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April 24th, 2006

How to Bypass Most Phone Menus and Get to a Live Operator

Note: This is not breaking news, but the list gets updated all the time and we find it pretty darn handy. (Press 1 now to complain, press 2 to continue in English….) The IVR Cheat Sheet is from Paul English of Kayak.com.

Here are the secret numbers and tips to bypass 108 IVR phone menus to get to a human.

finance phone steps to find a human
American Express 800-528-4800 0
ATT Universal 800-950-5114 ###
Bank of America 800-900-9000 1 loan; 2 account; 3 investing; 4 info; or 00 to human
Bank One 877-226-5663 0,0
Capital One Visa 800-867-0904 ignore prompts and invalid entry warnings; press #0 four times
Charles Schwab 800-435-9050 3 then 0
Chase 800-CHASE24 5 pause 1 4
CitiBank 800-374-9700 1 online support; 2 billpay; 3 non-online; 4 credit card; or 0 to human
Discover 800-347-2683 ****
E-Trade 800-387-2331 ####
Fidelity 800-544-6666 ignore prompt for social security number, just enter ###
MasterCard 800-MC-ASSIST 000 on each menu
MBNA 800-421-2110 00# when menu starts
Paypal 650 864-8000 cf http://paypalsucks.com/PayPalPhoneNumbers.shtml
Sovereign Bank 800-SOV-BANK 1 english; 1 personal; 3 then social#; passcode, #; then 0 (1-3x)
Sun Trust Banks 404-588-7815 Yes
US Bank 800-US BANKS 0000
Visa 800-847-2911 000 (ignore prompts saying that it’s an invalid entry)
Wachovia 800-922-4684 accounts personal banking
Washington Mutual 800-756-8000 At any time after the announcement(s) press 0,0.
Wells Fargo 800-869-3557 0,0,0
Western Union 800-325-6000 * then ##
government phone steps to find a human
INS 800-375-5283 After selecting English, (with a 2 second delay between) 2 6 2 4
Social Security 800-772-1213 00 will confuse computer and send you to an agent
Veterans Affairs 800-827-1000 1,0
insurance phone steps to find a human
Aetna 800-537-9384 “2, then say “”operator”" (check this)”
Aetna 800-680-3566 * then 0 anytime
AFLAC 800-99-AFLAC ***
Ameritas 800-745-1112 0,0,0
CIGNA 800-516-2898 REGARDING A BILL
Cigna 800-849-9000 ##
GEICO 800-841-3000 Wait for prompt then 6, 1, 5
Humana 800-4-HUMANA After entering insurance number and details, 0.
Medicare 800-633-4227 “After the opening prompt say “”agent”".”
Principal Life 800-247-4695 1 for english, 2, then 0 several times until it redirects you to an operator.
pharmacy phone steps to find a human
CVS local listing dial local store, after promt. press 6 will connect to store manager
Eckerd 800-eckerds 0 for pharmacy, 8* for manager
Rite Aid Local Store Press 3 to speak to the pharmacy
Walgreens local store 0 for a pharmacy employee
products phone steps to find a human
Bose 800-444-2673 Direct to human!
Sonos 800-680-2345 1 sales; 2 support
Sony 800-222-7669 “When prompted by the automated voice system to answer ANY questions, just say “”Agent”"”
retail phone steps to find a human
Advance Auto 800-314-4243 0 when the automated message begins
Amazon.com 800-201-7575 Direct to human!
Best Buy 800-365-0292 00*
Best Buy local store wait for extension prompt (sometimes must 4), then ext. 2021
Circuit City local store 0 for customer service or 218 for store manager
eBay 800-322-9266 0,0
Home Depot 800 677-0232 “When asked for account number, keep hitting “”#”". After 5 or 6 times, a human appears!”
Home Shopping Net 800-284-3100 0
Ikea 800 434-IKEA “0000000 (hit “”0″” many times fast, if you do it once, or too slow, it will merely repeat the menu)”
K-Mart local store 0
Kohl’s 800 5645740 After providing account info, press 0 three times
Lowes local store 0 for customer service or #450 for commercial sales
Old Navy 800-OLD-NAVY 0
Overstock.com 800-843-2446 At the main menu, 0 three to four times to bypass the menu
QVC 800-367-9444 0
Safeway local store As soon as voice prompt starts type 1200 to get human
Sears 800-4-MY-HOME Silence don’t push numbers just sit there and you will be placed at front of queue.
Target local store 0 during greeting.
“Toys “”R”" Us” local store 0
Wal-Mart 800-925-6278 1 for directory
shipping phone steps to find a human
DHL 800-225-5345 press 1, press 5, press 0, enter your phone number.
FedEx 888-GO-FEDEX “At message say “”Representative”"”
UPS 800-pick-ups 0,0
USPS 800-275-8777 7-3-2-0-0 or send them some junk mail
technology phone steps to find a human
AOL 800-827-6364 0
Apple 800-275-2273 “000; if virtual rep answers, say “”operator”"”
Compaq 800-652-6672 No easy escape
Dell 888-560-8324 2 order; 3 support; 4 purchase help; or 00 to human
Dell Service 800-624-9897 option 1, xt 7266966, option 1, option 4, option 4
Earthlink 888-earthlink 1 find a dialin number; 2 billing; 3 sales; 4 support
Epson 800-922-8911 yes
Gateway 800-846-2301 00#
HP 800-474-6836 “Say “”agent”".”
HP 888-560-8324 00
IBM 800-IBM-4YOU You go into a hold queue immediately
Microsoft 800-936-5700 Always 0. This is true for just about any MS number.
QuickBooks 888-729-1996 1 purchase; 2 billing; 3 registration; 4 tech support or 0 to human
Symantec 800-441-7234 00
telco phone steps to find a human
AT&T 800-222-0300 #### then 1 if for current phone, else 2 to enter other, else 3
AT&T Wireless 800-888-7600 No easy escape
BellSouth 877-678-2355 *0
Cellular One 888-910-9191 “4, say “”agent”", then #”
Cingular 800-331-0500 For faster service, the option that you are looking to close your account, You get the same ppl but an immediate answer
Nextel 800-639-6111 0 five times
SBC 800-585-7928 Again, an (intelligent, this time) IVR wants YOUR phone number first.
Sprint PCS 888-788-5001 “If live person does not answer, 00, then say “”agent”"”
T-Mobile 800-TMOBILE “Say “”representative”" at any time.”
Verizon DSL 800 567 6789 “Say “”I don’t know it”" then “”technician”"”
Verizon Wireless 800-922-0204 #00 or enter phone # then 0 then 4
travel phone steps to find a human
American Airlines 800-433-7300 “00, then say “”agent”"”
Amtrak 800-872-7245 “0 or say “”agent”"”
Delta 800-221-1212 “say “”agent”" four times - every time it asks for a response from you”
jetBlue 800 JET-BLUE 1 flight status; 2 reservations; 3 vacation packages
Kayak.com 203 899-3120 0
Northwest 800-225-2525 Star, 0,0 after initial greeting
Southwest 800-435-9792 Calls answered by operator; during busy times you might have to hold
United 800-864-8331 Do nothing, wait for human.
US Airways 800-428-4322 4, wait, 1
Walt Disney World 407-824-4521 Direct line to Magic Kingdom Guest Relations
tv/satellite phone steps to find a human
Comcast 800-266-2278 Customer service, but an IVR wants your number first.
Direct TV 800-347-3288 0 repeatedly
Dish Network 800-333-3474 0 during menu
Sirius 888 539-7474 0
TiVo 877-367-8486 “Say “”Live Agent”"”
Xm Radio 800-998-7900 Direct to human!

Do you know a new cheat? Report It Here
Source: Wkcp.com

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37 comments to "How to Bypass Most Phone Menus and Get to a Live Operator"

  1. James says:

    I just wanted to correct the Best Buy entry: When you get to the main menu or press 4 on the newer systems to enter an extension, dial 2180 and wait. 2180 is the universal code for the front LP/security desk by the door. There is always someone there.

    April 24th, 2006 at 11:13 pm

  2. Alice says:

    Nice - thanks James!

    April 24th, 2006 at 11:30 pm

  3. Alex says:

    ROFLMAO. How awesome is this! Well played my friends. Well played

    April 24th, 2006 at 11:57 pm

  4. Beth Birnbaum says:

    As to how to bypass the voice mail and reach a live operator, when calling Verizon over a mix up that cost me $150 bucks, I started screaming and cursing at the voice mail asking me what I wanted, and it/he understood and was sorry I was upset, and put me immediately in touch with an operator.

    April 25th, 2006 at 6:28 am

  5. frank says:

    You’ve saved me hours. Thanks Thanks Thanks

    April 25th, 2006 at 7:28 am

  6. Pat Williams says:

    Anyone know how to get a real person where we can register a real complaint with Toshiba Computers?(not a service representative - They have no authority, but can only say “send it in and we will fix it again”. - for about the 20th time)

    April 25th, 2006 at 10:35 am

  7. Kat says:

    Although Citibank runs commercials stating that all you have to do is press “0″, it’s not true. I’ve tried it numerous times only to hear, “I’m sorry, that was not a valid entry. Please choose from the following options.”

    April 25th, 2006 at 12:05 pm

  8. Tamara says:

    If anyone has ever filed an amendment on their tax return, and then left out in the cold, unknowing as to when their refund will actually be mailed to them..you can call the IRS @ 800-829-1040, if you make a selection as if you “owe money”..you will get to a live human being, also, if you select “business” option, you will get to a live human being…this is so much help!!!Thanks!

    April 26th, 2006 at 6:25 am

  9. Steve says:

    Thanks a million. Helped a lot to pass the Verizon computer menu stuff which is extremely awkward. Thanks.

    April 26th, 2006 at 10:54 am

  10. Melissa Tinsley says:

    thanks alot i called dell at 800-624-9897 because i was told to just to change my phone # on my account and it hung up on me because i did not select something because the two options DID NOT apply to me. Then I remembered this site…I used your dell prompts and it worked great!

    May 9th, 2006 at 8:13 am

  11. w. omodt says:

    thank you. long overdue. i get so fed up with the endless captive audience taped marketing while you wait for the next prompt.

    May 11th, 2006 at 11:08 am

  12. DAVID says:

    THIS IS GREAT WHAT A GREAT APPROACH GREAT INFORMATION SAVES TIME AND GETS THE JOB DONE.
    THANK YOU

    May 12th, 2006 at 5:08 am

  13. Lisa says:

    IRS: 1800-829-1040 Press zero multiple times, you will get a live person.

    May 15th, 2006 at 10:22 am

  14. Jennifer says:

    this is awsome…if you owe at&T money, even if it’s there error, the system does not let you talk to a human unless you make a payment. i found a way to get in myself, but next time i will try the tip here.

    June 16th, 2006 at 12:21 pm

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  21. Lewis says:

    Does anyone know how to get a live person at onrebate.com

    November 22nd, 2006 at 4:31 pm

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  24. Greg Weldy says:

    This is a great resource, thanks so much for putting it together!

    January 19th, 2007 at 4:58 pm

  25. RB says:

    Apple Computer Stores - to get a warm body to answer a telephone, press 5

    February 22nd, 2007 at 9:01 am

  26. Geri Sandor says:

    Does anyone know how to talk to a human at Cox Cable?

    April 3rd, 2007 at 2:20 pm

  27. Jennifer Wright says:

    This is GREAT!! Thanks so much!!!
    Now what we need is a list of #’s that get us to U.S. based customer service or tech support!!! I know such #’s exist for most outsourcing companies, but I don’t know what they are..

    May 15th, 2007 at 9:02 am

  28. Lincoln says:

    With Northwest * 0 0 doesn’t work, just stay on the line and don’t say anything… eventually the recording will tell you “Thanks! I’m transferring you to an agent.”

    June 16th, 2007 at 12:36 pm

  29. Eve says:

    I have waited hours to get to someone on Charter Communications [1] phone, [2]internet service and [3] cable service. Does anyone know a shortcut?

    June 17th, 2007 at 11:30 am

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  31. Jim Smith says:

    How can I get a live person @ USIS in Tlsa, OK.

    July 17th, 2007 at 8:34 am

  32. Arjita says:

    Thanks.This should be helpful.As my website suggests i ‘HATE’ to deal with these systems.

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  36. How to Bypass Most Phone Menus and Get to a Live Operator « THR33-T: Talking Technology Tips says:

    […]  This is just a sample of the list.  The companies are broken down by industry which also is a plus.  100’s and 100’s of companies listed. Click here for complete directory. […]

    February 25th, 2008 at 2:28 pm

  37. THR33-T » Blog Archiv » How to Bypass Most Phone Menus and Get to a Live Operator says:

    […] This is just a sample of the list. The companies are broken down by industry which also is a plus. 100’s and 100’s of companies listed. Click here for complete directory. […]

    March 6th, 2008 at 11:26 am

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