Faults Team overloaded

[#1]

Given that the present time before a fault is picked up is apparently at least 3 days why aren't there vacancies here https://careers.plus.net/opportunities/ for faults staff

[#2]

They are more expensive than plain old CSC agents that can just spout a lot of Bull from crib sheets. It's part of the cost saving measures

[#3]

They usually get upskilled from tech support. A lot of the time, tech support are upskilled from CS. And CS are of course hiring.

[#4]

I can understand the idea of promoting by ability as they develop the necessary skills but that is - and always has been - the preferred system in a company with a relatively stable resource/demand.
In this case Plusnet are actively expanding their customer base and hence the reported faults may be expected to increase proportionately. In this case internal promotion shouldn't be the only way forward. Surely you should be advertising for experienced fault handling staff to boost the numbers to the point where faults are routinely picked up in 24 hours.

[#5]

We also sometimes move new starters straight from CS training to faults/tech training if they seem capable/experienced enough in the earlier stages of joining us.
In the past we've seen higher percentages of new starters struggle to cope with all the training at once that is involved when going straight in to a faults/tech/prov role, however if we've noticed they seem to be over achieving in the initial CS training, there is sometimes the option to up-skill earlier than usual. On occasion, we will find people that are already pretty clued up on faults, in which case it's a no brainer.

[#6]

I can understand that but that really isn't addressing the short term problem. Surely advertising for experienced fault support staff would at least generate some responses from experienced personnel who wouldn't apply for a general customers service role

[#7]

I understand your point, and I think it's justified. Though I'm not sure how many people within our locality would be trained on broadband/PSTN faults. Even if they were, ISP's all have separate interfaces, CRM's, ordering/fault platforms, automation systems, etc that they use to get work done. All of this would require training without being thrown in the deep end straight away.

[#8]

I'm with Jim in this debate.
With Plusnet having grown to its present size it is unlikely that filling the more technical roles can ALL be achieved organically.  Indeed there is a strong argument that a reasonable percentage of the positions must be resourced externally to allow for generation of new internal practices based on wider industry 'best practice'.
Yes, it is correct that there will need to be a period of retraining on the Plusnet back-office and working practice, but there may also be mid course correction of inherited 'poor practice'
M 

[#9]

Maybe if PlusNET would implement remote working, they could recruit for those roles from a number of the forum members who help out around here ....? 

[#10]

Quote from: Oldjim

Surely advertising for experienced fault support staff would at least generate some responses from experienced personnel who wouldn't apply for a general customers service role

Those who already have such experience might want paying more.  

Quote from: Townman

Maybe if PlusNET would implement remote working...

Need a good, reliable internet connection for that but with the shortage of faults staff...  

[/cynic]

[#11]

It seems to me that the reason for faults issues taking longer to escalate is not PN but BT.
In this weeks Uxbridge Gazette is an open letter from a BT engineer. He wrote in because a cabinet in South Ruislip was hit by a car and it took over 6 weeks to get it fixed during which time affected houses had no internet.
He writes that BT have reduced the number of qualified engineers. He goes on to say that the offshore call centre does not understand local issues. He writes that the South Ruislip cabinet would have been fixed within a week with overtime or shift work. I assume from this that both are now non existent so the engineers are 9 to 5 and fewer of them.
His parting statement is that BT are now far more interested in selling their products than looking after existing customers.

[#12]

That isn't the reason in my opinion
It takes 3 days plus before the fault is even picked up by the faults team

[#13]

Quote from: Kremmen

It seems to me that the reason for faults issues taking longer to escalate is not PN but BT.

It does take time to pick up faults in-house as well, which is Jim's point. He has a case.

Quote from: Townman

Maybe if PlusNET would implement remote working, they could recruit for those roles from a number of the forum members who help out around here ....?

Would you want to...? 

[#14]

You couldn't afford me