Angards Latest Great Idea

nothingatthemoment · Post by **nothingatthemoment** » 18 Oct 2017, 12:59

I have heard through the grapevine that Angards latest idea is a call waiting system . You receive a text for a shift , you call the number , you get an automated message , please hold the line you have been placed in an automated queue , your call is important to us, no-one answers , you wait 10 mins before hanging up , you are charged 35p per minute for the pleasure of not getting a shift .
Really this company is a joke.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 18 Oct 2017, 20:35

Appreciate you 'heard it through the grapevine' but can you give us proof when and if this becomes true.
Universal credit phone line scandal comes to mind.

NW11851 · Post by **NW11851** » 18 Oct 2017, 22:54

We’ve got the system for Gatwick RMC.

They are using ‭0333 240 8502‬ for Gatwick.

I have no idea how much, if anything is charged because I’ve never had a text for work since this new number was introduced - and that’s been three weeks!

Post by **Tamsk** » 19 Oct 2017, 07:55

The last few texts I've had for shifts at SOMC have given a Northampton (01604) number; calling it has put me in a queue, and the time in that queue before being answered and booking my shift has been a couple of minutes tops. I'm assuming that that number is being charged at normal geographic number rates (if it's not, I think Angard would be legally obliged to detail the charged rate in the text or be on very dodgy ground with Ofcom).

nothingatthemoment · Post by **nothingatthemoment** » 19 Oct 2017, 09:23

Tamsk wrote:The last few texts I've had for shifts at SOMC have given a Northampton (01604) number; calling it has put me in a queue, and the time in that queue before being answered and booking my shift has been a couple of minutes tops. I'm assuming that that number is being charged at normal geographic number rates (if it's not, I think Angard would be legally obliged to detail the charged rate in the text or be on very dodgy ground with Ofcom).

As above they are using numerous 01604 numbers , if you call from a PAYG phone your being charged 35p per min to be placed in a queue , instead of 35p total, for your call with the old system.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 19 Oct 2017, 10:47

01604 numbers...
How much do calls cost? Calls from landlines are typically charged between 2p and 10p per minute; calls from mobiles between 10p and 40p per minute.

0333 numbers...
0300, 0330, 0333, 0370 or 0345 numbers (in fact any 03 number) they are all the same price to call as if you were calling an 01 or 02 landline - including from mobiles.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 19 Oct 2017, 14:54

NW11851 wrote:We’ve got the system for Gatwick RMC.

They are using ‭0333 240 8502‬ for Gatwick.

I have no idea how much, if anything is charged because I’ve never had a text for work since this new number was introduced - and that’s been three weeks!

http://www.area-codes.org.uk/0333-numbers.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

0333 number call costs
A call to an 0333 number costs the same as a call to a normal home or business landline.

All numbers that start with 03 are charged at the same rate as standard landline numbers that start with '01' or '02'. If your phone tariff offers inclusive calls to landlines, calls to 0333 numbers will also be included in the same way.

tabact · Post by **tabact** » 20 Oct 2017, 10:28

You can't blame Angard for the high cost per minute that some mobile providers charge. It would cost me 8p per minute on my payg tariff but I accept most people ringing will be on contracts with inclusive minutes. It really depends on how long the queues are and talking to people at my MC they only seem to be waiting a couple of minutes to get through.

My problem with it is if you are not able to ring immediately you get a text what is the point in ringing at all if you are at the back of a queue. It would be useful to know how many people they are texting at a time to get an idea of how long you will be on hold and if there is any point ringing at all. Either way it seems an unfair system that favours people who can ring straight back after getting a text unless they are only sending texts to the exact number of people required for a shift.

nothingatthemoment · Post by **nothingatthemoment** » 20 Oct 2017, 15:57

tabact wrote: It would be useful to know how many people they are texting at a time to get an idea of how long you will be on hold and if there is any point ringing at all. Either way it seems an unfair system that favours people who can ring straight back after getting a text unless they are only sending texts to the exact number of people required for a shift.

This happened recently .Text sent for shift, 01604 number (of which there are many) phone straight away , placed in a queue , 3-4 mins , hello this is Angard , got sent a text for shifts , sorry they have all been allocated , but you only sent the text 5 min ago , yes but all shifts are gone (the text for shifts were back-shift AND night-shift).
Found out there were 15 people on back-shift and 20 on night-shift , very efficient that they can allocate 35 shifts in 5 mins.

Post by **Lockardian** » 21 Oct 2017, 04:20

Once all shifts are filled, they tend to switch off the phone number so you hear a message along the lines of “There are no shifts available at the moment. We will contact you if this changes” - this same message appears on the 0333 option 2. At least you don’t have to constantly keep redialling as you are aware you were too late, a mere couple of minutes after the text was sent!

intelligentsia · Post by **intelligentsia** » 22 Oct 2017, 02:41

nothingatthemoment wrote:
tabact wrote: It would be useful to know how many people they are texting at a time to get an idea of how long you will be on hold and if there is any point ringing at all. Either way it seems an unfair system that favours people who can ring straight back after getting a text unless they are only sending texts to the exact number of people required for a shift.
This happened recently .Text sent for shift, 01604 number (of which there are many) phone straight away , placed in a queue , 3-4 mins , hello this is Angard , got sent a text for shifts , sorry they have all been allocated , but you only sent the text 5 min ago , yes but all shifts are gone (the text for shifts were back-shift AND night-shift).
Found out there were 15 people on back-shift and 20 on night-shift , very efficient that they can allocate 35 shifts in 5 mins.

Hi All,
I'm glad I'm totally out of it

. Totally corrupt and completely hypocritical

When I was an Angardee Exeter Mail Centre and many other mail centres had a number of "favourites" i.e. workers who were CALLED DIRECTLY by the SHIFT MANAGERS much to the annoyance of many. ANGARD tried to stamp it out and stop the practice but IT NEVER HAPPENED! Nepotism and favouritism too entrenched. Dreadful. It's still happening because no one wants to do anything about it. And ALL THE "favourites" keep mute whereas they could put a stop to it by educating the managers to obey the agreed system???
But will they? NEVER: me, myself and l