Fake accent - Hello this is Andrew...

Came across lot of instances where I found people conversing in fake accents. Specially the call center folks, called dell / American in nights on numerous occasions and observed or talk to Mike/Anni/Josh. Last night spoke to this guy, whom you can make was a Indian, he confessed it too but later when I asked his good name – Valentino is the answer I got.

I never came across any individuals who don't like you or don't talk to you if you have an Indian/Chinese accent. They understand that people come from different countries and don't naturally inherit local slang / accent then why fake? And get comments from people on radio/TV that BPO has given customer service reins in hand on bunch of fake accent Asians.

Indians changing names like Andy, Mike from original long name, am not agreeable to this thought also. May be separate discussion.

Do you think faking accents, a common practice in BPO's justified?

Thanks Raj good topic. I dont have anything to say on the accent or the common practice of BPOs.

Those Dell guys are extremely helpful and knowledgeble. One call center people I can say they know what they are doing and extremely professional at helping not like GE call center folks. IMHO and Personal experience.

Dabulls - Thanks!
Servie is fine, but why call centers employee's in India are trying to talk american english or copy american accent when they are not profient in it, and ppl can make out they are faking it.For example at one point they are saying expectasun and later saying Traeunfur for transfer. For me its fine but what impression they are given to other folks.Also why not introduce themselves with Indian names or rep no instead of Valentino/Andrew etc.

Edit - Yeah Dell service is excellent, thats one of the main reason am Dell freak. Even though they use cheap parts but service is uncomparable.😊

I hate fake accents, it is so irritating...

*Cough* Salman Khan *Cough*

Mann karta hai ki kaan ke neeche ek doon. 😆

Solid... thats wat point was trying get views on... 😊

It sure is irritating and sometimes if some friend does it, its hard to convey the message fearing he/she might feel bad :).. am talking about general friends not close ones

Originally posted by: tania.ganguly

Dell or Monster call centers in India serves to most of USA and a fake accent and an Anglicized name is required. People in the midwest like Iowa or Indiana might not be comfortable speaking to an Asian when they are pulling theri hair off trying to understand what is wrong with their pc. They are not like east coast or west coast people who are aware of a country like India. They are not even aware of what is happening outside their state.So an Anglicized accent help.

From my personal experience- I manage a team of people who provide softwware support to our clients in North and South America and sometimes worldwide.
Many of the people who I work with ( Chinese , Some Indians , even East Europeans) have gone through accent reduction programmes because customers could not understand what they were saying.And when a problem is escalated, accent affects the speed of communication.
So an accent definitely helps and knowing a few words in the customer's native language makes the job of tech support even easier.
Ask our clients in Quebec or Brazil, they feel comfortable talking to me, when I sometimes converse a few sentences in their native tongue.

Excellent inputs Tania! 👏 thats what I call is sharing views.

Back to topic - May be accent reduction makes sense focusing to smaller sections of customers, business wise but catching up or faking western/american accent confuses more... well IMO the market u cater in US/UK is far more then few selected countires, end result of this mitigation which impacts wider range of audiences in US is more in terms of revenue and general state of mind then actually talking to a csr with accent.

Still if I was from western culture and found someone copying the style would have given me not so good feeling to do business with.

Again great response, thanks

Originally posted by: SolidSnake

I hate fake accents, it is so irritating...

*Cough* Salman Khan *Cough*

Mann karta hai ki kaan ke neeche ek doon. 😆

I'll pay you if you actually do that. I am serious!! 😆😆

Originally posted by: tania.ganguly

Dell or Monster call centers in India serves to most of USA and a fake accent and an Anglicized name is required. People in the midwest like Iowa or Indiana might not be comfortable speaking to an Asian when they are pulling theri hair off trying to understand what is wrong with their pc. They are not like east coast or west coast people who are aware of a country like India. They are not even aware of what is happening outside their state.So an Anglicized accent help.

From my personal experience- I manage a team of people who provide softwware support to our clients in North and South America and sometimes worldwide.
Many of the people who I work with ( Chinese , Some Indians , even East Europeans) have gone through accent reduction programmes because customers could not understand what they were saying.And when a problem is escalated, accent affects the speed of communication.
So an accent definitely helps and knowing a few words in the customer's native language makes the job of tech support even easier.
Ask our clients in Quebec or Brazil, they feel comfortable talking to me, when I sometimes converse a few sentences in their native tongue.

NICE & TRUE..👏👏

Originally posted by: mermaid_QT

I'll pay you if you actually do that. I am serious!! 😆😆

I dont think Sallu gets paid for that...😆

I am not complaining about work related things, I am talking about day to day life.

I don't think accents bother me as much as the way one speaks does. Call centers CS staff may have fake accent but if they don't sound affirmative or confident , it becomes a problem. Here in the USA , you can hire a newbie and be reasonably confident that thay will be able to handle a phone call even if they can't provide help. Putting customer at ease should be tought first then faking of accents..
I love listening to the way Ariana Huffington (Political blooger) speaks with her heavy eastern european accent and she has been in the USA for decades. Same with Arnold Swchartznagger.