Freestockphotos.co.ukIf you’ve ever had to deal with complaining to a company over the phone then you’ll know the headache of being put on hold, shitty music and unhelpful staff.
One man though wasn’t going to let big companies get away with their shite service and proudly tweeted his four-hour feud with a Virgin Media call-centre, demonstrating the value of tenacity and how piss poor Virgin can be.
John Bull, detailed all the highs and the depressing lows of his phone-call and his battle with the hold music, The Huffington Post reports.
Here’s the saga in full…
Watching my wife cancel our @virginmedia contract. Think this is the happiest I've seen her since our wedding.
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Oh WOW. @virginmedia now trying to say we signed up for a new contract. By accepting their suggestion they up the line speed to try and fix
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Apparently the only manager at @virginmedia can't talk to us. He's in a meeting. Until Wednesday. Long meeting that.
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Things started getting political…
Apparently there is LITERALLY no one in the building who can talk to us. Who is RUNNING this call centre? @virginmedia is it communism?
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
They're currently trying to decide whether the manager is 'too busy' or 'not there' @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
OH HELL WAIT. APPARENTLY A SUPERVISOR JUST APPEARED! it's like call centre pokemon @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
We’ve all been there…
They've admitted there MIGHT exist someone who can help. But they might not be there. #schroedingersmanager @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Ironically this phone called is perhaps the LONGEST we've been stabily connected to @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Not even Bieber could stop them…
We're onto you @virginmedia. You can play as much Bieber as you want at us. we're still not hanging up.
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
THE MANAGER IS NOW ON THE FLOOR BUT TOO BUSY TO SPEAK @virginmedia #callcentrePokemon
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Of course…
There are managers on the floor now. but she is not allowed to speak to them. only her manager. @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Apparently the person next to her is quite young. We're pointing out there are lots of health risks to young people. @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
We're asking her to ask the Manager she can LITERALLY SEE when he will call us back. She won't. @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Juice fuelled their fight…
Glass of juice ready for round 2. Important to stay hydrated when calling @virginmedia pic.twitter.com/k2U07AY3RF
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
WE'VE GOT THE GOOD HOLD MUSIC AGAIN. they clearly don't know it's us yet. @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
it's quite good and poppy actually. we're shazamming it. @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Return of the Biebs…
Oh. The Beiber is back. Do they know it's us now? #tension @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
David Guetta now. Maybe they should spend less on music licensing and hire some more managers @virginmedia #schroedingersmanagers
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
We're through to Ally! She's looking at our call notes. we're waiting for her existential scream. @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
WHO IS MANAGING ALLY. IT IS ANARCHY ON THE FLOOR OF VIRGINMEDIA @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Ally says it's not her job to cancel contracts. YOU'RE THE CANCELLATION LINE FFS. @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Everyone reaches this point…
They're asking us to hang up. 'No YOU hang up.' We've reached that point in our relationship. #younglove @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
ALL WE WANT TO DO IS CANCEL OUR VIRGIN MEDIA CONTRACT. #freeusfromvirgin @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
we've said we're happy to agree to end the call as soon as they give us that. they're threatening to terminate it again. @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE BACK WHISPERING 'DO IT. DO IT' @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Always a fun tactic…
AND THEY'VE TERMINATED THE CALL. @virginmedia time for a tea break. then we'll call back again.
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Round three. Mrs Bull manning the phone. We've upgraded to Tea. @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Have to say, Mrs Bull is a fucking NINJA at the number options on their call routing now. #veryimpressed @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Their PR team tried to salvage things…
Hi John. I'm really sorry to hear about the issues you're experiencing. I'm confident we can get this sor… https://t.co/6xt7PB7iOu
— Virgin Media (@virginmedia) August 20, 2016
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. YOU KEEP TERMINATING THE CALLS. @virginmedia https://t.co/ui7AAJ3jy1
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
CLARE IS BACK. CLARE IS BACK SHE'S ASKING IF 30 DAYS CANCELLATION WOULD BE OKAY @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Eventually they won!
CLARE DID IT. CLARE CANCELLED OUR CONTRACT. WE'RE FREEEEEEEEEEEEEE! WE WON! @virginmedia pic.twitter.com/MbkjxpECDE
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Can't believe it. Feel like we've won an Olympic gold. We're going to the pub to celebrate. @virginmedia
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
Fin. #yayclare #goodbyevirgin @virginmedia pic.twitter.com/1YV35CDvgG
— John Bull (@garius) August 20, 2016
More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.