Verizon Wireless Achieves Highest Scores In VocaLabs SectorPulse Wireless Report
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Vocal Laboratories issued its SectorPulse quarterly report for mobile phone-carriers comparing the quality of customer care.
Verizon Wireless (VZ:NYSE) was the winner in customer service quality gaining an "A" ranking in caller satisfaction and a "B" in call completion.
- Cingular received a "C" in both caller satisfaction and call completion
- ATandT Wireless (AWE:NYSE) received a "C" in caller satisfaction and a "D" in call completion
- Sprint PCS (PCS:NYSE) received a "D" in both caller satisfaction and call completion
Verizon had the highest automation rate along with the highest scores in caller satisfaction and call completion, showing that automation doesn't have to be incompatible with good customer service.
The most often stated complaint of long hold times was particularly common for ATandT Wireless and SprintPCS customers, but relatively infrequent for Verizon Wireless. Some of the participants in this study experienced hold times of 15 minutes or more. One participant wrote, "After being on hold for at least 10 minutes the first time I called, I was hung up on. When I called back, I was told the wait would again be greater than 10 minutes, and I was afraid I would wait the time and then be disconnected again!"
The second most common complaint was difficulty with automated systems. Another study participant had some particular issues with the choice of voices used in a speech-recognition system, "The automated woman's voice is annoying. I wouldn't want to talk with her again. Everytime I have to call... I just say 'REAL PERSON' please to get away from her voice as quickly as possible. She doesn't sound friendly... seems too stuck up. Wish I could explain better."
Data in this report was gathered between February 10, 2004 and March 31, 2004.