Tricks to talk to a human

desmonds

My trick is to ignore the options.

Don't press anything even to say you have a touch tone phone.

What will happen is the message will be repeated at the most only once but occasiionally twice.

If you fail to respond you are automatically diverted to a HUMAN!!

This works with almost ALL automated services so there's no point in listing each one individually.

friedegg03

Normally what I do with any service is to continually press the star key for a few seconds, then wait.

Also, as a slight aside, when calling services such as BT, press to get through either to the business line when the options come up, or to the new customer registration, these normally get you through to real people and quickly, then explain you pressed the wrong button and can they transfer you. You normally get through more quickly this way.

gavhen

when calling 3's customer services i tend to get more sense and joy talking to the machines rather than the humans i wish they could find a way that i only had to speak to a machine :rolleyes:

dc

I find it best to "confuse" by just pressing a hand on the keypad to generate a random sequence of tones, the computer gives up and hands me to huembeanz.


dc

bodrul

Company: HSBC
No: 08457404142

This is the number for business banking. You get through to real person straight away 24/7. They dont ask you whether you have a business bank account-you just provide your normal account no and sort code.

chloe_87_87

When calling customer services and you are put on hold, tap on the phone with a pen for a while - this apparently makes the phone system think you are an angry customer, so they bump you up the queue in order to make you calmer when your call in finally taken!

mikehunt_2

Company/Purpose: Telewest
Automated Number: 08451420000
How to talk to a person: Call the credit services department, as Telewest can't be bothered to adequately staff the line for standard issues, but if you owe them money it's a different matter....

Call 173 from a Telewest phone or 0845 1424444. You normally get straight through and even at peak times the wait is no more than 5 mins. It's worth calling them first even if they can't help you, as they'll transfer you into a que for the right department where you'll get put straight to the front.

skiddy2k

it may not make much sense, but i find that when im trying to get through to a switchboard, if i dial normally i tend to have to wait in a automated cue listening to how great a companies service is.........but, when i dial 141 infront of the number (yess the number witheld option) i get through to them. now, i have found that this has worked on 70% of calls i make to automated services.

give it ago,
Good luck,
Skiddy

matthew6476

As an ex call centre worker/battery hen, I know that when you call the following banks, if you either ignore the system and do nothing, or keep pressing # or *, you will get a human eventually

Nat West
Lloyds TSB
Barclays

The system assumes you are too stupid to push buttons properly, and let you have a real person. Whether or not they can help you is really down to the luck of the draw!

timaareid

BT Customer Service
No 0800 800 150

usually takes ages to get to someone, particular at peak periods. to get through to a human first --- do as it asks, and dial in the number you are calling about... then when it starts asking you about options, dial 0**

you'll be connected straight away! :j