That happens with my bank often. Here are some of the things I hate most about an automated phone system.
1. Automatically puts you on hold
2. The need to punch in a long string of numbers
3.Your call may be monitored or recorded
4. "We're sorry to keep you waiting" message that always sounds like your call is being answered.
5. Speech recognition technology....I'm southern and apparently these robots don't understand southern. "I'm sorry...could you repeat that?" or "I'm sorry I didn't understand that" coming for a robot makes me want to cuss
6. You are never given the option to speak to a live person...even if you punch the 0 key til your finger bleeds...which makes you want to cuss even more
That's what I hate most...an automated system never gives me someone live I can cuss!
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1 comment:
This is from a year ago, so some may be out of date....
OK, Here's how to skip the answering menu and speak to a human being.
The IVR Cheat Sheet™ by Paul English
us finance
phone
steps to find a human
America First
800-999-3961
0 or say "member services"
American Express
800-528-4800
0 repeatedly
American Funds
800-421-0180
Press 0.
AMSouth Bank
800-267-6884
When the recording starts, press 111-0000. This is seven digits, like a phone number.
Bank of America
800-529-8804
Press 555 at each prompt.
Bank of America
800 900 9000
To get to human directly at any BOA #, press *0.
Bank One
877-226-5663
00
Capital One
800-903-3637
0,0,0
Charles Schwab
800-435-9050
3, 0
Chase
800-CHASE24
5 pause 1 4
Chase Credit Card
800-945-2006
0
Chrysler Financial
800-700-0738
Select language, then press 00
Citi AAdvantage
888-766-2484
Ignore prompts and wait for a human.
CitiCard
800-967-8500
0,0,0,0,0
CitiFinancial
800-643-5607
0,0,0,0,0
CitiMortgage
800-283-7918
###
Citizens Bank
800-922-9999
0,0,0
Coutrywide Loans
800-669-5864
*0 repeatedly
Decision One Mortgage
888-264-3663
Don't press any keys when prompted; they transfer you
Diner's Club
800-729-5309
2
Discover
800-347-2683
****
e*Trade
800-786-2575
#### (4 pound signs)
Equifax
800-997-2493
Experian
888-397-3742
Exxon Mobil Card
800-344-4355
000 ignoring message
Fidelity
800-544-6666
ignore prompt for social security number, just enter ###
Fidelity NetBenefits
800-581-5800
1,#################
GE Finance CareCredit
866-893-7864
1, 6, 5, 0, 0
GM MasterCard
800-947-1000
Press "0" at each prompt.
Honda Financial Services
800-445-1358
Press 0 at each prompt regardless of the message.
HSBC
800-477-6000
1, 3, 0
ING
800-464-3473
Direct to human.
MasterCard
800-MC-ASSIST
000 on each menu
MBNA
800-421-2110
00 when menu starts
Mellon Investor
800-649-3593
Wait through initial recording finishes, select nothing--wait--you will be connected to a live customer service rep
MetLife Bank
866-226-5638
Press # after each menu.
PayPal
402-935-7733
Say "agent."
Paypal Buyer Credit
866-571-3012
Be silent and at the end of the options press 6.
PNC Bank
888-762-2265
Press * till it says "transfering to customer support;" takes about 3 *s.
Privacy Guard
800-734-0199
Say "agent" or "no" or any word at each prompt.
Sovereign Bank
877-SOV-BANK
1 english; 1 personal; 3 then social#; passcode, #; then 0 (1-3x)
SunTrust
800-786-8787
Press # after each menu.
TD Waterhouse
800-934-4448
Press # after opening prompt, then do it again after prompt to be transferred to rep.
TIAA-CREF
800-842-2252
Press 00 at each prompt.
Transunion
800-888-4213
US Bank
800-872-2657
0000
USAA
800-531-2265
Say "representative" at every opportunity.
Visa
800-847-2911
000 (ignore prompts saying that it's an invalid entry)
Wachovia
800-922-4684
0, 0
Wal Mart Credit Card
866-888-3868
0
Washington Mutual
800-756-8000
At any time after the announcement(s) press 0,0.
Washington Mutual
800-788-7000
Press 0 at each prompt regardless of the message.
Wells Fargo
800-869-3557
0,0,0 or when asked for account number say "I don't know"
Western Union
800-325-6000
* then ##
us government
phone
steps to find a human
Dept of Education Loans
800-848-0979
Say and do nothing at the prompt and you will be transfered to someone.
EDD
800-300-5616
When you hear "welcome", press 1, then press 4 and 0 at the next two prompts.
Federal Trade Commission
877-382-4357
At each prompt, press 4, 5, 0.
FEMA
800-621-FEMA
Select language (1 for English), Don't choose any option, just hold for human; or press 00
INS/Citizenship
800-375-5283
Select language, then press 2, 6, 2, 4 at the prompts, press 0.
Medicare
800-MEDICARE
RE; info for part "D" Medicare Prescription Drug Plans- When recording begins say "Agent" 5+ times.
Medicare
800-633-4227
Say "agent" or press 0.
Social Security
800-772-1213
Press 00.
US Dept. of Transportation
800-832-5660
Press 000.
USPS
800-275-8777
Press 3 at each prompt. Press 2 at the next recording.
Veterans Affairs
800-827-1000
Press 1,0.
us insurance
phone
steps to find a human
Aetna
800-537-9384
2, then say "operator" (check this)
Aetna
800-680-3566
* then 0 anytime
AIG
877-638-4244
Direct to human.
Blue Cross FEP
800-451-7602
Wait for prompt, then press 0, 3 to reach a CS rep.
CIGNA
800-516-2898
REGARDING A BILL
Cigna
800-849-9000
##
Delta Dental
888-335-8227
00000, wait through message, select language, 4, 0.
GEICO
800-841-3000
Wait for prompt then 6, 1, 5; Or dail 800-555-2752
Medco
800-251-7690
0000, enter member id or say "i don't have a member id."
Medicare
800-633-4227
After the opening prompt say "agent".
Principal Life
800-247-4695
1 for english, 2, then 0 several times.
Prudential Financial
800-778-2255
Say "Customer Service Representative" several times after intro.
United Health Care
866-844-4864
000000,0,0
USAA
800-531-6095
000 then #; or # initially to dial the extension of a specific representative
us pharmacy
phone
steps to find a human
Caremark
800-262-7890
0
CVS
local store
Press 6 to connect to store manager.
drugstore.com
800-378-4786
2, 5
Eckerd
800-325-3737
0 for pharmacy, 8* for manager
Express Scripts - TriCare
866-363-8667
0, listen announcement, 0,0.
MEDCO
800-987-5269
Say "representative" after each message (3x).
Rite Aid
local store
Press 3 to speak to the pharmacy
Walgreens
local store
0 for a pharmacy employee
Walgreens Mail Order
800-635-3070
0,00
us products
phone
steps to find a human
Bose
800-444-2673
Direct to human.
Entertainment Weekly Mag
866-228-1183
Say "Agent" then "yes" when asked "Do you want to speak to a C.S. rep."
GE Appliance
800-626-2005
000
GE Consumer Products
800-720-2094
Select type the of product from menu and you'll get a human.
Kodak
800-235-6325
*7 or *28
Kodak Gallery (Ofoto)
800-360-9098
Say "customer service representative" repeatedly.
Konica Minolta
800-285-6422
0
Panasonic
800-211-7262
0,0,0
Playstation
800-345-7669
0
Sonos
800-680-2345
1 sales; 2 support
Sony
800-222-7669
When prompted, say "Agent."
Sports Illustrated
800-284-8800
0,0,0,0 (ignore "invalid entry" messages)
Time Magazine
866-731-5401
0,0,0,0 (ignore "invalid entry" messages)
XM Radio
800-967-2346
0
us retail
phone
steps to find a human
Advance Auto Parts
800-314-4243
Press 0 when the automated message begins.
Amazon Visa
888-247-4080
Press 0 twice. Ignore invalid account message.
Amazon.com
800-201-7575
Wait though the first menu for an agent.
Apple Stores
local store
press 5 as soon as you hear the automated menu
Banana Republic
888-277-8953
0
Barnes & Noble
local store
Press 1 or 0 during greeting.
Barnes & Noble.com
800-843-2665
Direct to human.
Best Buy
888-237-8289
Listen to intro, then press 1,2,0,0
Best Buy Card
800-365-0292
00* then press 8
Blair
800-458-2000
Direct to human.
Buy.com
949-389-2000
Dail 0 and direct to rep
Cabela's
800-237-4444
Direct to human.
Circuit City Visa
888-363-8001
Press 0 a lot.
CompUSA
local
0
eBay
800-322-9266
0,0
Gap Credit Card
800-887-1198
000
Home Depot
local store
Direct to human.
Home Depot
800-793-3768
# 2-3 times
Home Shopping Net
800-284-3100
0
Ikea
800-434-4532
Press 0 many times quickly!
JC Penney
800-222-6161
Press 0 twice, ignoring error message.
K-Mart
local store
0
Kohl's Credit
800 564-5740
After providing account info, press 0 three times
LL Bean
800-441-5713
Direct to human
Lowe's
800-445-6937
Press 0 as the recording kicks in to get to the Operator
NetFlix
888-638-3549
0
Old Navy
800-653-6289
0
Overstock.com
800-843-2446
At the main menu, 0 three to four times to bypass the menu
Petco
local store
3
QVC
800-367-9444
0
Radio Shack
800-843-7422
0,0
RadioShack
local store
Direct to human.
Rent-A-Center
800-422-8186
1
Safeway
local store
As soon as voice prompt starts type 1200 to get human
Sears
800-4-MY-HOME
Be silent to be put in queue for human.
Sears Delivery
800-732-7747
*122
Sears Repairs
800-469-4663
Repeat "Help" everytime the IVR tries to give options.
Sharper Image
800-344-9919
Direct to human.
Staples
800-333-3330
Just wait through intro and you will be connected to a representative.
Staples
local store
0
Stop & Shop
local number
0
Target
local store
0 during greeting.
The Company Store
800-285-3696
0
Tiger Direct
888-999-7300
0
Toys "R" Us
local store
0
Wal-Mart
800-925-6278
1 for directory
us shipping
phone
steps to find a human
DHL
800-225-5345
Press 1, press 5, press 0, enter your phone number.
FedEx
888-463-3339
At message say "Rep"; or press 0
Union Pacific
800-877-5123
Press # sign during main menu options.
UPS
800-742-5877
0,0
us technology
phone
steps to find a human
Apple
800-275-2273
000; if virtual rep answers, say "operator"
Apple Tech Support
800-275-2273
0,,0,,0 Wait for IVR response before pressing 0 each time.
Compaq
800-652-6672
When asked what product say "I don't know", then "person", ignore message and human will answer (may gave to hold)
Dell
888-560-8324
00, 0, 0, 0
Earthlink
888-earthlink
1 find a dialin number; 2 billing; 3 sales; 4 support
Epson
800-922-8911
yes
Fujitsu PC Support
800-385-4878
0, 0
Gateway
800-846-2301
Press nothing and wait through message.
Geek Squad
800-433-5778
0,0,0,0,0,0
Godaddy
480-505-8877
4, #, select 1 for new customer 2 existing customer, #again
HP
800-474-6836
Say "agent".
HP
888-560-8324
00
IBM
800-IBM-4YOU
You go into a hold queue immediately
kodak
800-235-6325
Press # after intro message.
lockheed martin
800-435-7063
Press *7 after intro.
Microsoft
800-936-5700
Always 0. This is true for just about any MS number.
QuickBooks
888-729-1996
1 purchase; 2 billing; 3 registration; 4 tech support or 0 to human
Symantec
800-441-7234
00
Zone Labs, Inc.
877-966-5221
Press 2 for direct to human 24/7
us telco
phone
steps to find a human
Alltel Cellular
800-255-8351
Press # four times.
AOL
800-827-6364
Press 0 repeatedly, ignoring all messages.
AT&T
800-222-0300
Press # four times, then press 1 if for current phone, 2 to enter other number, else 3.
AT&T Wireless
800-888-7600
During prompts, press * then # twice.
BellSouth
877-678-2355
Press *0.
Cellular One
888-910-9191
Press 4.
Charter Communications
888-438-2478
Press 0 eight times.
Cingular
800-211-2445
Direct to human.
Comcast
800-266-2278
Press 000 or be silent and wait.
Cox Communications
877-247-2474
Press 4.
Headsets.com
800-432-3738
Direct to human.
MCI/Costco Calling Card
800-938-4949
Press 2 four times.
Metro PCS
888-863-8768
Press #43.
Motorola
800-331-6456
Press 0 twice.
Nextel
800-639-6111
Press 0 five times.
Qwest
800-244-1111
Say "Agent" 5 times.
RCN
800-746-4726
Press 5, then 3, then 1.
SBC
800-585-7928
Again, an (intelligent, this time) IVR wants YOUR phone number first.
SBC DSL Support
877-722-3755
Say "no" and enter your phone # (or "yes" if calling from same number on account), then press 0 repeatedly.
Simple Freedom
800-335-6401
Press 1, then 3, then 2.
Sprint
800-658-7564
Direct to human.
Sprint Broadband Direct
888-996-0001
Press 0 twice.
Sprint PCS
866-273-2163
Direct to human.
SunCom
800-786-7378
Press 0 four to five times during or after opening message.
T-Mobile
877-606-4801
Direct to human.
TracFone
800-867-7183
Press 1 for English, wait for next menu to start, then press 5, then 4.
U.S. Cellular
888-944-9400
Press 0.
Verizon 411 Directory Assistance
411
Press 0.
Verizon DSL
800-567-6789
Say "Agent" repeatedly.
Verizon Phone Repair
800-275-2355
Direct to human.
Verizon Wireless
800-922-0204
Press #00 or enter phone # then 0 then 4.
Virgin Mobile
888-322-1122
Press 2, then say: "English", "More Options", "Ask a Question", "Live Advisor", "Something Else", "I don't have one", then enter phone # or say "I don't have one."
Vonage Customer Care
888-250-1799
Direct to human.
us travel
phone
steps to find a human
American Airlines
800-433-7300
00, then say "agent"
Amtrak
800-872-7245
0 or say "agent"
Amtrak
877-444-4773
Direct to human.
Delta
800-221-1212
Say "agent" 3-4 times - every time it asks for a response from you.
E-Z Pass
888-288-6865
0,0,0,0 (ignoring "invalid response" messages)
Jet Blue
800-538-2583
0
Kayak.com
203-899-3120
0
Lufthansa
800-399-5838
Direct to human.
Mariott Rewards
800-321-7396
Enter rewards number and press 0 (or just press 0 if you don't have the #).
National Car Rental
800-227-7368
Direct to human.
Northwest
800-225-2525
*, 0,0 after initial greeting
Orbitz
888-656-4546
#,#,#,#,#
Southwest
800-435-9792
Direct to human. (may hold if busy time)
Travelocity
888-872-8356
#,#,#,#,#,#,#,#,#,# (ignoring "I'm sorry I did not understand" messages)
United
800-864-8331
Do nothing, wait for human.
United
800-864-8331
When you hear "let's get started" say "Agent" ... then "Domestic" or "International" as appropriate.
US Airways
800-428-4322
4, wait, 1
Walt Disney World
407-824-4521
Direct line to Magic Kingdom Guest Relations
us tv/satellite
phone
steps to find a human
Charter communications
866-499-8080
Select language, 0,0,0,0,0,0 (and then hold :(
comcast
800-945-2288
Ignore message and after 25 seconds, a human will answer.
Direct TV
800-347-3288
0 repeatedly
Sirius
888 539-7474
0
TiVo
877-367-8486
Say "Live Agent"
XM Radio
800-998-7900
Direct to human.
228 companies as of Tue, 03-Jan-2006 13:19 CST
I hope you find this useful.
Take Care,
-p
http://pauliecannoli.wordpress.com/
http://lastfreevoice.wordpress.com/
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