Lately, it seems that customer care has taken a backseat for many businesses. Some industries, in particular, have developed a reputation for poor treatment of their customers. To show you what we mean, here are 16 types of companies that consistently fall short in delivering the service and respect their customers deserve.
Streaming Services
As streaming services become more prevalent, so do complaints about their customer service shortcomings. For example, Netflix recently announced that they are going to crack down on password sharing, which goes against their promises of providing entertainment at a cheap price. It looks like the other providers are also looking to follow this same path.
Physical Banks
You haven’t seen poor customer service unless you’ve been to a physical bank. They’ll have you waiting in the waiting room for hours before helping you out with a simple issue such as a card replacement. They are also very pushy, trying to squeeze you for every last pound you have.
Satellite TV and Internet Providers
Forbes says that surveys show that satellite TV and internet providers have notoriously bad customer care. Over the years, these companies have come up with so many strategies they can use to finesse their customers. Many people have found that if you push them hard enough, they’ll always give you a better deal.
Budget Airlines
Flying with budget airlines may save you money, but it can also cost you in terms of customer service quality. If you think about it, these airlines are only budget if you’re traveling with just a small bag. If you add up the cost of buying extra baggage, legroom, and a treat, they usually cost as much as regular airlines.
Utility Companies
Utility companies, while essential, are often notorious for their subpar customer service experiences. It seems like these companies know that people can’t live without water, electricity, or gas, so they don’t feel the need to stand out with their customer service.
Government Agencies
Navigating government agencies for assistance can often leave individuals feeling overwhelmed and underserved. Trying to get your passport or driving license renewed feels like an extreme sport because these establishments know you have no other option to get these things done. To make matters worse, these services aren’t cheap at all.
Insurance Companies
Dealing with insurance companies can be a frustrating experience, especially when it comes to filing and processing claims. They treat you like royalty while they’re trying to get you to sign up for their services, but once you’ve signed, they forget all the promises they made to you.
Mobile Phone Carriers
In an age where communication is key, the customer service of mobile phone carriers can significantly impact user satisfaction. Similar to utility companies, mobile phone carriers are also doing their best to squeeze every last pound out of you. A good trick is to threaten them that you will switch to another carrier, and they’ll usually switch up their act.
Online Retailers
While online shopping offers convenience, it can also come with the drawback of poor customer service from certain retailers. Unless you’re shopping from one of the bigger brands, you can’t always be certain of the customer experience you’re going to get. Some have really long delivery times and are a hassle to get your refund back.
Fast Food Chains
Despite the emphasis on quick service, fast food chains often fall short of delivering satisfactory customer experiences. Some are often short-staffed, which means that issues such as inaccurate orders, missing items, poor hygiene, and poor customer care are common. At least they are cheap; that makes up for some of the weaknesses.
Banking Institutions
For many consumers, dealing with banks can be synonymous with frustrating encounters and hidden costs. Banks know that they can hide some of their charges and you may not notice if it’s a simple £1 to £5 transaction. They’ll quietly charge you for things like transactions in other currencies and card renewals.
Rental Car Companies
Renting a car should be a hassle-free experience, but unfortunately, many rental companies struggle to provide adequate customer service. They understand that you’re in a foreign country, so they treat you as they please. Even those that aren’t catering to tourists have issues like regular disputes over damages and security deposits.
Educational Institutions
The customer service provided by educational institutions can sometimes leave students feeling neglected. Most universities don’t give adequate support to students outside of classes. In reality, the university should really be doing more to help students in these areas.
Home Security Companies
Security companies promise you the world while you’re signing on. They tell you that they’ll keep you safe and help you get a good night’s sleep every day while they take care of the rest. However, once there’s actually trouble, problems start to arise, including poor response times, false alarms, and difficulty canceling contracts.
Courier and Delivery Services
In an era of online shopping, the reliability of courier and delivery services is essential, yet many fall short of providing satisfactory customer service. According to PR Newswire, 42 million parcels are lost every year. In some cases, these companies aren’t even liable for when they lose people’s parcels or deliver them much later than they promised.
Home Improvement Stores
Embarking on home improvement projects can be daunting, especially when faced with bad customer service from home improvement stores. These companies have a bad habit of misquoting the work, causing you to be inadequately prepared for your project. The high turnover of staff also means that many of them have inexperienced workers.