
Anonymous said
Nov 25 5:02 PM, 2025
Vam wrote:
Syl wrote:
Vam wrote:
These call centre workers in far-flung corners of the world are no doubt working for a pittance. They don’t know or understand much beyond their standard training manual responses. Tbf, most of them are very polite - they’re just clueless most of the time!
But, yes, my heart sinks whenever I hear certain accents, and I have to steel myself to start speaking slowwwwly as if I’m talking to a 5-year old 😂
I wonder if they feel the same way Spanish do when silly English tourists put O on the end of words, thinking they are speaking the lingo?
The supermarket checkout queues in peak tourist season can be a laugh.
I love watching Germans and Brits making total prats of themselves, completely oblivious to the deadpan, stony-eyed stares of the checkout ladies
Vam said
Nov 26 5:21 PM, 2025
Anonymous wrote:
Vam wrote:
Syl wrote:
Vam wrote:
These call centre workers in far-flung corners of the world are no doubt working for a pittance. They don’t know or understand much beyond their standard training manual responses. Tbf, most of them are very polite - they’re just clueless most of the time!
But, yes, my heart sinks whenever I hear certain accents, and I have to steel myself to start speaking slowwwwly as if I’m talking to a 5-year old 😂
I wonder if they feel the same way Spanish do when silly English tourists put O on the end of words, thinking they are speaking the lingo?
The supermarket checkout queues in peak tourist season can be a laugh.
I love watching Germans and Brits making total prats of themselves, completely oblivious to the deadpan, stony-eyed stares of the checkout ladies
I used to love that show!
Anonymous said
Nov 26 6:40 PM, 2025
Vam wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Vam wrote:
Syl wrote:
Vam wrote:
These call centre workers in far-flung corners of the world are no doubt working for a pittance. They don’t know or understand much beyond their standard training manual responses. Tbf, most of them are very polite - they’re just clueless most of the time!
But, yes, my heart sinks whenever I hear certain accents, and I have to steel myself to start speaking slowwwwly as if I’m talking to a 5-year old 😂
I wonder if they feel the same way Spanish do when silly English tourists put O on the end of words, thinking they are speaking the lingo?
The supermarket checkout queues in peak tourist season can be a laugh.
I love watching Germans and Brits making total prats of themselves, completely oblivious to the deadpan, stony-eyed stares of the checkout ladies
I used to love that show!
I bought the DVD collection a good few years back, watched it numerous times yet still laugh even when I know what’s coming. Priceless.
Syl said
Nov 27 12:01 PM, 2025
It's still hilarious, this scene is usually voted the most popular comedy sketch of all time.
Anonymous said
Nov 27 1:17 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
It's still hilarious, this scene is usually voted the most popular comedy sketch of all time.
This is one of my absolute fave scenes, even David Jason struggles not to laugh…
Magica said
Nov 27 4:24 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
It's still hilarious, this scene is usually voted the most popular comedy sketch of all time.
My favourite sketch, so funny! I still laugh, loved that show
Vam said
Nov 28 7:55 AM, 2025
Anonymous wrote:
Syl wrote:
It's still hilarious, this scene is usually voted the most popular comedy sketch of all time.
This is one of my absolute fave scenes, even David Jason struggles not to laugh…
“my boh-uhl of Cor-vossee-eh”!
Syl said
Jan 5 11:17 AM, 2026
Irritations....
I had both cataracts done in 2024, brilliant, I could see without needing glasses to read, I have never needed glasses for distance, so I was really happy with the results.
Eventually I did need glasses to read small print, but my sight was a lot better than before.
Move forwards 18 months or so, my left eye is so cloudy if I shut my right eye I can hardly see....and it seems to be getting worse daily.
Apparently this is a really common problem after cataract surgery, and can be easily corrected, the problem is the wait. When I had my cataracts done the wait was only a week or so, then the other one was done at my convenience....now, I have had to wait almost 3 months because the waiting list has grown so much since I had the original op.
Obviously driving is out of the question, if I was working I doubt I could do a job properly, I would have no choice but to go privately, as it is, I can manage till my appointment which is now, thankfully, soon.
Magica said
Jan 5 1:56 PM, 2026
Syl wrote:
Irritations....
I had both cataracts done in 2024, brilliant, I could see without needing glasses to read, I have never needed glasses for distance, so I was really happy with the results. Eventually I did need glasses to read small print, but my sight was a lot better than before.
Move forwards 18 months or so, my left eye is so cloudy if I shut my right eye I can hardly see....and it seems to be getting worse daily. Apparently this is a really common problem after cataract surgery, and can be easily corrected, the problem is the wait. When I had my cataracts done the wait was only a week or so, then the other one was done at my convenience....now, I have had to wait almost 3 months because the waiting list has grown so much since I had the original op.
Obviously driving is out of the question, if I was working I doubt I could do a job properly, I would have no choice but to go privately, as it is, I can manage till my appointment which is now, thankfully, soon.
Oh Syl how annoying. They are forcing us into going private, while the invaders go to the top of the list!
Syl said
Jan 5 4:25 PM, 2026
l will probably be the only white woman in there when I do go...that's usually the case now every time I visit a hospital or Dr's.
Magica said
Jan 5 6:02 PM, 2026
Syl wrote:
l will probably be the only white woman in there when I do go...that's usually the case now every time I visit a hospital or Dr's.
Yep, they get first dibs on all appointments 😤
Syl said
Jan 5 7:08 PM, 2026
Irritation No2...
I ordered some gorgeous suede shoes online, scalloped and studded round the edges, very dressy. I waited 2 weeks for them to arrive because they were closed over Christmas, they came today, and they are far too wide so they have to go back...a smaller size won't fit because they will be too small. but still too wide.
Magica said
Jan 5 8:06 PM, 2026
Syl wrote:
Irritation No2...
I ordered some gorgeous suede shoes online, scalloped and studded round the edges, very dressy. I waited 2 weeks for them to arrive because they were closed over Christmas, they came today, and they are far too wide so they have to go back...a smaller size won't fit because they will be too small. but still too wide.
That's the problem when ordering shoes on line, very seldom get the correct size.
Maybe it's meant. You might see a better pair when out shopping x
Syl said
Jan 6 1:01 AM, 2026
I just liked these, they were unusual.
Anonymous said
Jan 6 6:15 AM, 2026
Syl wrote:
Irritation No2...
I ordered some gorgeous suede shoes online, scalloped and studded round the edges, very dressy. I waited 2 weeks for them to arrive because they were closed over Christmas, they came today, and they are far too wide so they have to go back...a smaller size won't fit because they will be too small. but still too wide.
Frustrating isn’t it!
My bank is the worse and I have to be in dire need of help before I phone them up over anything, I’ve honestly not heard an English accent on the help-line in all the years I’ve been a customer. And like you I have problems getting them to understand that giving me a 4 figure code is useless as I don’t have a mobile.
Anyway, since decided I’ll keep shtum on the refund amount…feel I earned my ill-gotten gains.
Yes...and don't feel guilty, it's one of the 'joys' of online shopping.
I stopped a couple of years ago now. Started when Covid hit, and all in all it was OK, but some of the substitutes were interesting, They made for good talking points when I was eating kippers instead of poached salmon.
These call centre workers in far-flung corners of the world are no doubt working for a pittance. They don’t know or understand much beyond their standard training manual responses. Tbf, most of them are very polite - they’re just clueless most of the time!
But, yes, my heart sinks whenever I hear certain accents, and I have to steel myself to start speaking slowwwwly as if I’m talking to a 5-year old 😂
I wonder if they feel the same way Spanish do when silly English tourists put O on the end of words, thinking they are speaking the lingo?
The supermarket checkout queues in peak tourist season can be a laugh.
I love watching Germans and Brits making total prats of themselves, completely oblivious to the deadpan, stony-eyed stares of the checkout ladies
I used to love that show!
I bought the DVD collection a good few years back, watched it numerous times yet still laugh even when I know what’s coming. Priceless.
It's still hilarious, this scene is usually voted the most popular comedy sketch of all time.
This is one of my absolute fave scenes, even David Jason struggles not to laugh…
My favourite sketch, so funny! I still laugh, loved that show
I had both cataracts done in 2024, brilliant, I could see without needing glasses to read, I have never needed glasses for distance, so I was really happy with the results.
Eventually I did need glasses to read small print, but my sight was a lot better than before.
Move forwards 18 months or so, my left eye is so cloudy if I shut my right eye I can hardly see....and it seems to be getting worse daily.
Apparently this is a really common problem after cataract surgery, and can be easily corrected, the problem is the wait. When I had my cataracts done the wait was only a week or so, then the other one was done at my convenience....now, I have had to wait almost 3 months because the waiting list has grown so much since I had the original op.
Obviously driving is out of the question, if I was working I doubt I could do a job properly, I would have no choice but to go privately, as it is, I can manage till my appointment which is now, thankfully, soon.
Oh Syl how annoying. They are forcing us into going private, while the invaders go to the top of the list!
Yep, they get first dibs on all appointments 😤
Irritation No2...
I ordered some gorgeous suede shoes online, scalloped and studded round the edges, very dressy. I waited 2 weeks for them to arrive because they were closed over Christmas, they came today, and they are far too wide so they have to go back...a smaller size won't fit because they will be too small. but still too wide.
That's the problem when ordering shoes on line, very seldom get the correct size.
Maybe it's meant. You might see a better pair when out shopping x
I just liked these, they were unusual.
Sometimes being a hobbit can have its advantages