Vodafone launches new service as Brits reveal repeated tasks
Asking someone to do their share of the housework (20%) more than once is the main reason those living with partners are irked at home; and it's the common theme of young kids going to bed on time (30%) or doing their homework (24%) that parents across the nation are tired of repeating themselves with.
Continually reminding friends about plans (12%), asking someone to transfer money (12%) or asking a colleague the same question (13%) also feature highly on Brit's list of the repeat requests that rile them up the most.
What everyday tasks do you have to constantly repeat? (Image: supplied) But, whilst household and relationship-related asks rate high on the list of most annoying things people have to ask repeatedly, the research found it's customer service that really pushes Brits to their repetitive limit.
When faced with a problem with a product or service and contact with customer service is needed, almost all Brits (87%) have had to explain their issue more than once.
In fact, on average, we're having to repeat it up to four times, spend over 15 minutes on hold, send four messages to a chatbot with no avail, get timed out and have to start again two times, and are passed around three different agents whilst doing so.
Remembering special passwords (41%), the tricky 'first pet' question (36%) and old usernames (30%) having to finding old account numbers (32%) and order numbers (28%) are all added pressures that test our patience along the way.
In its ambition to set a new standard for customer service in the industry, Vodafone has launched 'Just Ask Once', a game-changing new service that will see one person deal with a customer's query from start to finish, until it is sorted.
This removes well-known bug bears such as waiting on hold, repeating the problem to multiple different people, and the need to chase for an update.
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If the query can't be resolved straight away, the same person from Vodafone will proactively message the customer with updates until it is solved, so they aren't left worrying, wondering what is going on or spending time chasing.
Partnering with Vodafone, psychologist Jo Hemmings reveals that repeating fatigue is real, and why we find it so irritating to ask simple things more than once.
She said: 'Having to repeat ourselves, especially over something simple, can feel incredibly frustrating because it signals that we're not being heard or valued. And the proof is there – Vodafone's research shows that 95% of us wish we didn't have to ask the same thing more than once!
'This taps into the basic human psychological need for recognition and autonomy, which are both key drivers for mental wellbeing and day-to-day motivation. Feeling ignored or being asked to start from scratch repeatedly creates what's known as cognitive overload, where mental energy is drained.
"And whether it's with loved ones, colleagues, friends or even customer service, it can produce emotional fatigue and can even trigger avoidance behaviours. Over time, it's not just inconvenient - it's stressful and disempowering.
'That's why solutions that reduce this mental load, like Vodafone's 'Just Ask Once', are so important in helping people feel seen, heard and supported. It's removing the unnecessary stress that people feel when they have to get in touch with customer service, and is a promise that their problem will get solve.'
Top things Brits are most fed-up of repeating more than once
Issues to multiple customer service representatives
Answering the same question from customer service
Chasing people to reply to a message or email
Asking for an update once you have flagged an issue or problem with a service or product
Making general complaints to customer service
Asking someone to do their share of the housework
Asking someone to transfer money
Having to ask a colleague the same question over and over
Repeating a food or drink order
Having to ask someone to take the bins out
Continually reminding friends about plans
Having to chase a colleague
Having to ask your kids more than once to go to bed
Asking the kids to brush their teeth
Telling the kids to do their homework
Prompting partner to put the washing on or take it out
Customers don't have to remember any long difficult case, tracking or order numbers, their mother's maiden name or the name of their first pet, they can simply log in to the MyVodafone app, send a message on get on with their day while Vodafone gets on with solving the query.
Vodafone will proactively message the customer with updates until it is solved, so they aren't left worrying, wondering what is going on or spending time chasing. If Vodafone can't provide the service they've promised, then customers can leave with no exit fee.
Rob Winterschladen, consumer director at VodafoneThree commented: 'We all know the frustration of having to ask more than once; whether it's at home, work, or when dealing with customer service - repeating ourselves is annoying. Over half of the nation find repeating themselves to customer service frustrating, and for a fifth, it's even their biggest bugbear.
'Our new 'Just Ask Once' promise is based on a simple principle, when a customer needs help, they ask us once and we'll sort it.
"By messaging through the MyVodafone app, just like you would a friend on WhatsApp, you'll get your own dedicated problem solver and proactive updates, so there's no repeating yourself or waiting around on your phone - you can just get on with your day.'
Customers who don't want to contact Vodafone customer service using the My Vodafone app can still get help by calling 191 on their mobile or through the Vodafone website here.
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