Tricks to talk to a human

purplestar1uk

Company: Co-operative Bank Armchair Banking

Number: best to check saynoto0870

Trick: press the # key

superhoop

Gotta admit my usual procedure is this with any company:

1) If the suggested number is not freephone or landline, then goto https://www.saynoto0870.com and find one for that company. (Landlines are OK for me 'cos I'm using Call1899)

2) Having rang my chosen number, if it is a human, I always start with a polite "I'm sure I haven't come through to the correct number, but can you help me with...". Very often they can help, transfer you or give you an alternative number to ring

3) When it's the dreaded machine, the key tactics are LISTEN + DISRUPT. Sometimes the systems will give you an easy way to speak to an operator. Listen out for this. But if they don't, I just try and press as many keys as possible at a prompt to confuse the living daylights out of it. Usually the machines are not programmed to handle this kind of input, and will then automatically bounce you to some kind of call handler.

This thread is really valuable because each phone system works differently and there will be a bit of 'magic' which unlocks each one. But, in the absence of this knowledge, I've found these strategies have stood me in good stead.

Steve

Curry_Queen

Tricks to talk to a human

Do I have to??? :eek:


:rotfl:

Edinburghlass_2

superhoop, some great suggestions there, I hate pressing more than two buttons to get a human being and usually give up

To any new readers coming to MSE and the Telephone Boards from todays email tips, welcome

Have a read of Martin's articles [url=""]here[/url] and you will find most of these link through to discussions here on the Chat Forum.

There is a great bunch of users on the Telephone boards to help you reduce your telephony bills and answer your questions.

tykervic

Most of the software has a "3 mistakes and you're bounced" ruling, so pressing the * key three times should send you to an agent.

Alternatively, try *#0 or *0

- my brother is a dialler specialist

signsofmadness_2

BT ... 150
When calling you are given 2 options. Press 1 or 2
Do nothing and you are given 4 options, Press 1, 2, 3 or 4.
Ignore them and press 9.

You still go into a queue but it's quicker than going thorugh all the options.

Art_2

One trick already mentioned is to not press any of the choices offered.

If you are forced to press a button, press the one for 'sales'. Many companies give priority to calls to their sales lines so they do not lose out on new business. Often it's the same person answering the calls who also answer calls to the other selections available on the automated system.

Regards,
Art.

Over_the_hill_3

Definitely for BT faults - dont touch anything

it is much much quicker and far less stressful too !!!

HAH_3

follow the link to https://www.saynoto0870.com and follow on screen instructions to get a geographical number. This is good for two reasons 1) You avoid the stupidly expensive 0870 number and 2) More importantly for this thread you are calling the number that they would recommend for calls from abroad as the 0870 numbers do not work overseas - usually this means you are straight thru to a real person and have bypassed the queue/automated answer service!

Moonbeam

I know that if you try to get through to Halifax/Bank of Scotland and you want to go straight through to a person you should press *0