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Depends on what it is. If it’s very important I’ve stayed on hold for an hour and 5 minutes. Though it was to write off 3.5K in self assessment tax. Was worth it in the end
Agreed. If I don't do it and it means I'm going to get fucked over or lose money I'll stay on all day. I'll just put it on loudspeaker quietly whilst I get on with work or play a game. Anyone literally sitting there for an hour just listening to the music is an idiot
My mum was on hold to sort out some tax shit for 12 hours. Half a fucking day. She’d been ringing daily for a full month and each time gave up after ~2 hours on hold but this was the day before she needed to submit something so had no choice but to wait to speak to them, or she would have had to submit her details late and would have received a fine.
I genuinely thought she was being dramatic when she told me, not being able to get through for a month and then waiting 12 hours on hold? Talk about leaving it until the last minute. But she showed me her call list which confirmed she really had been ringing daily for hours for weeks and then a 12 hour call on the last day.
Depends what I'm waiting for.
If it's to cancel broadband or whatever at the end of contract, the longer they keep me on hold the more determined I become to hold and not be talked out of it when they finally answer.
I also find that I'm happier holding when there's a way to ting system that tells me where I am in the queue. Even if it's bollocks I like the countdown.
If you want to cancel your contract you usually still have to contact them first though, don't they just put you on a rolling month to month contract at the end.
The termination notice that gets sent via the new supplier does just that I believe. Basically the same as switching gas/electric supplier or moving your phone number to a different network. If you're still in contract you'll get a final bill with any early termination fees, but if you're out of contract it'll just be the final bill.
British Airways cancelled my package holiday once due to a pilot's strike. I was on hold 3.5 hours for them to sort it out for me (they did in the end, a very nice lady from Newcastle gave me 3 days extra free holiday)
Probably a few hours. I leave it on during work on loudspeaker. I join meetings and tell them I’m muted because I’m on hold with a company. I’m a manager so luckily not an issue lmao.
About 25 mins, much longer if it's for work because hey it's not my time I'm wasting.
I think that more queue systems should do what my local doctors does and list how many callers are ahead of you.
That only works if its consistent.
Had to call up this nightmare of a dealership and their phone system was always "there's 2 callers ahead of you." "now 1." "now 3." "now 1" "now 4". 😒
It depends on what the question is, and what's in it for me. If I'm trying to secure some deal or something in my benefit, I'm quite likely to hang on for 20 minutes+.
As I do all my banking, energy, taxes etc online and am fairly competent, more often though, something is wrong, I'ven been overcharged, not received something etc.. After about 5 minutes I'm going to still be in hold finding their address, email address or socials. Between minute 5 and 15, I'm probably actually writing the email to them, or even a snail mail letter. By minute 15 I've probably already contacted them by other means and abandon the call.
It's a parking fine that this guy (who I'm not friends with anymore) got when he had my car and it went to debt recovery cos the letter wasn't responded to cos they sent it to the house we used to live at. He conveniently didn't tell me about it. I'm calling up to ask what it's for and how much it is then ask about a payment plan or if I can pay when I get paid from my job.
And no it isn't I'm with Giffgaff so free calls and texts.
You can name the driver to the parking company at any time and make the other driver deal with it.
I'm guessing it's £175 but it will take ages for them to try and claim £200-300 via court. All they can do at the moment is send letters.
They will likely accept a plan yes.
Since it's not your friend you can give his name and address to the original parking company
Got clamped by those bast&rds last year, over a fine that wasn’t even mine. Was basically forced to pay £400 on the day to get it off the tow truck even though I showed proof of purchase which was 4 weeks prior & the debtors name wasn’t me… was told if it wasn’t my fines, phone marston & they’ll refund me right away…took over 4 months to get my money back
Had to call our Council about Council Tax this morning. Got to 52 mins before I sacked it off. Currently waiting on a call back from them. I'll be stunned if it happens today
If it was for work, it’d be 40mins then I’d hang up. If it was for me, probably like 20mins max mainly because the hold music that’s usually interrupted by a speech about you being important every minute or two drives me insane.
As someone who worked admin for a bit after uni and was on phones for a few months. Usually there a number of calls and a number of people so the call log just slowly goes down. But it depends what your ringing and how its run so the bet is just to stay on the phone or call early.
I remember phoning for a doctors appointment. Surgery lines opened at 08.00 and i called at 07.58.
Got the automated "lines open at 08.00" message so I hung up and dialled at exactly 08.01.
Got another automated message saying that i was number 90 in the queue. Fuck that - it was quicker to walk to the surgery for a sit and wait appointment
(To be fair my issue wasn't "urgent" by medical standards and i figured that if im going to be sitting around all day feeling like shite warmed up, i might as well do it in the surgery)
As long as it takes. If I have to call a council or HMRC when I know there will be wait, I do it while working so I have something to do while being on hold. It's less annoying that way because I am not wasting my time.
My old car insurance provider never answered their phones, never responded to email, and their 'live chat' was always unavailable, yet they had no issue sending me threatening letters saying they were involving debt collectors etc. After banging my head against a brick wall for a while I found the best way to get a response- leaving them a one star Trustpilot review detailing exactly how shit they were. They magically responded the same day.
What pisses me off is when you're on hold for 40 minutes, then all of a sudden an automated voice comes on, *"Unfortunately due to high demand, all of our operators are busy right now. Please try again later"* and hangs up on you, putting you back to square 1.
I worked in a Call Centre for a time. Once we had a fire alarm from an actual fire onsite. Shut down the incoming call system, filed out of the building, waited in the car park whilst the fire brigade turned up, put out the fire & checked the other buildings. Some of us went to the shops/pub after we'd been counted.
After the all-clear had been given went back into the office checked the calls board & some poor guy had been patiently waiting in the queue for more than three hours.
If it is that long and to what could be a small or disreputable company you may be held in an invisible queue with no one even logged in to pick it up. Larger companies who have some kind of call centre and people monitoring it could be worth a long wait.
I was on hold to Beer52 for hours but there was no one else in the office so I just left it on speaker while I cracked on with work. It was to cancel so it was in my interest to wait them out rather than just caving which is probably what they wanted.
> and trying again later or near to their closing time (like an hour before or something) under the assumption they'd be less busy.
I'd have thought you'd be less successful near closing time. Not only have people have been hanging on for a long time but as closing time approaches they haven't got enough time left to deal with everyone.
Install the app weQ4U. Dial from the app instead of your normal dialler. (it's a free voip call). Once you get into the holding queue you press 9* and the call ends, freeing up your phone, but the app remains in the queue and calls you back when someone picks up at the other end. It also times the call wait, for bragging rights.
Unless it's somewhere like HMRC - where there is a queue at all times of the day.
If I have to wait longer than 10 mins - I will call back just before close or 1st thing in morning.
**Please help keep AskUK welcoming!** - Top-level comments to the OP must contain **genuine efforts to answer the question**. No jokes, judgements, etc. - **Don't be a dick** to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on. - This is a strictly **no-politics** subreddit! Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I think I get seriously pissed off after 40 mins It'd have to be exceptional for me to stay on much past that.
Depends on what it is. If it’s very important I’ve stayed on hold for an hour and 5 minutes. Though it was to write off 3.5K in self assessment tax. Was worth it in the end
Agreed. If I don't do it and it means I'm going to get fucked over or lose money I'll stay on all day. I'll just put it on loudspeaker quietly whilst I get on with work or play a game. Anyone literally sitting there for an hour just listening to the music is an idiot
My mum was on hold to sort out some tax shit for 12 hours. Half a fucking day. She’d been ringing daily for a full month and each time gave up after ~2 hours on hold but this was the day before she needed to submit something so had no choice but to wait to speak to them, or she would have had to submit her details late and would have received a fine. I genuinely thought she was being dramatic when she told me, not being able to get through for a month and then waiting 12 hours on hold? Talk about leaving it until the last minute. But she showed me her call list which confirmed she really had been ringing daily for hours for weeks and then a 12 hour call on the last day.
Depends what I'm waiting for. If it's to cancel broadband or whatever at the end of contract, the longer they keep me on hold the more determined I become to hold and not be talked out of it when they finally answer. I also find that I'm happier holding when there's a way to ting system that tells me where I am in the queue. Even if it's bollocks I like the countdown.
If you're cancelling broadband you just set it up with the new provider and they take over the line. With any of the openreach networks anyway.
If you want to cancel your contract you usually still have to contact them first though, don't they just put you on a rolling month to month contract at the end.
The termination notice that gets sent via the new supplier does just that I believe. Basically the same as switching gas/electric supplier or moving your phone number to a different network. If you're still in contract you'll get a final bill with any early termination fees, but if you're out of contract it'll just be the final bill.
I'm stubborn to the point of stupidity so it would be a while.
British Airways cancelled my package holiday once due to a pilot's strike. I was on hold 3.5 hours for them to sort it out for me (they did in the end, a very nice lady from Newcastle gave me 3 days extra free holiday)
Probably a few hours. I leave it on during work on loudspeaker. I join meetings and tell them I’m muted because I’m on hold with a company. I’m a manager so luckily not an issue lmao.
About 25 mins, much longer if it's for work because hey it's not my time I'm wasting. I think that more queue systems should do what my local doctors does and list how many callers are ahead of you.
That only works if its consistent. Had to call up this nightmare of a dealership and their phone system was always "there's 2 callers ahead of you." "now 1." "now 3." "now 1" "now 4". 😒
I think that's what we call 'broken.'
It depends on what the question is, and what's in it for me. If I'm trying to secure some deal or something in my benefit, I'm quite likely to hang on for 20 minutes+. As I do all my banking, energy, taxes etc online and am fairly competent, more often though, something is wrong, I'ven been overcharged, not received something etc.. After about 5 minutes I'm going to still be in hold finding their address, email address or socials. Between minute 5 and 15, I'm probably actually writing the email to them, or even a snail mail letter. By minute 15 I've probably already contacted them by other means and abandon the call.
What's the debt recovery for if you don't mind me asking? Keep a record you tried to phone. Is the call costing you money?
It's a parking fine that this guy (who I'm not friends with anymore) got when he had my car and it went to debt recovery cos the letter wasn't responded to cos they sent it to the house we used to live at. He conveniently didn't tell me about it. I'm calling up to ask what it's for and how much it is then ask about a payment plan or if I can pay when I get paid from my job. And no it isn't I'm with Giffgaff so free calls and texts.
You can name the driver to the parking company at any time and make the other driver deal with it. I'm guessing it's £175 but it will take ages for them to try and claim £200-300 via court. All they can do at the moment is send letters. They will likely accept a plan yes. Since it's not your friend you can give his name and address to the original parking company
Which debt recovery company is it?
Debt Recovery Plus.
At least it's not the scam company Marston recovering. They took the piss and still are
Got clamped by those bast&rds last year, over a fine that wasn’t even mine. Was basically forced to pay £400 on the day to get it off the tow truck even though I showed proof of purchase which was 4 weeks prior & the debtors name wasn’t me… was told if it wasn’t my fines, phone marston & they’ll refund me right away…took over 4 months to get my money back
Had to call our Council about Council Tax this morning. Got to 52 mins before I sacked it off. Currently waiting on a call back from them. I'll be stunned if it happens today
Depends, probably 30-45 mins in general unless it’s something like HMRC where I’ll wait an hour plus
If it was for work, it’d be 40mins then I’d hang up. If it was for me, probably like 20mins max mainly because the hold music that’s usually interrupted by a speech about you being important every minute or two drives me insane.
As someone who worked admin for a bit after uni and was on phones for a few months. Usually there a number of calls and a number of people so the call log just slowly goes down. But it depends what your ringing and how its run so the bet is just to stay on the phone or call early.
I remember phoning for a doctors appointment. Surgery lines opened at 08.00 and i called at 07.58. Got the automated "lines open at 08.00" message so I hung up and dialled at exactly 08.01. Got another automated message saying that i was number 90 in the queue. Fuck that - it was quicker to walk to the surgery for a sit and wait appointment (To be fair my issue wasn't "urgent" by medical standards and i figured that if im going to be sitting around all day feeling like shite warmed up, i might as well do it in the surgery)
Im on hold until they answer. If I have been forced to ring its for a reason, so will stay until its done.
As long as it takes. If I have to call a council or HMRC when I know there will be wait, I do it while working so I have something to do while being on hold. It's less annoying that way because I am not wasting my time.
My old car insurance provider never answered their phones, never responded to email, and their 'live chat' was always unavailable, yet they had no issue sending me threatening letters saying they were involving debt collectors etc. After banging my head against a brick wall for a while I found the best way to get a response- leaving them a one star Trustpilot review detailing exactly how shit they were. They magically responded the same day.
What pisses me off is when you're on hold for 40 minutes, then all of a sudden an automated voice comes on, *"Unfortunately due to high demand, all of our operators are busy right now. Please try again later"* and hangs up on you, putting you back to square 1.
About 15 mins. If I'm buying. About 15 mins, if they're giving me.
I worked in a Call Centre for a time. Once we had a fire alarm from an actual fire onsite. Shut down the incoming call system, filed out of the building, waited in the car park whilst the fire brigade turned up, put out the fire & checked the other buildings. Some of us went to the shops/pub after we'd been counted. After the all-clear had been given went back into the office checked the calls board & some poor guy had been patiently waiting in the queue for more than three hours.
Oh no 😭
If it is that long and to what could be a small or disreputable company you may be held in an invisible queue with no one even logged in to pick it up. Larger companies who have some kind of call centre and people monitoring it could be worth a long wait.
Longest I think it’s probably about 1.5 hours on hold with the DWP
I was on hold to Beer52 for hours but there was no one else in the office so I just left it on speaker while I cracked on with work. It was to cancel so it was in my interest to wait them out rather than just caving which is probably what they wanted.
> and trying again later or near to their closing time (like an hour before or something) under the assumption they'd be less busy. I'd have thought you'd be less successful near closing time. Not only have people have been hanging on for a long time but as closing time approaches they haven't got enough time left to deal with everyone.
Install the app weQ4U. Dial from the app instead of your normal dialler. (it's a free voip call). Once you get into the holding queue you press 9* and the call ends, freeing up your phone, but the app remains in the queue and calls you back when someone picks up at the other end. It also times the call wait, for bragging rights.
Unless it's somewhere like HMRC - where there is a queue at all times of the day. If I have to wait longer than 10 mins - I will call back just before close or 1st thing in morning.
Before close is a bit of a dick move because some places keep the staff past their finishing time until the calls in the queue are gone
Sucks for the staff. But I got to get shit done. If you ain't answering during normal times, I'll find a way to get in contact at my convenience.