Criticisms of call centers generally follow a number of common themes, from both callers and call center staff. From callers, common criticisms include:

• Operators working from a script
• Non-expert operators (call screening)
• Incompetent or untrained operators incapable of processing customers' requests effectively
• Overseas location, with language and accent problems
• Automated queuing systems—this sometimes results in excessively long hold times
• Complaints that departments of companies do not engage in communication with one another
• Deceit over location of call center (such as allocating overseas workers false English names)
• Requiring the caller to repeat the same information multiple times

Common criticisms from staff include:

• Close scrutiny by management (e.g. frequent random call monitoring)
• Low compensation (pay and bonuses)
• Restrictive working practices (some operators are required to follow a pre-written script)
• High stress: a common problem associated with front-end jobs where employees deal directly with customers
• Repetitive job task
• Poor working conditions (e.g. poor facilities, poor maintenance and cleaning, cramped working conditions, management interference, lack of privacy and noisy)
• Impaired vision and hearing problems
• Rude and abusive customers