21 Things Floridians Say During Customer Service Calls That Don’t Help (and Might Put You on Hold)

You might think saying “Can I speak to a manager?” gets things done faster. But for many customer service reps, it’s a signal to reach for the hold button.

Floridians often use phrases that turn otherwise simple customer service calls into slow-moving nightmares.

Some phrases come from habit, others from frustration. Either way, they don’t help.

I Know My Rights

Bringing up legal threats is a serious thing. And when agents feel pressured, they often hit the hold button.

This phrase usually stalls the call. The rep might have to consult a supervisor or read a policy aloud before saying anything else.

It doesn’t speed things up. It just adds more red tape to your issue.

I’ve Been a Customer for X Years

It sounds like a strong argument. If you’ve been loyal to a company for years, surely they should care, right?

But customer service reps hear this line all the time. It doesn’t help your case; it just makes you sound like you expect special treatment.

It likely won’t move you up in the queue, and it could make the customer service agent roll their eyes.

Loyalty is nice, but it’s usually not a magic password.

Let Me Speak to Someone Who Speaks English

This one gets you flagged fast. Not only is it rude, but it also shows a lack of patience and respect.

Call centers are often international. The agent on the line might have an accent, but that doesn’t mean they’re not qualified.

On the contrary, English might be the only language they speak.

Saying this doesn’t solve anything. It usually gets your call transferred and leaves you waiting again.

I’ll Just Cancel Everything

You might think this will scare the company into acting fast. But most agents don’t handle cancellations themselves.

Saying this often means you’ll be transferred to the retention department, and that usually means more hold music.

It’s also a common bluff.

Agents know this and won’t rush to respond. They’ve heard it before.

Your Company Is a Joke

Insults won’t fix the problem. They just make the person on the other end less eager to help you.

When you go straight to name-calling, most reps stop trying to solve anything. They’ll either transfer you or place you on hold.

Frustration is normal, but aggression is mean and slows things down.

I Pay Your Salary

Technically, no, you don’t.

And saying this almost always gets a silent eye-roll on the other end of the line.

This phrase feels personal, and that’s not a good thing in customer service. It can make the rep feel disrespected or even threatened.

When that happens, they often hit mute, wait, or escalate the call.

I Want a Full Refund—Now

There’s nothing wrong with asking for a refund. The problem is in how you ask.

Saying “now” or demanding something immediately puts pressure on the rep. And most of the time, they don’t have the power to approve big refunds right away.

They’ll need to get approval, check policies, or involve someone else. And that usually means more time on hold.

This Is Ridiculous

You might think this shows just how unfair the situation is. But to the agent, it just sounds like more frustration.

It doesn’t tell them anything useful, and it doesn’t move the conversation forward. It just adds tension.

When reps hear this, they may need to take more time to look into the issue to avoid saying anything else to upset you, which usually means putting you on hold and an even longer wait time.

I’ve Been on Hold Forever Already

This one’s a classic because it’s a reality during so many customer service calls.

Agents know hold times can be long, but they don’t control the queue or the wait.

Complaining about it just slows things down. It’s better to stay focused on the issue you want solved once you get someone on the line.

I Want This Fixed Immediately

Urgency is understandable. But demanding instant action sets you up for disappointment.

Most agents have a process they have to follow. They can’t always jump ahead, even if they want to help.

When callers sound demanding, reps often feel the need to double-check everything. That means delays and more time on hold.

I Already Tried That

When a rep suggests a solution and you cut them off with this phrase, it can feel dismissive.

Even if you did try it, they still have to follow the steps. Skipping them isn’t always an option.

If you refuse to repeat a step, it can slow the process or send the call to a supervisor. And that usually means more waiting.

I Know Someone at Corporate

This sounds like a power move, and it usually doesn’t do anything.

Agents hear this line a lot. Unless your contact at corporate is on the line with you, it usually doesn’t change how your issue is handled.

In many cases, it leads to a pause while the rep “checks with a supervisor.” That’s often code for “hold.”

I’m Recording This Call

You might think this adds pressure or makes you sound serious. But to the agent, it’s a red flag.

Once you say you’re recording, the agent may need to pause the call and alert a supervisor. Some companies have strict policies about recordings.

Instead of helping your case, it often leads to a longer wait.

I’ve Had Enough of This Nonsense

This kind of language feels dramatic, even if you’re genuinely frustrated. Agents might take it as a warning sign that you’re not willing to work with them.

If they sense the call is getting too emotional or heated, they may transfer you, forcing you to wait again.

It’s not that they don’t care. It’s that they don’t want the situation to escalate further and might need to get a manager involved.

You People Always Mess Things Up

Generalizations like this don’t help and often offend. Even if you’ve had bad experiences in the past, lumping every agent together isn’t fair.

It can make the current rep defensive or hesitant to keep helping.

And when things get tense, agents may take a break by transferring the call or putting you on hold “to check something.”

This Is Why I Never Use You

If you really don’t like the company, why are you still calling? That’s how some agents think when they hear this line.

It comes off as a complaint without a solution. It doesn’t invite cooperation; it just sounds like a rant.

And when a call turns into a rant, you might have to wait longer for a supervisor to talk with you.

You’d Better Fix This or Else

This kind of threat might feel like your last resort. But it can quickly turn the call into a problem that has to be escalated.

Agents are trained to watch for anything that sounds aggressive. “Or else” puts them on high alert.

That means more delays, more checks with supervisors, and more time waiting for someone else to help you.

I Don’t Have Time for This

Ironically, saying you don’t have time often leads to more waiting. It puts pressure on the agent, but it doesn’t change their process.

Customer service calls can take time, especially if the issue is complex. Trying to rush it rarely works.

Most reps still need to follow their checklist. And that usually means putting you on hold for at least a few minutes.

This Is the Worst Company Ever

Once you go from specific complaints to full-on insults, the tone of the call shifts.

It stops being about solving the problem and starts sounding like an attack. Most agents pull back when that happens.

They may transfer you or put you on hold while they “look into it.”

I’ve Talked to Five People Already

This might be true, but it doesn’t help the next person feel motivated to fix things.

It makes the agent feel their ability to solve the problem is threatened before the call even really starts. And the agent now feels pressure to clean up someone else’s mess.

That usually leads to long silences, more note-checking, and yes, more time on hold.

Don’t You Know Who I Am?

This line never lands well. It sounds like you’re trying to jump the line or get special treatment.