How safe are you in an elevator?

We just had a report this week of two women (mother and middle aged daughter) who were stuck in an elevator. They were in a Department store in Christchurch in the South Island NZ. They did what you would expect in their circumstance, they used the emergency 'phone to seek help. The 'phone was answered by a female operator who suggested they try a couple of things which did not help, so she transfered the call to another operator who was a male. He asked them which lift were they in? They replied the one in the corner, thinking they were talking to staff members of the Dept store. The male operator said he didn't know about the elevator in the corner and the women started to panic. The daughter then asked the operator where he was. His answer Sydney Australia.
Fortunately, staff members of the Dept store had heard noises coming from the elevator and managed to prise the door open and allow the women to get out.
This is like Symantec service technicians answering in India. Telecom in NZ help service is operated from the Philippines. At least if your car breaks down, the Automobile Service is still in NZ.