Sneak is interested to read the response from Talk Talk to claims from consumer comparison site uSwitch that its call centres prove difficult to get through to.

In an indignant statement the firm said, "We strongly dispute the findings of uSwitch's highly unscientific research. It appears to be based on old customer research from February 2009 which simply asked people to estimate how long they spend on hold. Our own data is based on facts as we time every single one of the hundreds of thousands of calls we get each month. In September the average TalkTalk customer spent 53 seconds on hold, which if uSwitch is to be believed is way below the industry average. We are of course not resting on our laurels and are continually investing to bring waiting times down even further."

Sneak was so interested that he decided to call up the firm to discuss the issue. Failing to get through the first time he tried again, and then again, and then again and then got someone else to try from another phone in another town. Following this failed outsourced attempt he tried again, and then once more for luck. Still no answer. Finally he gave up.

"Want an interview, looking for a case study, keen to get a statement, please feel free to contact us with queries on the TalkTalk brand," reads the chirpy statement next to the press office number. Yeah, feel free to contact, but don't expect an answer.

Good work Talk Talk, it's been a pleasure.

16 Oct 2009