Diary booking problems

[kakalanka]

I don't know about anyone else but I seem to be getting very erratic appointments again.

I have spare availability nearly every day but I still turn up to evening appointments to find that I could have gone much earlier in the day as the customer was available then. I thought this had been sorted.

Obviously enquirers are being asked when they would like an appointment instead of being offered the earliest appointment available that day..................really annoying when you find yourself with AM appointments and then EPM, or LPM free, kicking your heels until the evening.

Occassionally I do phone to see if they are free earlier, but I'm not one of those who enjoys spending my time phoning all and sundry (including HO), every opportunity I get. I feel that CLG, SAM, etc., are there to stop the need for all this.

Anyone getting the same?

kakalanka

[RED]

greenpesto said:

It amazes me that no matter how many different Threads you read on here they all have this same problem in common in that Sillarys just seem to make everything so difficult to do the job!!!!

Whether it's like 'Dolly's' posting re-H/O not giving customers our details & creating an unnecessary Appointment or to 'Reds' 300 hanger request.

As I've said before ... SillyBillys are creating reasons NOT to sell!!!!

Regards

Mr. De-motivated Italian Sauce Man!!!!!

And have you noticed how nearlyall things come back to one department. CLG/ Service support!!!.

[hereticus]

dolly said:

Dont know about you chaps but i recently signed a Data Protection Agreement that let Hillarys give out my phone number if a customer asked.
Several have and been told they cant have it! One previous customer rang Hillarys and asked for my number as she had lost it and was bluntly told "If you want to speak to him, you will have to make an appointment!!! Luckily she found it.
Dont they put a warm feeling in the heart. Or is that indigestion?

Yes,had the same experience. I campaigned (with others) at the Feedback Seminars to ensure that our phone numbers could and would be given to customers if requested, then Hillarys supposedly made this possible by getting us all to sign permission forms, but I have had two customers in just the last week who were told that it was not possible to be given my number.

Why ? I can't see that there is any gain to Hillarys in making it difficult for customers to contact us, so can only assume that once again it is down to poor staff and poor training - people who don't know the rules and make it up as they go along.

[RED]

hereticus said:

dolly said:

Dont know about you chaps but i recently signed a Data Protection Agreement that let Hillarys give out my phone number if a customer asked.
Several have and been told they cant have it! One previous customer rang Hillarys and asked for my number as she had lost it and was bluntly told "If you want to speak to him, you will have to make an appointment!!! Luckily she found it.
Dont they put a warm feeling in the heart. Or is that indigestion?

Yes,had the same experience. I campaigned (with others) at the Feedback Seminars to ensure that our phone numbers could and would be given to customers if requested, then Hillarys supposedly made this possible by getting us all to sign permission forms, but I have had two customers in just the last week who were told that it was not possible to be given my number.

Why ? I can't see that there is any gain to Hillarys in making it difficult for customers to contact us, so can only assume that once again it is down to poor staff and poor training - people who don't know the rules and make it up as they go along.

Hereticus, CLG again, When are Hillarys going to realize this department is undermining the moral of all advisor's and will be the ruination of Hillary's themselves, Whether that be done by pure misunderstanding or total neglect is debatable. The point is they are the first point of call now and as every good business should know and indeed Hillary's have taught us this in the past,
First appearances are what count.

Red

[JoY]

dolly said:

Dont know about you chaps but i recently signed a Data Protection Agreement that let Hillarys give out my phone number if a customer asked.
Several have and been told they cant have it! One previous customer rang Hillarys and asked for my number as she had lost it and was bluntly told "If you want to speak to him, you will have to make an appointment!!! Luckily she found it.
Dont they put a warm feeling in the heart. Or is that indigestion?

I think Hillarys are scared we are all setting up in competition with them..... hence the constant "checking up" on us by phoning customers, insisting service calls are ONLY booked through them, not giving out our phone numbers, not supplying us with spares etc etc...

They think we are all building up our new businesses with their customers, spare parts, etc.

They may well be right......how many of us can honestly say it hasn't occured to us, and we have had a surf on the internet to check out other blind companies. An agent in my area has just had his contract terminated for double dealing.

I think service support have been told this, and are just following instructions from HO. Can anyone from HO confirm this by sending me a pm? ( In total confidence..)

[Bear]

hereticus said:

dolly said:

Dont know about you chaps but i recently signed a Data Protection Agreement that let Hillarys give out my phone number if a customer asked.
Several have and been told they cant have it! One previous customer rang Hillarys and asked for my number as she had lost it and was bluntly told "If you want to speak to him, you will have to make an appointment!!! Luckily she found it.
Dont they put a warm feeling in the heart. Or is that indigestion?

Yes,had the same experience. I campaigned (with others) at the Feedback Seminars to ensure that our phone numbers could and would be given to customers if requested, then Hillarys supposedly made this possible by getting us all to sign permission forms, but I have had two customers in just the last week who were told that it was not possible to be given my number.

Why ? I can't see that there is any gain to Hillarys in making it difficult for customers to contact us, so can only assume that once again it is down to poor staff and poor training - people who don't know the rules and make it up as they go along.

Hereticus

the inside word is that our contact numbers will not be given to customers following a directive aimed at minimising the potential of future customers who would ring us up IF we had moved to another Company. Gedit??

"ALL CONTACT FROM CUSTOMERS/PROSPECTS WISHING TO SPEAK WITH ADVISORS MUST BE VIA THE CLG PROCESS."


Nuff said, mate???

Bear ( Now all cuddly and nice, not the vicious grizzly who tore your ears off moons ago!!!)

[desmorse]

When you give customers their invoice, highlight your phone number and tell them to ring you direct in the future. Also give them a business card, in case the invoice gets lost.
For non-SAM users, I've noticed the return of the advisor phone number box - so there's 2 or 3 opportunities for customers to have your number.

I do agree with the mixed messages coming out of H/O - on the one hand asking for our permission to give out our number, on the other hand refusing the information to customers.
Unfortunately back to my favourite subject - no 2 depts at Hillarys have the faintest idea what the other is doing.

If they are indeed worried that we're going to another supplier, well they only have themselves to blame. Two years ago, it was very rare for long term agents to go elsewhere, now Hillarys seem to think it's prevalent.
Perhaps, Hillarys, it's time to stand back, put yourselves in the advisors shoes, and have a bloody good look at what you've done.
And keep in mind a simple rule, for any partnership to work, it must be mutually beneficial.

[dolly]

All this talk of people leaving Hillarys to set up themselves or go to a rival
I have in my possesion an "AGENCY AGREEMENT" which states that within 1 YEAR of terminating with Hillarys you cannot engage in business of competing against Hillarys within 10 miles of any address you have conducted business at!
More obviously you cannot sell a rivals product while a Hillarys agent/advisor.
This had to be signed by myself and i know of an ex advisor who set up on his own immediately. But the wally named his business after his Agency name. The then FSM found out through his advert and Hillarys contacted him and he stopped. After a year he started up again but the damage was done and within a few months packed up for good.
So to those of us thinking of leaving and going it alone or elsewhere you may wish to do so more quietly.
Obviously this could have been a more recent measure in my case 5 years ago so may not apply to the more senior amongst us.
PS if anyone would like a copy faxing please let me know.

[hereticus]

[/quote]

the inside word is that our contact numbers will not be given to customers following a directive aimed at minimising the potential of future customers who would ring us up IF we had moved to another Company. Gedit??

"ALL CONTACT FROM CUSTOMERS/PROSPECTS WISHING TO SPEAK WITH ADVISORS MUST BE VIA THE CLG PROCESS."


Nuff said, mate???

Bear ( Now all cuddly and nice, not the vicious grizzly who tore your ears off moons ago!!!)


[/quote]


I believe that there is a simpler explanation and cannot imagine that Hillarys are that paranoid about us leaving in droves. If they were running scared then surely they would be striving to win back our loyalty rather than exacerbating the problem further. Anyway, I will try to discuss this subject when up at Nottingham next week.

In the meantime, whilst I welcome Bear's more reasoned and rational postings of late (I rarely disagreed with what he said, only the way he said it) I do find that in some funny old fashioned way I am missing the old grizzly !

[hereticus]

dolly said:

All this talk of people leaving Hillarys to set up themselves or go to a rival
I have in my possesion an "AGENCY AGREEMENT" which states that within 1 YEAR of terminating with Hillarys you cannot engage in business of competing against Hillarys within 10 miles of any address you have conducted business at!
More obviously you cannot sell a rivals product while a Hillarys agent/advisor.
This had to be signed by myself and i know of an ex advisor who set up on his own immediately. But the wally named his business after his Agency name. The then FSM found out through his advert and Hillarys contacted him and he stopped. After a year he started up again but the damage was done and within a few months packed up for good.
So to those of us thinking of leaving and going it alone or elsewhere you may wish to do so more quietly.
Obviously this could have been a more recent measure in my case 5 years ago so may not apply to the more senior amongst us.
PS if anyone would like a copy faxing please let me know.

Dolly, you are quite right and it is in my contract from nearly fifteen years ago so is not a new clause. Trouble is that too many agents have done it in the past and Hillarys have never chosen to enforce the clause through legal proceedings, so there is a fairly hefty precedent over-ruling it's possible enforcement. Also there is one advisor in my county who came from another blinds company, and he can't be the only one amongst us, so 'what's good for the goose....'

If there was a sudden mass exodus then I am sure that they would try to uphold this clause so still do be careful everybody, because if you are the one they pick on for a test case it could get very expensive fighting them through the courts.

Personally, I am going to keep my nose clean and continue in my efforts to work with Hillarys to improve our lot. I have no intention of jacking it in, and I most certainly have no intention of indulging in any form of double dealing - anybody who does go this route has no sympathy from me when they get caught out !

[farmer]

stonehills said:

hereticus said:

Yes,had the same experience. I campaigned (with others) at the Feedback Seminars to ensure that our phone numbers could and would be given to customers if requested, then Hillarys supposedly made this possible by getting us all to sign permission forms, but I have had two customers in just the last week who were told that it was not possible to be given my number.

Why ? I can't see that there is any gain to Hillarys in making it difficult for customers to contact us, so can only assume that once again it is down to poor staff and poor training - people who don't know the rules and make it up as they go along.

Hereticus, CLG again, When are Hillarys going to realize this department is undermining the moral of all advisor's and will be the ruination of Hillary's themselves, Whether that be done by pure misunderstanding or total neglect is debatable. The point is they are the first point of call now and as every good business should know and indeed Hillary's have taught us this in the past,
First appearances are what count.

Red

HERE BLOODY HERE.

The diary booking system has caused me more grief apart from d.o.rs.


Get rid of them, pay me a bonus, and i will pay someone to do it my way, i will train them, i will guide them, iwill then be happy.

Thats what you do WHEN YOU WORK FOR YOURSELF !!!

[gloryboy]

hereticus said:

dolly said:

All this talk of people leaving Hillarys to set up themselves or go to a rival
I have in my possesion an "AGENCY AGREEMENT" which states that within 1 YEAR of terminating with Hillarys you cannot engage in business of competing against Hillarys within 10 miles of any address you have conducted business at!
More obviously you cannot sell a rivals product while a Hillarys agent/advisor.
This had to be signed by myself and i know of an ex advisor who set up on his own immediately. But the wally named his business after his Agency name. The then FSM found out through his advert and Hillarys contacted him and he stopped. After a year he started up again but the damage was done and within a few months packed up for good.
So to those of us thinking of leaving and going it alone or elsewhere you may wish to do so more quietly.
Obviously this could have been a more recent measure in my case 5 years ago so may not apply to the more senior amongst us.
PS if anyone would like a copy faxing please let me know.

Dolly, you are quite right and it is in my contract from nearly fifteen years ago so is not a new clause. Trouble is that too many agents have done it in the past and Hillarys have never chosen to enforce the clause through legal proceedings, so there is a fairly hefty precedent over-ruling it's possible enforcement. Also there is one advisor in my county who came from another blinds company, and he can't be the only one amongst us, so 'what's good for the goose....'

If there was a sudden mass exodus then I am sure that they would try to uphold this clause so still do be careful everybody, because if you are the one they pick on for a test case it could get very expensive fighting them through the courts.

Personally, I am going to keep my nose clean and continue in my efforts to work with Hillarys to improve our lot. I have no intention of jacking it in, and I most certainly have no intention of indulging in any form of double dealing - anybody who does go this route has no sympathy from me when they get caught out !

Hereticus,
think you'll find he's gone!

[farmer]

dolly said:

All this talk of people leaving Hillarys to set up themselves or go to a rival
I have in my possesion an "AGENCY AGREEMENT" which states that within 1 YEAR of terminating with Hillarys you cannot engage in business of competing against Hillarys within 10 miles of any address you have conducted business at!
More obviously you cannot sell a rivals product while a Hillarys agent/advisor.
This had to be signed by myself and i know of an ex advisor who set up on his own immediately. But the wally named his business after his Agency name. The then FSM found out through his advert and Hillarys contacted him and he stopped. After a year he started up again but the damage was done and within a few months packed up for good.
So to those of us thinking of leaving and going it alone or elsewhere you may wish to do so more quietly.
Obviously this could have been a more recent measure in my case 5 years ago so may not apply to the more senior amongst us.
PS if anyone would like a copy faxing please let me know.

how is it that ex advisor Pennistone set up on his own 2 years ago, and is now thriving.

He was threatened with solicitors and the rest.

Hillarys backed down.

simple fact is that contract says, "to build your business"", their not building mine are they....wheres my bonus gone, wheres my earnings going i could go on.

Look up the human rights act... how can they stop you from earning a living...

remember with the vast amounts of business we have brought them in over the years, I think we need just a little more respect dont you.

All this talk of leaving and setting up on our own has only come about because we are all sick to the back teeth of the hassle and everything else.


Its about time they listned and did something.

there are many ways of setting up on our own , but not on our own if you know what I mean.

Come on get real.................

[blindsfitter]

dolly said:

All this talk of people leaving Hillarys to set up themselves or go to a rival
I have in my possesion an "AGENCY AGREEMENT" which states that within 1 YEAR of terminating with Hillarys you cannot engage in business of competing against Hillarys within 10 miles of any address you have conducted business at!
More obviously you cannot sell a rivals product while a Hillarys agent/advisor.
This had to be signed by myself and i know of an ex advisor who set up on his own immediately. But the wally named his business after his Agency name. The then FSM found out through his advert and Hillarys contacted him and he stopped. After a year he started up again but the damage was done and within a few months packed up for good.
So to those of us thinking of leaving and going it alone or elsewhere you may wish to do so more quietly.
Obviously this could have been a more recent measure in my case 5 years ago so may not apply to the more senior amongst us.
PS if anyone would like a copy faxing please let me know.

This is restraint of trade and under current EU rules not valid despite signed contract

Others on here know chapter and verse ok??


B/fitter

[greenpesto]

I agree with 'blindsfitter'!!!!!!

Sillarys would find it both difficult & expensive to try & stop Advisors starting up in their own areas.

!. Sillarys cannot prove they have supported our business & helped it grow. Mine has fallen rather than grown!!!
2. Sillarys would find it difficult to enforce once the Courts realised that the alternative may be the 'dole queue'!!!!
3. EU law protects us.
4.The bad press for Sillarys would be counter-productive!!
5. If you are caught dealing with other blinds & they dismiss you they could not enforce it as termination would be the end of the matter.

So don't 'worry' yourselves!!!!!!