Talk to a person, not a computer!

[RegFee]

I was watching CNN in the doctor's office waiting room, when this neat special came on about consumer gripes, and the websites that look to eliminate them. One of the biggest complaints consumers have is not being able to talk to a real person when they call a company.

This site lists ways to get around automated phone services and talk to a real person.

http://paulenglish.com/ivr/

Here's a couple of my favorite tips:

"0000000 (hit ""0"" many times fast, if you do it once, or too slow, it will merely repeat the menu)"

Silence don't push numbers just sit there and you will be placed at front of queue.

Of course, the companies are frustrated with this site, because they feel it will ruin customer service, but Paul makes a good point:

"Of course IVR systems sometimes work, and that they can save you time for some very specific simple requests (e.g., check flight arrival)...However, consumers are not stupid, and they should be given the choice to connect to a human when they want."

Enjoy!

 

[NPQueen]

This is a great thread!! I have used the silence one and it works. I am sure it upsets the companies that have invested in the computer answering systems, now they have to pay attention to customers instead of just letting the computer answer the questions and waste our time.

How dare we want to talk to a person right away... instead of entering numbers for 5 minutes to have the customer service rep ask us for all the same information again.

 

[RegFee]

How dare we want to talk to a person right away... instead of entering numbers for 5 minutes to have the customer service rep ask us for all the same information again.

exaaaactly!

I once heard there was a phone coming out that would bring the menu up on a screen that way you didn't have to wait through long voice prompts. That would at least make it a little more tolerable.

 

[RegFee]

I recall Gene posting this once. Its a nice little tool that does help.

I searched a few related terms before posting, but I also knew this was too good to not have been mentioned before.

 

[gchick]

great post! and i totally agree with it...like hello, we need to talk to a live person not a machine or whatever.:P

 

[CrazyTech]

I've found myself very annoyed with the automated systems I have encountered. The worst I've come across was with Charter.net internet services. The system was not even complete and I came to spot where the instructions ended and simply looped right back to starting over. I'll definitely bookmark this list and try something next time I have to call an automated system.