Tricks to talk to a human

tee_pee_2

I find if your being held in a Q for ages with an automated message. I find if you are doing something negative you are on hold even longer. eg cancelling an account. However press the option you want to open a new account ( or any option which will make the co revenue) and surprise surprise a human appears on the end almost immediately and then ask them to transfer you.

Hope this is useful to someone
:T

jeffk

As a general rule, I find doing nothing, hitting "#", "0" or "*0" will usually bypass the IVR prompts. Depends on the system's configuration, of course, but these seem to be the most common.

Mr_Jolly_3

This doesn't usually work if you are trying to get in touch with a mobile phone subscriber but if you want to get through quickly to a lot of companies that put you through an automated system, just type the 0 (zero) button on the handset quickly, about 5 or 6 times.

paddocks_2

Most companies have a number for calling them from abroad, which is in the international format

e.g T-mobile +447953966150, simply dial 07953966150 from the UK this dials straight through to an operator rather than an automated service.

NB. customer services is free of charge (150) for most customers; this number would involve using free mins (if applicable at time of call).

For customers who have an online self serve plan, 150 is charged at 50p per minute, using this number uses free minutes or is only 10p per minute if allowances used.

Ive used the international number for several other companies and got through no problem.

leacroft

Same theme - slightly different emphasis ......

Idea One ...Use https://www.saynoto0870.com to look for regular (regional) telephone numbers and avoid paying for 0870 and 0845 numbers.

This usually results in a number with a person on the end of the line.

Idea Two ...Join SKYPE at https://www.skype.com .
Calls between SKYPE users are free; anytime anywhere and as long as you like; whilst calls to non SKYPE users are very low cost.

Once you've found where to call using Idea One make the call with SKYPE at low cost.

gromituk

HAH wrote:

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!

Unfortunately some are wise to this - Alliance and Leicester got in a strop when I did that, and put a "black mark" against me!

JBEILBY

We have a very old telephone that we purchased years ago, so if we call one of those automated systems we switch to using this extension. Even if you press any of the keys on this phone at their request it does not register and so a human has to come to the phone to deal with your call.

lilly1_2

visa card companys
when prompted,you make a mistake on the phone pad
then you go to a person
:j

Nickything

08457203040

To talk to a human at the Halifax hit option 5 I think it is to apply for a credit card or loan the person at the other end can usually deal with whatever your query/problem is anyway or will transfer you to another human

iceburn

I registered a complaint with A&L about that cause she said I was lying and was not calling aboard when I was in fact "WAS" calling from Russia. Had to do a huge complex system then to call the 0845, got an apology since.