Wessex Water installs new network

Wessex Water, the water and sewerage company, has installed a new fibre optic network from Virgin Media Business as part of its efforts to improve handling of enquiries into its supply and waste water operations, says Insider.

Wessex Water has 2.7 million customers and integrated telephone and data services means enquiries can be dealt with quickly. Those enquiries range from emergencies and operational problems to billing questions, leak reporting and general advice on water usage. Contact is handled by e-mail and phone, as well as a virtual agent using an instant messaging service.

The new network supports all telephone and data links to and from its contact centres in Bath and Nailsea, as well as its water and waste water operations across 17 further sites.

A survey conducted which polled call centres of Australian banks found that as many as half of all staff are prepared to help individuals who call them access financial records belonging to someone else, reveals Money AU.

Global Research, a customer experience research firm, undertook the survey in November, calling the call centres of eight of Australia's largest lenders including the big four banks.

The researchers made the calls without identifying themselves, placing as many as 20 calls to each bank, asking each time, whether they could gain access to a friend or partner's bank account.

Queenslanders are being urged to avoid ringing Queensland Government call centres, unless it is absolutely critical, states The Bulletin.

Member for Rockhampton Robert Schwarten says the call centres had received 13 000 calls, more than double the average of 5 000 to 6 000 calls received on a regular day.

Schwarten urged anyone whose business could wait, to hold off until the flood crisis eased. "We need to restrict the calls to the call centre to absolute emergencies," he said.