Whats wrong with telling people why you're calling

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
Jesus christ..

People, when you call into an office and ask for one of the lawyers there, don't just expect us to transfer you to someone who charges 400 bucks an hour and so you wasting a minute of their time is basically one hour of my work.

Just had a lady call in and ask to speak to one of the lawyers here. Gave her first name, refused to give her last name. WHen I asked, merely said she was calling about her son's case. When I asked for her son's name, she refuses and merely says that the attorney nows her and would like to speak with her.

What the heck is wrong with her. I mean jeeze, I might steal her son's identity. Hell, the attorney will probably walk out in a minute and tell me to do whatever needs to be done and I'll have her son's med records and everything right in front of me.

On another note, when you fax us something and call to see if we recieve it, why would I lie? Don't ask me to go check the fax machine again, its a waste of my time to lie with you because I'll probably have to deal with what you faxed to us. Then, when I take your number to call you back in 10 minutes to tell you if the fax came though, don't give me a number with your extension that has no way for me to enter your extension. I called, it went straight to answering machine.

Then when you call back in half an hour, don't get pissed at me I didn't call you back. Then when I tell you I didn't get the fax, don't say you have the fax confirmation right in front of you and start getting bitchy at me. Hell, I want whatever you're faxing us because it'll make my job easier. Why would you hang up on me in anger when I repeat that we didn't get the fax and got no other faxes in the last half hour and offer my email address so you can email me it.

While I'm on it, if we're suing you for thousands and have default, don't call up and cuss at me for getting you in trouble because you were driving without insurance and got into an accident. Oh yea, your offer of half the damages won't swing after what you just put me through. Even if I already know the client will accept that, I'll probably just take judgement on your ass and take your license just to screw with you. Yea, that'll convince me to sweet talk the clients so you can just settle it out of court.

Ok, end rant. Feel better now.
 

jyates

Diamond Member
Aug 18, 2001
3,847
0
76
Dealing with the public on the phone is tough.
Either lose all feelings and logic or be prepared to be upset ALOT!
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
People, when you call into an office and ask for one of the lawyers there, don't just expect us to transfer you to someone who charges 400 bucks an hour and so you wasting a minute of their time is basically one hour of my work.

Why not? that is why I am paying the 400 an hour. Also i would think its a personal matter between the client and attorney not some piss ant phone jockey who needs to be bitched slapped back into his place.
 

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
Originally posted by: Citrix
People, when you call into an office and ask for one of the lawyers there, don't just expect us to transfer you to someone who charges 400 bucks an hour and so you wasting a minute of their time is basically one hour of my work.

Why not? that is why I am paying the 400 an hour. Also i would think its a personal matter between the client and attorney not some piss ant phone jockey who needs to be bitched slapped back into his place.

Why? Its just your damn son's name. How fvcken private is that. All I'm doing is making sure some telemarketer doesn't waste his time. How the hell could I tell you're a damn client if all you give me is your first name. I haven't seen an office yet that lists people by their first name.
 

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
Originally posted by: axelfox
what type of cases does your firm handle?

We do personal injury and collections. Collections meaning about 90% of our collections cases is some guy driving with no car insurance who gets into an accident and we try to get what the insurance company spent back.
 

Amorphus

Diamond Member
Mar 31, 2003
5,561
1
0
Uhm, maybe she wanted to keep the business between her and the lawyer? She has a right to privacy - your job is to give the phone to the lawyer if it's reasonable to do so. It was, and you didn't. Ergo, you failed at your job, and life. The only solution is suicide.


Oh, and it appears you're not the best negotiator, either. :)
 

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
Originally posted by: Amorphus
Uhm, maybe she wanted to keep the business between her and the lawyer? She has a right to privacy - your job is to give the phone to the lawyer if it's reasonable to do so. It was, and you didn't. Ergo, you failed at your job, and life. The only solution is suicide.


Oh, and it appears you're not the best negotiator, either. :)

Haha, suicide huh... That'll put an end to all my student loans.

It wasn't reasonable to give him the phone though. We've had telemarketers call up with a fake firm address saying they'd like to talk about a new case they'd like to forward to us. Then a minute later the guy would come out and start saying wtf you give me a telemarketer for.

Oh, for the record, I did give him the phone because I figured out we actually did have a case with her son. What I don't understand is how the name of her son's case private. I didn't ask what happened, just the name of the case so I can identify, and get him the file while he talks to her.

So, explain to me how I failed at anything, and how it was reasonable for me to transfer them with what you knew of the situation.

EDIT: Negotiating, I love that. I've gotten plenty of settlements over the original claim amount. And my example was ok too. Yea, I'm not going to take a lower settlement even if the client will accept it. Instead, I'm going to be an ass and have a lien put out so that any banking accounts you would have will pay the full amount.
 

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
5,001
126
Originally posted by: Amorphus
Uhm, maybe she wanted to keep the business between her and the lawyer? She has a right to privacy - your job is to give the phone to the lawyer if it's reasonable to do so. It was, and you didn't. Ergo, you failed at your job, and life. The only solution is suicide.


Oh, and it appears you're not the best negotiator, either. :)

pfft.
I too work in a law firm (collections ironically).... IT department though.
It is the JOB of the receptionist to get the case # or full name of the person calling or they will simply not be trasnfered to the collector let alone the attorney handling the case.

And those of you that piss on lawyers... WTF. Thats a gross generalization is it not? Dont get me wrong, scum like Johnny "If it dont fit you must acquit" Cochran and the likes are horrible, but collection lawyers? Prosecuting lawyers? Yeah DAMN THEM for for making people pay the bills they rang up.

EDIT: and what the hell is with people throwing around the word "Ergo" post Matrix?
 

yukichigai

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2003
6,404
0
76
Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Why? Its just your damn son's name. How fvcken private is that. All I'm doing is making sure some telemarketer doesn't waste his time. How the hell could I tell you're a damn client if all you give me is your first name. I haven't seen an office yet that lists people by their first name.
I think in that situation it would be okay for you to say, "I need your name for verification purposes," or, "due to a recent string of fradulent calls I need to know your last name."

F%$# telemarketers. And f%$# people who are afraid to give out their last name. This isn't the Dark Ages, there's no magic in the world. Someone knowing your name gives them no power over you.