Is it asking too much to talk to someone who speaks English?

Why do companies hire customer service representatives who can't speak English clearly?

I don't have a problem with non-English people having jobs or expect everyone in the world to speak English just because I do. But I don't think it's asking too much for an American company to hire people who properly speak English to answer their customer service phones.

Nothing is worse than having a question about a product I've paid for not working correctly then not being able to understand the person on the other end of the 1-800 number after calling for help. This happens frequently with my cell phone company if I try calling after dark.

It turns out this isn't any less frustrating when calling a company's customer service number when they are providing a free service.

For the past few years, I've used Turbo Tax Freedom Edition to file my taxes, which I attempted to use again today. Instead of using the Freedom Edition, which the company makes available to military people and others, I filled out my taxes using the Free Edition, not realizing there's a difference between the two.

I realized the difference after filling out all the information and attempting to file my taxes. At this point, I was asked to pay nearly $60 in fees. At which point, I searched around on the Web site and realized my mistake.

I called their customer service number to see if there was a way I can use the Freedom Edition without having to refill out all the forms.

This may or may not be possible. After spending 14 minutes on the phone and talking to two different customer service agents, I hung up without an answer and way more frustrated than I should be after calling a company's customer service number.

I should have known when I had to spell "Taylor" that our conversation was going to be difficult. After a few minutes of not being able to understand a single word the agent was saying, I asked to be transferred to someone else. The results were the same.

It's extremely frustrating companies do not hire people who can speak English proficiently to work their customer service phones. Nothing says "We don't care about our customers or ensuring we answer all their questions" like hiring people who can't speak English to answer their customers.

They might as well save their money and direct all calls to a dead end number or at least a 1-900 number. At least this way, customers won't hang up the phone frustrated.