Hate waiting on hold for tech support and customer service? Here are the essential tips for getting past those incredibly annoying delays—and talking to an actual person. Maybe it's the Muzak, or the endless hold times, or the countless options. But there are few things as dehumanizing as finding yourself in phone limbo while a company fetches a tech-support or customer-service rep. Fortunately, with a few tricks—and a little assist from technology—you can shorten your wait. First step is to make sure you're calling the best possible number. The number published prominently on the website is more likely to lead you into a Kafkaesque labyrinth than toward a human voice. I suggest starting out by going to GetHuman.com to find the best number to call for just about any company. The site will also give you company-specific tips for getting a person on the line. LucyPhone.com takes it even further—not only does the site include a database of company contact numbers, but it actually does the waiting for you. When you select the company you want to call and enter your number on the site, it makes the call, then rings you back when it finally gets somebody on the line, allowing you to jump in at the last minute. There's also a LucyPhone iPhone app for on-the-go calls. Once you've discovered the best number, the next step is to reach a real person. Repeatedly bashing the "0" button often gets the job done, as does pressing nothing at all (this tricks the system into thinking you have a rotary phone—remember those?—and often causes it to bump you to an operator). If you're dealing with a voice-controlled phone system, you can also repeatedly say "representative" or "operator" or, if you're feeling particularly salty and aren't around any children, yell curse words. If the system thinks you are particularly PO'd, it will send you to an operator rather than let you smolder. So view it as therapy: The angrier you sound, the better service you'll receive. Another trick: If you are asked to "press 1 for English" or "2 for Spanish," press "2." The wait for Spanish operators is usually far shorter, and they are almost always bilingual, in case somebody accidentally presses the wrong button. Lastly, there may be few things on earth more frustrating than waiting on hold for an hour, only to have your call dropped the minute you finally get somebody on the line. So give the operator your phone number and tell them to call you back if you get disconnected. It could save you a lot of agitation. Source ---- and now you know
The worst I got was: Person A - Please hold I will transfer you... *Hold Music* Person B - Nope, not our department...please hold while I transfer you... *Hold Music* Person C - Yep, our department doesn't deal with this matter, please hold while I transfer you... *Hold Music* Person A - Hello? How can I help you? FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...
LOL at Evo. Yea, I only know of the swearing part, didn't know pressing 0 rapidly or not saying anything at all help too.
How legit are GetHuman.com and LucyPhone.com? I'm more afraid of those phishing companies, get your information and ooppss .. disconnect. Next thing you know, credit card being charged by someone in China.
I actually tried this today b/c I wanted to find the nearest location to renew my health card so I called ServiceOntario.. and I button smash the "0" dial... and it took me to an operator right away...
I had worse... *complains about phone call without being stressed nor swearing" Person A - *hangs up phone* WTF! phones again *complains again and mentions Person A's name" Person B - Sorry about this I'll speak to my supervisor *3 seconds later phone hung up* phones again *complains yet again and mentioned Person A&B's name* Person C - *indian accent and hardly knew any english* Sorry I didn't understand that can you explain? * THIS TIME I HUNG UP THE PHONE WHEN SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND I WANTED HER SUPERVISOR" then had to waste petrol to go into branch >.< Person A & B were English
