Qwest Call Center

How do you like working here?

I've been working there almost two months now. It has its ups and downs. For the ups:

Great benefits. I have free health care and they have a tuition reimbursement program. Read up on the site for the full scoop on benefits.
- They buy you lunch Mondays and Fridays if your class has perfect attendance (or everyone is at least accounted for)
- Most of the higher ups are very friendly and laid back.
- Pay is decent. (10.20/hr to start... though there may be raises soon)
- Optional union enrollment

Downs:
- High pressure to sell. They will remind you constantly that it is a sales job, and let me tell you they're not joking. Their mentality is "Every call (billing, angry customer, non working telephones, etc) can be turned into a sales call.
- Very strict attendance policy. You can be put on their sh*t list for just one call out during your 13 week training period
- Schedule... Instead of having 8 hour days with a half hour lunch, they have 9 hour days with an hour lunch (it's a down to me)

So if you can handle all of the pressures to sell sell sell (it seems as though they prioritize sales over service) and can meet the attendance requirements, go for it.

The Sales and Service position is

Fix the problem and then

SELL SELL SELL no matter what!!!!!!!

No matter if customers call you horrible names and curse at you

No matter how much they say they hate Q West yes the call in and say Q West and not QWEST

You try to fix they problems with the Billing or some stupid thing one of the other employee's (not only Qwest employees but the ones at DTV or Verizon ) do or have said to them about their account by giving misinformation or accident.

This can take an hour and it is not unusual for a customer to be on the phone for over an hour

While you have this mad angry person on the phone you must push the products Qwest offers

No matter what you have to sell!!!

No matter what you must offer on every call
Direct TV
Long Distance
Home phone (with a package)
Internet
and now Verizon cell phones

No matter what or you will lose your job

It works like a pyrimd skeem
Everone above you gets a cut of what you sell and they push you and drive you nuts

You also get a commisson from what you sell but only God himself can figure out the formula that is used.

Yes there are a few STARS in each center who can make thousands more on their check from the commission but it is generally the same 5 people every month

People from the training class are dropping out right and left and it is not unusual for out of 20 or so in a training class to have only 2 left by the end of 6 months

The computer systems suck and are not integrated and you must learn all of them (more than 6) and half of them are DOS

If you can take people yelling and screaming at you and telling you how much they hate you and the horrible service at Qwest this is the job for you.

The only saving grace is that the benefits are GREAT
Qwest pays for the health insurance for a single and the cost for a family is low

The Union CWA is now in negotiation with Qwest for better pay they are looking at asking for $14.00 an hour

Qwest horrible company to work at, alls they care abt is SALES, SALES AND MORE SALES! Too much competition w/other co's out there who offer better deals. Its hard to keep customers on Qwest's network. They will always treat their employees like crap!!! Did you notice the crappier the job, the higher the pay---well since you just started recently, you won't know this for a couple years but I am just giving you a heads up. They expect new people to pick up right away on their screwy systems. BOSS, Cars, LMOS, etc The trainers are lousy, are there to make big bucks for 5 or 6 weeks, dont care whether or not you understand the job duties, will throw you on the phones asap and if you have problems, a manager is nowhere to be found....been there...experienced your pain. If you dont catch on in 6 weeks, they fire you.

I worked there 25 years. I too had customers call everyday and cuss me out, I hate you, you suck, called me every filthy name imaginable, so right b4 i left the company, i treated these same customers the way they treated me, called them the same names back

I was involved in a huge layoff a couple years back and was glad to leave. The ONLY thing I miss is the paycheck!!!! I was really really tired of playing the game....

They kicked us to the curb, took all of our savings, stock, pension and I have nothing to show I ever worked there....

It was a fabulous company when it was Mountain Bell and USWest but Qwest screwed us over so since I believe in Karma....what comes around goes around and now look at their company stock and all records..JOE NACCHIO IN PRISON NOW..I hope they go out of business for good..There are other great companies ie Comcast that provide the same deals.

I paid Union CWA dues 25 years and all for nothing. When I needed a little help, the Union wasn't there for me. The Union Steward was having lunch or after work drinks with the management team....

Yes - the benefits were worth staying for.