In the past, call centre workers in India and other low-wage countries would first go though courses teaching them how to pass for someone from the country they were specialising in, where they’d choose a name and persona, learn the accent/dialect and some basics that locals would be expected to know: if they, say, were doing Australia, they may end up watching some episodes of Neighbours, choosing a name like Shane or Kylie, and picking a footy team they support; if England, it’d be Eastenders, Premier League and something like Gareth or Nicky. They’d presumably do this at their own expense, though perhaps the call centre company might forward them the money and get it back from their pay.
Getting AI to make them sound like they’re from Bondi or Essex is probably more cost effective.
I used to work at a call center for US-Americans in the US, where I was born. The number of times people responded with something like “lol no it’s not,” when I told them my name was infuriating. People used to ask me the weather or about my state history as a test, and I had a guy once call me padme the whole time, I think because he confused India and Naboo.
In the past, call centre workers in India and other low-wage countries would first go though courses teaching them how to pass for someone from the country they were specialising in, where they’d choose a name and persona, learn the accent/dialect and some basics that locals would be expected to know: if they, say, were doing Australia, they may end up watching some episodes of Neighbours, choosing a name like Shane or Kylie, and picking a footy team they support; if England, it’d be Eastenders, Premier League and something like Gareth or Nicky. They’d presumably do this at their own expense, though perhaps the call centre company might forward them the money and get it back from their pay.
Getting AI to make them sound like they’re from Bondi or Essex is probably more cost effective.
I used to work at a call center for US-Americans in the US, where I was born. The number of times people responded with something like “lol no it’s not,” when I told them my name was infuriating. People used to ask me the weather or about my state history as a test, and I had a guy once call me padme the whole time, I think because he confused India and Naboo.
But you understand why that happened, right?
Racism, yes.
Hate to say it. But after the vast majority of calls you receive from an Indian person are scams. You kinda have to assume they are all scams.
You’ve never spoken to an Indian person outside of the context of a scam? Under which rock are you living, brother?
On the phone? Nope never in my life have I received a phone call from a person with an Indian accent that wasn’t a scammer or telemarketer.
It was an inbound call center, they called the number on their insurance card and got me.
If they were working Australia they wouldn’t do shit accent-wise, mate. All our call centres are full of pakistanis