Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Trick for Getting Through to a Person
Old 03-06-2012, 10:39 AM   #1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
TromboneAl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,880
Trick for Getting Through to a Person

I was having trouble getting through to customer service as ISI today. The "press 1 for customer service" lead to an indefinite hold, and pressing "0" lead to a disconnect. They had not answered the email request in a week.

Here's the trick: If there's an option for "Press x for the company directory" choose that, and enter a single letter for the last name. You'll get some random person's extension that way, and once you get a real person, they can transfer you to the right place.

It worked like a charm today.
TromboneAl is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 03-06-2012, 11:41 AM   #2
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Ed_The_Gypsy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the City of Subdued Excitement
Posts: 5,588
Crafty devil!

This one I will file!
__________________
I have outlived most of the people I don't like and I am working on the rest.
Ed_The_Gypsy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2012, 02:12 PM   #3
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Indialantic FL
Posts: 1,330
On the voice response systems just mumble sounds, when the computer cannot understands what you are saying, it normally defaults to a real person.
__________________
JimnJana
"The four most dangerous words in investing are 'This time it's different.'" - Sir John Templeton
jimnjana is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2012, 02:17 PM   #4
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 3,851
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimnjana View Post
On the voice response systems just mumble sounds, when the computer cannot understands what you are saying, it normally defaults to a real person.
Also works for sales calls when there is an actual person on the line ...
rescueme is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2012, 02:32 PM   #5
Administrator
Alan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: N. Yorkshire
Posts: 34,056
Nice tip Al.


Quote:
Originally Posted by jimnjana View Post
On the voice response systems just mumble sounds, when the computer cannot understands what you are saying, it normally defaults to a real person.
I don't have to mumble, my accent is too difficult for almost all the voice response systems. I usually have to listen, hand the phone to DW, tell what to say, get the phone back, listen, hand phone to DW, tell her what to say ......
__________________
Retired in Jan, 2010 at 55, moved to England in May 2016
Enough private pension and SS income to cover all needs
Alan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2012, 04:05 PM   #6
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
TromboneAl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,880
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan View Post
Nice tip Al.




I don't have to mumble, my accent is too difficult for almost all the voice response systems. I usually have to listen, hand the phone to DW, tell what to say, get the phone back, listen, hand phone to DW, tell her what to say ......
TromboneAl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2012, 04:10 PM   #7
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,468
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimnjana View Post
On the voice response systems just mumble sounds, when the computer cannot understands what you are saying, it normally defaults to a real person.
I do the dishes...between the running water and banging pots and pans, I get a live person right away .
TrvlBug is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2012, 06:57 PM   #8
Full time employment: Posting here.
dessert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Southern Louisiana
Posts: 519
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan View Post
I don't have to mumble, my accent is too difficult for almost all the voice response systems.
That's interesting Alan because my voice has never been understood by a machine ever that I can remember. All I ever get is "I'm sorry but yada yada yada" whatever. Eventually I do get a human being but by that time I'm upset and have to cool down to talk to them.
__________________
Officially retired........Class of 2011
dessert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2012, 08:03 PM   #9
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Major Tom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SF East Bay
Posts: 4,324
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan View Post
I don't have to mumble, my accent is too difficult for almost all the voice response systems. I usually have to listen, hand the phone to DW, tell what to say, get the phone back, listen, hand phone to DW, tell her what to say ......
Uh oh, I must have been here for too long, as I don't have problems with the voice recognition systems understanding my accent.

What I do have trouble with though, is the need to give the answer in the precise format the computer is waiting for. Some days, my inclination is to chat to the computer as if it were a person, leading to multiple requests to "please repeat" and the eventual connection to a live person (which is what we all really want isn't it?)
__________________
Contentedly ER, with 3 furry friends (now, sadly, 1).
Planning my escape to the wide open spaces in my campervan (with my remaining kitty, of course!)
On a mission to become the world's second most boring man.

Major Tom is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2012, 08:22 PM   #10
Administrator
Alan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: N. Yorkshire
Posts: 34,056
Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Tom View Post
Uh oh, I must have been here for too long, as I don't have problems with the voice recognition systems understanding my accent.
Yeah, but although I don't speak like the guys in Al's video above, the voice recognition systems don't recognize "geordie" accents either.

I speak like the guy, Oz, one minute into this clip.

__________________
Retired in Jan, 2010 at 55, moved to England in May 2016
Enough private pension and SS income to cover all needs
Alan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2012, 09:08 PM   #11
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Major Tom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SF East Bay
Posts: 4,324
Well that explains it Alan. I've wished at times that I had an accent that was more heavily identified with a particular region, like yours. I grew up in the countryside between Stratford and Worcester and while my accent isn't quite the old-style "BBC English" it doesn't sound regional either - and after 25 years in the US, I'm not sure what it sounds like. My first program director in radio coached me to sound a little more like the American listeners, encouraging me to roll my r's a bit more (burrger instead of "buhger") and I think I've naturally lengthened my vowels over the years too, as well as softened my t's.

I've never seen this series. Will have to watch some more clips from YouTube. Thanks!
__________________
Contentedly ER, with 3 furry friends (now, sadly, 1).
Planning my escape to the wide open spaces in my campervan (with my remaining kitty, of course!)
On a mission to become the world's second most boring man.

Major Tom is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2012, 09:20 PM   #12
Administrator
Alan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: N. Yorkshire
Posts: 34,056
Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Tom View Post
Well that explains it Alan. I've wished at times that I had an accent that was more heavily identified with a particular region, like yours. I grew up in the countryside between Stratford and Worcester and while my accent isn't quite the old-style "BBC English" it doesn't sound regional either - and after 25 years in the US, I'm not sure what it sounds like. My first program director in radio coached me to sound a little more like the American listeners, encouraging me to roll my r's a bit more (burrger instead of "buhger") and I think I've naturally lengthened my vowels over the years too, as well as softened my t's.

I've never seen this series. Will have to watch some more clips from YouTube. Thanks!
I had seen from your profile that you had worked in radio so I figured you had a much more recognizable accent for voice recognition.

It's a good series, and I was still living there when many construction workers were leaving the NE to do contract work in Germany for weeks at a time. The series was very successful, and several more were made, but that first series in Germany was the best imo.

I guess you've seen this great commercial for Siri

__________________
Retired in Jan, 2010 at 55, moved to England in May 2016
Enough private pension and SS income to cover all needs
Alan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2012, 10:46 PM   #13
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
audreyh1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 38,007
Oh, I didn't realize you meant by phone!

I thought you had a great new trick for increasing my persuasive skills!

Audrey
__________________
Retired since summer 1999.
audreyh1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2012, 08:55 AM   #14
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
BigMoneyJim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Nomadic in the Rockies
Posts: 2,720
At least some of the automated systems monitor your voice to see if you're upset, so talk angrily and swear (at the machine) and you may get better service.
BigMoneyJim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2012, 09:14 AM   #15
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,323
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimnjana View Post
On the voice response systems just mumble sounds, when the computer cannot understands what you are saying, it normally defaults to a real person.

Also, pressing various phone numbers help you go quickly to a real person. The computer doesn't understand then, so hello, person!
Just FYI.
__________________
Please consider adopting a rescue animal. So very many need a furr-ever home and someone to love them! And if we all spay/neuter our pets there won't be an overpopulation to put to death.
Orchidflower is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2012, 09:20 AM   #16
Moderator Emeritus
Bestwifeever's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 17,773
I usually repeat "Agent" in response to every question on the voice systems, or otherwise repeatedly press "0", and that usually gets me a real person in no time.
__________________
“Would you like an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first?” J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
Bestwifeever is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2012, 10:54 AM   #17
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Major Tom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SF East Bay
Posts: 4,324
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan View Post
It's a good series, and I was still living there when many construction workers were leaving the NE to do contract work in Germany for weeks at a time. The series was very successful, and several more were made, but that first series in Germany was the best imo.

I guess you've seen this great commercial for Siri
I ended up watching the rest of that particular episode and will be watching more today - thanks again Alan. I remember the theme tune well and thinking about it, do remember the name of the series but for some reason, didn't watch it when it came out. I do remember The Likely Lads and Porridge - which were written by one of the writers that also worked on Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.

It's not the first time I've been blithely unaware of something in the popular culture. Sometimes, my friends must think that I live under a rock when they declare "I can't believe you haven't heard/seen that". I have what you might call very selective attention.

No - I hadn't seen the spoof Siri commercial - funny stuff. I've never liked voice recognition much - it's often easier to punch a button. One day it will be perfected and we'll probably all be talking to our personal Hal 9000's but in the meantime, that spoof is probably closer to the truth for many.
__________________
Contentedly ER, with 3 furry friends (now, sadly, 1).
Planning my escape to the wide open spaces in my campervan (with my remaining kitty, of course!)
On a mission to become the world's second most boring man.

Major Tom is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2012, 11:03 AM   #18
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
audreyh1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 38,007
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bestwifeever View Post
I usually repeat "Agent" in response to every question on the voice systems, or otherwise repeatedly press "0", and that usually gets me a real person in no time.
Yep - "representative" usually works for me.
__________________
Retired since summer 1999.
audreyh1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2012, 01:32 PM   #19
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: alberta
Posts: 51
Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Tom View Post
Uh oh, I must have been here for too long, as I don't have problems with the voice recognition systems understanding my accent.
I use a voice recognition system for most of my dictation and I dictate a lot of reports daily. My accent is closer to british english and far removed from north american english and I have at times had the same feeling of boiling frustration as the two Scots in the lift (sorry - elevator ) when I am dictating and the software consistently gets it wrong.

I initially tried to teach the program to recognize the way I pronounce something but have lately just given up and succumbed to the North American way of pronunciation.

I'm not going to started about the difference between favour and favor .
Cato is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2012, 02:19 PM   #20
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
TromboneAl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,880
The thing companies don't care about, is that these phone menus take a lot of time for the caller. That's added to the "Press 2 for Spanish," "Your call may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance purposes," and "Your call is very important to us" time.

What I'd like to see is a system by which you make your selections online, and then get routed to the right place directly. The company could call you, or you could get a extension number to enter.
TromboneAl is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
For the Birds! Brdofpray Life after FIRE 121 04-17-2014 06:23 PM
June too early for Banff / Canadian Rockies? soupcxan Travel Information 27 06-23-2012 09:57 AM
Trying to scale back...a little at a time BigE FIRE and Money 32 03-07-2012 08:55 PM
Time to Re-Tire (with Update of Old Post) TromboneAl Other topics 15 03-06-2012 04:49 PM
Where to put low risk money bobbee25 FIRE and Money 27 03-04-2012 10:06 PM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:22 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.