Martin Lewis shares advice when phoning call centre staff

It can feel like you spend ages getting to that stage, and even once you are through to a member of staff, a solution isn't always easy to reach.

Speaking on an episode of The Martin Lewis Podcast, the consumer champion advocated for people to treat call centre workers with respect.

A call centre worker called Nicola told Martin that one thing she hears on the phone a lot is "Martin Lewis told me" and added: "Well one thing Martin Lewis should also tell you is that we are human and don't like being spoken to like that," The Mirror reported.

Martin Lewis has said being polite and charming is the way to go when on the phone to call centre staff (Image: PA)

He went on: "I make a big point that you should be polite and charming.

"I know call centre operatives sometimes get very frustrated with people quoting my name and being angry with them, but I just wanna assure all of you who work in call centres, I don't believe getting angry with call centre operatives is productive, I don't think you should do it, I think it's rude.

"And as I always say, polite, charming and maybe a bit of chutzpah is the right way to go forward."

Martin Lewis reveals one thing you should never say to call centre workers

Martin Lewis also shared that one call centre worker had told him there is a phrase you should never say to them as it will wind them up enormously.

 A man called Hans wrote in to Martin and said: "When an operator asks you 'is there anything else I can do for you today', the worst thing you can say is 'have you got the winning lottery numbers?'"

Martin replied: "Yeah, I get the frustration. It's a bit like when people come up to me and say 'I'll tell you how to save money'. Don't spend any! Or, 'I'll tell you how you can save money. Get rid of the wife!'. Yeah okay, thank you."

Alongside that Martin also explained that asking for a manager can work when talking to a call centre operative.

Detailing this he said: "When you feel you have exhausted what the operative can do to help you and you feel that isn't satisfactory, don't escalate it in the first instance, only when you get to the end of the conversation, 'I'm really sorry you couldn't help, I don't feel that is satisfactory, is it possible you could escalate this for me please? I think it can be worth bringing it up'."