[carlosjobim]

> if the user has no viable alternative.

There's always a viable alternative. But not for customers who are always looking for the cheapest viable products or services.

So those customers will spend too much time and frustration with bad customer service, because they think it's outrageous to consider a competitor who is a little bit more expensive.

[taurath]

> There's always a viable alternative

Tell that to my insurance provider, the only insurance provider I am allowed to choose by my employer.

Or my doctor's office, the only doctors office that treats my ailment that my insurance provider calls in their network. They use AI customer support. They just fired 80% of their receptionists and replaced them with kiosks.

Or my pharmacy, where I get a choice of 3 whole local/mail-in pharmacies I can go to, but each one of them uses AI customer support.

I would consider anyone who's more expensive, if I were allowed to pay for it. Most of the time there is no options. I'm seeking a new employer in the hopes that some other insurance network will be better, but this seems to be the direction that all things are going: full corporate cartels squeezing the life out of everyone.

[carlosjobim]

> the only insurance provider I am allowed to choose by my employer.

What? Do you mean the only insurance provider your employer will give you for free, or do you mean your employer can control your contracts with other parties? Are you in prison or on a slave plantation?

[taurath]

“For free”. Truly no point in helping you understand a point of view so far removed from your own.

[carlosjobim]

Why do you expect complete strangers to have knowledge of your financials?

I don't know if your employer is paying for health insurance as a benefit for you, in which case they are the customer and can choose whatever crap provider they want. Or if they are deducting this cost from your salary, in which case they are robbing you.