Welsh language VA/phone answering service?

[debbidoo]

Hi

Anyone know of a good Welsh language virtual assistant/telephone answering service? They need to be comfortable handling sales enquiries in both Welsh and English.

Ta

Debs

[David Griffiths]

Hi

Anyone know of a good Welsh language virtual assistant/telephone answering service? They need to be comfortable handling sales enquiries in both Welsh and English.

Ta

Debs

Googled Welsh virtual assistant and this link (http://www.va4u.com/registers/europe/s_wales.shtml)came up. Some bilingual ones in there. Other links on the google page too.

[debbidoo]

Thanks David. Google's great for lists, but I'm really looking for a recommendation for a company that a member has used - and if possible I'd like to give the job to a UKBF member :) If there isn't a UKBF member who can do the job, or if nobody here can recommend a company, then Google will be the next step :)

[LibertyMarketing]

I use this business telephone answering service (http://www.answermyphone.biz). They are based in Cardiff and I just checked if they have any Welsh speakers and although they don't, they said "coming soon". Hope this helps.

[debbidoo]

I use this business telephone answering service (http://www.answermyphone.biz). They are based in Cardiff and I just checked if they have any Welsh speakers and although they don't, they said "coming soon". Hope this helps.


Thanks :)

Actually they called me this morning after reading this thread, and it turned out they weren't able to help me on this occasion. Very nice man though :)

[cerigillett]

Hello

I use office 24/7 in usk, though i do not need a welsh speaker i do know that they have one, You can find them online

[debbidoo]

Thanks Ceri, I'll check them out :)

[Williams lester]

Just get your clients to use a real language, like......English!

[cerigillett]

Why would you bother posting that to a serious question.
I have a business in wales and in very rural areas it is a predominant language.

Its pathetic that someone would even write that

[debbidoo]

Just get your clients to use a real language, like......English!



Yeah right, English is a "real" language - it's basically a hodge-podge of borrowed words. Latin, Greek, French, Saxon, Old German, you name it, English has borrowed it.

Sheesh :rolleyes:

[Williams lester]

Yeah right, English is a "real" language - it's basically a hodge-podge of borrowed words. Latin, Greek, French, Saxon, Old German, you name it, English has borrowed it.

Sheesh :rolleyes:

Ok...try doing business in Welsh with anyone from Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, London even...need I go on?

My business is based in Wales, I am Welsh, just don't see the need to try to promote a dead/dying language for no reason. English works for a vast proportion of the planet...why not use it??

[Williams lester]

Why would you bother posting that to a serious question.
I have a business in wales and in very rural areas it is a predominant language.

Its pathetic that someone would even write that

Why would I bother? Because I am giving my honest opinion, I have no idea what you do or where you do it...but surely one day your business will need to expand, see where Welsh gets you then.

[cerigillett]

Do you do business with anyone in those countries?
As i have worked with alot of germans who don't speak english and in greece even fewer do.

Dealing with massive corporations yes, you will find english speakers.

Offering services in welsh offers a niche

I am welsh, I speak Welsh

Welsh, as you say is a dead and dying language, My mother 46 is first language welsh speaking. did not learn english till secondary school.
I am also a first language welsh speaker as are most of the people i went to school with.

Obviously being in Wales you muct have missed the massive campaign to revive the language, tv ads, billboards and free courses at most adult education facilities.

But then being so busy doing business in Greece, italy, france and spain there is no doubt why you havent seen it.

[debbidoo]

don't see the need to try to promote a dead/dying language for no reason. English works for a vast proportion of the planet...why not use it??


Because the business that needs the Welsh language telephone answering service (and by the way, that's Welsh AND English, not just Welsh) is based in Caernarfon and is working with people who live and work in Caernarfon. 86.1% of people in Caernarfon can speak Welsh, and as it is the majority language there, it is perfectly right that people should be able to speak to a business in Welsh if they want to. People in this region generally speak Welsh from birth and don't learn English until they start school. Many people in this area aren't as confident in speaking English as they are in speaking Welsh.

You're perfectly entitled to your opinion, but I do think it's this "English is the only lanugage worth knowing" attitude that causes living languages like Welsh to die out.

If I were offering services in France I would expect to have to deal with my customers in French. Living in Wales is no different in my opinion.

[Williams lester]

Obviously being in Wales you muct have missed the massive campaign to revive the language, tv ads, billboards and free courses at most adult education facilities.


Not missed it, just chose to ignore it. Would you really need a campaign to revive it if it was not dying? Also, just because the WAG tries to revive it with a massive spend of our money does not make it of any more use to people trying to do business out of the Principality.

Tell me, why should my children be forced to learn Welsh in school when Spanish or French is optional!! Where is the sense in that?

[cerigillett]

Maybe because you live in wales.

If you moved to spain france or germany would you not want them to speak German

But anyway, I have actual work to do, As much as your conversation interests me

.... But as per the original post, if you struggle i run a telemarketing company... i feel like doing it myself dor you after this. Let me know if you struggle

[OldWelshGuy]

A couple fo things here.
1. Welsh is the oldest language in Europe (really it is)
2. FAR from being a dying language it is the ONLY Ethnic language twhere use is increasing.
3. There are communities in Wales (south Wales as well) where Welsh is the first language spoken (Gwaun cae Gerwyn for example) which is just outside pontardawe, a couple of miles from Swansea.
4. last and by no means least, PROVIDERS of a service should deliver that service according with the wishes of their clients, if not then pack up and go home. I would hope that your post doesn't get into the wrong hands as your company name is below it and a post like that can do SERIUOS harm to your business.

I happen to agree with your thoughts on the amount of money being spent on Welsh by local authorities, but to say 'Use English' is taking us back to the days when the ENGLISH coalmasters would force kids to wear a huge wooden cross around their necks (known as the welsh not) if they spoke Welsh. The language was stopped being spoken largely because of this terrible oppression by foreignors to our land. I am gutted that a fellow Welshman would take the stance of 'disregard the language of your country and use English or we won't deal with you'.. I take it you have no Welsdh speaking clients then, and if you do i would hope they don't read this (for your sake).

Debidoo, a company i own a chunk of use a call centre in prthmadog, I will get the number and Pm you with it.

please send me a pm now to remind me to do it :)

[Williams lester]

.... But as per the original post, if you struggle i run a telemarketing company... i feel like doing it myself dor you after this. Let me know if you struggle

Already use a telemarketing company, the director of which is a member on here. So, thanks for the offer, but, I have it covered.

[Williams lester]

A couple fo things here.
1. Welsh is the oldest language in Europe (really it is)
2. FAR from being a dying language it is the ONLY Ethnic language twhere use is increasing.
3. There are communities in Wales (south Wales as well) where Welsh is the first language spoken (Gwaun cae Gerwyn for example) which is just outside pontardawe, a couple of miles from Swansea.
4. last and by no means least, PROVIDERS of a service should deliver that service according with the wishes of their clients, if not then pack up and go home. I would hope that your post doesn't get into the wrong hands as your company name is below it and a post like that can do SERIUOS harm to your business.

I happen to agree with your thoughts on the amount of money being spent on Welsh by local authorities, but to say 'Use English' is taking us back to the days when the ENGLISH coalmasters would force kids to wear a huge wooden cross around their necks (known as the welsh not) if they spoke Welsh. The language was stopped being spoken largely because of this terrible oppression by foreignors to our land. I am gutted that a fellow Welshman would take the stance of 'disregard the language of your country and use English or we won't deal with you'.. I take it you have no Welsdh speaking clients then, and if you do i would hope they don't read this (for your sake).

Debidoo, a company i own a chunk of use a call centre in prthmadog, I will get the number and Pm you with it.

please send me a pm now to remind me to do it :)

Well, there would be no point in me having a welsh answering service, as I do not speak or write welsh and am therefore unable to produce accounts in the welsh language!!

[debbidoo]

Already use a telemarketing company, the director of which is a member on here. So, thanks for the offer, but, I have it covered.


I believe Ceri was offering her services to me, not you, as in my original post I asked if anyone could recommend a VA/phone answering service that can handle sales calls in Welsh :)

[cerigillett]

Williams Lester: as a quick reply< as per original post was debbies, not you.

You havent done yourself any favours on here in making yourself sound like the kind of person i would associate with

[Williams lester]

I believe Ceri was offering her services to me, not you, as in my original post I asked if anyone could recommend a VA/phone answering service that can handle sales calls in Welsh :)

My mistake, I didn't understand him/her due to the welsh accent!

[Williams lester]

Williams Lester: as a quick reply< as per original post was debbies, not you.

You havent done yourself any favours on here in making yourself sound like the kind of person i would associate with

Oh well, don't think I will lose much sleep over that.

[cerigillett]

You should hear my welsh accent, I get paid for it... Tune into TalkSport, Classic FM and the 9 Different BBC stations that i am the travel reporter for alonside running my company. I don't think anyone has ever had trouble with my voice. In fact i think that's how i have had my broadcasting job for the past 6 years.

[OldWelshGuy]

Well, there would be no point in me having a welsh answering service, as I do not speak or write welsh and am therefore unable to produce accounts in the welsh language!!

I didn't suggest you did, i simply asked if you have any Welsh speaking clients. (they speak English as well). My point was that if they knew you were so anti Welsh language they might take their business elsewhere! you need to prey that this thread doesn't come to the attention of any Welsh nationalists as your name will be mud!

then again, as PT Barnham said 'there is no such thing as bad publicity' :D

[Steve Thornbury]

Try Abbey here (http://www.abbeva.com/)

[debbidoo]

Try Abbey here (http://www.abbeva.com/)


Thanks Steve. I had a look at the website and it seems she offers telesales training, not a Welsh language telephone answering service.

Thanks anyway :)

[OldWelshGuy]

How did you get on with the one I sent you?

[debbidoo]

I passed it to Wyn, who I'm working with on this project, and as far as I know he's not heard back yet. But he does have a meeting with one today, so fingers crossed!

Cheers for your help, it's appreciated :)

[Diesel]

As a Welsh speaker who just had a conversation in Greek with a client I assure you that it is wise to sell in the language of the buyer. This may be even more pertinent if you inhabit the same land as him/her?

My kids (4 & 5) speak 3 languages. Its probably not a negative thing... The ignorant, short sighted and culturally bereft comments are best left with you..

Hope you get someone Debbiedoo - you can always use one of my kids if you are really stuck (and they do French and English for minimal extra cost:D ;))

D

[OldWelshGuy]

As a Welsh speaker who just had a conversation in Greek with a client I assure you that it is wise to sell in the language of the buyer. This may be even more pertinent if you inhabit the same land as him/her?

My kids (4 & 5) speak 3 languages. Its probably not a negative thing... The ignorant, short sighted and culturally bereft comments are best left with you..

Hope you get someone Debbiedoo - you can always use one of my kids if you are really stuck (and they do French and English for minimal extra cost:D ;))

D


But are they any good at chimneys?

[Diesel]

:D great on the way down, not so good on the way up - in any language!;)

D

[Kapaw!]

You should think before you make comments like that David, any clients that you may have might take offence and take their business elsewhere.

[Geoff T]

You should think before you make comments like that David, any clients that you may have might take offence and take their business elsewhere.


???????????:| if this a 'different agenda' thing, hope it's not going 'public' on here!!!