Probing questions in customer service is the key to discovering and knowing more about a customer’s problem and gathering essential information.

When faced with vague complaints or complex issues, the right examples of probing questions can make a frustrating customer interaction into a satisfying resolution. Customer service professionals use a strategic mix of different question types to solve problems more efficiently and effectively.

Need actionable examples of probing questions for your customer service team? Here’s a ready-to-use template to get started:

Preview Template

Hey, feel free to use this template if you like it!

(You can easily customize it! Remove the pre-filled questions that don’t fit the bill, and add the ones we are about to discuss! You can also insert background images, change fonts or remove the SurveySparrow logo to add yours!)

Now, let’s move on to the four common types of probing questions in customer service.

Four Types of Probing Questions with Examples

1: Exploratory Probing Questions

Exploratory probing questions are designed to uncover the scope and nature of a customer’s problem. These open-ended questions help you understand what’s really happening from the customer’s perspective.

“How can I help?”
“When you say [ABC], what do you mean?”
“Could you give me some background about the issue?”
“Can you tell me more about the present situation/problem?”
“How is this problem affecting you?”
“What are you using/doing now?”
“Do you have any preference regarding the solution?”
“Can you please tell me about that?”
“When you say [ABC], can you give me an example?”
“When do you need the issue fixed?”

When to use: Use these probing question examples at the beginning of customer interactions to establish a foundation of understanding before diving into specifics.

2. Funnelling/Investigative probing questions

If you face a broad or complicated issue and need to dig deeper, funneling questions are what you use. In other words, they ‘funnel’ the customer from a general complaint to the specific details you need.

“What led you to conclude that there was an issue?”
“Can you tell me what you see on your screen?” (or any variation thereof)
“Have you experienced this issue before?”
“When exactly did this problem begin?”
“How long/often is this happening?”
“Can you tell me what you tried to fix this issue?”
“What difficulties did you face when trying to solve this issue?”
“What happened after you did this step?”
“Have you tried [solution]?”
“Alright. Is there anything more you want to tell me about the issue?”

When to use: Implement these probing question examples when you need to diagnose technical problems or complex situations that require specific details.

3. Confirming /Empathetic probing questions

Confirming probing questions has three purposes:

Allowing the customer and you to step back and re-evaluate the issue.
Helping you confirm that you understand the customer’s complaint.
Making the customer feel valued.

Examples of confirming/empathetic probing questions:

“So that I understand, [repeat problem statement]. Did I get that right?”
“What do you think about this [solution]?”
“Will you do that yourself or need my help?”
“How does this look/feel/sound to you?”
“Why do you want to do this action?”
“What is your ideal outcome?”
“Have we covered everything?”
“Do you want to explore other options?”
“Do you have any further questions you’d like to ask?”
“Is there anything else I can help you with today?”

When to use: These probing question examples are particularly effective after you’ve gathered information and before proposing solutions, or when checking that an implemented solution has fully resolved the issue.

4: Leading questions

A leading question is a probing question that suggests a specific answer. Customer service teams use it to encourage customers to choose a particular action. They are also an excellent way to kick off upselling and cross-selling strategies.

“What product features are important to you?”
“What do you plan to use this feature for?”
“It would be great to choose something that [insert advantage]. Would you be interested?”
“[Solution A] comes with [feature]. So if you choose it, you will get [benefit]. Would that add value for you?”
“With [solution A], you have a [benefit]. Would that be something you’re looking for?”
“Would you like me to get started on [solution A] for you?”
“Most customers with an issue like yours go for [solution A]. Would you like me to explain why?”
“Would you like to sign up for our service/insurance/free trial?”
“Are you interested in receiving [offer/freebie/discount]?
“How would you rate today’s service?”

When to use: Employ these probing question examples when guiding customers toward solutions or when appropriate opportunities arise for additional services that genuinely benefit the customer.

Why Probing Questions Are Important in Customer Service

Probing questions steer the conversation from “problem” to “solution.” Often, customers focus on how they feel about the issue and how it affects them. By probing, you can steer the focus to the details of the problem and get the info you need for a solution.
Probing questions get into the specifics. They encourage the customer to go into further detail and think beyond the heat of the moment – about the root cause of the problem.
They help clear misunderstandings. You not only find out the root cause of the problem, but you also clear up a lot of assumptions on the customer’s part.
They keep the conversation flowing. Best-case scenario: probing questions will help you have a productive discussion, resulting in a superb customer experience.
Learning how to ask probing questions makes you a better listener. In their course Questioning Skills for Call Center Agents, Study.com says:

“Asking the right question at the right time for the customer can be the difference between solving a problem, making a sale, or satisfying a request. In addition, asking the right question at the right time for the customer means that you’re attuned to what the caller is trying to accomplish by calling you.”

How to Use Probing Questions Effectively

To maximize the impact of these probing question examples, follow these best practices:

Start broad, then narrow: Begin with open-ended exploratory questions before using more specific funnelling questions.
Listen actively: Pay close attention to responses and adapt your follow-up questions accordingly.
Use neutral language: Avoid accusatory or judgmental phrasing that might make customers defensive.
Match question type to situation: Different scenarios call for different types of probing questions. Learn to recognize when each type is most appropriate.
Confirm understanding: Regularly summarize what you’ve learned to verify accuracy and show attentiveness.
Balance questioning with action: While gathering information is important, demonstrate progress toward resolution throughout the conversation.

How SurveySparrow can be of help

While these questions are great for live interactions, gathering and analyzing customer feedback at scale can be challenging. This is where SurveySparrow comes in. As a modern and engaging survey platform, SurveySparrow turns the traditional survey experience into a conversation.

Its user-friendly interface and advanced features make it an excellent tool for creating surveys that complement your customer service chats. With SurveySparrow, you can easily convert these probing questions into an interactive survey, helping you to gather valuable insights efficiently.

Create Customer Service Survey

Key Highlights of SurveySparrow

Conversational Interface: SurveySparrow’s interface is designed to make surveys feel like a conversation, enhancing respondent engagement.
Customization Options: Offers extensive customization options, allowing users to design surveys that align with their brand and specific needs.
Multi-Channel Distribution: Surveys can be distributed across various channels, including email, social media, and websites, for broader reach.
Advanced Reporting and Analytics: Provides detailed analytics and reporting tools to help users gain insightful survey data.
Automation Capabilities: Features like automated survey scheduling and follow-ups streamline the survey process.
Integration with Other Tools: SurveySparrow can integrate with various business tools and platforms, enhancing workflow and data management.
Mobile Responsiveness: Surveys are optimized for mobile devices, ensuring a seamless experience for respondents on any device.
360-Degree Feedback: Facilitates comprehensive feedback collection, beneficial for employee evaluations and customer feedback.
Security and Compliance: Adheres to strict security standards to protect data privacy and ensure compliance with regulations.
User-Friendly Design: The platform is user-friendly, making it accessible for users with varying technical skills.

Free Probing Questions Templates

To get you started, SurveySparrow offers free, customizable templates specifically designed for customer service feedback. This template is a perfect way to turn the questions we’ve listed into an effective feedback tool. Check out this free template now.

Customer Feedback Survey Template

40 Probing Questions Examples for Customer Service: Complete Guide [2025]