Posts Tagged ‘graduate student’
The Battle Between Customer and Customer Service- How to Increase Your Chances for Resolution!
Have you ever been in a situation where you bought a product, and when you went to use it, it did not work? Or it was missing a part? Then when you tried to complain you found yourself on hold, or talking to a customer service representative who does not have the authority to resolve the issue? Or worse you never received a response at all? Customers are left feeling angry and helpless in these situations. So what can a customer do to get their complaint acknowledged and resolved?
Before you call or email the company, you must first remember to remain calm. You, as the client, are less likely to resolve your complaint if you begin yelling at the customer service representative or using all caps in an email. Regina Lewis from USA Today suggests, “Be business-like and think of yourself in the third person, almost like you are handling a matter on behalf of someone else.” By remaining business-like, you take the emotion out of the problem and address the issue at hand.
Another step suggested by Tom Barlow a contributor for Forbes is to “think through what outcome will make you happy: a refund? A replacement? An apology? An upgrade? And get your facts straight: Know your rights by reviewing warranties and the policies of the company in question”. Before filing a complaint, it is important to recognize what you can realistically achieve so that you can resolve it successfully. If you have unrealistic expectations then you are most likely not going to reach the results you want.
Once you call, what should you do if the customer service representative does not have the authority to provide a resolution? Tom Barlow advises, “ If you aren’t getting anywhere with the phone rep, escalate: Ask to talk to a supervisor, and keep on reaching up the chain until you’re put in touch with someone with the power to grant your request.” It is essential to speak with someone who has the decision- making authority to resolve the issue. Businesses do not want to risk losing you as a customer. One dissatisfied customer could share their negative experience with others, which could be harmful to the company. For this reason, resolution is best for all parties involved.
If you have escalated your issue to someone with authority and still are not receiving results, there are other options available to you. The Internet has become a great place to voice dissatisfaction, and if done properly, you can see results. Kimberly Palmer, a senior editor for U.S. News Money, explains “the general public can be a receptive audience, especially when you are complaining about a common cause.” To complain properly using online forums you must post something that will elicit a response from the company, this does not mean slandering the company. If you are posting negative comments, you are less likely to see your goals met. It could also backfire and make YOU appear immature or irrational.
There are additional outlets available for you and other customers filing complaints other than the Internet. One organization that was previously featured on The Texas Conflict Coach is the Council of Better Business Bureau. The BBB is a company that focuses on building an improved connection between companies and purchasers. Kimberly Palmer suggests the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which “makes complaints public in a database, so customers can easily search to see if other people have faced similar problems and how those problems were resolved”. These organizations act as supporters for the client who is not being heard and can assist in getting an issue fixed.
Finally, remember to say “thank you”, to anyone who assists you in getting your problem solved. As pointed out by Regina Lewis, a simple “thank you” is often overlooked, but could have an impact on getting your complaint resolved quickly.
Abigail Clark
Graduate Student, University of Baltimore –
Negotiation and Conflict Management Program
Lowballing the Public: Mediators serving without a binding ethics code on 40 hours of training
The practice of mediation is largely unregulated throughout the United States. In contrast to more formalized professions, such as nursing, social work, law, medicine or accounting, mediators generally have a fraction of the training, have no required ethics code, and no minimum quality testing. Dr. Goetz will chronicle current efforts in voluntary mediator certification underway in California to raise the level of mediator education and training and require a binding ethics code to serve the public.
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Intern joins The Texas Conflict Coach Blog Talk Radio Show
Please join me in welcoming Andrea Williams, graduate student from the University of Baltimore in the Negotiations and Conflict Management graduate program. I am so excited to have her join my team this semester.
Read more about Andrea…
My entire life has been devoted to helping people and how to make a world a better place. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, where I attended one of the top public high school in the nations called Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies. I graduated from there in the year 2001.
While attending high school I was involved in numerous activities within my church and my community, which taught me leadership and discipline skills. The most prominent activity I participated in was singing in a community choir called the Los Angeles Inner City Choir, where we as choir members would help the Los Angeles Community through songs and volunteering our time. While participating in this choir I earned numerous awards as a singer in competitions for three years. This choir helped developed my maturity level, established my ability to travel, and taught me how to handle pressure. I also gained high energy, and pride in accomplishments.
In the year of 2006 I graduated from Morgan State University where I majored in political science and minored in pre-law, with a concentration in international business. I took numerous classes at this university that helped carve out my niche into society. Courses like Constitutional Law, Philosophy of Law, Scopes and Methods, Public Policy, Global Studies, International Relations, Economics 201 and 202, and Business 101, which helped develop my analytical, communication, and research skills. These courses also help me gain an understanding of domestic and international laws.
In 2009, I was accepted into the M.S. program at the University of Baltimore in their Negotiations and Conflict Management department. This is the place where I discovered my passion to work with families and children within the court system. Within this program I have taken courses like, Negotiations and Assessing Conflict which has given me the stepping stone on how to analyze and handle conflict.
