Category: United States

Bank of America’s Merrill Edge Call Centers Recognized for Providing an Outstanding Customer Service Experience for a Third Consecutive Year

2013-12-18

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WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 18 December 2013 — Merrill Edge has been recognized for call center operation customer service excellence for a third consecutive year under the JD Power Certified Call Center Program.^SM The Certified Call Center Program distinction acknowledges a strong commitment by the company’s call centers to provide “An Outstanding Customer Service Experience.”

To become certified, the call center operations, located in Chandler, Ariz.; Hopewell, N.J.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Lincoln, R.I., successfully passed a detailed audit of more than 100 practices that encompass the call center’s customer satisfaction measurement and analysis strategies, including recruiting; training; employee incentives; quality assurance capabilities; and management roles and responsibilities. As part of its evaluation, JD Power also conducted a random survey of Merrill Edge customers who recently contacted one of its call centers.

“Merrill Edge is to be congratulated for demonstrating once again that they are committed to delivering an outstanding customer experience through its call centers,” said Mark Miller, senior director at JD Power. “Our research shows that its customers enjoy fast service from courteous and knowledgeable representatives.”

For certification status, a call center must also perform within the top 20 percent of customer service scores, which are based on benchmarks established in cross-industry customer satisfaction research conducted by JD Power. The evaluation criteria include the customer service representative’s courtesy, knowledge and concern for the customer; promptness in speaking to a person; and timely resolution of the problem or request. Additionally, the experience with the automated phone system is evaluated based on the clarity of the information provided; the ease of navigating the phone menu prompts; and the ease of understanding the phone menu instructions.

“At Merrill Edge, our top priority is creating better connections for our customers through a streamlined investment service that meets all of their financial needs–whether they contact us in-person, online or over the phone,” said Alok Prasad, head of Merrill Edge. “We are excited that our call centers, in particular, have earned such a high honor from JD Power for delivering outstanding service to our customers for the third year running, which is unmatched in our industry.”

The Certified Call Center Program was launched by JD Power in 2004 to evaluate overall customer satisfaction with call centers and to help call centers in various industries increase their efficiency and effectiveness by establishing and continually updating leading practices for handling service calls.

For more information on the Certified Call Center Program, please visit JDPower.com.

About JD Power

JD Power is a global marketing information services company providing performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions. The company’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., JD Power has offices in North/South America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. JD Power is a business unit of McGraw Hill Financial.

About McGraw Hill Financial

McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI) is a leading financial intelligence company providing the global capital and commodity markets with independent benchmarks, credit ratings, portfolio and enterprise risk solutions, and analytics. The Company’s iconic brands include: Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL, JD Power, and McGraw Hill Construction. The Company has approximately 17,000 employees in 27 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com

Media Relations Contacts

Kristen Georgian, Bank of America; 617-434-0234; [email protected] 

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of JD Power. www.jdpower.com  

Follow us on Twitter @jdpower

Consumer Spending on New Vehicles to Hit Record Levels for Month of November

2013-11-21

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Retail Light-Vehicle Sales

Total Light-Vehicle Sales

Sales Outlook 

North American Production

About JD Power

JD Power is a global marketing information services company providing performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions. The company’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., JD Power has offices in North/South America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. JD Power is a business unit of McGraw Hill Financial.

About McGraw Hill Financial

McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI) is a leading financial intelligence company providing the global capital and commodity markets with independent benchmarks, credit ratings, portfolio and enterprise risk solutions, and analytics. The Company’s iconic brands include: Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL, JD Power, and McGraw Hill Construction. The Company has approximately 17,000 employees in 27 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com.

About LMC Automotive

LMC Automotive, formerly JD Power Automotive Forecasting, is the premier supplier of automotive forecasts and intelligence to an extensive client base of automotive manufacturer, component supplier, logistics and distribution companies, as well as financial and government institutions around the world. LMC’s global forecasting services encompass automotive sales, production and powertrain expertise, as well as advisory capability. LMC Automotive has offices in the United States, the UK, Germany, China and Thailand and is part of the Oxford, UK-based LMC group, the global leader in economic and business consultancy for the agribusiness sector. For more information please visit www.lmc-auto.com.

Media Relations Contacts

John Tews; JD Power; Troy, Mich.; (248) 680-6218; [email protected]
Emmie Littlejohn; LMC Automotive; Troy, Mich.; (248) 817-2100; [email protected]

Follow us on Twitter: @JDPower

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of of JD Power or LMC Automotive. www.jdpower.com/corporate www.lmc-auto.com

Satisfaction Increases Considerably When Auto Dealers Use Mobile Technology During the New-Vehicle Sales Process

2013-11-14

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WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 14 November 2013 — Sales satisfaction among new-vehicle buyers is 52 points higher when their salesperson uses a tablet device than when their salesperson does not use a tablet during the sales process (844 vs. 792, respectively, on a 1,000-point scale), according to the JD Power 2013 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study^SM released today.   

“The study finds that tablets are proving to be versatile and effective tools that may help maintain consistency in the sales process, while providing easily accessible and dynamic product information,” said Chris Sutton, senior director of the automotive retail practice at JD Power. “Although tablet usage has increased from a year ago, dealers are still missing an opportunity to improve their sales experience by providing shoppers with sales information on a single platform that allows them to easily browse options and features with immediate commentary from their salesperson.”

KEY FINDINGS

• Satisfaction is highest among new-vehicle buyers who are presented with pricing/payment options on a computer screen or tablet (833), followed by a computer printout (820); verbal price quotes (792); and hand-written figures (780). 

• Tablet usage remains relatively limited, with only 10 percent of dealership salespeople using these devices, which is up from 7 percent in 2012. 

• New-vehicle buyers most often indicate that salespeople use these devices to capture their personal information (51%); demonstrate vehicle features (41%); and display price or payment information (38%). 

• During the shopping process, consumers most often use their mobile devices at the dealership to access vehicle pricing information (72%); model information (52%); and search inventory (38%).

Rankings

Rankings are based on the experiences of both buyers and rejecters. Overall sales satisfaction improves 9 points year over year to 673 in 2013. 

Jaguar ranks highest among luxury brands in satisfaction with the new-vehicle buying experience with a score of 740. Among luxury brands, Volvo improves the most (+30 Index points) and moves up in the rankings to 9th in 2013 from 11th in 2012.

For a fourth consecutive year, MINI ranks highest among mass market brands, with a score of 718, a 6-point increase from 2012. Among mass market brands, Kia improves the most (+33 index points) and ranks 11th in 2013, up from 16th in 2012.

The 2013 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study is based on responses from 29,040 buyers who purchased or leased their new vehicle in April or May 2013. The study is a comprehensive analysis of the new-vehicle purchase experience and measures customer satisfaction with the selling dealer (satisfaction among buyers). The study also measures satisfaction with brands and dealerships that were shopped but ultimately rejected in favor of the selling brand and dealership (satisfaction among rejecters) and was fielded between July and September 2013.

About JD Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules www.jdpower.com/corporate

About McGraw Hill Financial www.mhfi.com 

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2013-11-14

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KEY FINDINGS

• Overall claimant satisfaction increases to 848 (on a 1,000-point scale) in Wave 2 from 832 in Wave 1.
• Overall satisfaction among first-time claimants improves by 17 points to 842 in Wave 2 from 825 in Wave 1. The increase in first-time claimant satisfaction is due to a significant increase in the percentage of claimants whose insurer provided an accurate timeline of the claims process length (76% in Wave 2 vs. 72% in Wave 1) and a significant increase in the percentage of claimants who avoided a settlement negotiation (75% did not have to negotiate the settlement in Wave 2 vs. 71% in Wave 1).
• Satisfaction with agent first notice of loss (FNOL) drops to 853 in Wave 2 from 875 in Wave 1, while satisfaction with direct FNOL–reporting claims via a call center, website or other electronic method–improves to 855 in Wave 2 from 829 in Wave 1.
• Satisfaction with non-catastrophic damage claims increases to 840 from 829 in the 2013 Property Claims Satisfaction Study and 833 in the 2012 study. The increase in satisfaction is a result of significantly higher scores in the estimation process, repair process and settlement factors.

Media Relations Contacts:

John Tews; Troy, Mich.; (248) 680-6218; [email protected]
Syvetril Perryman; Westlake Village, Calif.; (805) 418-8103; [email protected]

About JD Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules
www.jdpower.com/corporate  

About McGraw Hill Financial www.mhfi.com. 

Appliance Brands and Retailers Can Impact Consideration and Purchase Behaviors through Their Websites

2013-11-14

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WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 14 November 2013 — The more useful a website is to appliance shoppers, the higher the likelihood they are to visit a physical store and consider additional purchases from the brand or retailer, according to the inaugural JD Power 2013 Appliance Shopper Website Evaluation Study^SM released today.

The study, which evaluates the usability of appliance brand and retailer websites, finds that approximately three in four shoppers are more likely to consider a specific brand or shop a specific retailer when they have an outstanding experience with the website.

“Consumers find retailer and brand websites very helpful while shopping for major appliances,” said Christina Cooley, director of the home improvement practice at JD Power. “To maximize the online shopping experience, it is important to focus on the whole package in terms of content, navigation, appearance and speed. Understanding what information and website features are most important to shoppers is critical to drive consideration and conversion to purchase. It is also important to keep in mind that Internet research doesn’t just happen at home, with a high percentage of shoppers going online while at a physical store location.”

KEY FINDINGS

• Product ratings/reviews and pricing are the most important website features to shoppers.
• While 75 percent of appliance shoppers’ online research takes place on a desktop/laptop computer, 42 percent of shoppers indicate they have used a smartphone and/or tablet to research appliance product information while at the physical store location.
• Tasks an appliance shopper would likely perform on a smartphone and/or tablet when accessing a retailer or brand site include finding a store location, followed by product pricing information and researching sales and promotions.
• GE Appliances ranks highest among appliance brand websites, followed by Jenn-Air, Maytag and Kenmore, respectively.
• Best Buy ranks highest among appliance retailer websites, followed by Lowe’s, The Home Depot and Sears, respectively.

The 2013 Appliance Shopper Website Evaluation Study is based on responses from 3,037 major appliance purchase intenders who evaluated both brand and retailer websites. It was fielded in September 2013.

About JD Power

JD Power is a global marketing information services company providing performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions. The company’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., JD Power has offices in North/South America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. JD Power is a business unit of McGraw Hill Financial.

About McGraw Hill Financial

McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI) is a leading financial intelligence company providing the global capital and commodity markets with independent benchmarks, credit ratings, portfolio and enterprise risk solutions, and analytics. The Company’s iconic brands include: Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL, JD Power, and McGraw Hill Construction. The Company has approximately 17,000 employees in 27 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com 

Media Relations Contacts

Freeman Call Center Recognized for Providing an Outstanding Customer Service Experience For a Fourth Consecutive Year

2013-11-12

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WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 12 November 2013 — Freeman has been recognized for call center operation customer service excellence for a fourth consecutive year under the JD Power Certified Call Center Program.^SM The Certified Call Center Program distinction acknowledges a strong commitment by Freeman’s Customer Support Center operations to provide “An Outstanding Customer Service Experience.”

To become certified, the call centers successfully passed a detailed audit of more than 100 practices that encompass their recruiting; training; employee incentives; management roles and responsibilities; and quality assurance capabilities. As part of its evaluation, JD Power conducted a random survey of Freeman customers who recently contacted its call center located at Freeman’s headquarters in Grand Prairie, Texas.

“Congratulations to Freeman’s Customer Support Center for being certified for the fourth consecutive year,” said Mark Miller, senior director, contact center solutions at JD Power. “Our research shows that their customers value the speed with which their calls are answered and how quickly their issues are addressed. This is very important for Freeman’s business.”

For certification status, a call center must also perform within the top 20 percent of customer service scores, which are based on benchmarks established in JD Power’s cross-industry customer satisfaction research. The evaluation criteria include the customer service representative’s courtesy, knowledge and concern for the customer; promptness in speaking to a person; and timely resolution of the problem or request. Additionally, the experience with the automated phone system is evaluated based on the clarity of the information provided; the ease of navigating the phone menu prompts; and the ease of understanding the phone menu instructions.

“One of the benefits of being employee-owned is that our employees are genuinely invested in our customers’ business and committed to their success,” said Joe Popolo, Freeman CEO. “This fourth consecutive honor from JD Power demonstrates our Customer Support Center’s role in providing a critical connection to our customers and exceptional customer service at all levels. We are honored to again receive this important recognition and wish to thank our customers for trusting Freeman.”

The Certified Call Center Program was launched by JD Power in 2004 to evaluate overall customer satisfaction with call centers and to help call centers in various industries increase their efficiency and effectiveness by establishing and continually updating leading practices for handling service calls.

About JD Power

JD Power is a global marketing information services company providing performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions. The company’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., JD Power has offices in North/South America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. JD Power is a business unit of McGraw Hill Financial.

About McGraw Hill Financial

McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI) is a leading financial intelligence company providing the global capital and commodity markets with independent benchmarks, credit ratings, portfolio and enterprise risk solutions, and analytics. The Company’s iconic brands include: Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL, JD Power, and McGraw Hill Construction. The Company has approximately 17,000 employees in 27 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com 

Media Relations Contacts

Susan MacLaughlin; Edelman on behalf of Freeman; Dallas, Texas; 214-443-7597; [email protected]

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of JD Power. www.jdpower.com

Follow us on Twitter @jdpower

2013-11-07

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WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 7 November 2013 — Overall satisfaction with blood glucose meters among Medicare blood glucose meter users has declined a significant 18 points to 830 (on a 1,000-point scale) from 848 in 2012, while satisfaction among non-Medicare blood glucose meter users has only declined 7 points to 804 from 811 in 2012, according to the JD Power 2013 Blood Glucose Meter Satisfaction Study^SM released today. 

“While still early, it’s possible that declining satisfaction among seniors who use Medicare blood glucose meters may be related to changes under Medicare’s National Mail-Order Program for diabetic supplies,” said Scott Hawkins, director of the healthcare practice at JDPower. “As some Medicare recipients transition to new meters and others cope with finding supplies for existing meters, it could lead to lower satisfaction.”

KEY FINDINGS

• Roche Diagnostics ranks highest in overall satisfaction with a score of 824 and performs particularly well in the features and performance factors. 

• Overall satisfaction with the meter brands of the four largest manufacturers ranked in the 2013 study is higher than satisfaction with meter brands that are not ranked (818 vs. 801, respectively). While the non-ranked meter brands perform well in cost of test strips, they perform lower than ranked brands in four of the six user experience factors, including design (812 vs. 843, respectively); features (762 vs. 792, respectively); performance (812 vs. 835, respectively); and ease of use (827 vs. 844, respectively). 

The 2013 Blood Glucose Meter Satisfaction Study is based on responses from 2,123 blood glucose meter users with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. The study was fielded in September 2013.

About JD Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules www.jdpower.com/corporate

2013-11-05

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Now in its 18th year, the study measures overall customer satisfaction with rental cars at airport locations by examining six factors (listed in order of importance): cost & fees; pick-up process; return process; rental car; shuttle bus/van; and reservation process.

KEY FINDINGS 

• More than one-third (35%) of customers cite low price as a top reason for selecting their rental car company.  Yet, overall satisfaction is lowest among customers who select based on price (756 on a 1,000-point scale). In comparison, overall satisfaction among customers who choose a rental car company based on good customer service is highest (828).
• Overall customer satisfaction with their rental car experience averages 775 in 2013, a six-point increase from 2012 and the highest satisfaction score since the study’s current methodology was adopted in 2006.
• Customers on personal or leisure travel are slightly more satisfied, on average, than are business customers (777 vs. 771, respectively). Personal or leisure customers are more satisfied than are business customers across all factors except the pick-up process.
• A critical factor associated with rental car satisfaction is expediency of pick up.  Among the 20 percent of customers who use a counter bypass service, satisfaction with the pick-up process averages 820 compared with 770 for those that use the rental counter.
• A smile from the rental car staff can have a huge impact on overall satisfaction. Overall satisfaction among customers greeted with a smile from one member of a rental car company’s staff is 58 points higher than among those not greeted with a smile (693 vs. 635, respectively). Satisfaction among customers greeted with a smile by four staff members is 200 points higher than among those not greeted with a smile (835 vs. 635, respectively).
• National ranks highest in customer satisfaction among rental car companies, with a score of 809, performing particularly well across all six factors. Enterprise ranks second with a score of 799, followed by Alamo with 782.

“While price is the first filter for selecting a rental car company for most travelers, such other factors as expediency, especially for business travelers, and customer service are what really please customers,” said Rick Garlick, global travel and hospitality practice lead at JD Power. “Lowest price is often associated with a negative experience. We see the same thing in our hotel study–customers often feel like they got what they paid for, and it wasn’t a positive experience.” 

Media Relations Contacts

Jeff Perlman; Brandware Public Relations; Woodland Hills, Calif.; 818-598-1115; [email protected]

John Tews; JD Power; Troy, Mich.; 248-680-6218; [email protected]

About JD Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules http://www.jdpower.com/about/index.htm