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Phone representative vs service representative

The differences between phone representatives and service representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a phone representative and a service representative. Additionally, a phone representative has an average salary of $42,827, which is higher than the $33,692 average annual salary of a service representative.

The top three skills for a phone representative include customer service, outbound calls and telephone calls. The most important skills for a service representative are customer service, client service, and patients.

Phone representative vs service representative overview

Phone RepresentativeService Representative
Yearly salary$42,827$33,692
Hourly rate$20.59$16.20
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs222,650210,671
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4040
Years of experience1212

What does a phone representative do?

A Phone Representative answers customer calls, complaints, and inquiries professionally. They handle and resolve customer complaints related to its services/products and product/service sales. Besides processing applications, orders, and forms requested by customers, Phone Representatives also update customers about the products/services information. These professionals record customer complaints, inquiries, feedback, and actions taken. They develop and maintain mutually beneficial and professional relationships with each customer. Moreover, they create and maintain cordial relationships with all new customers.

What does a service representative do?

Service representatives handle customer inquiries, requests, complaints, and other general feedback. They are usually the first point of contact with the company's customers. Service representatives are expected to be familiar with all of the company's products so that they can answer all inquiries made by the customers. They should also be familiar with company policies and guidelines on sales and customer handling so that they can address concerns and feedback. They are usually the ones who try to resolve customer complaints by sending issues to applicable departments and ensuring that customers are satisfied with the company's products and services.

Phone representative vs service representative salary

Phone representatives and service representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Phone RepresentativeService Representative
Average salary$42,827$33,692
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $68,000Between $24,000 And $45,000
Highest paying CityNorco, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyPress GaneyNorthern Trust
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between phone representative and service representative education

There are a few differences between a phone representative and a service representative in terms of educational background:

Phone RepresentativeService Representative
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Phone representative vs service representative demographics

Here are the differences between phone representatives' and service representatives' demographics:

Phone RepresentativeService Representative
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 34.6% Female, 65.4%Male, 39.6% Female, 60.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 5.5% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 6.8% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between phone representative and service representative duties and responsibilities

Phone representative example responsibilities.

  • Conduct telephone sales and interviews, compile and enter information into database, manage documents and insure customer satisfaction.
  • Provide status of medical claims and explain EOB's.
  • Research and resolve incorrect payments, EOB rejections and other issues with accounts.
  • Answer inbound provider calls to help with billing Medicaid claims and benefits and eligibility issues.
  • Update alumni on current happenings in university life and act as a liaison between past and current students.
  • Contact hundreds of alumni and their families by telephone and raise thousands of dollars to improve school facilities and maintain school grounds
  • Show more

Service representative example responsibilities.

  • Utilize QuickBooks to manage patient's payment for hearing aids and various equipment.
  • Join online marketplace specializing in local deals to manage customer engagements while providing industry-best service.
  • Manage customer relations with internal personnel, group administrators, brokers and members as related to Medicare insurance.
  • Involve great interpersonal skills and upselling.
  • Provide excellent customer service via ZenDesk e-mail platform.
  • Counsele individuals who are applying for or receiving TANF.
  • Show more

Phone representative vs service representative skills

Common phone representative skills
  • Customer Service, 27%
  • Outbound Calls, 13%
  • Telephone Calls, 7%
  • Inbound Phone Calls, 7%
  • Troubleshoot, 6%
  • Computer System, 3%
Common service representative skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Client Service, 8%
  • Patients, 7%
  • PET, 5%
  • Front Desk, 5%
  • Veterans, 5%

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