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MUST READ--So you want to reach Customer Service? Secrets&gt;

Author	Post

Posted: Mon May 8th, 2006 01:08 pm

tny795
3T WIS

Joined:	Thu Sep 8th, 2005
Location:
Posts:	2558
Status:	Offline

    Call a company these days and your fingers are likely to be worn to nothing before you ever reach a live human being.
   Worse, some companies hide their phone numbers, forcing you to go exclusively through email--which is only OK if they bother to respond.
   So how do you stalk that elusive creature known as a CS rep? A great place to start is http://www.gethuman.com . Nearly 400 are listed on the site.
   It not only reveals hundreds of hard-to-find CS numbers, it gives you instructions on how to defeat the automated voice-response system to get to a living being.
   This is no small trick. Once most of us figured out we could push "0" to get to an operator, companies scrambled to find new ways to shut us out.
   For example, http://www.gethuman.com says that if you're tired of wasting cell phone time calling AAA's 800 number, you should repeatedly punch 0 when you hear the intro. At e-trade, the trick is to hit the # key four times.
   But, to get a person at Amazon.com , once you dial the 800 number, you don't say or punch anything else! If companies really wanted to talk to their customers, would they make it this hard?
   Kayak.com founder's frustration in getting CS numbers led him to post a few on his blog. Before you know it, he had people sending him secret numbers, customers emailed numbers, and employees mailed secret numbers.
   The outpouring convinced him to found the Web site. It now lists shortcuts for getting to CS at several hundred large companies that either hide their phone numbers or force consumers to sit through an endless series of prompts to get to a human being.
   Another valuable but underused source of CS numbers is the BBB which keeps tabs on all companies, near or far, big or small. BBB reports contain the name of a CS manager so you don't have to waste time.
   If the number at the tope of the BBB report doesn't get you past basic CS, look at the bottom of the report for additional company numbers. Call the BBB's list of related 800-numbers until you find someone willing to give you a number for a company's headquarters.
   Reports are available through the BBB's Web site at http://www.bbb.org or by calling your local BBB.
   If you get stuck in telephone purgatory, the best all-purpose fallbacks are to repeatedly press either 0 or #, or to say "agent" or mumble at voice prompts.
   http://www.gethuman.com suggests you push the numbers for billing or for a Spanish-language line, because both tend to be answered more rapidly than the standard CS line.
   When you do get a rep, ask right away for a the rep's name, employee number and a number to call him or her back directly. Sometimes you'll get it.
   And, if you get a foreign rep who doesn't understand what you need, ask for a supervisor. Managers are often based in the United States.
   A last word of warning about Internet-based businesses. Unless you're dealing with a very well-known company, steer clear of Web sites that don't list street addressses or phone numbers. Anyone can create a convincing Web site--but that doesn't mean there's a legitimate company behind it. You can head off a lot of frustration by checking the company's report with the BBB first.

Here, thanks to http://www.gethuman.com , are just a few of their 400+ customer service numbers that are either hard to find or that make it hard to speak to a person.

1. AAA Emergency Road Service, 1-800-222-4357 (Press 0 repeatedly after initial introduction)
2. Amazon, 1-800-201-7575    (Don't press or say anything)!!!!
3. Dell, 1-800-999-3355   (Press 0 repeatedly)
4. eBay, 1-800-322-9266 (Press 00, or try 1-888-749-3229)
5. eTrade, 1-800-786-2575 (Press # # # #)
6. FirstEnergy, 1-800-633-4766 (Say "representative" repeatedly)
7. Medicare, 1-800-633-4227   (Say "agent")
8. PayPal, 1-888-221-1161
9. Sears Credit Card, 1-800-917-7700 (Press 0000000; press 0 at subsequent prompts)
10. Postal Service, 1-800-275-8777 (Press 5 4 2 2 at each prompt)
11. Western Union, 1-800-325-6000 (Press * # #)

(taken from article in local newspaper)

Last edited on Sat May 13th, 2006 11:12 am by tny795

Posted: Wed May 10th, 2006 02:33 pm

watchluvr1
3T WIS

Joined:	Thu Sep 8th, 2005
Location:	Chicago, Illinois USA
Posts:	1025
Status:	Offline

Thank you,Thank you,Thank you!! :):):) Very useful info:cool:

Posted: Wed May 10th, 2006 08:35 pm

KenC
Admin

Joined:	Sun Sep 4th, 2005
Location:	Florida &, Arizona USA
Posts:	11288
Status:	Offline

Got anything for Invicta............................that WORKS???

Posted: Sat May 13th, 2006 11:18 am

tny795
3T WIS

Joined:	Thu Sep 8th, 2005
Location:
Posts:	2558
Status:	Offline

I clicked on the link below, then on these "Tips" and "Database".

For whatever reason, the links to those 2 will not appear here at 3T no matter what I try.

But, PLEASE try them after useing the link below.........the second one, especially, will blow your mind!

T

tny795 wrote:

    Call a company these days and your fingers are likely to be worn to nothing before you ever reach a live human being.
   Worse, some companies hide their phone numbers, forcing you to go exclusively through email--which is only OK if they bother to respond.
   So how do you stalk that elusive creature known as a CS rep? A great place to start is http://www.gethuman.com . Nearly 400 are listed on the site.
   It not only reveals hundreds of hard-to-find CS numbers, it gives you instructions on how to defeat the automated voice-response system to get to a living being.
   This is no small trick. Once most of us figured out we could push "0" to get to an operator, companies scrambled to find new ways to shut us out.
   For example, http://www.gethuman.com says that if you're tired of wasting cell phone time calling AAA's 800 number, you should repeatedly punch 0 when you hear the intro. At e-trade, the trick is to hit the # key four times.
   But, to get a person at Amazon.com , once you dial the 800 number, you don't say or punch anything else! If companies really wanted to talk to their customers, would they make it this hard?
   Kayak.com founder's frustration in getting CS numbers led him to post a few on his blog. Before you know it, he had people sending him secret numbers, customers emailed numbers, and employees mailed secret numbers.
   The outpouring convinced him to found the Web site. It now lists shortcuts for getting to CS at several hundred large companies that either hide their phone numbers or force consumers to sit through an endless series of prompts to get to a human being.
   Another valuable but underused source of CS numbers is the BBB which keeps tabs on all companies, near or far, big or small. BBB reports contain the name of a CS manager so you don't have to waste time.
   If the number at the tope of the BBB report doesn't get you past basic CS, look at the bottom of the report for additional company numbers. Call the BBB's list of related 800-numbers until you find someone willing to give you a number for a company's headquarters.
   Reports are available through the BBB's Web site at http://www.bbb.org or by calling your local BBB.
   If you get stuck in telephone purgatory, the best all-purpose fallbacks are to repeatedly press either 0 or #, or to say "agent" or mumble at voice prompts.
   http://www.gethuman.com suggests you push the numbers for billing or for a Spanish-language line, because both tend to be answered more rapidly than the standard CS line.
   When you do get a rep, ask right away for a the rep's name, employee number and a number to call him or her back directly. Sometimes you'll get it.
   And, if you get a foreign rep who doesn't understand what you need, ask for a supervisor. Managers are often based in the United States.
   A last word of warning about Internet-based businesses. Unless you're dealing with a very well-known company, steer clear of Web sites that don't list street addressses or phone numbers. Anyone can create a convincing Web site--but that doesn't mean there's a legitimate company behind it. You can head off a lot of frustration by checking the company's report with the BBB first.

Here, thanks to http://www.gethuman.com , are just a few of their 400+ customer service numbers that are either hard to find or that make it hard to speak to a person.

1. AAA Emergency Road Service, 1-800-222-4357 (Press 0 repeatedly after initial introduction)
2. Amazon, 1-800-201-7575    (Don't press or say anything)!!!!
3. Dell, 1-800-999-3355   (Press 0 repeatedly)
4. eBay, 1-800-322-9266 (Press 00, or try 1-888-749-3229)
5. eTrade, 1-800-786-2575 (Press # # # #)
6. FirstEnergy, 1-800-633-4766 (Say "representative" repeatedly)
7. Medicare, 1-800-633-4227   (Say "agent")
8. PayPal, 1-888-221-1161
9. Sears Credit Card, 1-800-917-7700 (Press 0000000; press 0 at subsequent prompts)
10. Postal Service, 1-800-275-8777 (Press 5 4 2 2 at each prompt)
11. Western Union, 1-800-325-6000 (Press * # #)

(taken from article in local newspaper)

Last edited on Sat May 13th, 2006 11:26 am by tny795

Posted: Sat May 13th, 2006 03:42 pm

CHEEPS
3T WIS

Joined:	Thu Sep 8th, 2005
Location:	Bill Kelly Rehabilitation House, MN, Minnesota USA
Posts:	557
Status:	Offline

You know.................................just having to utilize ANY type list such as this one just highlights how pitiful the ENTIRE situation has become !

I am completely saturated from all of the apologists who attempt to defend these companies who demonstrate their appreciation for the customer AFTER the sale with antics which are clearly meant to harass and tire out the weary customer with beauracratic mazes of endless aggravation concealed as "the latest technology".

JUST ANSWER THE DAMN PHONE AND GIVE US THE CORRECT INFORMATION!!!

:X:X:X:X

Where are my meds?:shock:

:dude:CHEEPS

VOTE FOR BOUYCOTNAWLOFDEM

Posted: Sun May 14th, 2006 02:23 pm

RandyG
3T WIS

Joined:	Thu Sep 8th, 2005
Location:
Posts:	505
Status:	Offline

That is all they are meant to do, tire you out. I hate those never ending telephone option lines. You have to wait and listen to 9 options and when you select one you get 9 more options and so on, and so on,... After all of that some of them just say that they are closed and to call back. My bank, Bank of America, uses that system. You see that system used a lot whenever it is customer service oriented. If you want to buy something they magically have someone answer the phone. LOL

CHEEPS wrote:
You know.................................just having to utilize ANY type list such as this one just highlights how pitiful the ENTIRE situation has become !

I am completely saturated from all of the apologists who attempt to defend these companies who demonstrate their appreciation for the customer AFTER the sale with antics which are clearly meant to harass and tire out the weary customer with beauracratic mazes of endless aggravation concealed as "the latest technology".

JUST ANSWER THE DAMN PHONE AND GIVE US THE CORRECT INFORMATION!!!

:X:X:X:X

Where are my meds?:shock:

:dude:CHEEPS

VOTE FOR BOUYCOTNAWLOFDEM

Posted: Sun May 14th, 2006 02:59 pm

CHEEPS
3T WIS

Joined:	Thu Sep 8th, 2005
Location:	Bill Kelly Rehabilitation House, MN, Minnesota USA
Posts:	557
Status:	Offline

Randy!!!!

:shock::shock:

I was convinced that California had finally fallen into the Pacific and you were one of the hapless victims!

Nice to see you back and sharing rumifications from the land of sheer crazies!

:cool::cool:

:dude:CHEEPS

VOTE FOR JEZONEMORGLYMPZOFYKW

Posted: Sun May 14th, 2006 03:38 pm

RandyG
3T WIS

Joined:	Thu Sep 8th, 2005
Location:
Posts:	505
Status:	Offline

I had to come back. I have been hearing rumors that some of our WIS compadres have kicked the Kool-Aid and are coming to their senses, at least partially. Although, I was just over at another forum and witnessed a display of denial of the obvious that tells me at least one person is still using.

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