The woman who had been blocked by her own bank because her deep voice got her mistaken for a man has spoken out and said she had to put an end to telephone banking.
Lorraine Chademunhu is a proud mother-of-two who resorted to telephone banking after her local branch was shut down.
While she only has good intentions, she’s been continuously questioned and even blocked by the bank staff due to her deep voice. In addition, she has the same issue when dealing with restaurant reservations and things of similar nature that happen over the phone.
“I can’t even add up the amount of hours I’ve spent on the phone being passed from pillar to post. I’m just so insulted and humiliated,” Lorraine said.
“I get it all – Sir, Mr Lorraine, buddy, the list goes on. I tell them you are speaking to Lorraine and then they just turn around and say ‘well is she there?’”
Following dozens of failed phone calls, the mum decided to develop a new persona, a man named Derek, to manage things over the phone more efficiently.
“If I have to phone the AA when I breakdown or if I’m calling someone to fix the house I just go along with being a man to make life easier. That, I’m used to and I can understand as my voice is deep,” she added.
“But when it’s my own personal account and I’ve told them time and time again about it, it’s just poor customer care. It’s almost like I have to grow a pair of balls.
“It’s the same conversation over and over again. Yes and no back and forth. I didn’t ask for this voice. I’ve just had enough.”
As the upset woman added, her Barclays bank account was blocked on several occasions despite the fact that she’s been with them for over two decades.
“The thing is I have other accounts with Lloyds and Halifax and I’m able to get around that because they have voice recognition. I don’t see why Barclays haven’t caught on there. I don’t bother putting on a high pitch to Barclay’s because why should I?” Lorraine expressed.
“I don’t dress like a bloke or look like one. It’s just my voice. It was humiliating. Part of me thought, do I have to take my clothes off in order for you lot to get the picture?”
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Replaced!