Posted on 06/18/2024 9:19:36 AM PDT by bluescape
Another post about Hertz customer service being difficult to reach made me ask Freepers about this.
When I was widowed two years ago I had to get the hang of handling affairs that she had always taken care of. I'm decent at it now, but even as we text there are companies that deliberately make it hard to 1.Find a phone number for help. and 2. Speak to a human because my issue was complicated and not included anywhere on their 'menu.'
I learned plenty of methods to get by, but a couple of companies had me tapping out.
What are some of your examples of these ridiculous hidden phone support numbers and/or robot menus that are programed to never let you speak to a person. And add solutions to them..if they exist.
There isn't.
They're not human. They're not even from this planet.
Be careful if you use a search engine to find customer support numbers. Some scammers set up phony call centers to try to get you to divulge sensitive financial information so they can rip you off. eBay is a prime example because they do not have a customer support number that you can call and you must submit a request online for a callback.
I used to work retail sales, warranty, and customer service by phone, fax, email, and walk-in. Did it for c. 25 years. People from all walks of life, every range of attitude and aptitude.
Around 2013 the company I worked for installed an auto attendant with phone menu for all incoming calls.
It was then that calls routed to my desk started to become, shall I say, less good-mannered, or more ill-tempered.
By the time I quit, well, I QUIT!
Gee ... ya think?
After wasting time fighting with a (*&^ ^%$# (*I) *&^% ^%$# (*) &^%$ %$@ ROBOT, customers were mildly perturbed!
Shocking, I tell you! I'm shocked!
“The absolute worst is comcast/xfinity.”
Absolutely agree. The are BY FAR, the absolute worst. It got SO bad for me earlier this year I actually DROVE over to their office and yelled at the people there. They scheduled somebody to come out to my house and fix it.
The guy there told me to use https://www.xfinity.com/support/schedule-callback
“a growing number that recognize the swearing and transfer you based on that”
I’ve been wondering about that. So I get furious, scream, and swear at the damn thing. I hope that they record some of these people/bot interactions and change their designs as a result.
My method is to use a loud, annoyed voice and say you want to talk to a representative, operator, person, human being.
I’ve found some of the automated systems sense the anger and transfer you.
No, there are people there, but they are asleep.
I used to work with a woman whose son got his masters in accounting/tax preparation. He got a job with the IRS in DC. That job was to audit IRS offices around the country. He said that he was always surprised by the number of people sleeping in their cubicles in his own office, and wherever he went.
*
IRS hired 80,000 new agents and it became 80,000 times harder to get a human.
I keep a radio tuned to a talk show, like Prager for instance, and when prompted to speak, I hold the phone up to the radio. Do that a few times and poof, a human answers.
I often ask the people where they are located.
I got one guy in Jamaica recently. That was a first. He was really good.
I called an Israeli genealogy software company for support and got a support guy in Israel.
The Filipino girls are always very sweet and kind and have the nicest voices.
“ I spent several hours trying to talk to a live human being at the IRS. I don’t think there is one.”
Not at the IRS.
All humans left there in 1968.
Once when I FINALLY did get someone, I asked, “Are you human?”
Then I asked, “Can you prove it?”
That got a really good laugh from the rep.....
Some are programmed to “listen” for profanity. i get stuck on hold i start using every vulgarity I know and then start inventing them and create songs. A few times the representative has connected and just listened. We have a laugh about it and then conduct business.
I use, “Speak to an agent”. Keep repeating it until the robotic switchboard gives up on you.
“representative, operator, person, human being.”
Add “associate” and “support” to your list. Amazon has “associates.” I always hated that word. It seems less-than-human. Maybe it makes me think of people-abusing law firms with grunts racing to become “partner” before dying of a heart attack.
I've tried that at some places, but eventually the robot just says "Goodbye" and hangs up on me. Another responds "I understand you want to speak to an agent. Can you tell me why?"
Try speaking non sense ..or like biden..until the robot says it will connect you with agent.
I pay the bills, and handle the technology, but most of the credit cards are in DH’s name.
We got an email from Shell Oil advising us to update the profiles. We never had set up an online account so I called while Hubby was at a doctor’s appointment. No trick I ever had used worked with the AI robo thing. Using gibberish used to work.
Finally, screamed, “What is wrong with you f—king people?! I have been trying to speak to a human for 22 minutes!” I continued in that vein. Finally a person came on. (Maybe bad language DOES trigger AI to get a person.) Since I’m not the “primary card holder” they refused to speak to me.
And since I’m not the primary card holder, they transferred me to Fraud Dept. When I screamed, “THERE IS NO FRAUD!”, they told me our cards were suspended because I placed the call instead of Hubby, and my placing a call constitutes fraud!
Next day, DH made the call, got through to a person after major time and emotional pain, and was able to un-suspend the cards. They will not permit any other to speak to them besides the primary card holder, not even authorized users.
We asked what would happen if DH were incapacitated or DEAD. Answer: “That would be a problem.”
Got the same email from Exxon yesterday. (They all are “citi.”) Have to get psyched up before we jump into that.
Some have mentioned Comcast/Xfinity, but I have had positive experiences with them. That was a year ago and maybe it’s worse now.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.