How do you like getting technical support?
 

I like troubleshooting using a chat line.
1] A chat line usually tells you how long the wait is so you can do other things on the computer while you are waiting.

2] On a chat line people do not have accents that get in the way for me for one reason or another.
I'm all for local home technical support. Like it or not tech support is outsourced to other English speaking countries where wages are lower.

3] With chat they can send links

4] and you can save the entire chat and review it.

I don't like needing support at all. Most of the time you are getting someone who is just reading from a script which is very frustrating. When we were up north one time the wires were above ground and one day a big truck went by and ripped our wire down. When my husband called the support tech suggested that he reset the modem. My husband said what don't you understand about the wire is sitting in the street?

Chat lines would be fine if the people manning them actually knew how to fix a problem. Microsoft has one of the worst support systems i have ever come across. I was so disappointed in using Chat, I actually tried calling MS, 2 hour wait, really!!!

I do pretty well on phone calls. Yes, some accents take some adjustment, but I am able to do that with few issues.

I only use chat in an emergency. The people on the chat line are handling multiple customers at the same time and often loose track of conversations. They also follow scripts (as do phone CSRs) but you can break them of it when you are speaking to them.

Most call centers I have had contact with are staffed by people with flip charts who speak English, but don’t understand it.
Not to worry. In a few years AI will able to provide the answers. Any questions?

Chatlines suck. I can't remember any problem ever being resolved totally at all. fw102807 is classic, Villagetinker & Cedwards38, Wizard & tcxr750 all more or less agree it is wasted time. Usually, I only try when I'm totally frustrated. Never again.

I have had several chat sessions with Apple's Technical Support people and I have found them to be excellent. They are well trained and bend over backwards to help you. All organizations are not the same.

You are absolutely correct. Apple :eclipsee_gold_cup: is different because they get to the point quickly and the people on the phone are total professionals and can communicate. Very important. The other exception is United Health Care, very caring and knowledgeable.

The few chat help sessions I've had...have been successful.

I find that I can get someone much more quickly online, than by going through the telephone...and its seemingly endless prompts.

I too like having the entire session...to print or review later. :thumbup:

Yes trying to get someone on the phone has become a very frustrating. On a chat line you also don't have to worry about being able to understand someone with a difficult accent.

:agree:

There's bad. There's good.

Like most things you run into in life.

Agreed, I have been on a streak of tough ones lately and totally pushed the good ones to the side. My bad.

Do you know about the tv show from England named The IT Crowd? Here is a clip: