Well, a common 'call center agent horror story' is getting prank calls. Some pranksters waste the agent's time by pretending to be interested in the product or service but then start making jokes or just being silly. Agents also face horror when they are transferred a call from another agent who didn't handle the initial situation well. So, the new agent has to deal with an already frustrated customer. Moreover, there are times when the call quality is so bad that the agent can't understand the customer, and the customer gets angry because they think the agent isn't listening.
One horror story is dealing with extremely rude customers. I once had a customer who just screamed at me non - stop for a minor issue. They wouldn't let me speak and just kept hurling insults. Another is the long working hours. Sometimes we had to stay overtime without proper notice just to finish handling a large volume of calls. And also, the strict monitoring. Every call is recorded and analyzed, and if you make a small mistake in what you say, you could get in trouble.
One horror story could be dealing with extremely angry callers all day. For example, a BuzzFeed call center agent might have to face a customer who is furious about a wrong article or misinformation. The caller could be shouting and using offensive language, making the work environment very stressful.
Another could be misinformation given by call center agents. Say an investor calls to ask about the risks associated with a particular financial product. The agent, who is not well - trained, gives inaccurate information, leading the investor to make a wrong decision that results in financial losses.
Another experience could be dealing with extremely long and complex calls. Like when a customer has multiple issues related to different products or services all in one call. The call center agent has to juggle all this information, keep the customer on track, and find solutions for each problem, which can be mentally exhausting.
I'm not sure of the exact stories, but I can imagine a situation where a call center employee gets prank calls all day long. These prank callers might waste the agent's time by pretending to be interested in something and then making fun of the agent. It would be really annoying and demoralizing for the agent.
One joke is about a call center agent who had a customer asking for help with their computer. The customer said their mouse wasn't working. The agent asked if it was plugged in. The customer replied, 'Yes, I even wrapped the cord around my finger to make sure it doesn't get loose!'
No, I don't think call center ghost stories are real. Most of these stories are likely the result of overactive imaginations, the stress of working in a call center environment, or just people trying to spook each other.
One success story is a call center that improved customer satisfaction by implementing a new training program for agents. The agents became more empathetic and efficient in solving problems.
A big horror for call center agents is when they are given very little training but are expected to handle all kinds of difficult situations. They might not know how to solve a particular problem and then have to face an angry customer. It's like being thrown into the deep end without knowing how to swim. For example, a new agent might be asked to deal with a complex technical issue related to a new product they haven't been properly trained on.