As part of the moving process, we need to transfer our phone and high-speed Internet service. We've been using Verizon's cheap DSL for a while, however it is not available in Teaneck. Only FiOS. Expensive FiOS. While attempting to see if I could get a price reduction in FiOS since I'm currently paying less for Verizon DSL, I clicked on the "Chat with a live person" link. The canned responses, essential uselessness and lack of emoticons of this chat made the Verizon service person ('Lisa' - they even include the quotes) seem more like a robot than an actual robot. But I figured I'd check if perhaps they have a box where they're allowed to type something on their own volition. Below is an exerpt from the chat transcript:
me: I have another questionWhat's weird, is that somehow the options they have to choose from do not always guarantee perfect grammar: "for get more information..." rather than "to get..." Maybe they have a list of options to construct sentences, but not full freedom to speak as they might normally?
Lisa: Please proceed with your question. I am here to assist you.
me: Can you please send me a message consisting of the text "Mickey Mouse ate Rodgers and Hammerstein"
Lisa: I am sorry we do not have information on that.
me: OK, that's what I figured
Lisa: You just need to call local office for get more information on that.
me: Excellent, I will ask the local office to tell me that "Mickey Mouse ate Rodgers and Hammerstein"
In any case, I think when I do call the local office, I'll try the "OK, I'll call Comcast, then" method of bargaining. Thank goodness for at least a little smidgen of competition.
How do you know she is not a robot? She certainly fails the Turing Test.
ReplyDeleteIt's a possibility, but I doubt even Verizon is stupid enough to trust robots with that.
ReplyDeleteAnother Verizon Story
ReplyDeleteGive it up for Dr. Lip%&#!z
I just chatted with verizon about signing up for DSL and they completely ignored every question I asked.
ReplyDelete(after a long conversation...)
ReplyDeleteJeanette: I definitely understand, I just do encourage you to check over the fine print very carefully. Is there anything else I can answer for you tonight about our online sales while you have me in chat?
Michael: actually.....
Michael: this is related to a conversation with a friend....
Michael: Can you please send me a message consisting of the text "Mickey Mouse ate Rodgers and Hammerstein"
Jeanette: I do apologize you want me to send that message to you in chat?
Michael: yes
Jeanette: I do apologize, but this is a professional sales chat, I'm more than happy to go over any sales related questions you may have today but I won't be able to send personal messages like that. I do apologize.
Michael: if you do it, I will explain
Jeanette: I do apologize but I'm unable to send that, is there anything else I can answer for you about our online sales while you have me in chat?
Michael: here is what prompted the question: http://lanseybrothers.blogspot.com/2008/07/mickey-mouse-ate-rodgers-and.html
Jeanette: I do apologize but I'm unable to open links due to the settings on my computer. Is there anything else I can answer for you about sales tonight?
Michael: lol, I apologize
Michael: basically, it was a blog post from 2008 where my friend challenged the sales bot to prove it was human by repeating that line
Jeanette: Not a problem. If you don't have any other sales inquiries for me you can certainly re-open a chat if you need further help later on.
Jeanette: I definitely understand, I get asked to prove that I'm human quite a bit. I assure you that I am not a sales robot.
Jeanette: But I do have rules that I have adhere to in order to ensure that I am doing my job to the best of my ability.
Michael: though it does seem that you're a human who can only type canned responses :-)
Michael: ok, I'll let you go now. thanks for the help
Jeanette: You're very welcome. You have a wonderful night.
Jeanette: Thank you for visiting Verizon Wireless, I look forward to speaking with you again. Have a great evening!
I wonder if "I get asked to prove that I'm human quite a bit. I assure you that I am not a sales robot." is actually a canned response ... by a robot
ReplyDelete