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

56 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

15. Harry says:

    Very nice site!

    July 23rd, 2006 at 7:03 am

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    July 30th, 2006 at 6:23 pm

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    October 18th, 2006 at 2:49 am

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    October 19th, 2006 at 1:48 pm

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    October 20th, 2006 at 10:25 am

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    October 20th, 2006 at 11:16 pm

21. Lewis says:

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

    November 22nd, 2006 at 4:31 pm

22. KnowledgeExpo.com says:

    Check this out www.KnowledgeExpo.com

    January 3rd, 2007 at 2:09 pm

23. Zip2know says:

    Call them using this: www.Zip2Know.com

    January 3rd, 2007 at 2:11 pm

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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    June 21st, 2007 at 5:26 am

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.

    August 7th, 2007 at 11:09 am

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    December 10th, 2007 at 2:54 pm

34. georgie noble says:

    anyone know how to speak to human being at city link?

    December 18th, 2007 at 4:00 am

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    February 1st, 2008 at 12:56 am

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

38. Michael Hussey says:

    Northampton,

    May 22nd, 2008 at 7:03 am

39. Josh says:

    The USPS one does not work.

    June 4th, 2008 at 6:43 am

40. ESTA LEMAIRE says:

    OH MY GOSH , HOW MANY TIMES I SPENT HOURS , WAITING FOR SOME TO ANSWER ME, RUIEND MY WHOLE. DAY.

    June 14th, 2008 at 5:28 am

41. Terry says:

    Called verizon (landline) for a billing issue and asked for “add new services” instead. Got me to an operator alot quicker.

    July 1st, 2008 at 7:20 am

42. vajayjay says:

    i fucking love this website

    August 6th, 2008 at 9:53 am

43. Mary says:

    SOCIAL SECURITY
    800-772-1213

    The old code 00 no longer works.The fastest way to speak with someone, is: (after pressing 1 for English)

    To press 08 (for personal)
    when the automated person starts to speak.
    Then, 02 to wait for an agent.

    I hope this helps someone.

    September 3rd, 2008 at 2:25 pm

44. Jaguwar says:

    For Wachovia, you can also bypass that annoying voice “recognition” thing by either having a conversation with people around you (or with yourself *G*), or by hitting ** at any time.

    November 18th, 2008 at 9:38 am

45. Desiree says:

    To reach customer service at Circuit City, you do dial 0. Dialing 218 to reach the store manager? That’s different at ever store.

    December 3rd, 2008 at 7:50 pm

46. 情趣用品 says:

    QQ

    December 17th, 2008 at 2:47 am

47. KIEFFER says:

    EDD OF ALL STATES,
    AFTER HEARING “WELCOME” ,NOT “THANK YOU”, 1,2,1,1,7

    January 9th, 2009 at 7:55 pm

48. wildman says:

    thats crazy! i never knew,thanks 4 saving me so much headache.

    January 9th, 2009 at 8:23 pm

49. Deborah Singletary says:

    Government agencies are the worst. I cannot get anyone to talk to about unemployment or the food stamps (state of Fl dept of children and families)I need since losing my job.

    January 9th, 2009 at 8:37 pm

50. Joshua says:

    Anyone Know how i can do this on ZAIN Mobile.It is a mobile GSM operator in the Middle east and Africa

    January 9th, 2009 at 8:44 pm

51. Terry P says:

    No need to remember a bunch of stuff when all you need to do is clear your throat. I do that now with all those automated phone menus. When that machine voice says “now tell me what you want”- my answer is “ahem”. That sound confuses the machine. At first it says “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear that”, but if you keep doing it, you will very shortly be transferred to a live person. Works great for me.

    January 9th, 2009 at 8:48 pm

52. Taeleyn says:

    When my wallet was stolen last year I had to cancel all my credit cards. After going through so many automated voice systems I got very frustrated, and uttered an expletive beginning with “F” and got through to Visa right away. It doesn’t work with all auto systems, but several companies have apparently put in screening software to hear that kind of thing and connect you to a person faster.

    January 9th, 2009 at 9:56 pm

53. Eugenia says:

    Verizon - immediately say “agent” - what a great help this list is….

    January 10th, 2009 at 9:40 am

54. Magdalen says:

    it dosn’t work I’m on hold for over 51 mins already

    January 21st, 2009 at 9:51 am

55. Magdalen says:

    this dosn’t work for Directv

    January 21st, 2009 at 9:52 am

56. Diane says:

    Don’t suppose anyone knows the one for EDD? 800-300-5616?
    I keep getting hung up on, AND per their own recoding I’m calling on their “slower” day.

    January 29th, 2009 at 3:22 pm

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