Reading a recent post about sales calls after doing price comparisons reminded me of when I did a price comparison for car insurance a few years back. I can't remember the company in question that called me back and tried to push me in to purchasing their insurance, but I do remember the pushy underhand sales tactics.
Basically, I'd compared car insurance quotes for my partner, entering his details as the policy holder and main driver, but entering my mobile number. Within 30 minutes the phone rang and a salesman asked to speak to my partner. I explained that it was myself that entered the details of the quote on my partners behalf, at which point the salesman told me that it wasn't a problem and he could set up this policy in my partners name right then over the phone without the need to speak to my partner (which surely must be illegal).
It annoyed me that I was being told that I could set up this policy, even though not in my name and yet I know from past experience that when it comes to making amendments to policies or cancelling, this is impossible to do when you're not the policy holder.
I have had so many dealings with unscrupulous sales people over the years, both as a consumer and in my work. Pushy sales people are bad enough, but what annoys me the most is those that resort to downright lies to sell a product or policy.
So what do we do to improve this? If I feel I'm being pushed in to a purchase or being lied to by a sales person, do I ask to speak to their supervisor? Do I ask for an address of the complaints department (do written complaints even do any good or are they just ignored)? I don't want to just accept and ignore these underhand tactics any longer.
I would just like to note that I have also over the years come across many decent, honest sales people who care about what is the best deal for the customer rather than the best commission for them.
Basically, I'd compared car insurance quotes for my partner, entering his details as the policy holder and main driver, but entering my mobile number. Within 30 minutes the phone rang and a salesman asked to speak to my partner. I explained that it was myself that entered the details of the quote on my partners behalf, at which point the salesman told me that it wasn't a problem and he could set up this policy in my partners name right then over the phone without the need to speak to my partner (which surely must be illegal).
It annoyed me that I was being told that I could set up this policy, even though not in my name and yet I know from past experience that when it comes to making amendments to policies or cancelling, this is impossible to do when you're not the policy holder.
I have had so many dealings with unscrupulous sales people over the years, both as a consumer and in my work. Pushy sales people are bad enough, but what annoys me the most is those that resort to downright lies to sell a product or policy.
So what do we do to improve this? If I feel I'm being pushed in to a purchase or being lied to by a sales person, do I ask to speak to their supervisor? Do I ask for an address of the complaints department (do written complaints even do any good or are they just ignored)? I don't want to just accept and ignore these underhand tactics any longer.
I would just like to note that I have also over the years come across many decent, honest sales people who care about what is the best deal for the customer rather than the best commission for them.